Highlight of 2021 - Joining Talent Trust.

First post of the new year. Here it is. 

I have not shared about this, not like officially here because the past few months have been like a dream. 

I resigned from Holiday Tours Penang as a Corporate Sales Executive to become a full-time mom, but 2 months later into that full-time role, I tendered my resignation - to myself. Heh. Two months were enough to make me realize that being a stay-at-home mom is not my cup of tea. 

To cut the story short, I joined Talent Trust in August this year, and it has been a wow journey so far. 

If I can choose only one highlight of 2021, for me it would be being a part of this TT Family. I don't think it is because I am the newest baby in this company, and everything still feels nice and warm and all, but let me tell you a little bit about Talent Trust. 

Talent Trust is run as a business, but at our core, we are a ministry that cares for our members. We are established based on the principles of the good stewardship found in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30). 

We partner with Aetna International (one of the world's leading international insurers) to give missionaries the physical, mental, and financial care and support so that they can thrive as long as needed in their calling. 

I remembered going through a few series of interviews and at the end of each call, I would pray and ask God to give me this job. Hah. I even prayed for a desk that has a sea view. I know right. Haven't got the job yet, but praying for a nice sea view desk all d. Hah. Being positive at its best. 

Anyways, after many long phone calls and video calls, I got offered as a Customer Success Associate, and my desk was right next to the window - with a sea view! Kid you not. Now, changed to pantry view because SOP so must sit far away from each other a bit, but I don't mind it cos the pantry also very nice view. Heh. Actually, the whole office is very nicely designed okay. Even our working desk is also the wooden, modern type looking - super best. Heh. 

I was working from home for a few months since it was during MCO when I got the job, but it was not difficult because my teacher, Gladys did such a great job in training me during the onboarding phase. When it was finally time to go back to the office, it was a bitter-sweet thing. But it was mostly good things because we finally got to meet with everyone in person and of course, it is a lot nicer working in an office together. Heh. 

Please go see our team bios thank you - Talent Trust Family as of January 2022 :) 

Anyways, I found THE job, or the job found me. Hah. I align with their mission, and I am so happy and glad that I am (in a way) serving God by taking care of His missionaries worldwide. 

When I got the offer, the first few things that came to my mind were, "What would Ps Heok Cheow say?". I miss this man, a lot. In many ways, he was like a spiritual dad to me. Don't know if you get it, but yeah. There is a part of me that wants to make him proud. I remember his face when I resigned as his PA and to no longer work in the church. I cried like a baby because there was a hint of guilt in me, but I knew very well that I needed to do that. I remembered him comforting me in our church pantry during lunchtime, although it was really hard for him to accept my resignation that time. But he did, and he continued cheering me on. Ah, miss you, Pastor! 

But now, I think he would be proud of me because I finally found something that I can align with - my purpose and my desire to serve. I finally found it, can I say that? I will say that. 

Oh, and I finally got to take professional photos that made me look like a legit working professional person - with a blazer and all. It was fun working with Matt Brandon (Penang Headshots). We were asked to choose 3 top favorites and then pick just 1 to put on the main website. I couldn't choose. I had to ask my family and friends to choose for me. The chosen one was a crowd favorite so win. 

So yeah, that was fun! 

And so... my highlight of 2021 is Talent Trust. 

I am only 4-months old here, but I already feel like I have been with them for years. The people here worked so well together, like a family, and like in any family dynamics, there will be moments when you don't see eye-to-eye, but you don't keep it and be bitter. You talk it out, and you get better. You built that relationship, and that is something I appreciate here. 

I am beyond thankful for everyone in TT, that is for sure. Thank you Nathan and Pansy for believing in this newbie girl. To more adventures and noisy, loud lunch talks together :) 

Oh, and we had our company's retreat not too long ago, at The Prestige Hotel, Penang and it was so much fun! Most of them could not stay 2-nights but it was still such a great time to connect and bond with each other, and the Prestige Hotel is probably one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at. I love their rooms' designs and stuff. So so cantik. 

Anyways, here are some photos from the retreat. 

Thank you Jesus for this family :) 

Reminder to myself for the Year 2022 - to be more thankful. 

Till next time, bye now. 

Sofia Turned Two!

I remembered vividly when she was latching onto me in the middle of many nights in the span of that 6-months, I had silently wished that she would grow quicker so that she can start to sleep through the night and no need for few-hours-feeding time. I regretted that now. At that time, I was sleep-deprived, but now I miss it. 

I miss her being a baby and so dependent on us then. But I also like that she is independent now. I CAN NEVER WIN WAN SERIOUSLY! Everything also I want. Hah. 

But yeah, we celebrated Sofia turning two last week and I got all mushy inside because I realized how fast time can fly us by, and now I miss her. 

She is still a baby (for us), and it has been such a journey watching her grow. Her personality is so different than Alex's and she is such a drama queen, please. She surprises us every day with her patterns and guess what. We have not been really able to "discipline" her for the past 2 years because she just has her ways of turning our frowns the other way. 

It was quite a tough decision when I was planning for a "small" party - whether to have it or not. I obviously decided to go for it and invited family and close friends only. For Adrian, he would probably prefer to have like just us. But he lets me decide on this so, a party it is. Hah. 

Choosing the venue was a tough one. It was the toughest for me. It took a long time. I wanted a space that is only for us, some sort like a private room in a restaurant but must be large enough to cater to our guests and not feel like we are sardined together. I also did not want to spend a lot of money "renting" the space and cater food separately. I wanted a place where I can do both together, safely with SOP in place. I wouldn't want abang polis come visit. Heh.

I had many suggestions but they were all above Adrian's budget and I also did not have the excitement to go for it. It didn't feel like it is. 

So, no choice right? I went to Adrian and told him I needed his help. Hah. I told him he needs to help me with the venue. 

Within 10 minutes, he said, "How about McDonald's?" 

And then it clicked! I was like yes, yes, and yes. 

I did some research and made a few calls to both McD Greenlane and Birch House, and decided to go for Birch House, because:

• They will reserve the entire second floor for the party
• Walk-in customers are not allowed to go upstairs
• The second-floor space is huge and there are plenty of spaces for everyone to move around

Spend a minimum of RM500 and you can have the entire space for 3-hours - decorations included. Okay so much win, please. Their decorations include those small and big balloons that kids love. It's really impressive, to be honest. 

There are also 3 games included with this Party @ McD thing where the assigned staff will organize everything. We gau-gau added some games for the adults because the kids just need balloons and they will have fun already. 

We played musical chairs and charades and then we chit-chatted till it was time to go home. 

It was so good to be able to have this small gathering with each other, after being deprived for close to 2-years. I am thankful for each and everyone who came to celebrate with us. You guys are not only close to us (parents), but the fact that you are in Sofia's life is just a blessing really to Adrian and me. I always say this and I will say it again. Thank you (so much) for loving Sofia and Alex like they are your own. They are so blessed really. 

Also, special thanks to all our friends, and families, and Sofia's fans (strangers become friends) who wished us on social media and WhatsApp. I wished we could invite all of you but obviously cannot la right. I have received many messages about how little snippets of Sofia's video can make you smile, and really many times, I told myself that I got to try to post at least a video of her every day. 

She is our little influencer, for sure. 

So yes, thank you, thank you again for being a part of Sofia's journey. 

Here are some photos to remember this day. Thank you to those who helped us take these photos! So much love for you guys :) 

Big shout out to Sofia's daddy for being so supportive and agreeing to have this party. If you did not already know, Adrian has a very big soft spot for Sofia. And it is not like he loves her more than Alex. The dynamic that he has with Alex is so different than with Sofia, and both are equally so strong and magnetic. 

Surely, they both come to me when they need comfort. No wait, actually Sofia is starting to go to Adrian a lot now when she seeks comfort but the point is, the relationship, the bond, the connection that Adrian has with his daughter is such a magical, lovable, and unbreakable tie. I know in my heart, body, and soul that no matter what/who life brings, Sofia will always be Adrian's precious little one. It's just a little something that I cannot describe to you. It's an everyday interaction thing. It's how their faces light up when they see each other. Err, I don't think Adrian's face got ever so lighted up when he sees me also. Hah. But yeah. 

And Alex is not jealous of their closeness, because when Adrian is with Alex, it's another different set of dynamics. It's a father and son thing - a lot of teaching moments and Alex always seems to not listen to him, but deep inside, we can tell that Alex is always waiting for Adrian to play and spend time with him. It's a strong boys' bond thing. 

I do get jealous at times, not because I want Adrian to "sayang" me the same way he does with them. But I get jealous of their relationships because they are so magnetic to each other, in a very different way from me. But it's not like a bad jealous la. It's a good jealous (if there is such a thing heh). It's the kind that makes my ovaries burst ten million times and I want to have more kids kind. Hah. 

So yeah, thank you baby for being such a good supporter. Behind every happy wife, is a very supportive husband. So, thank you. Heh. 

Till next time, bye now.