Great Start of Another Great Month

The weather has turned cooler now here in Taipei and the days get darker earlier.  I like these changes.  They signal the changing of time and seasons.  This month started with more activities.  Isaiah and Abby had their school anniversary. They performed, screamed, marched, ran, and just enjoyed themselves tremendously.    Isaiah's class came in first in the class relay against all the 8th graders and Abby's class came in second against all the seventh graders.  Abby's class should have been first but they had two penalties while passing the baton!  Each penalty cost them 5 seconds!  I volunteered to run the relay as part of the parents/teachers team.  I was sore for two days.  We also had our House of Praise Family Retreat.  It was fabulous to get out of the city and worship together with our church family.  We were even asked to be a part of a musical that was performed on Saturday evening.  Alan and I also had time to reflect on this past year and to look forward to this coming year.  We do this every November as we know that December gets really busy with all the Christmas and New Year Activities.  This month will also be our kids' birthday celebration.  Well, I will leave that for my next entry.

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Fun-filled Month

 

 

I thought I better get on line and write one more blog before this month completely flies by.  It's been a fantastic and fun-filled month. Yes, I am still enjoying the "retired" life.  I still cannot find enough time to get to some of my personal projects. But I have started to listen to Taiwanese, Hebrew and Spanish.  I want to refresh my Spanish and hopefully, German and learn Taiwanese and Hebrew.  I have gone through my piles of files and sorted them into three HUGE files.  There is definitely a lot more work that needs to be done. I get on line and read about organizing files... but I can't imagine getting everything into one nice neatly organized box.  We had also gone to three weddings this month and I had a special get together with some of my honors' English students from four years ago.  Abby is now a vocalist with our House of Praise Worship Team.  Both Isaiah and Abby still help out with the drums when needed.  But this is a new step of faith for Abby.  And the seniors at Soochow University are already taking their graduation pictures... And I continue to trim/cut my own hair.  I am getting better and better at it.  I run when I have time and I do bike a lot more.  I have gone to Costco on my bike, but I didn't get a picture of that.  Too bad!!!! It was pretty funny as people watched me pack my Costco goods on my bike. I prayed with every push of my pedals.  Next month is just around the corner... and I know I will have lots to write about...

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It's October Already!

 

Lots of parties and get togethers... And it's only the first week of October. 

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An Outing

 
This is one of many things that I love about being home with the kids -- we can be spontaneous and go out for fun outings.  As I have taught at Ming Chuan for the past 25 years, I was invited to receive a special award.  I asked the kids to come along and Alan also joined us after he finished his classes in the morning.  Since the place was right near Hsimenting (a trendy part of Taipei), we decided to explore the area.  It was so fun to visit the Aroma Cafe and to run into old friends who happened to be upstairs.  We went walking around and saw a special exhibition for an upcoming release of a new video game.  It was fun and the afternoon stroll was refreshing. 

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The Joy of Being Retired

 

Well, can I just say that I love, absolutely love, being retired!!!  I made sofa covers for our living room sofas.  I have altered some of my favorite shorts and skirts.  I have organized some of the piles of "stuff" in our house. I have sorted through and given away things.  I am home with the kids on their homeschool days. I have not had the time to run and have not gone for a workout at the local rec center, but this is really only the third week of being back in Taiwan.  I still have a long list of things that I want to get done in this first year of being retired.  I am in no way bored.  Each day seems to hold some new adventure.  Recently, a dear sister GAVE me her bike and now I am determined to run my errands on the bike, even going to Costco. So, I got the bike "rigged up" with two very sturdy baskets so that I can lug my Costco goods.  (And I have four bungee cords!!!)  I hope to get a picture for you all one of these days and write about the experience.  Did I mention that I want to learn Hebrew and take up tap dancing?????

Seek Him First!!!!

All Things New

 
 

 
The summer has passed and the new school year has started.  These pictures are just a few to help you to know what this summer has been like. 
My daughter got a new haircut.  She got a free haircut and donated her hair. 
We went to Jon and Judy's new house in Pasadena and had a great time. 
My kids went to Soak City and Magic Mountain, which was a new experience for them. 
I took my mom and Daddy George to a new place -- the Botanic Garden right near Torrance. 
And one evening while walking, I saw the most gorgeous array of colors at sunset.  I thought it would be a good closing shot.  With the beauty of the skyline, I was again reminded of the newness of each day and the amazing ways of the LORD.

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My Junior Highers

Their formal uniform

Their athletic uniform

First day of school

                                                         
We have been back from the States for less than a week and my sweet kids are back in school.  They are in the local public school for two and a half days and the rest of the time they are at home.  I can't believe how fast the years have flown by. They are both now junior highers. (And in less than three months, I will have two "teenagers"!!!)  Soon, they will both be high schoolers. And with another blink of my eyes, they will both be university students.  What a blessing they have been.  They are wonderful and loving. Yes, they have their "moments", but as I reflect on the years past, I can only seem to recall the joy they have brought into my life.  I am so glad that I have decided to retire and spend more time with them.  This year is going to be amazing. I don't know what God has in store, but I know He is good and faithful and He has promised to be with me always. I hold firm to that Truth and rejoice!

Seek Him First!