Fall Has Arrived...

I didn't know if the perfect weather would continue, but it has...

It is cooler and so nice to be outdoors...

Alan was out early in the morning to play tennis. He didn't get back until 11am!

We went to church this afternoon... I will be speaking starting next Sunday... And I will also start tutoring on Sunday afternoon just before the service! YIKES...

I thought I was going to be tutoring less... but...

Seek Him First!

Perfect Running Weather!

I went out for a run at 10:30 this morning while Mom was watching In Touch... and oh... the weather was just perfect.

Slight wind... Ground was wet from the morning rain... Temperature in the mid 20... Overcast!

I wanted to run and run and run...

If it was a few degrees lower, that would have been even better.

And this evening we went out to dinner with some wonderful friends. I even wore pants...

I think Fall has finally arrived!

Seek Him First!

A Record!

Since we've started locking the bathroom door, Mom has not 'indulged' in her 'bad' habit!

I'm so thrilled!

Now, she has gone poop TWICE in the shower... but it's fine as I just rinse her and the entire shower and spray it down with cleanser! At least she's not touching her eyes with dirty hands. At least she's not touching her clothes. At least she's not getting poop all over the place!

I feel a lot more relaxed. I open the bathroom door and stand there to supervise! I don't need to be on the alert all the time. I can work on the computer, knowing she can't go into the bathroom.

Now... in other news... Abby has been acting disconnected and we stayed up until 3:30am talking through things as a family! It was very good... She didn't feel that we were supporting her decision to teach... We felt that she has been rude and doing things behind our back... We didn't come up with a perfect solution but at least we've talked things through!

Seek Him First!

July 2019 Plane Tickets Purchased!

It was a busy day... Yes, I say that almost every day...

Mom had her morning Knee Strengthening Class...

I had to teach in the afternoon!

Then after Mom went to bed, I got on the computer. I have been checking EVERY DAY for our July 2019 plane tickets. I've checked cheapoair, skyscanner, Expedia, Kayak, Vayama... the list goes on. We wanted to book with an airline that we can accumulate mileage... and I wanted the price to be under 840US$ per ticket! What I found has been over 1,000US$... the cheaper tickets... WOW... we'd be in Manila for 10 hours or Shanghai for 12 hours... Or making two stopovers -- Seattle and Icheon... I put in the dates and Asiana popped up for 837US$. Now... I've had seen this before. When I say book, the next message says, "Sorry, this flight at this price is no longer available. Please check the alternatives." This time with trip.com, I hit book, and no message came. Instead, it asked for passenger information... and then credit card... I put in all the information and waited for their confirmation, which came in less than 15 minutes! "Your flight has been confirmed!"

So, I bought four tickets... not five because Alan's return date is different... as usual. Mom, the kids and I will be going from July 8th to August 7th. (I promised the kids ONE MONTH as they don't want to stay longer! They have friends and activities here...) Alan wants to be there from July 8th to September 8th! He will return the day before class starts...

I also called our credit card company as they offer lounge privileges when you use the credit card to buy airplane tickets -- two free passes. I wanted to use them in Singapore in January as we are flying with Scoot and Mom might need a place to rest ...

Now we are going to book our flights for the east coast as part of our cruise in July! I didn't want to buy that until we have our flights to the States done... Alan saw round trip tickets for about 300US$ -- LAX to Dulles Airport! The July cruise will be from July 11th to the 24th, celebrating Mom Bea's 90th birthday!

Seek Him First!

Yes, It's True!

We took the car in for the annual inspection... and yes, it's true... if you don't go within the set time to get your car checked, you're fined -- 30US$!

I ran back from the car inspection place... It was sprinkling... my favorite running weather!

Mom had her massage this afternoon. She always enjoys that... especially since Ms. Hsieh is blind! And she is very nice to Mom... really gives her a great massage!

I met up with a friend who is here from the States. She and her husband are the owner of the River Bend Lodge. You can google that and see their amazing properties! One of these days maybe Alan and I will have a chance to stay there... that's a BIG MAYBE!

I had to tutor from 5-6:30. On the way back from tutoring, it started to POUR!

By the time I got back, Mom was already in bed... (I didn't get back until 7pm!)

The day went by so fast...

I have to teach tomorrow afternoon... and Mom will have to be home alone!!!! PRAY!

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The Car Won't Start!

This Wish has been giving us so much 'battery' problems.

It didn't start last night... We had bought an external battery and still it would not start.

So, I had to call the dealership and they sent a guy over with a brand new battery. We had to change the battery. The service fee plus a new battery was 100US$.

I drove the car over to see why we are having so many problems with the battery being drained all the time. The OBD Control Box was starting to corrode and had to be changed. Another 100US$!

The car is working now... but my morning was gone... Mom didn't go to her usual church program.

We came home and I fixed Mom her lunch and at 1:40, I rushed off to teach.

Mary came over by 2pm and stayed until 6pm. I was back by 5:15 and made panini sandwiches. YUMMY...

The kids came back by 6pm and Alan was home by 10:30.

I did not have time for a nap nor did I have time for my short run. So, off I went out for an evening run and headed off to bed before 1am...

Oh, we also got a ticket for not taking our car in for an inspection! WHAT???

Seek Him First!

Mid Autumn Festival

I'm so glad we came back on Sunday night and did not stay an extra night at the retreat site.

This gave me time to do a load of wash and clean up and prep for my classes as well as REST!

I had to tutor this afternoon for two hours. I enjoy tutoring... With this student, I'm working on writing!

Isaiah went off to see Vikki. Please continue to pray for her recovery.

Abby was at the Freshmen Camp.

Alan enjoyed the day, watching the Chargers game and then going off to play tennis!

Mom actually rested quite a bit...

And we had lots to eat from all the leftover I brought back from the retreat!

Seek Him First!

Back From Our Retreat!

We had a great Mid Autumn Festival HOP Retreat.

The theme was : Worship that Pleases God and the time went by so fast.

Every meal was spectacular... and yes, Mom enjoyed all the food... We had so much food that we brought back a fridge full of leftover! i won't have to cook this week!

I translated and my voice did not have any problems, even though I am struggling with a big mouth sore.

On Saturday night we had a BBQ and then a bomb fire... The service was outdoors under the stars. It was too hot to have a bomb fire, but still... it was a lot of fun!

We were hoping to go and tour around the area on Sunday afternoon, but everyone, especially Mom, was feeling way too tired.  So, we decided just to go home.

Abby on the other hand is not at her freshmen retreat... in Hsinchu. Alan got up early this morning to drive her to a MRT Station!

And Mom went to bed super early tonight as she was so tired. She didn't want to rest on the ride back, looking out the car window and asking questions about where we were...

Tomorrow is a holiday... So, Mom doesn't have any church program... And I have a busy week with five hours of teaching at NSB and two hours of tutoring as well as meeting up with people.

Seek Him First!

Run Around Day

Our old house needed some TLC, so I had to go over this morning while the handyman came over to work on things.  The guy had a back brace on... I found out that a beam fell on his back and I asked if I can pray for him. He said Yes... He used to go to church when he was a child. We prayed. His name is Mr. Lin. He is 66 years old. His wife died 10 years ago. Please remember to pray for him.

Alan came over with Mom and he stayed at the house while I took Mom to her church program.

The handyman finished up at around 11:50 and Alan rushed back to pick Mom up while I rushed off to do a few errands.

In the afternoon, Mom did go to her appointment and the doctor said, "At her age, she shouldn't get the hemorrhoid operation." She prescribed some cream to use and asked that Mom gives a stool sample to see how her digestive system is doing. So, I will have to collect a sample and drop it off next week or in two weeks. No hurry!

We proceeded to go to the dentist, but he was completely booked. I didn't want to sit around and wait.

We came home and Mom watched Little House before dinner time.

While she watched TV, I started packing. Yes, we're going on a weekend trip since Monday is a holiday! Thus, I probably won't be blogging for the next few days!

The kids were gone all day...

After Mom went to bed, I went for my usual short run!  I would have liked to run longer, but I was feeling way too tired! It's been quite a 'run around' day!

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Making Progress

I finished my second talk today... and emailed it off to my translator! YIPPY!

HOP will be starting a new series on the book of James from October 7th to the week before Christmas! I will share the first two times and then each elder will speak twice. I'm learning a lot as I prepare!

Mom went to her Knee Strengthening Class... and in the afternoon, I let her watch two Little House as I had to go and tutor... Next Thursday, I'm going to let her stay home on her own while I go and teach. Please start praying now!

The rest of the evening flew by...

One big news -- I received Mom's National Health Insurance Card... I finished the process on Monday and mailed off the form. And three days later... I have her insurance card. Taiwan is so efficient! So I will take her to see the doctor tomorrow afternoon and find out what can be done about her hemorrhoids. I can also take her to get her teeth cleaned!

Seek Him First!