4-9-04 - With bride Choy Yau
Originally uploaded by ypooiling.
I got to know Yau when we attended School Leavers' Camp in 1995 organised by SUFES, a Christian organisation.
Since then, our friendship continued to grow despite us living in two different states; she in Kuantan and me in KL.
God brought us closer when we got into the same university, studying the same course - Communications. I still remember when i first got to know that, i was exhilarated.
My first thought was "Cool, at least i have a good friend in a foreign place."
3 years studying in University Science Malaysia (USM) were happy moments. Yau and i were almost inseparable during our first year; going to places together and joining similar activities and student organisations.
We shared the same group of friends and attended similar classes. The only difference was we went to different churches, altho initially we did tried to join one together.
Our friendship has had its difficult moments. Times when i couldn't understand her actions, and she my outburst.
Looking back now, those arguements and disagreements seem trivial although it did strained our friendship to a certain extend.
To me, Yau has always been the better friend, the more caring and forgiving while i was the rebellious one.
I thank God for sending her into my life. I thank God for the many times she was there to uphold, encourage and strengthen me. Her life is a reflection of God's love.
After we graduated, we drifted slightly apart because she became an air-hostess while i stayed on in KL.
The year that i was away on my traineeship to Lithuania, Yau's dad passed away. i was disappointed that i couldn't be physically present with her but i hoped my prayers were answered.
I was there when Yau first met her husband-to-be. i was there when he started showing interest in her. i was also there when they starting dating.
So I am glad that i was also there to witness them exchanging marriage vows and walking down the aisle together.
During our uni days, Yau and i made a deal that whoever gets marry first, the other would become the maid-of-honour, and in this case, I was hers.
Yau's wedding was something that our friends and i were looking forward to. when she first announced it a year earlier, we were all excited and eager to help.
As the wedding approaches, we sat down many evenings together to discuss plans and things we should do.
Yau's wedding was almost like a fairytale. the fact that she's marrying her prince charming was a nice ending to the rest of us.
Being the creative one, she did a lot of the decoration materials herself, spending many late nights cutting and putting things together. As expected her wedding hall and car were beautifully decorated with flowers, ribbons and drawings.
It was a fun occassion. many friends came, many that i haven't seen for ages and lost touch. it was a good time of reunion and celebrate the union of our two good friends.
Yau chose Sept 4 because it marked the 1717th day of her and Beng's courtship. she said 1717 sounded like "one servant, one servant" and their marriage would be the joining of two servants of Christ into one. yes, even i was marveled at her reasoning.
Yau has entered into a different phase of life and i suspect it's one that i'll probably take some time to join. Despite so, i know our friendship will sustain the change of times. both of us will make sure of that.
The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart - Elisabeth Foley
