http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

A historical moment, a new chapter, a new statement for African Americans.

Barack Obama is the first ever African American to become US president.

Barack Obama is really more of a multi racial representation, if you ask me. His mother is of English and Irish descent, his father a Luo from Kenya. After his parents divorced and his mother remarried, Obama lived in Jakarta, Indonesia till he was 10. Because of that he is able to speak Bahasa Indonesia. So basically, President Barack Obama is really American, European, African, and Asian, all rolled into one.

With the breakthrough of having someone so different from past presidents in the history of the United States becoming the 44th President, many ppl anticipate the wind of change that President Obama will bring.

Many African Americans were emotional as President Obama took his Oath and gave his first speech. i too was emotional, because i felt that this is indeed a moment that the once oppressed ppl have been waiting for.

i visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial site when i was living in the US, and the struggles that Dr Martin went through to advocate for equality is heart wrenching. With the inauguration of President Obama, Dr Martin's efforts are also seeing its fruits after all these years.

God bless America, and the whole world as this new era is ushered in.

It's a week after the wedding.

YES, we are MARRIED!!! Hahahah... i'm still feeling all weird when ppl call me Mrs Koh. Especially those few that can't seem to stop teasing me. hahah...

The Wedding was a blast, and Dear and i had so much fun! We both agreed that having the wedding over 2 days was indeed a great idea because we were already super tired with 2 days, what more rushing it all in one day.

We both thanked our family, friends, and people we know from all over the place, and even till now, we're still filled with gratitude. We can only say that we really thank God for seeing us through it all, and blessing us with such an unforgettable event.

As a bride, i was in a daze half the time. My cousin, Lingli, is right. She told me that everything will be in a blur (her wedding was one week before mine). i practically went through it all, not exactly knowing what i did or said.

i only remembered that i told myself i had to mention my beloved Ah Gong no matter what. And i did. i wasn't sure if the tears were of joy or of sorrow when i mentioned him. It ached me even more when i gave my thank-you speech in church and realised my entire family were tearing too. i felt bad when i saw them all crying. But i also knew that i won't forgive myself if i didn't mention Ah Gong at all. i know that no matter where Ah Gong is right now, he's happy that i've found someone whom i love and loves me.

Dear and i are also super thankful for all the help and blessings we received during the preparation period as well as on the 2 days. i thought i should mention all the people again.

Solemniser - Snr Pastor Rev Lawrence Lee
Master of Ceremony - Pastor Whitley Sim
Translator - Chen Jingxian
Scripture Reading & Prayer - Roy & Anne Ng
Receptionists - Jolynn Chew, Angeline Liew & Tay Xiulan
Exhortation - Pastor Eddy Chan
Worship leader - Elder Billy Chan
Vocalist - Jeannette Tan
Pianist - Daryl Chan
Keyboardist - Roseline Ching
Guitarist - Jinny Chua
Bassist - Jared Chan
Drummer - Benjamin Ang
Ushers - Daniel Lee, Deborah Lee, Wileen Chew, Sharon Kwan, Ng Ruoling, Faith Soong, Nicholas Liao, Marvin Chew
Videography - Beyond the Lens
Photographers - Jonathan Sim & Vincent Chan
Sound - Karen Loh
Multimedia - Colin Tan
Wedding Planning & Decorations - 100dot
Sword Party - Sean Kao, Ang King Kee, Loo Lie Yang, Samuel Chan, Xu Youxianf, Ng Weiliang, Royden Tan, Marc Tay, Tan Yongchin, Ng Tze Yang
Page Boy - Tay Weibin
Flower girls - Tay Bi Hsin, Natasha Ho

Of course, we have to thank our superb bridal entourage:

Groomsmen - Adrian Teng (aka Best man), Brandon Koh, Justin Ong, Sean Kao & Alex Choo

Bridesmaids - Gwen Lim (aka Maid of Honour), Tay Xiulan, Joanie Aw Yong, Grace Ng & Christalle Huang

Without any of u, the wedding would not have been the same. =) Thank God for blessing us with each and everyone of u.

Now for some unofficial photos my korkor took during the wedding. (i'll only collect the official ones after i come back from Langkawi). My kor forgot to bring the camera to the Church wedding so i only have those from the morning, and the dinner.

The unglam bride before the glam moments

The groom and his "army"

Taken by surprise when they were told to do the sabo at the car park

See that piggy bank in Ben's hand?
That was his way of getting back at the bridesmaids
He got $100 worth of coins in there.

And the guys start charging in
when Ben opens the door with a key i didn't know he had

He got his bride and he's super estactic!

Yup, he successfully "bashed" through my place

My dearest cousin, who's part of the bridal party

Didi receiving his first ever ang bao from us

My dear cousin also gets an angbao.

My handsome and suave hubby caught off guard when the camera is on him

i love this photo =)
The men i grew up with, my 2 wonderful brothers.

The ppl who love me no matter what,
and saw me through the past 25 years.

My family, my pillars of strength

The 2 cousins i grew up with,
under one roof.

My bestie, my maid of honour, my telepathy partner,
my so-different-yet-so-similar buddy

Think this was the 3rd or 4th of the 5 pairs of sword party who got us to do things before we were allowed to pass through.

Kor got a nice shot of the cake cutting.

The first of many kisses we had,
all thanks to an announcement that told dinner guests we had to kiss everytime
they clinked their glasses.

Our wonderful emcees of the night, Weiyi and Qing Ning.

Champagne popped, awaiting the family members to come on stage.

The stage full of ppl who were all set to do 3 super long toasts.

Our speech at the dinner.

The rest of the photos will be up once we're back from our short trip. Which also means there's gonna be more photos to put up, cos there'll be photos from our trip. =)

counting with 2 hands....

9 days till the big day... i'm getting breathless... hahaha...

We settled the ¹ý´óÀñ thingy last sunday, and now we're settling the table plan. i never thought the table plan would be so hard to do! i thought the itinerary would be harder, but well, i'm obviously wrong. hahaha... i can only pray that i have the wisdom to put the correct people in the same table. Don't wanna offend anyone with the seating arrangements.

Okay, here's some photos from the ¹ý´óÀñ day.

It's been about 2 weeks, but everything is still surreal.

i find the truth, the reality, hard to swallow. Ah Gong is gone, it's real... After almost 25 years of knowing him, he's gone.

Whenever i'm alone, memories of him keeps flooding my mind. How he does the things he love, how he would show his love for us in his stern but firm way, how he would chew on his "ang hun", and how he's just the Ah Gong we all fear and yet love so much.

i went to his place last night, and as i sat in the living room, i couldn't help but stare at the table that is used to remember him. It didn't feel real at all, yet the table was right there, seemingly mocking my disbelief. i walked to his room, and stared at the space where he rested in the past 2 years... The cartons of drinks that are stored there seem to slap me in my face and tell me to wake up.

Many people have offered their condolences and comfort, and i really appreciate them. Some also try to console me further and tell me he's in a better place. i do agree, he's free from pain now, and (hopefully) in the loving arms of God. But as a granddaughter whom he used to take care of, even that thought can be hard for me to swallow.

Some friends console me and tell me this is part of life, and i will get over with time. i do agree that life and death is part and parcel of life, but it whacks me real hard when it's someone whom i'm so close to. i don't even know how much time i will need to finally accept reality.

There're also friends who tell me that he'll be there to witness my wedding, at least from where he is now, and he will still be happy for me. That i do know too, but no one can comprehend my pain when all i've been praying for is that he can see me get married. i'll be the first grandchild to get married, and i can just imagine how my grandpa will beam and smile when i do the tea ceremony, even though he can't speak. The thought of not being able to let him enjoy that moment will prick me forever, and it will be a regret that will stay with me.

2 weeks after he's gone, i'm still in a state of shock.

i do try to let go, but everything seems to cling to me, and it's simply too hard to shake off.

Bit by bit, people may say. Bit by bit, i will let go... Maybe, in the long long run. How long, i don't know. For now, i only know i can't even be alone for long...

i met Colin at Compass Point on monday and because i was early, i had to walk around by myself. It was like living hell as memories of how i was walking around at that very place when Ah Gong was running out of life, flooded my mind. i wanted to run out of the place... i just couldn't stay there all by myself.

As each day passes, Ah Gong, i miss u even more... i can only pray that u're at a much better place now.

CNY 2008, with Ah Ma and Ah Gong