It Was A Long Day!

I was up early and the skies were gray... 

I thought I'd go for a short 5K run, but as I headed out... the birds on the trees that were on both sides of the lane started to sing. A gust of wind came. A clap of thunder and the down pour came. I ran 2.5 K and came back...

I messaged Alan... Can you drive? I had promised a dear sister to help her inspect her new place... So, Alan came home. We woke Isaiah up and we were out of the house at 9:30. It really was raining so hard. 

The inspection went well... They did a great job making a small space look bigger.

We left at 11:08 and we stopped to get money and then headed to pick up James. We were at the mortuary right on time... and got all the cell phones ready.

We went down to the individual rooms and they brought the body out... They had done a great job with the make up. If you're interested in seeing a picture, let me know and I'll post one for you!

Annie, KR, Eddie and Sandy were online... James, Isaiah, Alan and I were there. Mom was dressed in the outfit that she wears. And she looked just like Mom! We shared our memories, sang Amazing Grace and You Are My Sunshine and prayed together! I don't think they expected us to be in there for so long... Alan wore a Hawaiian shirt made by Mom Bea. I wore polka dotted shirt and sparkly skirt.  James was wearing a white T-shirt and a striped shirt! Only Isaiah was dressed in black. James said we looked like tourists in a mortuary! 

The body was wheeled out and the guy played the song Mom sings at the Day Care Center from I Cor. 13:4-8. Once she was pushed in, we had to wait for 90 minutes and until things finished and then we brought the urn and the ashes were placed inside. The process was very interesting!

I must mention that the skies were so gray... but when she was pushed in and we came out, the skies cleared and the sun came out... the rain stopped!

We then went to pick up Fenny and headed to our favorite teppanyaki place at Neihu Ikea! We had a feast!

We dropped James off and then we came home to play Rummique.

We were going to have Family Time...but Abby wanted to change the time and we couldn't do it earlier. Alan and Isaiah dropped Fenny off and I stayed home to clean!

It was a long day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Another Day...

I was up... not at 4:44, although I was awake... I didn't get up until 5:14!

It was already quite warm... Again, I wanted to be unhurried... 

Alan went to play tennis and go to the gym.

Isaiah went to work.

I went for my 10k at 9:09 and it was blistering hot... When I got back, Annie message me: Want to talk? So, we were able to chat for 30 minutes before I went to get my haircut. I usually do it myself, but I was planning on getting a "real" haircut... but I didn't... Only a trim!

I was home and Alan came back. I asked him to get things out of Mom's room. We gave away a few furnishing pieces and her wheelchair, her walker, her shower chair, and all the packages of diapers I had bought or what Annie had sent over! I loaded up the car!

The bed is still there... Isaiah is not in a hurry to get his room back... I still have to pack up the clothes... Again, I'm not in a hurry!

This evening we went and dropped off some items to people and then met up with Angel Lin for dinner. Isaiah and Fenny joined us!

James arrived and met us at the restaurant. We dropped him off and then went to drop off Fenny.

I got an urn for the ashes... Tomorrow will be a long day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

A Very Weird Day!

I was up super early -- 4:44 to be exact! I just couldn't sleep...

It was just weird... I journaled... in a very unhurried manner. I read the devotional, "Streams in the Desert" and this sentence struck me: The comfort we have from Christ's revealed truth is not that it teaches us freedom from sorrow but that it teaches us freedom through sorrow. How God was ministering His comfort to me...

I went for my 10k run... It was slightly sprinkling at the beginning and towards the end of my run. I didn't want to go longer, even though I could have... 

I put in a load of laundry and still can not go into Mom's room... I know that will come... Annie, my sister, asked about dates for July... she's going to buy my ticket on Starlux! July 18th... returning on August 10th.

A sister messaged me... am I home? She came over... I wasn't ready to have company, but it was good of her to drop by. She brought food... I am not feeling hungry. We sat and chatted... three hours flew by!

I then went out to buy special breads to give out on Sunday... I bought 210 pieces of five different kinds of bread... Wow... People have been asking me when I'd have a service. We are not having a service. But I wanted people to receive something on Sunday... I will lay these 'snacks' out for Love Cafe and then after dinner, people can take something back home, maybe for breakfast on Monday morning... I know Mom would want to bless others...It's Mother's Day!

I had made an appointment for a massage... and Ms. Hsieh would not charge me for the 90 minute session! I am so blessed!

I came home and Alan came back. He went for a run. He had called Mom Bea on Team and she knows about the passing of my Mom!

Isaiah had work today... and he found out the regulations for bringing back ashes on the plane! He went to Soochow basketball and Alan and I went out to dinner!

Two things just felt so weird: in the morning, I looked to see the van pulling up to pick up our neighbor across the street. That's the usual routine! I wanted to go down to talk to the driver and those who rode with Mom each morning... but I just couldn't... Maybe tomorrow...

In the evening, the phone rang... It was about the time when Mom would be dropped off... but that can't be... it was the bread shop, confirming my order! The owners are two elderly people... very sweet... very small shop... I didn't go to a big place to buy these 'snacks'... I'm glad I went with this Ma & Pa Shop!

I miss Mom!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Mom Has Passed... I Am Grieving... Rejoicing Might Come... But Not Now...

I was up early and it was pouring... I never knew what would await me...

Each morning when I go in, I think... Mom is fine... and that was my thought this morning... but she was not.

Alan had left for work early as this is ICEE Week and we had prayed before he took off...

I immediately called Isaiah. He called his office. 

Mom was gone... 

The clock had stopped at 3:33... and when I had looked before opening the door to her bedroom, I thought that was so weird. Didn't I just put a new battery in?

Mom was not breathing... she was still warm... she wasn't stiff yet... I called my siblings... 

The next six hours are a blur... 

She is gone... 

I am processing... I could have gone out for a run... it was my favorite weather... but I didn't want to... I ate, but my stomach is upset... I have not gone into her room. I have not removed or done anything... I finished my talk for this Sunday... My mind is swimming... so many emotions... And yes, there are regrets... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Double Study!

I was up early and went out and ran 10k! YEAH... The speed was not as fast as yesterday... and it was much warmer than what I like... but it is what it is...

I got Mom up and out and then came back and gathered my stuff and headed out.

For the study, I decided to buy an assortment of Chinese breakfast items. And the ladies brought stuff so we again had an abundance of food! YUMMY. One gal made jam for us to take home... I took a jar of peach jam!

I was home and the recycling area had another bunch of books. I had already dropped off four boxes at the local library... Now I had another box. BUT, I also brought home a box of books that I love... I sat down and read one: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. 

Alan came home and he went to the Sports Center for a swim!

I wanted to bake for tomorrow's study and I wanted them to try their hands at writing Mother's Day Haiku. So I found some samples and baked!

Mom was back... and I had her dinner ready.

When she went to bed, I headed out for my evening study.

This was not the correct exact version... I never did go to my evening study. While Mom was having dinner, Alan and I noticed the hiccuping burping sound and knew she was going to have a mucus phlegm episode which is becoming more frequent. So, with a bag of tissues, I started to tell her to spit it out. This went on for about three hours and I missed my study. I finally put her to bed at around 8:30, exhausted! I got the bed slightly up so that she can be more comfortable... read tomorrow's entry... 

Alan was home and Isaiah was home as they decided to cancel basketball due to rain... but no rain came!

Daily Lovely Insight:

From our study this morning... What a reminder!

Seek Him First!

It's Monday!

I was up early... and had to go out for a run... but time was short, so the run was short... Only 8K.

I got Mom up and out and put away the stuff animals and sorted through the items I got from the recycling: books to donate at the library, items to post on Buy Nothing!

I put chicken in the rice cooker as we need more meat to supplement what I had already prepared for our dinner!

Then I started on my Bible study homework! Finished both... and then worked on my talks! The morning flew by!

At 1pm, I left. I had tutoring at 2pm, but I went to the library and dropped off two bags of books and then I went to church to drop off items I bought for Love Cafe! I will be going there tomorrow for my Bible study, but it would be very difficult to carry everything since I will be bringing a pot full of food for our lunch!

Tutoring went well... 

I was on my way home and stopped to get more diapers. I didn't have time to go pick up the pictures that the photo studio forgot to print! 

This evening I was to have our once a month prayer group but one of the sisters was quite ill. We postponed it to next week! That works out better for me as well...

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

A Different Kind of Sunday

Yes, I was up early... that's not what's different.

But after working on my Mother's Day talk, I got ready to attend the Taipei International Church Service! I walked over there and made it with time to spare!

I like their new place... very nicely renovated!

Pastor Brad spoke from I Thes. as he is starting a new series! I quite enjoyed the service and walked home afterwards, stopping at PX Mart! The walk was not too hot... as there was a slight breeze. I also picked up the prints of our annual family photos. 

I arrived home and checked on the recycling before getting Mom up. Once she's up, I have to stay put! I had oatmeal for her breakfast! For lunch she had a bowl of steamed veggies. VERY DELICIOUS! And for dinner, she had chicken nuggets!

I was going to watch the HOP Service, but there was a technical glitch, so it was not Live-streamed! Isaiah had to help me think of questions for discussion for the small group this week!

Angel Lin came over this afternoon for a short visit and after I put my mom to bed, Isaiah and Alan came home!

I did pick up the enlarged family portrait and got it framed and hung in our bedroom. Very nice!

What a weekend!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!