Graduation Dinner & Golfing Buddies

Happy Dragon Boat Festival -- that was on Wednesday, June 12th.  Alan and the kids had a day off and that evening, we all went to join the Senior Graduation Banquet.  We had a blast as they had rented a KTV machine and the songs were oldies but goodies... and since these were English majors, we sang lots of English songs.  The kids and I baked 130 slices of brownies to give to each senior and Alan put together a note with a collection of Bible verses for them.

Today, June 14th, Alan was invited by a dear church friend to go for a round of golf.  They started off at 5:30am and did not get back until 2:30, just in time for Abby's performance at school.  All the clubs come together to show what they have "learned" during this semester.  Abby sang the rap part for the song, Baby, and then played the piano for the song, Just the Way You Are.

Two more weeks and the kids will be taking their final exams and then they are off for the summer!!!!  YIPPY...

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An Unfortunate Event

My son... and his first cast...

He was frustrated and bang his hand against a wall (which was NOT the way to express his frustration).  Then a moment later, while running down the hall (which he was also NOT supposed to be doing) a classmate bumped into him and the same hand hit the wall.  All weekend it was throbbing so by Wednesday, Alan took him to the doctor and had a x-ray done. The doctor's "verdict" -- a fracture, so he had to get a cast. Bad news, he is a lefty so it is difficult for him to write or do things.  Good news, he gets the cast off by June 19th.

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Good-Bye Car! Good-Bye May! Good-Bye Seniors!

This month has almost come to an end. And as promised, I am posting one more time.  This month has been extremely eventful.  What else has been happening?  Well... we have had to say good-bye to our car of 13 years.  While we were on the way to do some grocery shopping last Friday, the car "died".  Alan pushed it off to the side.  I was able to get free roadside service via our credit card and had the car towed to our mechanics.  The quick prognosis was that it would take another 1200US$ to get it fixed.  Alan at that point said, "NO, we are not putting any more money in this car."  And we sold it to one of the mechanics for 570US$ and he will fix it up for practically next to nothing and use it as his family's extra car.  I was very sad to say good-bye to our great car.  And we now are in the process of finding another car.  Alan has a WISH on his mind. But I don't want to spend the money. We would not buy a new car.  It would definitely be a second hand car.  But even a second car is quite expensive.  I think we will look after our return from the States.  For now, we are borrowing a car from a dear church friend.  Driving it feels weird.  I am still used to driving our wonderful Libero "station wagon".

Good-bye Car!

 

Alan also had his last class with his seniors.  He has taught many of them since their Freshmen year and they have also played on the departmental basketball teams.  So, even though they were seniors, they still decided to take his very difficult debate class.  This picture was taken at the last debate class.

Seniors -- Debate Class

Seniors at one of the basketball tournaments

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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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