Friday, October 26, 2007

In Anticipation...

T’will be Monday in a couple of days…

 

What will be the result of the resale application from HDB folks?

Can’t seem to wait… but I must.

 

May God bless us with patience and endurance.

Godspeed!

 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

I'm Still Amazed...

Until now, I can’t keep wondering how we were able to purchase a flat.

Of course, we did all what we can to do sum and total, plus and minus;

We sort of estimated our financial standings when the loan servicing starts,

on year 1, then year 2, and so on. We also checked the expenses for the kids,

as they progress in their education. Then there is our CPF contribution.

Of course, the very first loss is to continue renting a flat, especially now

that the monthly rental increased by about 30%.

All in all, if we do a rough estimation of how much we have lost to renting,

that would be ($800/month X 12 months/year X 7 years), roughly $67,200.

If we’ve invested that amount to buying a flat before, we’ve already serviced

4-5 years of our 30-year tenure loan. Think of that!

Anyway, no use crying over spilled milk, I still can get over the thought of us

being able to buy a house now. No gold in our bank accounts. No stocks giving us

surpluses. No investments ensuring our daily expenses.

But there is one that was sure: the goodness of the Lord!

Honestly, I prayed for 2 things: (1) that God will give us a big house, and that

(2) God will help us with the financial commitment repaying the bank loan.

And if we are amazed with the fulfilment of the first request, how much more

when the second request is answered! That would be daily dependence on the Lord

from our part, and He will do the rest!

We dreamed big, and God has bountifully showered His blessings upon us.

We did not limit His powers on us, now. We pray that we will continue to be

expectant of what God will do in our lives evermore.

And that is never due to our own goodness and righteousness.

It is due to His never-ending mercies alone: they are new every morning.

Great is Your faithfulness, O Lord!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Resale Application Submitted... Waiting...

Since the submission of the Resale Application to HDB last Monday, I’ve been anticipating the next events.

I’m continually checking my mail box, as the letter for the first appointment details will come anytime

within this week, or the next. I’m like a child who can’t wait to get his hands on a new toy!

 

We’ve laid down the next activities and listed down all that we’d need to do. It’s like a project.

And we also continually pray that God will guide us in every step of the way.

 

To God be the glory!

Amen!

In the Old Place

I have been drafting a short blog, some sort of ‘memoirs’, and it is not a healthy one.

It contains a lot of those moments that were recorded, first and foremost, in my brain.

I wanted to put it in writing. But then again, the soft nudging of the Spirit convinced me

not to do it. I started to write it a couple of days back, then I saved it in draft. The “short”

blog I was thinking of isn’t actually a short one; the bad experiences I’ve had, we’ve had,

were all too numerous to count, and I was thinking that I would only mark down those

“monumental” events, or call it whatever it is, but it seems that events like this are too many.

Today, I went through the draft, and reading them, remembering the moments, I myself

didn’t feel good about it.

 

So, like what the Spirit says, so I will: I’m dropping my ‘memoirs’ blog. And I’m writing this one

instead. A short recap, that despite all those unhappy memories, the shameful events, the

tearful moments, the angry times, mementoes of fiascos, souvenirs of betrayals – let them be.

I pray that God will use all those sad memories to inspire us to hope for a better future, one that

only God can assure us of – no matter what others may do to take our focus off that goal.

 

May God be praised. Glory to Him alone!

Amen!

Google SketchUp

We’ve been thinking of how to do the renovation of the resale flat that we purchased,

and it is so difficult just talking this and that, putting things here and there, touching up

this side, putting plants that side – all in plain talk. As if imagination can be limited…

 

But it is the difficulty of coming up to an agreement if what you have in mind can’t be

clearly and precisely described; just that you know what you are thinking of, but not yor spouse.

 

Then I found Google SketchUp!

 

It is a 3D modelling tool, and what is basically used to feed their GoogleEarth renditions.

Satisfies just the 3 critieria:

1.       It is free (the #1 criterion)

2.      It is easy to learn

3.      It is easy to use

 

And with that, I’m able to quickly draft a rough rendition of what I have in mind,

with my wife agreeing and disagreeing, and telling me what would be here and there.

A few touch up on the model, and we’re almost set. Well, almost.

 

The renovation may not be coming up so soon, but at least, our minds have intersected

and we have agreed on what will happen. And when. Priorities first.

 

Oh, I just can’t wait to move in to the new flat…!

Please God!