when mom partners GOD till the last..

...
mom has taught us well.
insitinctively we knew this was a time to oull together - to rise up as the HO clan. i felt sure she'd be proud of us - how we offered our best listening, planning, ideas and labor. OUr days were full and we felt tired. But something was surely carrying us all along: i am convinced it is God's answer to the many prayers rising on our behalf.

So amazed at the spiritual and emotional maturity all displayed - it's like we grew up! even while a few of us worried about some relational cracks; there was never fear, condemnation or guilt. Just a quiet moving forward - led by and enabled by the Spirit no doubt.
Mommy saw form heaven what her Father can achieve - even without her active role in it as it were...(mommies always do so much)

You lived well momand you died well too - thinking of us yet again i am sure; you gave in to finality.your stature, strength and influecen in our lives yanked us out of our hovels and set us squarely in His light and before each other...and Grace! we did it!
we stood togehter
we stood side by side
and you,
and YOUwere the centre of it all.

thanks mom
thanks GOD
thanks friends

a lil tradition missing

We meet the cleaner, Pak Cik at the bottom of the block often. usually some chat ensues. Last year when his wife was suffering from cancer, mother went with me to visit her as mother speaks Malay way beyond my 'selamat pagi'.
These days when i meet Pak Cik i am more reticent. At some point, he will ask about mom. i dont feel like talking about it.
And i wish i had a way to braodcast it to him and the many other neighbours i know - and not have to repeat myself.
Perhaps we should keep some traditions: like wearing a small square piece of linen on our sleeves used to signal that we are in mourning.
This way i dont have to suffer the details and people will understand if i am less my chirpy self...

We wore those little squares when Ah Ma (mother's mom) died; but i think with cremation and other changes, we do not do so anymore...

Impact on people who attended

More sharings from those who attended the memorial service:

"the service really touched my heart and I left Grace assembly with a thankful heart for the blessings I received during the service".

"I got to understand in practical ways how a seed has to die for the harvest to take place and how making an event such as this into celebration will make heads turn. It is the first time I have seen and experienced something like this. Praise and exalt Him".

During the watch night service on 31 Dec, one of my church member shared that after listening to mom's testimony, he realized he needed to be more joyful. In his words, "I thought I had it bad as a kid, but Mdm Tan Swee Giok had it bad even as an adult..... yet I found her to be always smiling, joyful".

Here they are: grandma and Ru. i think this is Henry's pool at symphony heights.. so glad mom took up swimming! Besides the fact that it was good for her legs...it's neat for the grandkids!

For the record she stays in the pool longer than I - "li eh kio toe siew chui" - 'yours is called swimming?!' -- coz i go in flap around for 15 mins and exit the pool sans sweat.

Hence it is grandma with Ru !

...Ru misses her 'happening' grandma.

u just called..

it's amazing how mother lives on so little. from us, all it takes is just a phone call.

i love randomly calling my mom and then we go
'how are you mom?'
she rattles off some list of things she has done/will do...sometimes i drift off and she asks: "are you listening?" [oops]

other times, i just call her to tell her my son's latest antics. she laughs and reminds me to watch him well and we hang up.

then i would call her, and tell her i miss her asam fish..she takes note of it and the next time round she comes, there is a good chance of asam fish on the dinner table!

mom likes to call me the most 'manja' of the lot of kids..i still wonder why?

Comments on Memorial Service

Here are some comments I received from friends who attended mom's memorial service:

"Charlie, I am so inspired by the life your mom led and was just sharing with my colleague what an amazing woman she was.?

"It was a touching and beautiful tribute to your mom, a wonderful woman of God. I am thankful that God has shown me an example of His love through her."

"I am so honoured to know her though a very brief moment."