New school, New life

Tromson was finally accepted into his preferred school—not by his own strength alone, but by God’s grace.

It is a Christian school where faith and academics walk hand in hand, and where a disciplined lifestyle is nurtured—something we believe suits him well.

Mama and Papa pray that he will enjoy his secondary school journey in this new environment, and that he will truly bloom and grow into who God created him to be—not only in intellect (IQ), but also in emotional maturity (EQ) and spiritual depth.

We entrust his journey into God’s loving hands and are grateful for this beautiful beginning. 

Paris - Singapore, Day 18 (Testimony)

This marks the end of our 18-day pilgrimage across Italy and France.

It was truly a fruitful and blessed journey. Each of us experienced healing and miracles in our own way, both seen and unseen.

For mama, I feel deeply enlightened and renewed. Reflecting on the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminded me that extraordinary holiness can grow from ordinary, simple acts done with great love. During the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a priest encouraged me to live more acts of charity and mercy. These words stayed with me and have now become the guiding theme of my life in 2026.

Another beautiful piece of advice I received was this: the closer we grow to God, the simpler our lives become. We begin to focus on what truly matters, instead of chasing after things that fade so quickly.

Ted experienced his own miracle at San Giovanni Rotondo. We entrust him to the care of Padre Pio, praying that he will always guide and protect him along his path.

Tromson also experienced a miracle through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. When we received a sudden notification that his new school would start on 2 January, we were shocked. We had not purchased his uniform or books, and the last day to buy them onsite was 30 December—while we were still overseas.

There seemed to be no solution. The uniform supplier informed us that delivery would take at least ten days due to high demand. I shared the situation with him and encouraged him to pray to St. Thérèse for her intercession.

What happened next was truly amazing. On 31 December, I received an email saying that the uniform would be delivered to our home that very day. After returning from our trip, we also managed to purchase most of the required books at Popular bookstore just before lessons officially began. In the end, everything fell perfectly into place.

As for Richie, he experienced a profound grace with his O-Level results on 14 January. He had worked very hard in the five months leading up to the exams, yet his preliminary results were still below expectations, and he was rejected for early admission to Singapore Polytechnic. Naturally, we were worried.

But God is truly good. Through the intercession of the saints and by His grace, his final results turned out far better than we had ever imagined. He was given the opportunity to enter his preferred faculty at either Singapore Polytechnic or Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Our hearts were filled with relief, gratitude, and praise.

We are deeply thankful for the countless blessings God has poured upon our family.

This journey was far more than a holiday. It refreshed and recharged our souls, teaching us humility, trust, and the truth that even ordinary lives—when offered to God—can lead to extraordinary holiness. Our ultimate goal, as this pilgrimage reminded us, is not just to travel the world, but to journey toward sainthood together.

Lisieux - Day 17

This is the last pilgrimage sites before heading back to Singapore the next day.

The footsteps of St Therese of Lisieux.

Lisieux is a small, quiet town in Normandy, yet it is the heart of one of the greatest saints of modern times—St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.

Walking through Lisieux is like retracing the simple yet powerful footsteps of the Little Flower. We began at Les Buissonnets, the family home where Thérèse spent her childhood years after the death of her mother. It was here that her deep love for God took root, shaped by family, prayer, and everyday sacrifices.

From there, we visited the Carmel of Lisieux, where Thérèse entered at just 15 years old. Behind its walls, she lived a hidden life of humility, obedience, and love—offering even the smallest actions to God through what she called “the Little Way.” This is also where she died at the age of 24 and where her relics are preserved.

We then made our way to the Basilica of St. Thérèse, a grand and beautiful church built in her honor. Standing in contrast to her simple life, the basilica proclaims how a soul who chose smallness became a saint for the whole world.

Following the footsteps of St. Thérèse in Lisieux is a gentle reminder that holiness is not found in great deeds, but in doing small things with great love. In the quiet streets of this town, her message continues to bloom—simple, hidden, and full of grace.

Paris - Day 16

The next day, we spent another full day in Paris.

As it coincided with Sunday, we attended morning Mass at Église de Passy, a small and beautiful church near the Eiffel Tower. After Mass, we had a lovely chat with Fr. Leo, the co-celebrant from Ireland.

Later, we discovered an XXL croissant from Philippe Conticini’s café, famous for its creative and anti-mainstream approach to boulangerie. The croissant was massive—about 1 kg! We bought it and enjoyed it at Trocadéro, right at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Needless to say, it was incredibly filling and ended up serving as our lunch as well.

After that, I wanted to visit some Emily in Paris filming locations, so we headed over to re-enact a few scenes—from Emily’s apartment to Gabriel’s restaurant. Unfortunately, the famous croissant shop featured in the series had already closed permanently.

In the afternoon, we met our relatives at a sports field near the Eiffel Tower. While they played padel, she also took some photos for her portfolio.

We ended our last day in Paris filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories.