New Year's Eve

Yes, it's New Year's Eve... and a Sunday.

We didn't have a large crowd... but it was a wonderful service.

Stephanie, Phoebe and Rachel all came... Then they came over and we hung out at home...

We decided to walk down to Miramar and see what it was like down there...

Nothing unusual... crowds of people...

Taipei 101 had a 6 minute firework show... Miramar had a 5 minute firework show...

What a fun way to welcome 2018!

Seek Him First!

Fun Day Out

I had to tutor this morning... then I picked up Abby from her morning study session and we headed home. YIPPY.

After a nap, I went out for a short run as we had dinner plans in the evening.

There were friends in the area, so we invited them to come. We had a great group of 9 adults and 3 toddlers.

The restaurant is one of our old favorites...

After dinner, Abby and I went to the Shihlin Night Market... With such nice weather, it was crowded. I was looking for a watch and Abby was just enjoying the shopping.

We didn't get home until 11pm.

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Count Down Time

I'm not just talking about to the start of 2018, but also for Abby. We're down to less than 27 days...

Well... I went to another funeral service this afternoon... and this was one of Alan's colleagues. Alan played softball, basketball and tennis with the faculty staff teams for many many years... At the funeral, it was like a reunion... It was a reminder to keep praying for those at Soochow University!

We had our 'last' family night of 2017... We also finished watching the Ephesians Bible Study.

For dinner, we bought a bucket of fried chicken... Yummy!

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Amazingly Nice Weather!

Since many of my students are on their Christmas break, I tutored in the morning today! It was a nice change...

After coming home, I finished up my Sunday talk and emailed off my notes. Then I proceeded to clean the house -- putting away the fans and other non-essential household items. I really need to do another big 'spring cleaning' -- maybe during the Chinese New Year break... That's when the government post specific corners where people can bring out their junk for disposal.

I was going to have a publisher come over to my house to talk about the possibility of doing more writing... but she called, didn't leave a message, and ended up not showing up. She has promised to reschedule. That worked out well as it gave me time for another 2 hour run. (My legs don't like it... but I have to push on... I'm scared to death that I'm going to die out there on February 10th!)

I also decided to make Mexican food as Alan and Isaiah just love it!

This evening, friends who are going on a missions trip came over as I had collected lots of second hand clothes for them to look at. They packed up what they wanted and I still had a huge bag left. What to do now??? It would be great if I can mail the stuff to the lepers' village in China! God will work this one out...

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Time Flies

Every day when I sit down to post on our family blog, I'm amazed how fast the day has flown by...

And of course, now, it's just days away from the start of another year... amazing!

What do we plan to do on New Year's Eve? Well... this year it's on a Sunday and our service is in the afternoon... so we'll be at church and maybe go again to Miramar... the party there is getting bigger and bigger each year!

Ok... back to my day...

On Wednesday mornings, I usually meet up with different sisters and pray with them.

Then, I try to sit down to work as well as doing housework before I tutor at 5:30.

By the time I get back from tutoring, it's usually 7:30... I have two hours before I'm out the door again to pick up Abby!

And it's two more hours before I head off to bed. Between picking up Abby and going to bed, I take the time to blog.

Today... in the afternoon, the weather was just so perfect, so I took off for a two hour run. My legs are still not into 'running'... And I continue to think -- how am I going to run for 12 hours?

Besides thinking about my legs, I've been praying for the weather... I hope it's not freezing and raining!

That's my typical Wednesdays!

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Going to the Dentist

Someone recommended a dentist here in Taipei... so I went to try Dr. Wang!

He lived in the States for 24 years...

I walked in and had my teeth cleaned. He finished in 15 minutes!

He said, "You don't have any pockets more than a 2-3."

He also said, "You do a very good job with brushing and flossing. Just make sure you get those back teeth."

Now... he used only machines to clean my teeth... and his final thing was not polishing, which is what I love. Instead, he sandblasted my teeth. Wow... that sandblasting made my teeth look so clean -- sparkling clean! It removed some of the stain on my teeth... (Annie, if you're reading this... what do you think of this sandblasting machine?)

Anyhow, the point of this is -- it took me 45 minutes to scooter to his office (and 45 minutes to scooter back home). So, should I go again to this place? (I'll wait for Annie's input!)

I paid only 5US$... as the National Health Insurance provides two teeth cleaning a year. This was my second one, so I had to use it before the year ends!

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Christmas Newsletter, Part VII

Merry Christmas...

This is the last installment of our Christmas Newsletter... I wanted to post some of our prayer requests for 2018.
1. Abby's upcoming Joint College Entrance Exam on January 26th-27th. With the score, we will know which school and department she will be able to apply for! Then she will have to prepare for the interview.
2. Isaiah's overall semester score to be excellent so that he can apply and qualify for the complete reimbursement of his university tuition!
3.  Safety for the different trips we will be taking this year...
4. House of Praise as Alan is part of the team of elders in charge of looking for a new pastoral couple.
5. Alan's students and those we know who are not yet believers.
6. Wisdom as we are invited to be involved in different ministry opportunities.
7. Our relationship with Jesus would grow stronger this year and every year.

Thank you for your prayer support!


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Christmas Newsletter, Part VI

Looking Forward to 2018 --
1. Alan and Isaiah's trip to Australia from January 20th to February 19th.
2. Abby's Joint College Entrance Exam on January 26-27. (The scores will be released on 2/23! Then it'll be time to decide which departments and schools she will be qualified to apply to!)
3.  Lovely's short trip to the States from March 3rd to March 15th!
4.  Going to the States in the summer of 2018 as a family! Alan will celebrate his 60th birthday and niece, McKenna, will be getting married on July 7th!
5.  Both kids in college by September! (I can't believe it!)
6.  Lovely speaking at the Chinese church and HOP (six times at each church) in 2018!
7.  Celebrating together as a family all the special events in our lives -- 31st wedding anniversary, Abby's graduation from high school, Isaiah's 20th birthday, and Abby's 19th birthday... (We hope to take an overnight family birthday trip as we have not done that in the past 10 years!)

Those are the 7 "Highlights" of 2018! Of course, we will take our annual family photo and I hope to keep blogging daily!

Our family verse for 2018 is: Hebrews 13: 8

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Christmas Newsletter, Part V

Lovely's Highlights

 
By looking at all the pictures, you know I have had another blessed year!
I took three trips this year -- one to Australia and two to the States. Each trip was no longer than 15 days! Very quick trips!
I have had many opportunities to speak over the years, but this year, starting in July, I have shared each week from the book of Luke at House of Praise (since our pastoral couple left to become farmers). It has been an amazing journey. I highly recommend it to all believers who want to grow more in love with God through the study of His Word. He indeed is a writer like no other writers!
In addition to speaking at House of Praise, I continued to share once a month at the Chinese church in Beitou.
I had wanted to invest in another house, and spent many hours scootering to all sorts of places, but the prices were all too high. So I put that on the back burner for now!
I taught at NSB and tutored at least five hours per week. I love all my students and the freedom to arrange my schedule around my other obligations.
Running was sporadic this year... But I try to fit in some form of exercise at least three times a week.
My verse for 2018 is Psalm 117-118:1-2.


Seek Him First!