Abby's Scooter

This morning, Mom was up bright and early...

I rushed to get her into the shower and have her breakfast... I left before Alan got home as I had to go and meet up with the owner of the scooter that Abby is riding... She is giving us the scooter so we have to get the papers done. We've been riding it for the past 7 years... Alan took Mom to her morning program.

The transfer process was a lot longer than I thought... First, I had to get the insurance changed to her name... Then I had to take it to get it "approved"... They didn't let me pass because I was missing ONE reflector... So, off I went in search of a scooter shop... I found one and paid 130NT$ and got a reflector... and while I was there, he found out that I didn't have the most recent smog check... so I had to get that done... I then went back to the "scooter check up" person, he finally passed me.

Now, the paper work part took less than 5 minutes... And I was finished by 11:10!  Now, Abby officially has her own scooter!

I came home and went for a quick run... When I got back, Alan and Mom were home.

I was planning on taking Mom to the Friday afternoon program, but I was too tired... I slept for an hour!

This evening we all went out for the final birthday dinner... That was a lot of fun, but Mom was in one of her bad moods again... At the restaurant, Abby, Isaiah and Vikki took her in first and she wanted to take the tissues... and Abby said no and she slapped Abby's hand. Then when we were eating, she wanted more food... She kept saying, "I just want to try a little of everything!" And we had given her MORE than a little of everything... She has days like this... not many, but once in a while.

The kids had a worship workshop...

Mom went to bed by 9:30 and I started to do some housework... Mopping the floor and doing another load of clothes...

What a day!

Seek Him First!

Early Morning...

I slept so late last night but was up at the crack of dawn as I went to the airport to drop things off for a friend. I then drove back home before the kids went off to school so that I can care for Mom.

We didn't have any morning program... So, I was able to work around the house and prep for my tutoring.

We left at 12:30 so that Mom can have her weekly massage. While she was getting her massage, I did my quick run!

When we got home, no time to rest as we had a late lunch and I was off to tutor while Mom watched Little House. Isaiah came home while I was gone... He didn't have to tutor tonight...

Abby had her usual Thursday night teaching while Alan was playing basketball at SooChow University!

I think I will definitely go to bed early tonight...

Seek Him First!

New Program for Mom

What a day... go, go, go...

First we went and shopped at RT Mart and Costco as Alan was trying to find candy canes... NOTHING! He needs them for his students as he uses them to share about Jesus... (I came home and called and finally found a store in Taipei that is MORE expensive... 40US$ for 120 candy canes!)

Anyhow... after shopping, we went over to the elderly program... Mom at first said she didn't want to go... I forced her. They were going to make taro and pumpkin pancakes... and the people were so nice. One gentleman was 95 years old...

I left after getting Mom settled and Alan and I went over to our church area. He had lunch while I ran around to finish a few errands...

We went back and picked Mom up and SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE!!!!! So I will bring her back on Friday... They have programs for the elderly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays... I will see what activities are listed for the month of December and decide which ones will be suitable for Mom.

Today is Abby's 19th birthday... but both of our kids were not home... We will celebrate on Friday... I sure do love those kids...

Seek Him First!

Miracles...

The election results this past weekend were miracles... thank you all for your prayer for Taiwan. Please keep praying for Taiwan!

And Alan and Isaiah made it back this early morning. I had canceled their van pickup as it was going to be just the two of them. So, I drove to the airport and we were home by 1:30 and I was in bed by 2:50am!

The day started early... as I had to take Mom to her program while we had my Bible study group here. It was a great time... lifting up our most prominent petition before the throne of God.

I picked Mom up and we were home for the afternoon as I took an hour nap. And yes, while she watched Little House I went for my short run...

The kids were home by 6pm and I had dinner ready for them. The evening was busy as I made pancakes for Abby's birthday tomorrow. She likes pancakes and Isaiah likes French toast... I was going to make some for Isaiah but I ran out of eggs. So, I decided to go out grocery shopping... CRAZY!

Alan was home by 10:20...

I had wanted to work on my talk but I never had time... Maybe tomorrow...

Seek Him First!

Mom's Eyes

Today started with taking Mom to her eye doctor appointment... And what the doctor said was what I had expected... Nothing can be done... She has some peripheral vision, but the middle of her eyes are damaged...

We bought food from a local vendor and brought it home to have lunch.

We finished lunch at 2pm and took a short nap. Mom watched Little House while I went for a short run!

Alan lined us... their plane was having trouble, so they didn't take off yet and will probably miss their flight from Hong Kong to Taipei. So, I called to cancel their van and will pick them up myself! IF they make it back by 12:15AM...

We then rushed off to have dinner with friends from the States at a beef noodle place... and I drove to drop them off at the Shihlin Nigh Market.

Mom got ready for bed while I blogged... After she goes to bed, I'm going to work on my talks... And wait to hear from Alan...

Seek Him First!

A Beautiful Sunday!

I had a relatively relaxing day...

We didn't go out until time for church...

While Mom watched In Touch, I fell asleep on the couch... I was so sound asleep...

Since I didn't have to tutor, I helped with set up... I like making things look nice...

The service was nice with our love feast... I brought tomatoes and cucumbers with homemade dip... It went so well with the pita sandwiches that were ordered for dinner...

After we got home, I got Mom started with her nighttime routine while I put things away...

And yes, I watched another movie... October Sky!

It was a beautiful Sunday...

Seek Him First!

Voting Day and Other Things...

As I posted yesterday... I had borrowed four DVDs from the local library and last night, after Mom went to bed, I watched All Saints... The preview showed a bunch of other Affirm Productions! I'm going to get as many as I can to watch... So fun!

Today was a big day here in Taiwan -- Voting Day...

While Mom watched In Touch, I went out for my usual quick run. And I was pleasantly surprised that my legs were no longer sore!

I noticed that in front of the elementary school, which would be our voting station, there were lots of people... After I picked up Abby, we found out that the wait to vote would be two hours. It was like Disneyland in there... We waited... and luckily, someone told us that since Mom was over 80, we can go in right away... Not all of us... Just Mom and I... So, we still hung around to wait for Abby.

We dropped Abby off at Soochow as she had a study group that was meeting to prepare for a presentation! I took Mom to Costco... Well... that was a total Disneyland, too! The line to go into the parking lot was long... Outside there were about 100 people waiting to get inside the store... I decided to take Mom to the local supermarket as I needed potatoes and carrots for the luncheon I'm cooking for the Bible study gals on Tuesday... It was really nice at the supermarket as I found the discounted rack and lots of great stuff on sale!

We got back at 5:30 and I quickly made dinner and got Mom into her nightly routine...

After finishing this post, I'm going to watch another movie!

Abby won't be home until 11pm.  And I don't think I'll hear from Alan until then as the camp has started... So I'm sure they had a busy day as well...

Tomorrow morning we will find out the results of the referendum as well as the city mayors and city council members and other positions... Stay tune for tomorrow's post!

Seek Him First!

Sore Legs and Other Things...

Today I felt my legs a bit sore from the trail run yesterday, even though I only ran for about 50 minutes. I think it was the downhill that got my legs sore...

Mom went to her Sing Old Song Program and I went for a body massage... 90 minutes of bliss!

In the afternoon, I took her to look at the Line Dancing Class... Mom said, NO... most of the ladies were much younger... and Mom no longer has the stamina to dance for two hours!

I let Mom watch one Little House and then took her out to the local library...

I also called and found a program that is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2-4. This is similar to the Mental Class that Mom had... So, I will take her there and see what that is like... It would be so wonderful if Mom can have that three times a week... and of course, that will give me some free time!!! YIPPY! And the program is FREE! The drive is a bit longer... but still manageable! It will be a bit of a rush on Wednesday afternoon as I have tutoring in the afternoon... Maybe Alan can help me out with picking up Mom on Wednesdays at 4pm. God has this taken care of... I'll keep you posted!

Today was Black Friday... It has really caught on here in Asia. Alan sent me a message saying that the mall that they were eating at had lots of Black Friday sale... and this was in Japan. Costco here sent out an email saying that from 11/23 to 11/25 the stores will be opened at 8am for Black Friday. An hour before opening time, I heard people were already lining up to bounce on the goods! I was going to venture over there... but decided against it as the check out lines might be horrendous!

I spent the rest of the evening at home... I put up our manger scene as that's the tradition in our household -- the day after Thanksgiving is when we start listening to Christmas music and decorate for the Christmas Holiday! I think I'm going to look for a nice strand of lights to hang around our living room window!

Seek Him First!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, it's already Thursday here in Taipei... And what a day I've had!

Alan woke up at 3:12am to get ready. They were out the door by 4:04 to pick up Vikki and then go to Soochow where the van I had reserved was waiting for them to take all 6 of them to the Taoyuan International Airport. The group was heading out to Miyazaki, Japan!

I got up to have my quiet time and Mom was up already... Yes... you know what she was doing! I thought she would go back to bed, but she didn't!

I had to sneak out as I needed to run to Soochow to pick up the car... I knew it was a 30 minute run... but unfortunately, I got very lost in the back trails... So, it took almost an hour to find my way. I even had to scoot down one steep part on my butt because it was wet and so slippery!

I got back home and Mom was ready to take her shower. She was antsy to go, go, go...

After her breakfast, I didn't want to take her to the new Bible study group as she seemed to be in an 'active' mode... I didn't think she'd sit quietly, so we drove to drop Abby off... and headed to the local mall. She walked around and we had lunch there. I had made an acupressure massage appointment, so we went there after lunch!

I was blessed to have two hours at a coffee shop... I had brought two books to read and it was a blissful time... AHHHHHHH... I can't tell you how refreshing those two hours were. I also had a pair of earplugs... I put those in and just sat there, reading... When I felt tired, I closed my eyes and dozed off...

I picked Mom up and went to the local supermarket... before heading home for dinner!

By 7pm, I thought Mom would be tired... she wasn't... But I told her to go to bed!

Alan sent me a message that they had arrived safely... but since they missed their scheduled flight to Japan, their luggage won't be arriving until tomorrow! YIKES! I told him to lead the students in a prayer of thanksgiving to help them to see that in all things we are to give thanks!

I have the house all to myself until Abby comes back at 11pm as she is teaching...

I'm not sure what I will do after I finish blogging... Oh... I can do a load of laundry and more housework... or I can just sit and read...

What a blissful tranquil thanksgiving evening!

Seek Him First!

Getting A Canker Sore!

I need to sleep more... Maybe this weekend!

I knew this week was going to be a busy one... having my last NSB class, going to my evening Bible study, counseling tonight... So, today, I felt tired and started to get a canker sore!

Thus, I decided NOT to take Mom to the new program and stayed at home to 'rest'... That doesn't mean I was able to sleep... I wanted to get the NSB grades done... I'm not finished yet... I have two messages to prepare... I'm not finished yet... There were emails to answer... I'm not finished yet...

In the afternoon, Alan needed to go to the bank for get money exchanged... I went with him. He doesn't feel comfortable trying to use Chinese... While Mom watched Little House, I went for a quick run and napped for 10 minutes before heading off to tutor!

I fixed Mom her dinner before taking off... and got all her 'stuff' ready... When I came back, she had changed into her PJ and was ready for bed...

Yes, we had counseling tonight...

Isaiah was with Vikki and Abby went to her Fellowship Group...

I will be getting up very early tomorrow as Alan and Isaiah are taking off. Their flight is at 8am so they need to be at the airport by 5:30!

Seek Him First!