Honor Thy Father and Mother

I again have internet access!

The 10 Commandments have been on my mind and especially the idea of honoring thy father and mother.  I have been here for a week and the word busy does not even define what the days have been like.  Being with my mom, I have had to tell her what she should and should not eat.  I also went through all the clothes and spot things that needed washing.  My sister, Annie, and I also packed up 7 large black garbage bags of clothes to donate.  There is still tons more to do.

But one night, I was putting my mom and Daddy George to bed. After tucking them in, I gave them a kiss tonight. My mom looked up and said, "Oh, how I'd like for you to kiss me good night every night."  I had to go to the bathroom and cry for a bit.  As they get older, they are becoming more and more like babies, needing a lot more assistance.  I cannot be here and so daily, I entrust them into the care of my loving Heavenly Father. I know that He is with them and He tucks them in and kisses them good night.  It was His idea to honor our father and mother and He is faithful to help me to do just that. I rest in His care.

During this past week, I have had to remind myself of that every morning when I wake up and every night when I go to bed.  For a few nights, I was not able to sleep well, thinking about all that still needs to be done and how fast the days are going by.  God has continued to sustain me and I know He will carry me back to Taiwan and one day into the embrace of His arms.  He will do the same for my parents.

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I Missed A Day...

I was hoping to blog every day... but I forgot that during my time in the States, I won't have regular internet access, not to mention I am constantly busy helping out with things. 

My parents are really getting old and need a lot of help.  Here is one example -- I was trying to get Daddy George dressed and I pulled out one long sleeve shirt from his drawers and tried to put it on him.  I soon discovered that the shirt was way too small for him. It belonged to Mom. I pulled out two more and found the same problem.  So, after getting Dad dressed with a shirt his size, I went through all the drawers again and resorted through things -- there were things that belonged to mom, things that needed to be washed, things that were torn or had a hole and things that should be donated.  This is just one example.

So, sorry to say... for the next few weeks, the postings will be sporadic. 

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HAPPY TO HAVE ISAIAH HOME

Isaiah had a great graduation trip.  Here are just a few pictures --

He came home totally exhausted. He didn't even want to eat dinner. He took a shower, ate a few slices of apple, told us about his trip and went to bed.

Tomorrow we will be taking off for the States, and he has lots of winter homework to do.  I am busy doing a load of wash!  He brought home some very stinky clothes!

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The Northern Prayer Tower

Today we moved things into the Prayer Tower!!!

The Prayer Closet with a thick Prayer Rug
Thank you Kathryn!

The bedroom with the bunk beds and table
(These bunk beds are 15 years old. Our kids slept on them when they were babies!)

I made the covers for the stool and the chair!
And look how sunny it is!!!!

The living room
I need to make a sofa cushion cover and another cover for the ottoman!
I have the fabric. I just need the time!

 Now with our sofas gone, what does our living room look like? 

This is only temporary!



Needless to say, it's been a long and exhausting day!


Hab. 2:1

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Trying to Get the Hot Water Heater Changed

Today was an interesting day. We were all up early as Isaiah had to be at school by 6:30 for the start of his graduation trip.  After saying goodbye to him (and he has called us throughout the day to say that he is having a great time), I waited for the service man to call to let me know when he could come over to change our hot water heater.  He finally called at 10 minutes before 12 noon and said that he could come at 7:00 this evening!

Let me back up and explain a bit.  I had the fire inspector come on Monday night as Taipei city is trying to encourage all citizens to replace their old hot water heater.  Our hot water heater was installed 10 years ago when we first moved in.  It uses natural gas and there is a battery which helps it to start up.  If the wind blows too hard, the fire might go off but the gas will continue. Hence, you can die from gas poisoning if you close the windows to prevent the wind from blowing.

So, I got the paperwork, called a company that sells hot water heater and was trying to get this all done before our trip to the States.

The guy came this evening with all his tools and the hot water heater.  He went to my back balcony and looked.  Unfortunately, the pipe to push out all the gas fume needs a 7cm hole and the opening we have right now is only 4.5cms.  WHAT??? I have to either change the window panels or cut a hole through cement, which can't be done tonight!

The conclusion -- I won't be able to get the hot water heater changed until after our trip and we won't be able to get the subsidy from Taipei City Government.

Here is a picture of our back balcony (I had to take several as I was planning to apply for the subsidy.)  That's our hot water heater.  We have our washing machine and our dryer right next to it. Across from the hot water heater is our little oven.  And we hang dry our clothes as much as possible, hence the rod hanging from the ceiling.

While I'm at it, here is my kitchen --

Above the sink is not a dish washer. It's a dish dryer that we NEVER use!

And just in case you're wondering, my rain-drenched iPod is sitting in that blue cup of rice, waiting to be revived!

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By Request

Yesterday I wrote about Alan's mishap and my sister wanted a picture. So, here you go -- a picture of Alan's chin.  It doesn't look so bad.  We can't post a picture of the chipped tooth... but my brother in law told Alan to bring back the piece and he will bond it back on!!!

Tomorrow, Isaiah will be going on his graduation trip and won't be back until Friday evening. I'm going to miss him.  He will go to two different amusement parks down in Central Taiwan with all the 9th graders and their homeroom teachers. 

Today has been a day of catching up for Abby.  She did so much in one day.  Both my kids are still behind on Science and will have to bring the computer back to finish up all the lessons. They not only have Science to do, but they also have several essays to write!!! 

Alan worked on grading papers.

I sewed and packed and cleaned and called people and ran errands and cooked and baked.  I have not had time to prayer run!  I hope to have time to run in the next four days before I'm at the Sung Shan Airport on Saturday.



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Alan's Mishaps

Last summer, just four days before going to the States, Alan had a scooter accident.  He banged himself up pretty badly with bruises and cuts and scrapes. 

Today on the way to the Soochow Chinese New Year Banquet, he had another scooter accident. He chipped his tooth and cut up his chin.  I don't even know how he could have chipped that inside tooth.  He had to get 8 stitches and will have to go and see a dentist.  That's one thing about being in Taiwan. The clinics are opened until quite late almost every night.  So, I just took him over to the clinic in our neighborhood and he didn't have to go to the ER.

What a day!  San Diego Chargers lost to Denver Broncos and didn't make it to the Super Bowl and Alan had another mishap!



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End of the Pre-AP English Class

This semester has been very busy as every Saturday we have had to leave early to head out to ChungCheng Senior High School so that the kids can attend the Pre AP English Class. Thirty students were selected after an oral exam and for three hours every Saturday morning, the kids learned about poetry, creative writing and literature.  The class was free and the kids had a great time.  They enjoyed the teacher and the TA and the other students who came from different schools around Taipei.  For the last class, all the students were asked to work together with another student to perform their own rendition of a story, either adapted or original, as a Reader's Theater. 

Abby receiving her certificate from the principal

Isaiah's performance

The class and Joe, the teacher (far left) and Tim, the TA (far right)



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Out in Danhsui

Today I was out in Danhsui in the evening. I couldn't believe how many people were hanging out there since the weather was so nice.  It was crowded like the Shihlin Night Market.  There were different shops and stalls.  It was quite a fun place to be.  I didn't have a camera, but here are some pictures I found on the internet to give you an idea.







I will have to get my kids and Alan over there one of these evenings...

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COUPONS!!!!

The evening before Jack and Audrey went to Korea, we went to the cram school where she took Korean Language Classes.  They had promised her 7/11 coupons as part of the package deal.  The cram school was closed, so she gave me her student ID card. I called and went over to try to get the coupons, but they said Audrey needed to have applied and should have received a voucher before she could claim the coupons.  I emailed Audrey and asked her to call because they didn't sound as if they were going to honor the package deal.  She called and I received a phone call apologizing for the misunderstanding.  Yesterday, I got another call informing me that the coupons have arrived.  I went this afternoon and picked up Audrey's 7/11 Coupons!!!!!  You can use these coupons at so many places.  I am so excited!!!  Thank you, Audrey!!!!

I can bring one of them in my pack when I run. There are 7/11 everywhere and I can stop to buy something to eat.  It's just like cash. So, if I only spend 39NT$, they will give me 61NT$ in change!  What a great blessing!  Oh, a cup of hot chocolate or coffee... a peanut butter sandwich... a hardboiled egg... YUMMY!!!  I am so grateful!!!!

Seek Him First!!!!

Ask, Seek, Knock

Today in my morning time with the LORD, I read these verses -- 

Mat 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Mat 7:8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

God gave me these verses because I needed the reminder!

In Joni Eareckson Tada's book, A Quiet Place in a Crazy World -- Drawing Near to God Through Prayer and Praise, she had this to say related to these verses --

Asking, wrote E. Stanley Jones, is the symbol of our desire. Some things God will not give until we want them enough to ask.  Asking is also a kind of expressed dependence. A daily dependence. Give us this day our daily bread. An unknown preacher said, "We are to ask with a beggar's humility, to seek with a servant's carefulness, and to knock with the confidence of a friend."

My Heavenly Father constantly invites me into His Presence to ask of Him, about anything and everything. I believe Our Heavenly Father enjoys drawing us near to Him. My experience today again led me to know of my Heavenly Father's love and care. 

As some of you might know, I get lost very easily.  So, after the kids' piano class, I wanted to go to a tea shop nearby since I had bought coupons to try their specially made milk tea.  Christina, the piano teacher, gave me directions to get to the tea shop.  After getting the drinks, I thought I would be able to figure out how to get back to our house. Instead of retracing my route by making a U-turn, I went straight ahead.  After several turns, I was seriously lost.  I asked the LORD to help -- lead me just back to the tea shop.  I did not even know how that would be possible. Five minutes passed... and I said to the kids, I think we are back on the road where the tea shop was.  Sure enough, up ahead, on the opposite side of the road, was the tea shop.  The LORD did it... I was back on the tea shop road and able to retrace my way back to the piano teacher's house and from there to get back home.  My GPS means God Positioning System.  Sometimes, in life, if anyone is off course, maybe it's time to ask and let GPS lead you back!

Ask
Seek
Knock



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Final Chat with Lovely

Tonight was my final 'chat' with each of my students. I set the timer for 7 minutes per student.  And to me, each student's 7 minutes flew by.  I so enjoyed hearing them talk about their "contract items" or about a topic from the book.  I love my students. I pray that they will all come to know Jesus. 

It reminded me of a song from Casting Crown -- Until the whole world hears.



I hope you will have time to listen to the song via this Youtube link. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ekZ8lGflU

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Abby's Staircase Design

Abby had a project from school.  She was asked to create a new design for one of the staircases.  She decided to make it into a giant slide.  The design was made from all recycled materials. And she stayed up way past midnight to get it done. Tomorrow she will turn it in.  I think she did a great job!

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It's All Coming Together

I spent the entire day over at the new Danhsui place, CLEANING. That place has not been cleaned for 18 years. I scrubbed every where... and hung the curtains and the matching banner.  You might be wondering why the banner?  I couldn't do the patch work that is needed on a crack that is there on the wood frame, so I thought fabric covering would be more up my alley of handiwork. 

I thought I'd have to time to go for a walk or to explore the area. NO WAY! I was in there cleaning. I had instant noodle and a cup of coffee for lunch. I came home so famished that I ate an entire dinner box all by myself!

Here are the pictures with captions --

The new kitchen

The new bathroom shower

The prayer closet (door opened)

The prayer closet (door closed)

Behind these sliding doors will be the washer and dryer
(Notice the curtains and matching banner)

The bedroom (on the left) and the entry way

The living room (and the new flooring!!!!)



All the furniture will be moved next Monday.  I still have not had time to go and look for a suitable refrigerator for the kitchen.  But it has a microwave and all other small appliances as well as cups, utensils, etc.  I also want to hang a few decorative items and touch up the painting in a few places.

Now, if anyone wants a place to pray or have a personal retreat, they can go to the Northern Prayer Tower and spend time drawing near to God.

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One of HOP 2014 Focus

The focus for HOP this month is -- Love God.  And to many people that might seem like a lofty idea and ideal.

How do we love God?

I think Jesus defined it perfectly --

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

And how do you go about keeping His Commandments?  

I love Matthew 5:16 --

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
We are to follow His commandments by helping others to see Jesus shining through us.

I love Matthew 6:33 --

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."



I love Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."


These are all words of Jesus.  I want to spend the rest of my life here on earth, learning how to love God.

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In Search of the Perfect Sofa

We're moving things around. 

We are moving the two sofas in our house to the Northern Prayer Tower.  One will go in the prayer room and the other will be in the living room. We went to the Northern Prayer Tower and started the cleaning and organizing process. The place looks marvelous. I love the bright yellow walls.  I love the green kitchen cabinet. But there is a lot of work to be done still.  Yes, I definitely will have to make some curtains and I also want to make a banner. I will have to go again and do some more major cleaning on Monday.  The moving of the furniture will take place on Monday, 1/13.  We are thinking of leaving our living room EMPTY as it has been difficult to find our perfect sofa.

Here are some of the options that we have been trying to decide upon --


the L-shaped sofa


the L-shaped sofa that converts into a
double bed

The traditional sofas which converts into
a sofa bed

As you can see, there are so many options. And I haven't even mentioned the colors that you can choose from.

Do any of you have any good advice when selecting a perfect sofa?  Oh, I must mention that price is a big factor in this choice... The other factors are comfort, material, size and versatility.

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A Very Restful Day

Isaiah has been sick. Since he only has half day of school on Friday, we called the school this morning and he stayed in bed. He has had a slight fever and has been sleeping a lot.  So, we all took the time to rest. I didn't even go for a run. I did some light housekeeping around the house. I called my mom.  I emailed people.  When Abby came home from school (she also has a half day of school on Friday), we had dinner at home -- salad, tomato soup and beef bakes. We then watched a 30 minute episode of That the World May Know, reviewed our family verse, prayed together and just hung out.  This was an extremely restful day!

Here are some great quotes on "rest" --


Matthew 11:28






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Our New Family Shout Out!

I finally figured out our family shout out!  It's"We are the Alagatas, FIGHTING!!!"  I got this from my daughter, who is currently very obsessed with K-Pop. She is studying Korean and she found out that in Korea, they cheer people on by saying, FIGHTING.  I have no idea if this is true. But she now wants me to say this when I am cheering her on in sports or when she does her homework.  She is standing next to me with a book from Uncle Jack, who is from Korea, and trying to read different sentences to me.  I am very happy to know that she might be speaking a third language in the near future.  And on our next flight to the States, she wants to have a super long stopover in Seoul, Korea, so that she can see Uncle Jack and Aunt Audrey and try out her Korean on them. 

Here are a few of her favorite Korean Bands --


U-Kiss






Seek Him First!  FIGHTING!  (She is standing next to me and she says I have to add -- FIGHTING!)