Montreux et Yvoire

M and I had a little free time so we took some day trips out. We visited a place called Montreux the day before. It was a pretty long drive from where we stayed at Ferney but it was worth it. We visited the Chateau de Chillon- not the best castle I've been to but I still loved it. Then M took me up the Alps on a rickety old train. It was Les Rochers-de-Naye. There we visited the Alpin Garden, which only opens in summer I think. The view was breath-taking. This is a panorama taken by him:

Today, we went to Yvoire to look. The weather turned rainy so we did not spend long but I must say- it's beautiful!!! It's a small French town but it's so pretty, totally my kind of ideal holiday destination. So medieval and quaint. I would have loved to sit there sipping a coffee and watch the world go by. Unfortunately, due to the bad weather, we only rushed through the Le Jardin des Cinq Sens (garden of 5 senses) and grabbed an ice cream on the way back to the car. Will definitely have to find an excuse to go back there!!

Arriving to Geneva

The ride here was not great for me 😓 I cannot sleep on planes and I cannot sit for too long (even movies give me knee aches). So by the time we got here, I was nursing a migraine. However, there was a house viewing in a few hours so had to pop painkillers and go! We were also planning to go to the supermarket to pick up some food and things for our stay. I really did not know if my body could last all the things we had planned to do.

The first housing agent could not speak English and we were worried!! We texted a restaurant owner we met here in April (she is Singaporean too!) and she kindly agreed to come with us at the last minute! When we dragged our jet lagged bodies to the house, she was already there waiting for us. She handed us a bag and said "dinner for you". All I can say is- God is so good. He who knows our needs before we even say it and He provides. 🙌 Thank You, Lord!

The sumptuous Chinese food we had before crashing at 5pm (Geneva time) and sleeping 12hrs 😛:

Hurricane

Shortly before leaving SG, after all the madness of packing, leaving our marital home and sending things to be shipped, that anxiety of leaving all that is safe and familiar suddenly becomes more obvious to us both. Many "what-ifs" flood our mind. It hit us real bad. It made us see how weak we really were inside and what false securities we were hiding ourselves in. However, it sent us running to the only One we know who never changes and is certain. He knows how insecure we really are and He also knows how to expose us and make us see that He is truly all we need. 

This song by Jimmy Needham "Hurricane" is the prayer we need:

I have built a city here
Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide
I don't want to be safe tonight

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now
I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours now

I am yours and you are mine
You know far better than I
And if destructions what I need
Then I'll receive it lord from thee
Yes I'll receive it lord from thee

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now
I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours now

And it's your eye in the storm
Watching over me
And it's your eye in the storm
Wanting only good for me
And if you are the war
Let me be the casualty
Till I'm yours alone
I am only yours
I am yours alone lord

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now
I need you like a burning flame
A wild fire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours now

Getting ready to go....

We are leaving Singapore next Tuesday! July has just really flown by. The last 2 weeks we were really packing like crazy and also meeting up with friends and family. I have been meaning to write more but just could not find the time.

I think the most fun part was buying winter clothes- because it was paid for!!

However, i could not say the same for packing. The sad realisation i am a hoarder, choosing what i can ship over to Geneva (limited to 30 boxes' space), vacating our marriage home, parting with many things that are still in good condition- 😱😱😱. The thought of parting with my neighbours made me sad too...

Next week, a whole new level of stress awaits us. But, there is no need to worry or fear, as God's word reminds us. We need only to turn to Him who is able to do all things. 😃

Getting a move on...

So it's all confirmed. M and I rented out our place in SG and we are starting to pack. It's really quite crazy and I notice we are more short tempered too. With E and each other.

Lord, please help us and keep us sane and focused on You...

Waiting...

It's hard to be waiting. With no confirmed dates, we cannot plan anything. It seems so frustrating... M and I were sharing our lessons on 1 Samuel. David had been anointed as next king. However, Saul was not dead yet. While David was on the run from Saul, who was pursuing him out of jealousy, he was presented with 2 opportunities to kill Saul and then ascend the throne. But twice, he chose not to kill the Lord's anointed. He would rather be on the run and wait for God to deal with Saul Himself. This patience and waiting on the Lord- I need to learn that! The Lord will deal with our matters.

Mother's Day...

Over this weekend as we celebrate and give thanks for mummies, I felt ashamed as I sat in church and this thought came to me. This is my 3rd mother's day, and I was expecting to have some flowers or token of appreciation from M (of course right, since E is only 2, I cannot expect anything from him). I had this same feeling last year and the year before. When nothing came, I was a little unhappy- I felt unappreciated and undermined. I realised that I often have this thought too when I think about me giving up my career to be a homemaker in Geneva. Does M think it is easy to be a stay home mom? Does he not realise that I'm the one with the short end of the stick?? In the midst of my self pity, my self righteous thoughts, another thought came... But M is shouldering most of the responsibilities of ensuring we will have enough to eat, wear and live. He will be the sole breadwinner. My job as a stay home mom will be predictable, but he will face uncertainties in this new job. Yes, being a mom is not easy, but right now, M's contribution as husband and dad is even harder. And him being the best dad and husband is enough mother's day gift for me. So, I felt ashamed for thinking that I was unappreciated and undermined. If anything, it was me who has undermined the father of E. 

Anyhow, I had a wonderful lunch and time with my family. Being a mom is definitely not one person's job. I could not have done it without the help of our families. 💖