Taking stock and giving thanks
Here’s a quick snapshot of my 2025. Why anyone would read it is a mystery to me. I am posting as a way to remind myself of the milestones in my life. But more importantly, how my Father took such good care of me.
In February, I had a tooth extracted (ouch! 😫) but that didn’t stop me from attending a course in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Malaysia.
Me? TCM? 🤪 I used to watch a lot of Korean drama. I am boggled by how herbs and needles can heal. I don’t understand the science. The training was conducted in Chinese (yes, slides, notes, lecture and all). Haha? Me? Chinese? 😅 I joined the training only because I just wanted a break from caregiving.
We had to do a practicum after our training. Of all the patients, I was assigned to person who was in so much pain. The most severe one in fact. (How did that happen?!) She could hardly walk. I touched her and she squealed in pain. (Oops 😱). I just did what I was told. Then our Chinese physician teacher took over and with the few pricks of the needle, she was literally “walking and leaping and praising God.” She walked back and forth and squatted and stood up. I became a TCM convert.
In May, I brought five other friends to Malaysia. They got initiated into TCM level 1. In June, two of us ended up organising another training in Singapore. It was a lot of work!
KOHnvention – the Koh Family Clan Grand Reunion
July was special. Seventy plus family members from four generations and six countries came together for our grand reunion. Many of my cousins left Singapore in their late teens or early twenties. Those in my generation had met each other but those that came after us were strangers to each other. I made a family book profiling every single family member. More about this another time.
In 2025, I also completed studying the book of Philippines with my Precept-Upon-Precept group with our Bible study leader Dr BK. Such a rich study about being thankful.
I am a city girl
In July, I went camping in Malaysia. I thought it would be interesting to learn survival skills like cooking food that we foraged from the forest on makeshift charcoal stoves. While many stayed in tents 🏕️, I cheated and stayed at a hotel. 😜
I was happy to be able to host a Filipino couple in Singapore after the camp.
You have to trust your Father’s heart
God took me on a 40-day adventure in the Philippines from 28 August to 7 October 2025. I was thankful to arrive home to celebrate my 65th birthday with Mum on 8 October. More about this in another post.
Mum: one year of rehab
In December of 2024, Mum had a fall and broke her wrist. January saw her start rehab to regain use of her left hand. She was officially discharged on 27 November 2025. She and my helper worked hard on her daily exercises.
Reviving my website, YouTube channels and Learning, Learning, Learning
I closed the year starting Filipino lessons with Len in November. It’s now January 2025 and we are still at it (with a lot of detours). Len is a media specialist (not just my language teacher). Our conversations gave me the kick I needed. I did a major clean up and reorganised my two website and four YouTube channels.
I also took a two-day course on Plant Propagation from 28-29 December 2025.
Goodbye 2025 and Hello 2026
My brother’s family, Mum, and I celebrated Christmas at his home. I’m not very good at buying presents but this year, I got gifts from the Philippines.
The last memory-making event of 2025 was saying goodbye to 2025 and saying welcome 2026 with our Koh family clan in Singapore on 31 December-1 January 2026.
Thank you for journeying with me. I am always thankful for your friendship and for taking time to read and share my stories. May we walk in 2026 trusting our Father’s heart.