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Last day of 2013!

It feels surreal that it is the last day of the year!  How has your year been?

Today I left work at 1230pm and came back to a home cooked lunch by K, and now at sitting at my dining table (again!) and having a pot of tea in front of me with some tidbits in candlelight haha.. that is the scene which I am setting for my reflections of the year.

This has been one of the busiest years ever in my life.  Biggest milestone of course is that I got married!!  And I survived two weddings!!  In fact last night I realised that we have now been married for 6 months and 2 days!

Before that, let me recall Bel's memorable moments in 2013.

K and I went to learn horse riding beginning of the year at the farm near our home.  We had about 10 lessons each and as funny as it may sound, it didn't make me feel better about riding horses after our lessons ended.  I saw K fell off the stallion (thankfully he was fine), and a more scary episode was one of the last lessons which I had - I was supposed to ride the same stallion and I manage to come up with some excuse not to, and the teacher assigned another student to the horse.  Guess what the horse went a little crazy swaying around while we were learning how to trot in the arena.  The amount of swaying caused the student to fall off the horse too, and she was in tears.  It was a horrible feeling at that point in time - I felt so sorry for her and yet guilty too, knowing it could have been me.  They promised her she won't ever ride on Taylor again, and for me, it made me scared of them!  Sigh.. not exactly how I wanted to sound after taking 10 lessons.  K is still keen to learn, and says we could take lessons at another farm in the future.. *umm.. okay…*

Don't get me wrong, I love this white horse Poppy a lot and would always be
so happy when the instructor asked me to ride on Poppy for the lesson

Our last lesson where it was just two of us!
(It was a make up class for those who missed one lesson)

I did a two week trip back home in March.  Attended one of my best pal's wedding in Singapore in March - Corinne and her husband Darren.  I was her bridesmaid and could take notes for my own Chinese wedding in the later part of the year.  I was also there for my grandma's 89th birthday!  How cool is that, I was so happy because I love and respect this sweet old lady so much.  She is such a blessing in my life.  I also got to hang out with Min's daughter Charis over dim sum.


 




Two days after I arrived back, we celebrated K's birthday in the same restaurant which he proposed :)

 

We finally visited the all majestic Mont Saint Michel over Easter and travelled in the North of France, mainly in the countryside and deepened our love for this country.  And I had a chance to practice my rusty French.



Exactly on my fifth year anniversary here in London on 22 April, we spent it by visiting our wedding venue in the countryside of Hertfordshire.



Welcomed my family in June who were here to attend my wedding

Daddy and me!

Had my combined hen party with Marketa two weeks before the big day



And of course, wedding plans in full swing, the BIG DAY arrived on the 29th June 2013!

T'was a beautiful day thank you JESUS for such awesome weather!

We went on a short 5 day mini-moon to Austria, one of my favourite places in the world.



Right after that, I attended the wedding of Marketa and Rahul in the Czech Republic.  The whirlwind trip where I travelled so much to stay 24h exactly.

with the beautiful bride

On the unending theme of weddings, it was wedding prep in full force again, this time for Singapore.  On Sunday 8th September.


In October I celebrated my 31st birthday in style with my loved ones here on this side of the world


and doing what I like too!  Pamper session at Jo Malone.


Went for a macaroon baking class in November.  I wish I can say I'm a pro now but sadly I think I have  already forgotten how to make them :(



And of course in December was the most recent trip to visit my German family where I was so mesmerised by the two boys, Sammy and Gabriel



As we unwind down for the year, I truly thank God for such a memorable year.  At times it felt impossible to do so much but by His grace, He brought me through it all that I can say with confidence "All glory to Him!"

As we usher in the new year, I pray that it would be our best year yet.  I pray for good health - soul prosperity - for us and our loved ones back home.  I pray for His peace and joy.  I thank God knowing that He has gone before me as I continue to rely on His wisdom and favour every day.

"For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield." -- Psalm 5:12

And lastly, I pray that I will continue to live a life shining for Jesus. :)

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." -- Proverbs 4:18

What are your thoughts and prayers for 2014?

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