30th November ~ Suitcase out, zips checked, and heart already halfway in December. New York winter, Bahamas sunshine, and return to Melaka all waiting ahead. December, I’m getting ready for you. 💜

🌼 Warm & joyful

1st Dec — We celebrated Judith’s birthday early (her actual day is 17 Dec) since everyone will be travelling. Lunch, coffee, and a ✨ sumptuous durian cake. So grateful for her heart, diligence, and the joy she brings to the SMHC team.

A Quiet Start to the Journey ✈️☕️🎄

Early morning coffee at the airport — just the two of us, waiting for our flight to KL. ☕️💼

Business first, then off we go for our Christmas holidays. ✨🌍

As I sit here listening to Christmas music in the background 🎶, the whole airport feels softer… a gentle reminder that the year is ending, and a new one is just ahead. ❤️

A small moment of calm before the journey begins — two cups, two hearts, one direction.

Lord, go before us today.

Cover our meetings with Your wisdom, our travels with Your protection,

and our holidays with joy, rest, and grateful hearts. Amen.

🌅✋ Held by His Hand — A Morning Reminder (5 December) 🙏✨

This morning, I woke up with an unexpected sense of being deeply loved. As I opened the Scriptures, Psalm 139:1–10 greeted me like a warm, familiar whisper — reminding me once again of the two greatest days of my life: the day I was born and the day I discovered why.

God formed me with intention, purpose, and design. And today He reminded me that not only does He know every detail of my life, but He walks each step with me. The weight of that truth feels like a tender embrace — steadying, guiding, reassuring.

In a world that moves fast and often feels uncertain, this promise grounds me. His hand leads. His hand holds. His hand steadies my life. I am never walking alone.

Here is the passage that shaped my morning: Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts even before they form. You know where I walk and where I rest; all my ways are familiar to You. Before a word is on my tongue, You already know exactly what I will say. You surround me on every side and place Your hand of blessing upon me. Such knowledge is overwhelming — far beyond what I can grasp. Where could I go from Your Spirit? Where could I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I lie down in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the morning or settle at the farthest place across the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your right hand will hold me fast.

First Sips, First Smiles — New York Begins • 6/12/2025

Yay, we finally touched down in New York — tired, but so excited to start this adventure together. ❤️

Our first stop? Hot chocolate at Japan Village, Brooklyn.

Tucked inside Industry City, this incredible creative playground by the waterfront, Japan Village feels like a tiny slice of Japan in the middle of Brooklyn. Industry City itself is a vibrant mix of artisanal shops, food halls, indie brands, art studios, and cozy corners that feel both industrial and inspiring. 🚶‍♀️✨

What I love most is how old warehouse vibes blend with modern makers. You’ll find coffee roasters, chocolatiers, local designers, breweries, and global flavours all in one huge complex. Every turn feels like a new discovery. Such a perfect place to start the day, sip hot chocolate, settle into the NYC energy, and simply enjoy being in the moment together. 💛🌆

There’s something so simple yet precious about moments like this… just the two of us, warming our hands and hearts after a long flight, sharing smiles over a cup of chocolate. ☕✨

Making Memories…

🌊 Day 1 on the MSC Cruise to Bahamas 🌴✨~ 7/12/2025

What a start! Today I met a new friend, Veronica, right at the sailaway party. It’s amazing how a simple smile or “hello” can open the door to new friendships.

Even the captain reminded us that from today onwards, we’re family on this ship. For the next 7 nights, more than 4,000 of us, representing over 130 nations, are sharing the same ocean, the same sunsets, and the same memories in the making. 🌍💫

And wow, the food is A LOT. 🍽️ From the buffets to the endless dessert counters, I don’t know if this is a cruise or a seven-day eating mission. 😆

Later in the evening, we caught the Encore Broadway Theatre show and it was amazing! 🎭✨ A beautiful celebration of Broadway and the West End with hits from Wicked, Phantom, and Les Mis.

So I told myself to not shy away, to not stay quiet. Smile. Greet someone. Be present. It’s less awkward than pretending we’re strangers and way more joyful.

Here’s to new faces, new stories, good food, unforgettable shows, and the beautiful adventure ahead! 🚢💙✨

🌊✨ Day 2 Recap — MSC Cruise to the Bahamas 🌴🍽️

✨ Day 4  Heartbeats in Nassau: A Slow, Beautiful Pause 🌴💙

Today felt like a gentle exhale, the kind you don’t realise you’ve been needing until it wraps around you like warm island air. Nassau welcomed us with its superb views, sparkling turquoise water and beaches that seemed to whisper, “Stay a little longer.”

But the real joy of today wasn’t just the destination… it was sharing every moment with Paulus. 💛

We slowed down, truly slowed down. No rush, no schedules, no noise. Just us.

We swam in the clearest blue, lay under the soft sky and tasted a bottle of local Bahamian beer… simple, refreshing, perfect.

There was something about today that felt healing.

Maybe it was the ocean.

Maybe it was the laughter we shared.

Maybe it was just the gift of being fully present with someone you love deeply.

Whatever it was, my heart is full. Nassau was beautiful, but this memory with Paulus, that’s the part I’ll carry home. 🌺✨

Ocean Cay, Bahamas — A Place of Remembrance

11 December 2025 | MSC Marine Reserve

Standing on Ocean Cay, surrounded by turquoise waters, gentle winds, and the steady rhythm of the waves, my heart was filled beyond words. I stood in awe of creation its beauty, order, and power all pointing unmistakably to the greatness of God 🌊🌴

This place is more than beautiful. Ocean Cay tells a story of restoration. What was once damaged by industrial activity has been intentionally renewed. Through vision, stewardship, and collaboration, coral reefs are being restored and people are invited into a movement of care for creation. It reminded me that God the Creator chooses to work through both believers and non believers to maintain, grow, and redeem what has been broken 🤍🌱

As I looked out at the sea, I felt a deep sense of remembrance. God can truly be trusted. He holds everything the oceans, the wind, the future and He alone decides how His purposes unfold. He breathes life. He chooses whom He partners with. He remains sovereign and good 🙏✨

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1

The beauty of the Bahamas did more than delight my eyes it anchored my soul. In this place, I was reminded to trust the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding. I choose again to lay down doubt and to remember His faithfulness 💙

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

I do not want to forget this moment. I want this picture of wind, waves, and wonder to return to me whenever fear or uncertainty creeps in. God can be trusted always 🌊🕊️

My Devotion on 13th December 2025 🎄 The Gift of Presence This Christmas 🎁

This Christmas, I am learning that the greatest gift is not what we exchange, but how fully we show up  to God, to one another, to this sacred moment. 🎄🤍

Presence:

Emmanuel — God with us.

Not distant. Not hurried.

Fully present.

Checking out from our MSC Cruise 🚢✨

A beautiful start to the morning with our last breakfast at sea, hearts full and grateful. Now waiting for our time to disembark as we head off to New York ❄️🗽where it’s snowing today!

What a gift this journey has been. God is good, and we’re thankful for the memories made and the grace that carries us into the next chapter.

A sweet remembrance of Maritza and our wonderful waitress during our stay on MSC Cruise 🚢🤍

Grateful for the kindness, smiles, and moments shared around the table. It’s people like these who turn a journey into a cherished memory. Thank you for making our time onboard so special. ✨

Snowfall in New York ❄️ ~ 14/12/2025

Stepping out of the ship today, we were welcomed by falling snow, soft and quiet, almost sacred. Snow is rare in New York, and it felt like a gentle invitation to slow down and simply be present. The city moved at a different pace as white flakes dusted the streets, rooftops, and the stone steps of historic buildings.

We spent a few unhurried hours exploring, laughing, and letting the cold air wake our senses. Beautiful moments appeared everywhere, from snow settling on evergreens to festive lights glowing against the grey winter sky. We took photos that captured not just the scenery, but the feeling of the day.

It was a simple day, made special by shared wonder and togetherness. Walking through the city with Paulus, surrounded by snow, reminded me that the most meaningful travels are not just about where we go, but about who we walk with and how fully we enter the moment. 🤍✨

A Gift of Presence, Wonder, and Remembering 🤍

Some days leave an imprint on the heart not because they are loud but because they are full ✨

Moments of Wonder 🎭

Experiencing The Lion King and the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes was truly spectacular. I enjoyed every moment. It felt like an experience of a lifetime. At times I teared up with joy simply overwhelmed that I was actually here witnessing this in person. A deep sense of gratitude filled my heart. God is so so good 🙏

Awe and Gratitude 🗽

The Statue of Liberty experience was also amazing. Despite the chilly cruise ride and us standing outside the entire time it was worth every second. I have watched her appear in so many movies over the years and always dreamed of seeing her in person. Standing there and looking up at her felt like an incredible gift. A moment of awe I will never forget 🌬️

Simple Joys of the Season 🍫

We did some Christmas shopping at Hershey’s Chocolate World and wow it was such fun. The hot chocolate was absolutely amazing the kind that warms both hands and heart ☕ A simple joy yet one that made the season feel even more festive 🎄

Remembering and Bearing Witness 🕯️

Visiting the Museum of Jewish Heritage was deeply troubling and emotionally heavy for me. Reading story after story and seeing picture after picture of Jewish people suffering across Europe left me profoundly saddened. I was especially moved by the accounts of those who managed to escape the Nazis fleeing to Denmark and then to Norway.

One story in particular stayed with me. Families had to hide tightly packed for more than ten hours under canvas on fishermen’s boats just to cross over to safety. As I read my imagination became so vivid that at moments I felt nauseous. The weight of fear desperation and courage was overwhelming 💔

And yet even in the sorrow there was resilience. The human will to survive to hope and to live 🌱

A Lasting Reflection ✨

These moments hold joy and sorrow side by side. Celebration and remembrance. Wonder and grief. They remind me that travel is not only about seeing beautiful places but about allowing ourselves to be moved deeply honestly and humbly.

I leave this journey grateful and changed 🤍

Scripture Reflection

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Remember the days of long ago. Consider the generations long past. Deuteronomy 32:7

🙏 Lord, Thank You for the gift of presence and the privilege of being here.

Thank You for moments of joy that lifted my spirit and moments of sorrow that softened my heart.

As I remember stories of suffering and courage teach me not to look away but to carry compassion humility and gratitude into the way I live and love.

Help me to hold joy without guilt and grief without fear trusting that You are present in both.

May what I have seen shape who I become more aware, more thankful, more faithful.

I place these memories in Your hands and I rest in the truth that You are near to the brokenhearted and faithful through every generation.

In Jesus name. Amen

New York A City That Gave Us Memories ✨

The last few days in New York will remain etched in my heart as something truly unforgettable 🤍

Each day unfolded with its own quiet wonder, its own anticipation, something new to look forward to, something beautiful waiting to be discovered 🌆✨

We found ourselves standing among hundreds of flickering candles 🕯️ wrapped in stillness and reverence at the candlelight event. Visiting the Brooklyn Tabernacle was overwhelming in the best way. The vastness of the space, the weight of worship, the sense that God was present in the silence and in the song reminded me how faith can feel both intimate and grand at the same time 🙏🤍

We wandered through streets dressed in light 🎄✨ Christmas lights glowed against the winter night, breathtaking and magical. We laughed over simple joys too, like having Chick fil A again, twice 😄 something we do not have back home in Malaysia. Small pleasures somehow become part of the memories we carry 💛

Now, as we sit at the airport waiting for our flight home ✈️ there is a tender fullness in my heart. This journey gave us moments to treasure, conversations to remember, and days that felt intentionally lived. I loved every single day in New York, its beauty, its contrasts, its rawness 🌃

Yet with all the wonder, I am also deeply grateful for home 🏡🤍 Malaysia feels safe to me, gentler and calmer. New Yorkers can be kind, but the city moves fast and impatiently, and at times there is a heaviness in the air. I found myself praying especially for this city 🙏 that it would become a place where people slow down, where kindness grows softer, where visitors feel protected and welcomed 🤍

The subway, in particular, felt unsettling at times 🚇 Waiting, watching, wondering. The signs were unclear and the moments tense. I pray that one day this city will receive the care it needs, even in its infrastructure, so that moving through it feels safe rather than stressful 🙏

Still, I am thankful 🤍 Thankful for the memories made, for the lessons learned, for the contrast that reminds me how precious peace truly is ✨

New York gave us stories 📖

Home gives us rest 🕊️

And I carry both with gratitude, heading home with a full heart, whispering a prayer over a city I will always remember ✈️🤍

At MSC, I met Maritza, and a beautiful friendship was formed.
Night after night, we shared dinners, stories, and laughter.
Even today, our connection remains. We are still in touch, still held by those memories.
I miss you, Maritza. 🤍✨

Touched down in Melaka on 24 December 🤍✈️

Coming home always does something to my heart.

Back among the Malaccans where the joy, love and memories of growing up have quietly kept me alive grounded and deeply loved. I am so looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and to the warmth that only this place carries.

This morning before meeting friends and family I slowed down and reflected. As I read His Word I was reminded again that Jesus will come back. And until that day I know what I am called to do to stay faithful to hang in and to complete the work He has entrusted to me.

I want to finish well. Every role. Every responsibility my Father has placed in my hands.

For now and until He tells me otherwise my focus is clear.

As I look toward 2026 I sense a deep calling to teach and form marketplace leaders and to plant Kingdom culture within corporations and businesses. I long to see workplaces become places of integrity care and human flourishing where faith and work are lived as one. I remain committed to stewarding this journey beginning with SM Health Care Group and the marketplace communities God has entrusted to my care.

Grateful. Grounded. Faithful. 🙏✨

25–30 December | Christmas Reflections 🎄

On the 25th of December, we continued our usual Christmas tradition 🎁 Lunch at my godfather’s house and dinner at my godmother’s. This year felt extra special because cousins we don’t normally get to connect with came by in the afternoon 🤍 Time flew by so quickly that day. By the time Paulus and I laid our heads down to rest, we were full not just physically but emotionally and relationally 🥰

Early morning on the 26th, everything changed 💔

My brother Gerard from KL discovered that his house in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, had been broken into while he was away celebrating Christmas with us in Melaka. The news was shocking. Everything stood still 😔 Stress, disbelief, and heaviness filled the air as they had to rush back to deal with the situation.

The pain ran deep. They lost precious items passed down from our parents, their wedding rings, and many irreplaceable belongings 💍💔 That day, I felt deeply upset by the wickedness in the world. Humanity can feel truly broken at times, and my heart was heavy with anger and grief 😢

That night, we continued with our planned Christmas gathering at Edmund’s and Amu’s place 🎄 Though we were together, it wasn’t quite the same. My heart felt burdened, and throughout the evening I stayed in close contact with my family in Kota Kemuning, trying to help in whatever way I could 🙏

On the 27th, Paulus and I had a lovely lunch with Angel at a Korean restaurant of her choice 🇰🇷🍲 It was a meaningful time to catch up and simply be present with our niece whom we miss dearly 💕 We felt so proud of how she has grown. Embracing her journey in human resources, learning, persevering, and navigating life with courage and maturity 🌱

A thoughtful Christmas gift from Angel to us 🎄💝

So personal, so creative, and filled with love.

We laughed, we smiled, and our hearts felt deeply seen.

Grateful for friendships that know how to turn simple moments into precious memories 🤍✨

After lunch, we decided to head to KL 🚗 With the kindness and help of Dino and Elina, they drove us so we could spend a night with my brother and family. To catch up, connect, and simply be with them 🤍 It was a precious time. We talked, ate, went to church together, and prayed 🙏 God is good ✨

By 4pm the next day, we headed back to Melaka, and just like that, our Sunday had unfolded in ways we could never have planned ⏳

I carried mixed emotions through those days. Joy, gratitude, anger, sorrow, and weariness. Yet deep down, amid all the chaos and brokenness, I still sensed God’s presence holding us together 🤍 Even when my heart was heavy, I knew He was near. Steady, faithful, and quietly at work. Reminding me that light still shines, even in the darkest moments 🌟🙏

On the 29th of December, we had breakfast with our godson Asher and his family ☕🍽️ It was a beautiful time of sharing, laughter, and meaningful connection that filled our hearts with joy.

That evening, our ladies night tradition continued once again 🌸🙏 This year felt especially precious as we prayed together and shared heart to heart, reminding one another of God’s faithfulness and presence in our lives.

On the 30th of December, we had lunch with Tina and Christopher 🍽️💍 and listened to their exciting journey ahead as they plan their wedding for November next year. So much hope, joy, and anticipation filled the conversation.

So many exciting things lie ahead 🌟 and truly the Lord is good and faithful yesterday, today, and in all that is to come 🙌💖

31st December in Melaka is never just a date for us 🌙

It is a sacred pause before the turning of the page. Every year, before we return to KK, we gather here:

To remember

To give thanks

To realign our hearts with what the Lord is calling us to next.

That night was filled with simple joys. Fireworks lighting the sky 🎆. Food shared around the table. Laughter that carried stories of many years. Karaoke voices full of joy. Yet beneath all the celebration was something deeper. A quiet gratitude for family who has walked with us through seasons. For elders who remind us of faithfulness across generations. For community that feels like home. As the countdown ended, so did a chapter. And with it came a renewed surrender. Lord, as we leave Melaka once again. We carry with us memories, blessings, and the prayers of those we love.

We step into the new year trusting You To lead us, To strengthen us, And to use our lives for what truly matters. Grateful for where we have been. Hopeful for where You are taking us. Faithful to keep walking, one step at a time 🤍🙏

December is a month reminded me that life is not measured only by what I achieve or accomplish, but by how faithfully I choose to remain present before God and with the people entrusted to me 🤍 In moments of celebration, seasons of uncertainty, and quiet spaces of reflection, I have encountered grace again and again ✨

As I step into the coming year, I do so without all the answers, but with a deeper sense of trust 🙏 Trust that what has been planted in faith will grow in its own time, and that God’s presence will continue to guide my steps, even when the path ahead is unclear 🌿 With my hope renewed and my heart anchored, I carry forward what this season has shaped within me gratitude, attentiveness, and the courage to keep walking faithfully one day at a time 🌅

As I look toward 2026, I hold onto this promise:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

Bring it on 2026! 💛✨