FamiLee News 2006

Dear Friends from near and far,

Feels like only yesterday I'd written last year's newsletter (see http://familee05.blogspot.com/2005/12/familee-news-2005.html), yet 12 months have sneaked up on us unnoticed. Despite that, 2006 has had its fair share of events for our family :

Andrew (21) completed his National Service in May and also got his prayer answered in getting a place in NUS. He's doing what Hon Leong did, i.e. Civil Engineering and been a great help, accompanying him on his rounds of building inspection. Mark (19) is sitting for his final year exams for his Ngee Ann Polytechnic accounting course next week and will start his NS in the new year. This will give him some time to decide on his career aspirations.

In June, the family sans Mark, flew up to the UK to meet up with Daniel (24) for our long-awaited holiday. It was truly long-awaited, as our dear friends in Glasgow remarked that we took 25 years to return for a visit. It was a great reunion with friends there, especially with Mrs Anderson, at Lesmahagow, a beautiful retirement village between Glasgow and Edinburgh. We spent nearly two weeks starting our drive in Scotland and heading south to England, just in time for Daniel's convocation. The blog and photos of our UK tour are at http://leesonuktour06.blogspot.com/ Daniel is now back for a one-year attachment at the Biopolis doing bioinformatics. It has been a noisy house since his return. Right now, he's deciding on what to do for his postgrad, if at all.

Hon Leong's father passed away peacefully on October 10 after a brief illness. He was 86. A few weeks before, he had already told the family that he was at peace with God and didn't need to live any more! His confidence in where he was going was quite uncharacteristic and surely from God. Throughout our bereavement, we received much help and support from friends, especially those from our church, Paya Lebar Methodist. We thank God for their love.

Hon Leong has had a blessed year, at work and healthwise. Serving one of the cell groups has also become more of a blessing than a burden. Do pray for wisdom as to how to lead the cell to further growth. He also had some exposure to mission work, having made some short trips to Rangsit, Thailand. He will soon be making another short trip there with Andrew and Mark.

Joy was posted out as a Master Teacher, a grand-sounding title, which means that she now functions as a resource person to teachers from a cluster of 13 pri and sec schools. The work has been challenging but exciting. In Sept, doctors discovered a nerve disorder called trigeminal neuralgia which had been giving her pain on the right side of her face. The first 2 types of medication did not work for her and she's just started on something new. Your prayers are appreciated.

As we hit the half-century mark, we are reminded of the sense of urgency in Eph 5:15-16 (Amplified Bible)

"Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil."

As 2007 draws near, may you have a purposeful year full of opportunities for good. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.