Sports News

I never realize how many different sporting events are happening at the same time.

Here are a few --

Wimbledon --It's day 7 and there are men's singles, women's singles, as well as doubles, and mixed doubles.

World Cup -- That started back on June 12 and will continue until July 13th.  It's happening in Brazil.

There are golfing events and baseball games being played as well as an assortment of other sports happenings..

Now, one lesser known event -- Tommy Chen wins the Ultra Bolivia Race, which is a 170km foot race set in six stages through the Bolivia Altiplano. I saw some of the pictures. Amazing!

 I am not a big sports fan.  But I live in a household with two men who are.


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Taipei Train Station

This afternoon I went with Isaiah to visit a famous cram school that specializes in Chinese.  The room can accommodate 250 students and you have to register early so that you can be assigned a "better" seat.  While Isaiah was in class, I went around the train station area.  I haven't been to this area for quite a long time.

I love walking around that area.

There are lots of great shops and food stalls.

I bought Alan and Abby new swimsuits.

I almost bought myself a pair of fake croc, which were only 100NT$. They were quite comfortable!  But I didn't. I just asked myself, Do I really need another pair of shoes? And the answer was NO.

I need to go over to that area again.  There were too many places to look at but I only have about an hour.

Isaiah decided not to go to this particular cram school. We had visited another one in Neihu and we both liked that one better.  So, decision made!

We came home, had dinner and watched two episodes of the TV show, Castle.


What a great day!

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Back to Back Parties

Tonight was to be our monthly Couple Core Time.  But instead we had a housewarming party as Eric and Christina had just moved to LinKou.

The food tonight was amazing.

Christina made New Zealand Beef Pies.

Katherine and John brought sashimi and squid.

I brought Korean food and a banana bread.

There was chicken salad, white sauce spaghetti and lots of different drinks and snacks.

Another fun evening!


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The JOY of Seeing Old Friends

Tonight we had another great Evergreen Get-together.

Joy came through Taipei on her way back to Canada.  And her mom was with her and had a photo album with pictures of Kay, and Kane.

Winston, who is usually overseas, was here. Irwin, Stephanie and one of their daughters came. Michael and Grace Go came with both of their kids.  And then there was Margarite, Brenda, and Grace Hung.  Everyone brought the most delicious food -- water dumplings, pot stickers, Chinese dessert, homemade seaweed salad. I made Chicken Adobo and Mexican food.  What a feast.

But it was just great to sense the family ties from long ago which has lasted through the years.

I will update with a picture when I get one.

This is only the ladies.  I will update with a group picture -- SOON.


So, for now, a quote about Christian friendship.


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A Week From Today

Abby has a chart in her room taped to her closet. It's a "countdown" chart.  She is counting down to the day when we will head back to the States.

But before then she has two days of final exams.

But before then I have to get the Danhsui house fixed.  There is a 'river of life' flowing inside the apartment.

But before then we have two dinner get-together.

But before then I will have to go shop for a few more items and get everything packed.

But before then... you get the idea!


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Cell Phone Dilemma

I can't believe it, but everyone in this household has a cell phone now. Isaiah has his own cell phone and number.  Abby has her own cell phone and number. Of course, Alan has had his cell phone and number for a long time.

I have been gone into three different Taiwan Cellular Companies at least three different times, asking the same questions -- what's the best and the cheapest plan you have?

I have finally got everyone on the lowest possible plan --  all three phone plans will cost only 10US$ per month.  And I have told the kids and Alan that they can call each other for one minute or under for FREE! Now I wonder if that's going to work.

How much did all the cell phones cost?

Alan got an old iPhone 3 from our dear friend Robert for FREE and he loves it.

Isaiah got an Amazing 6S which I actually paid 1990NT$.  It was for his graduation gift.

Abby got an Amazing 3S which I paid 300NT$.

And get this, when I renewed one of the above contracts, I got another Amazing 3S for FREE!

So, you might be asking -- what about you, Lovely?  What are you using?

I got a free phone from a dear sister, Christina. It is not a fancy phone. It's one of those very old fashioned ones.

And I am not with Taiwan Cellular. I have an "IF" card, which I put in 300NT$ once a year. Yes, I HAVE to use up that amount in a year which is not easy for me.  I don't really get into using a cell phone. So, I am paying 300NT$ per month for three contracts whereas I use 300NT$ in a year.  I guess that's the price of convenience.

With all the high-tech way of keeping and staying in touch, I thought this quote should remind us that the best person to always stay in touch with is our Loving Heavenly Father, God.

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Another Simple Dessert Recipe -- Pumpkin Banana Cranberry Bread

Back in the end of May, I blogged about different crock pot recipes. But I had to stop because my frig was stuffed with food.

Well, tonight, I decided to 'bake' bread using the crock pot.

Here are the ingredients --

One box of pumpkin cake mix
Three eggs
Soy bean milk (instead of water)
Olive oil
Four bananas
Two handfuls of cranberries

Abby helped me mix everything and I greased the bottom and side of the crock pot.

She poured it in and it is cooking up so nicely.

I am letting it cook for another 30 minutes and the whole house smells so nicely.

The kids are going to have it for breakfast tomorrow!

I thought I'd take a picture before it gets devoured tomorrow morning.  Now, it seems to cook into something that has been steamed, more moist. I hope to remember to update this post with another picture after we slice into it. It's too bad that the picture cannot convey the delicious smell.

This reminds me of a verse -- Ps. 34:8

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Today

Things that happened today --

Spent time with God
Called Mom
Called Mr. Lee -- Danhsui house has a strange leak
Called Isaiah's Coach -- practice for today?
Went to register Isaiah for Nanhu Senior High School
Stopped at Costco to buy sour cream and salsa and cheese
Cooked for the potluck tonight
Cleaned house
Finished laundry
Paid for Isaiah's cram school -- chemistry -- classes start on 9/7, Sunday, 8:30 - 11:30am
Went to see Ariel's place -- the remodeling is coming along -- slowly but surely
Finished translating stories for children's book
Emailed people
Picked up Abby to go to the final Bible study at Amy's which was also a potluck get together
Checked out possible washers to purchase for the Danhsui house -- the original one that I had wanted will not fit -- too big

I didn't have time for a prayer run...
I didn't have time to go to Danhsui...
I didn't have time to find out about the cell phone contract...

I am ready for bed... I'm already making the list for tomorrow's 'things to do', but this verse holds true!

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Our Good Shepherd

Each time I have a chance to speak, I feel that the Lord teaches me so much.

Today I spoke from John 10:1-15. I have read this passage many many times.  And the Lord led me to look at just one word -- "good".

What does it mean that He is our good shepherd?

When was the word, good, used for the first time in the Bible?

Gen 1:4  God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

And do you know what this one word -- good -- can be as it is used in different places?

Here I have pasted for your reference all the different words this one simple word can mean when used in different places in the Old Testament.  

H2896a (reference number)

טוב (Hebrew writing)

tob (373c); from H2895; pleasant, agreeable, good: - beautiful (11), beneficial (1), best (7), better (75), better a good (1), charming *(1), cheerful (3), choice (2), delightful (1), fair (1), favor (1), favorable (3), favorably (3), festive (1), fine (3), fine ones (1), fit (1), generous *(1), glad (1), good (196), good and to those who (1), good is better (1), good man (3), good men (1), good-looking *(1), gracious (1), handsome (3), handsome *(1), happy (1), holiday *(3), intelligent *(1), kind (1), like *(1), man (1), more *(2), one (1), one who (1), one who (1), one who is good (1), one who is pleasing (1), pleasant (2), please *(2), pleased (1), pleases (1), pleasing (5), precious (3), pure (1), right (1), ripe (3), safely *(1), sound (1), splendid (1), sweet (1), upright (1), very well (1), well (6), well off (1), what is good (11), what seems best (1), what seems good (2), what was good (2), whatever you like *(1), who are good (1), wish *(2), worthy (1).

How does Gen. 50:20 and Rom. 8:28 go together when looking at God being our good shepherd?

Gen 50:20  "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Rom 8:28  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

I can go on and on about what I found out about this one word.  

God is amazing.  He wrote this book for our instruction.  I am blessed when I have a chance to speak as I know He will teach me something new.  

He indeed is our Good Shepherd!

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Teachers' Appreciation Dinner

Tonight we had a splendid time with the Day School English Department's graduating seniors' Teachers' Appreciation Dinner.

The food was excellent.

The program was well prepared.

The people at our table were fabulous.

Alan and the kids had prepared two songs for them and Alan gave all the students some words of wisdom from the Bible.

Here are two of the verses he gave them --



Here are a few pictures from the evening --

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