God Is My Strength!

What an incredible day...

I went and spoke at the New Beitou Baptist Church.

Came home and did a load of laundry.

Baked a dessert for the House of Praise Love Feast.

Went off to House of Praise.

After setting up for the service, I walked to a store that I knew sold snacks from the Philippines. I wanted to buy some tamarind snacks for my sister.

Pastor Matthew gave a testimony of what the Lord is doing in taking them to Toufen to become farmers.

We stayed to help clean up!

And then we drove over to the local shopping mall to pick up a few things. After we got back, we had to finish packing and I had to do another load of clothes. I will have to do one more load. I just don't want any clothes in the clothes hamper when we're gone.

We wanted to have Family Time before we leave tomorrow. It was so good to pray together as a family.

There is still a lot to do... but I can't even keep my eyes opened...

Seek Him First!

Finished!

Isaiah is finished with the exams and is back on all the gadgets...

I don't know what I like better...

No... I do know what I like better...

I liked it better when he was hitting the books not having his face buried in a small screen playing some games that I think are terrible.

Unfortunately, this might be what it's going to be like for the entire next semester. I dread the idea...

As for the day, it was another chilly day.

The exams were finished by 2:40 and I took Isaiah out shopping as he wanted a pair of these hip sweatpants.

Then we all went to have dinner at a theme restaurant... the theme of this restaurant -- back in the days of when we were in elementary school. It was quite a cute restaurant.

We broke open the bottle of champagne and had a little celebration at home!

Now we wait... the scores will come out around Feb. 16. Ranking will be released around the last week of February and then students can start selecting schools by the first week of March! So, please do keep all this in your prayers.

Seek Him First!

Day One Finished!

Today was a cold day...

But early this morning, I was standing at the front gate of Neihu Senior High School, cheering on those who arrived to take the tests. Many of the students came with one or both parents. What was amazing was that I met many Christian parents. They were praying for their kids.

I had brought things to work on, but I spent all my time socializing with different people!

The student sitting next to Isaiah in the testing classroom is a Christian. I talked with her parents for a long time.

The first period was Chinese. Then Isaiah had lunch. The afternoon was Math and Social Studies. Math was extremely difficult... Isaiah was looking green when I saw him after he finished.

After we came back, Isaiah just wanted to relax. We had dinner at home... Isaiah got on his cell phone... and we watched a bit of TV and Isaiah finally cracked open Abby's science books as he did NOT have any Science class for the past three years as kids in the PE Class are exempted from taking any Science class. (The teachers just asked them to buy the 'test question study guides' for Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy and Physics! And the teachers highlighted the main points.)

Tomorrow... we start early and will be finished by 2:40. The two subjects will be English and Science.

Seek Him First!

Exhausting Day

Today was unusually exhausting!  I felt like I could have fallen asleep standing up!

I had scheduled to meet up with someone at 9am this morning. But Alan had scheduled his students to come over for lunch.

So, I rushed to get all the food ready before leaving the house.

I had a great chat with this gal.

I then had to head over to RT Mart, the bigger supermarket, in order to buy coffee and tea packets. I forgot I was on a scooter and again had a "wide load", trying to cart 100US$ worth of stuff on my scooter.

I picked up Isaiah and we headed home for lunch.

The students were there and they loved all the food I made!

After lunch, Isaiah and I headed over to the school where Isaiah would be taking the test tomorrow. You get to see your seat and where the parents get to sit and wait. We came home and the students were still here. I started washing the dishes and getting things cleaned up.

Then I had to sit down at my computer to work on my talk notes.

The students left at 5pm and I finished cleaning up by 5:40. Abby had gone out to the movies with her classmates. I asked Alan to pick her up as I could not keep my eyes opened. I took an hour nap! It was so refreshing!

Isaiah studied a bit before dinner and we watched TV after dinner as he needed a good night's rest! After he went to bed, I got things ready for tomorrow morning. I will go early to stand and cheer on all the students as they enter the school gate. It's a tradition! Teachers and staff members and parents from the PTA all gather with banners. I wrote about it last year. The only difference is that this year Isaiah will actually be taking the test! Alan will bring Isaiah over at around 8:50. The test starts at 9:15! About 77,000 students around the island will be taking this test for the next two days!

Seek Him First!

Lots of Surprises

Today was a day filled with surprises...

My tutee called and asked me to help her out with her Social Studies and other test exams corrections.

One of the sisters who we had the baby shower for on Saturday had her C-section as her water broke at 3am. She was 36 weeks along. She had scheduled her C-section to be on February 6th. But the baby wanted to come and celebrate Chinese New Year with the family.

My daughter had her math exam and she had to do a computer bubble card. She was quite upset this afternoon as she mismarked at least 5 questions. If each question was worth 3 points... this was not a good surprise!

Alan had an overseers meeting. They weren't planning to come until 2pm. But there was some kind of miscommunication. I had only prepared afternoon tea for them, but they came early. I served peanut butter and jam sandwiches!

And I totally forgot that the books from the library were due yesterday! Surprise!

The day went by in a spin...

And yes, the countdown continues... ONE MORE DAY... and Friday is IT!

Seek Him First!

Time Flies

I can't believe that the tests are fast approaching...

And right after finishing up the tests, we were thinking of getting Isaiah to take the TOEIC on Sunday morning. We didn't get him registered before 12 midnight! So, we have to wait and try to get him in for the February 19th TOEIC date.

In light of how fast time seems to be going, during one of his breaks this morning, I got him to give me the clothes he wants to bring to Australia. So, both of us are packed!

The weather was warmer, so it was a nice run in the park. But the temperature will drop on Friday and Saturday, the days of Isaiah's JCEE. It was the same last year!

Both kids were again at the cram school studying. Alan and I had dinner together and watched TV.

Seek Him First!

Soochow Year End Banquet

What a fun evening!

It was Alan's Year End Banquet.  We usually go as a family, but for these past two years, it has only been Alan and I.

This year, ex-president Ma came. That was really interesting.

Then for the raffle, Alan got 1000NT$ worth of coupons at one of my favorite supermarkets. The big prize was 35,000NT$ in cash. They had 10 of those!

The school also gave everyone (faculty and staff) two bottles of wine and a box of exquisite tea. Everyone also received 3000NT$ extra for their bonus!

I always enjoy going to see all the people... and of course, I brought my own containers to pack up the leftover!

Wow... I did not bring enough containers this year!

After speaking from Luke 12:22-34, God really packed up our refrigerator from the banquet tonight!

Seek Him First!

Finished Up Godly Contentment

Today was the final 'installment' on the topic of Godly Contentment.

My passage still came from Luke 12:22-34 but I focused on the application and results of godly contentment. I felt that the Lord revealed to me the root issue in my life when it comes to why I worry.

The problem is that I desire to control people and situations. When things are out of my control, I start to worry, to fret, and to fear. In areas where I have fully relinquished control, those are the areas that I no longer struggle with worrying.

For example, I don't worry about food. I don't worry about clothing. I don't worry about finances. Those are the areas that I see God fully enthroned. But when it comes to the choices my kids make... I am plagued with worry.

This past week as I prepared this talk, God has been peeling away the layers and helping me to LEARN CONTENTMENT as in Phil. 4:11-13. It's been a good process because GOD IS GOOD.

I believe the Lord used the talk today to touch the lives and heart of His people at HOP. Because I know He has touched my life in a new and vibrant way through this passage and message.

Seek Him First!