Greeting from Vernon (Shanghai)

It has been a while since I last drop you a mail. Thanks for all the news.

I do read it and keep abreast of all my friends in HK. How have you been? I hope you are well and that despite your busy schedule, you are happy where you are.

I have been busy too. This job is rather challenging but I do enjoy it. I am learning things, seeing things moving forward and more importantly, my Chinese has improved tremendously (by my own standards of course). I have even started writing emails in Chinese (15-20%) : )

My travel schedule is less hectic but I have seen it increasing with time as we start operations in more cities. Currently only focusing on 5 out of 34

I was in BJ last week and did meet with Wee Yeat and Serene. Seems that they are doing fine as well. Attached a photo of Uncle Vernon and Baby Isaac.

I even managed to catch an Olympics event (Track and Field last Friday) and was even on TV!!! (Yeah my wife saw me) Family is doing well. Kids have just started school much to the relief of mommy. We went back early August (and stayed for National Day), great break for us. Will be back again for Christmas

I will try and plan a trip down to SZ one of these (we have some work going with Shenzhen Dev Bank) and will try and nip down for dinner with you guys if time permits.

Do keep me on the email list. : )

Wa.......h......... finally !!!

Dear friends,
Thank you all for interceding on behalf of my family. Finally at 1.10pm Aug.19,2008 baby JULIEN was born and weighs 3.2 kg.

The whole process was fast because Sarah went thru caesarian as her water bags leaks on midnight around 3am. Both mum and son are well. Initially, when i first see JULIEN he was jus a chip of his mum Sarah but can you imagine over time and within one day his looks started changing. Julien is really cute and adorable and you can't help but to fall in love with him which we all have!

34 years ago i gave birth to Mark and yesterday my mind was 'renewed" and i began to see lots more and jus felt the awesomeness of God. My own delivery 'journey' was quite a tiresome one all it's my heart's desire that i wanted a boy so much jus to appease my "business" in-laws as in those days (maybe today still applicable) by having that you are a step closer to them. My 'nightmare' was when both my gynae and a mid-wife who attended to me just tell me i am to deliver a girl! wah......anyway story too long to continue. Yesterday's experience was so different long before Julien was born i already knew its a boy and the amazing thing was here you see Sarah and her big stomach i believe all of us are more excited now in how the baby looks like, wah thanks to God given technology, just within few hrs you not only can see the baby but we are so priviledge that we can actually physically hold the baby!!!

During my short conversation with Mark we now see how great God his, how he single handedly crafted/knitted each one of us in our mother's womb and so detailly done with everything so intact. Just a joke yah as i was praying with wai kuan i gently reminded God to add his last touch to Julien(still within god's 6 days of creation) lest he forgets and after 1.20pm yesterday was God's 7th day(completion) where he sit back to relaxed at his own creation and that is BABY JULIEN....Well, to me and my whole family all i can say is God himself is very pleased with his finished work.

All i can sum up about God for this entire creation is the lyrics of the song "I STAND IN AWE OF YOU" and may i just type out a few lines to give praise and honour to God almighty.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION
TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS
TOO WONDERFUL FOR COMPREHENSION
LIKE NOTHING EVER SEEN OR HEARD
HO CAN GRASP YOUR INFINITE WISDOM
WHO CAN FATHOM THE DEPTHS OF YOUR LOVE

and truly i must say i really stand in awe of God as he even called my grandson by names 'JULIEN"

Thank you all for reading this long mail and hope too you are will stand in awe of god too for how intricately and beautifully you too was made.

Love,
grandma Sharon