WHAT? IT'S ALREADY THE END OF MAY!

 The summer has arrived in Taiwan.  You can tell when you go to the local supermarkets. The stacks of pineapples, large red watermelons, small yellow watermelons... and of course, you don't even need to go to a supermarket. Just sitting at home even with all the fans on, I'm still sweating.  At 7a.m. as I take my daughter or my son to their local junior high school, I can feel the heat. If I want to run without melting or getting heat stroke, I will need to run at 4a.m. or 10p.m. And even at 10p.m. the heat from the cement can be felt.  Two days ago, the temperature reached 33, which was a record high for this time of the year.  The kids are asking, "Can we turn on the A/C?" 

 

This has been an eventful month.  Mother's Day started the month and Alan and I were in charge of the Service. It was a fantastic time of remembering God's gift of our mothers, reading psalms over our mothers and praying for our mothers.  The Service had the Four P's -- pictures, praises, prayers and presents. 

 

After Mother's Day, the kids took their second set of exams with mixed results.  They will have to spend more time on their studies. 

 

We then had the HOP Pentecost Quiet Retreat. What a blessing to gather for the weekend with our church family.  Everything was perfect -- the weather, the food, the worship, the messages, the time for reflection and prayer, the lodging...

Then my older brother, James, came for a visit. I finally dragged him to our local supermarket. He took all these pictures. I have never carried a camera to our supermarket before. 

I will post again tomorrow... for sure before June arrives!!!!

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Fast and Faster

 

 

I can't believe it is already the end of April. I could not let this month go by without posting another entry.  Definitely the months are flying by fast and faster...

So, what are these pictures all about?  Well, this was at the finish line of the 2013 Tour de Taiwan Ultra Marathon.  The top two pictures are the top two men who won. The runner who placed first is from Japan (the man who is running pumping his fist) and the second place runner is from Taiwan (gathered with his friends and family members). They ran for 14 days; each day covering anywhere from 60-95 kilometers.  One lady rode her bike in three stages of the race as she was the top ultra female marathoner before losing her legs in an ultramarthon in France back in 2008.  The fourth picture is the oldest gentleman (also from Japan) who finished all 14 stages.  I joined the first stage and prayed through the northern coast.  Hence, the last picture is me, at the finish line, just to cheer on those who ran. And I found out that one runner who finished all 14 stages was a Christian, running for Jesus.

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God's Promises

Every year right before our wedding anniversary, we go and get our family portraits done.  This year our theme was God's Promises.  Thus, we dressed in bright colors, like the promise God gave Noah through the gift of the rainbow.  After the rain, the sun will shine and in the sky, the rainbow will be a constant reminder of His promises.  What he promises, he will do. God is forever faithful. And this year, our family verse is from Luke 6:45 -- for from the overflow of our heart, our mouth speaks.  As you can see from these pictures, Isaiah is finally taller than Abby... and yes, he is even taller than me.  Alan and I have gotten a few more gray hair... Our kids picked our couple picture this year as they said that it looks like the "old fashioned" pictures that couples in Taiwan take!!!  Two old fogies holding hands and growing "old" together... Yes, we will be celebrating our 26th anniversary on April 11th.  It has been an incredible journey of trusting on God's every word and holding Him to be forever faithful.

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When the Expected Comes Unexpectedly

My wonderful father-in-law had been struggling with his health for the past 3 years.  Each time when we went back to the States, we noticed that his condition had worsen.  He interacted with people less and less. From walking with a wobble, he soon had to use a walker and then was confined to a wheelchair and then to a bed.  It was so difficult to see this happening as he used to be so active.  We knew that he was ready to go "home". 

Just before the winter break, Dad Alagata was in the hospital again. When he was released from the hospital, they put him on hospice care in his own home. Mom Alagata took care of him, 24/7.  He was always appreciative of her love and companionship. 

When we went back this past Chinese New Year, he was very responsive and alert.  He was confined to a bed that was set up in the living room and Alan would hoist him up to set him in his wheelchair so that he can sit by the window to get some sunshine.  He seemed to enjoy having people around, but tired easily.  He lost a lot of weight but appeared to be in good spirit.  Alan found a Christian radio station and he enjoyed listening as he slept most of the day. 

When we left in February to come back to Taiwan, we bid him "see you this summer".  But in the middle of March, Mom called and said that he was in the hospital again and this time, his vital organs seemed to be shutting down.  We knew that his earthly tent was diminishing and that he was so ready to go "home", and yet, it was still such a shock to receive the phone call.  Alan booked a ticket home for that Sunday, but on Friday, March 15th, he crossed the River Jordan and ran into the arms of His Loving Heavenly Father.  His legs were fine. His eye sight was as bright as ever.  It is for those who are on this side of Heaven who grieve.  The Memorial Service was held this past Saturday on March 23rd.  And the words from the song, The Old Rugged Cross, still rings in my ears --

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

God called and you answered! Farewell, our beloved Dad Alagata...

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Epic Experiences

The first Epic Experience was to have breakfast at the Noch's... Why was it so "epic"?  Can you tell by the picture above?  No, it was not the delicious fruit salad or the fabulous egg cassarole.  It was my first time to try Monkey Bread!  TOTALLY YUMMY!!!  I didn't even know there was such a thing as Monkey Bread. I never even heard of such a breakfast option... Never in all my fine dining experiences around the world have I even seen this on any menu. And since I love MONKEYS... what a perfect choice for a get-together with my bestest friends. 

Below you will find the recipe, courtesy of Suz!  Enjoy!!!!

Monkey Bread - Frozen dough

Ingredients

• 24 ounces frozen dinner roll dough (e.g. Bridgeford Parkerhouse style rolls)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package cook-and-serve butterscotch pudding mix - or (if you can't find butterscotch pudding) - 1/2 pkg vanilla cook-and-serve pudding mix and approx. 1/4 cup butterscotch ice cream topping
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup melted butter

Directions

1.      Put this recipe together the night before, or at least six hours before serving.

2.      Melt butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in sauce pan or microwave bowl.  Add butterscotch pudding mix (or vanilla pudding mix plus butterscotch ice cream topping).  Mix thoroughly and allow to cool.

3.      Grease a 9 or 10 inch tube pan or bundt pan. (Do NOT use a pan with removable base, the carmel topping will leak through.)  In bottom of tube/bundt pan, sprinkle some brown sugar and some chopped walnuts/pecans.

4.      Allow frozen dinner rolls to thaw JUST ENOUGH to cut in half with kitchen shears (only takes about 5 minutes).  Place half the frozen dinner roll halves in pan.   Drizzle half the butter/sugar/pudding sauce over the first layer and then sprinkle the nuts.  Repeat with second layer.

5.      Place on counter over night. Do not cover. Next morning bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for approx 40 minutes.  Cover with tinfoil if top browns too fast.  Let stand a few minutes and turn pan over onto serving platter.   If excess caramel sauce drips onto serving platter, scoop up immediately with spoon and pour over top of monkey bread.

 

      The second Epic Experience was for my sweet son, Isaiah.  He had a chance to go and see a Laker's Game at the Staple Center -- LIVE.  The Lakers were playing Oklahoma. They gave out free posters and a cheering towel. He got some of the most famous players from the Oklahoma team to sign his poster and towel.  The seats were totally awesome as was the experience. And most miraculous of all, the tickets were a gift from a friend of my wonderful sister and brother in law, Dr. Noguchi.  They were like 160US$ tickets for FREE and he gave us TWO tickets!!!!  And the Lakers WON (ending a 7 game losing streak)!!!!!!!!!!

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At Least 1000 Words

 

 

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There and Back

It is already the end of February and I didn't want to let a whole month go by without posting at least one entry. As I had promised pictures in my last post... I will try to upload as many pictures as possible in these next few posts.  And if the old cliche is true, perhaps the pictures will help you to see what this month has been like. 

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