Seriously, time does zoom past. This has been an eventful year, with ups and downs, with tears of sadness and tears of joy.
2012 was the year where I learnt that Jesus does turn "bad things" around for good, even though it could be under a bad label which people shun away from. Bad labels in the name of "Redundancy" and "Eviction". I can look back at laugh now, but under the circumstances, it was no laughing matter. What do you do when your boss brings you into a room telling you that the job you have is put at risk? He tells you that he has tried his best fighting for your job but unfortunately under today's market conditions, sadly he has lost the battle. Suddenly I felt all alone in a foreign country. That said, he gave me some options of other roles in the bank. But no matter how he tried to "console" me with the options presented to me, tears rolled down my face uncontrollably to the extent he had to send me home after our meeting. My world in mid April then was a blur. For two whole weeks, I spoke to countless people for advice. I did not know which option to take. I prayed about it, and I knew I couldn't ask too many people and be swayed by everyone's advice for they will all be different. I knew I had to ask advice wisely from people who understand my situation and the nature of the industry. Indeed He knows best. Truth be told, I believe with all my heart that Jesus knew I could not take the horrible job anymore under my ex-manager and then exchanged it for an awesome one under the label "at risk". Today, I am enjoying my job 10 times more, having a greater sense of job satisfaction and I cannot praise Jesus enough.
Many people give me a shocked face when they heard us girls in The Cottage were served an eviction letter. Everyone looked at me with big eyes saying "Golly, Bel - you have been EVICTED?" Too long a story to share, but I need to at least say don't worry, it's not my fault! It wasn't me! And funnily, it happened right after I accepted the new job. I always sit there thinking, if I had been served these two horrible things at the same time - no job, no accommodation - then there is a high chance I would be back in Singapore by now. But it happened at the perfect timing. I believe He knew time was up in The Cottage with the girls and pushed us for some changes in our lives. Rebecca had a dream to set up a live-in arts studio and this eviction made her sit up and do something about it. Marcia was to fly to NYC for filming (a short film directed by one of her friends) and the timing worked out perfectly for her too. For me, I moved into K's (with my family's blessing of course), which is a 10min walk to work. A lie in every morning? Nothing to complain about.
It has been a humbling experience whenever I think back of these two events. Clearly there were good times and very good times all worth mentioning. 2012 was also the year where...
and we went for our epic trip to Croatia
So you can imagine, I had a sad wave of nostalgia when we said goodbye to 2012 and started the final moments of countdown (on TV that is) to usher in the new year. It was certainly a year of unceasingly fruitfulness and for that, I give thanks to God.
2012 was the year where I learnt that Jesus does turn "bad things" around for good, even though it could be under a bad label which people shun away from. Bad labels in the name of "Redundancy" and "Eviction". I can look back at laugh now, but under the circumstances, it was no laughing matter. What do you do when your boss brings you into a room telling you that the job you have is put at risk? He tells you that he has tried his best fighting for your job but unfortunately under today's market conditions, sadly he has lost the battle. Suddenly I felt all alone in a foreign country. That said, he gave me some options of other roles in the bank. But no matter how he tried to "console" me with the options presented to me, tears rolled down my face uncontrollably to the extent he had to send me home after our meeting. My world in mid April then was a blur. For two whole weeks, I spoke to countless people for advice. I did not know which option to take. I prayed about it, and I knew I couldn't ask too many people and be swayed by everyone's advice for they will all be different. I knew I had to ask advice wisely from people who understand my situation and the nature of the industry. Indeed He knows best. Truth be told, I believe with all my heart that Jesus knew I could not take the horrible job anymore under my ex-manager and then exchanged it for an awesome one under the label "at risk". Today, I am enjoying my job 10 times more, having a greater sense of job satisfaction and I cannot praise Jesus enough.
Many people give me a shocked face when they heard us girls in The Cottage were served an eviction letter. Everyone looked at me with big eyes saying "Golly, Bel - you have been EVICTED?" Too long a story to share, but I need to at least say don't worry, it's not my fault! It wasn't me! And funnily, it happened right after I accepted the new job. I always sit there thinking, if I had been served these two horrible things at the same time - no job, no accommodation - then there is a high chance I would be back in Singapore by now. But it happened at the perfect timing. I believe He knew time was up in The Cottage with the girls and pushed us for some changes in our lives. Rebecca had a dream to set up a live-in arts studio and this eviction made her sit up and do something about it. Marcia was to fly to NYC for filming (a short film directed by one of her friends) and the timing worked out perfectly for her too. For me, I moved into K's (with my family's blessing of course), which is a 10min walk to work. A lie in every morning? Nothing to complain about.
It has been a humbling experience whenever I think back of these two events. Clearly there were good times and very good times all worth mentioning. 2012 was also the year where...
- I crossed my fourth year mark in London celebrating it with my good friends wearing stripes - woohoo!
- We celebrated the Jubilee Weekend in style, thanks to chef Rebecca
- K and I got engaged!
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| Still can't believe how this photo created a little stir on my FB page. My eagle eyed friends spotted the box and ring on my finger! |
- Mimi came for a visit in summer for the Olympics and to celebrate our 30th and Friendship
and we went for our epic trip to Croatia
- I turned 30!
- My brother got married to his childhood sweetheart
- Got to spend another Christmas with my second family in Stuttgart
So you can imagine, I had a sad wave of nostalgia when we said goodbye to 2012 and started the final moments of countdown (on TV that is) to usher in the new year. It was certainly a year of unceasingly fruitfulness and for that, I give thanks to God.
He shall be like a treeLooking forward to what's ahead!
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3
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