Fubon Run

Tomorrow is the Annual Fubon Run. 

I no longer run on Sundays but I recall when I did go out there -- 2010 for the half. I wrapped up my right leg as my knee was sore. I put patches on my left knee just in case.  I thought it would be cold and overdressed. By the middle of the run, I was starting to strip off the layers that I had worn. I made it and had a great time!



 

 

Next year, I went for the full...I wrapped my left knee and had patches on my back. It was another hot day but this time I was more prepared. I wore a visor, wore only one long sleeved shirt and had a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat that was running down my face and into my eyes.  Crossing the finished line felt so good.  My husband and kids were there to greet me... and to take pictures.  At the end, I felt as if I could have gone for another full marathon. It was a very surreal feeling.



This year I will be at home, cheering people on from the comfort of my bed. 

 

Would I join another race?  Most likely... but it would have to be for a special purpose.  Nowadays, I do weekly prayer runs, rain or shine.  Never in a million year did I think I'd be running.  I have read a few stories about lady runners. Many of them started later on in life.  I read about Joy Johnson who didn't start running until she was 59. According to newspaper report about Johnson, it said that "she averaged three marathons a year, ran anywhere from 25 to 50 miles a week, and made quilts from her race shirts."  She ran her last NY Marathon at age 86 before passing into glory.  Her favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31,

But those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

I am not sure how long the LORD will keep me "prayerunning", but I trust that when my time comes, I will be running into His arms with JOY!

 

Seek Him First!

 

 

 

 

When Jesus Came Into My Life

In my last post, I made mention of how my birthdays have all been such perfect days since Jesus came into my life. That was some 38 years ago.  It was THE most life changing decision.  That first year was not filled with attending church or Bible studies. It was just a simple day to day walk, knowing God was there -- ALWAYS.  I sensed His presence like the air I breathe or the wind that blows through my hair when I run.  Some people say, God doesn't exist because they can't see him.  I see Him all the time and in every way.  That first year was God and me. He held my hands and calmed my fears.  In my second year, I got a Bible when I was baptized. Again, that year flew by not with attending church or Bible studies.  But God gave me two verses, two simple promises --

He loves me and gave His only begotten Son to me so that I can have life everlasting. (John 3:16)

He invites me to seek daily His kingdom and His righteous and He will take care of all the other matters. (Matthew 6:33)

Those two verses were what He'd whisper to me day in and day out. 

In my third year, He opened up the way for me to attend service -- one hour each week.

In my fourth year, He provided Friday night youth fellowship and Sunday service.

And in all the years since, He has continued to provide, to guide, to carry, to speak... It is still just as simple as it was when He first came into my life -- a daily walk with the King of kings and the LORD of lords. It's a relationship.  It's not complicated. It's not an organized religion. It's a relationship that I want everyone to have.  I want my siblings to have this relationship. I want my co-workers or my students or my neighbors or those I see at the supermarkets that I shop at... I know Jesus wants to come into the life of all people.  He is patiently waiting.



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My 52nd Birthday

Hippo Birdie Two Ewes...

Yes, it's my 52nd birthday.  How do I like to celebrate? Here is what my son, Isaiah, wrote in his daily school journal --

Today is my mother's birthday. She doesn't like celebrating it like crazy -- no need for cakes, candles, ice cream or presents.  She just likes her birthday like every day life.  My mom just likes her birthday to be simple, to have her family around, no big party.  But that doesn't stop me from knowing this is a special day.  Happy Birthday Mom!

That pretty much describes how I feel about celebrating my birthday. I don't need anything.  But this year I did get one special present.  (Thank you Kathryn!)  As some of you know, I started running three years ago.  I love to run in the rain.  I ruined one iPod by doing that. It is sitting in a cup of rice. I'm hoping that it will be "revived again".  That iPod was given by my dearest sister, Annie.  Another dear Christian sister, Andrea, gave me an iShuffle, which I have been using. (She left Taiwan and this gift is a miracle of a story.)  Another dear sister, Audrey, gave me an iNano when she moved to Korea. But none of these is waterproof -- in step another sister, Kathryn. She handed me a bag one Sunday at church and asked, "When is your birthday?" This was back in November.  She then said, "This is your birthday present".  I looked inside the bag and couldn't believe what I saw. It's a sports mp3 player -- the kind that you can swim with or RUN IN THE RAIN WITH.  It's WATERPROOF. 

I opened it today. She even loaded it with some of my favorite music.  It just 'wraps' around your head and there is no earphone wires that swing while you run.  They are so light.  It didn't rain tonight. But I can hardly wait to try running in the rain with them.

As all my birthdays since Jesus came into my life, this has been another perfect day. 

Oh, one thing I do every year -- I call my mom and wish her a Happy BIRTHday.

My Mom and Me

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Basketball Tournament

Even though Alan's team did not win first place this year, I thought you'd still enjoy seeing some pictures from the tournament. Alan is in the 40+ division.  He has played with many of these guys from his school for many years. 

 
 

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Local Supermarkets

There are three great supermarkets in my neighborhood.  I can get there in less than 7 minutes on the scooter.  One is the "blue market". Another one is the "green market".  And the last one is Amart, which is the one that is the farthest from my home.  So, I usually go to the 'green' or the 'blue' market.  Now, what's so special about these two markets?  They usually have things that are 50% off.  Blue Market has bread that are regularly 50% off.  We love it as we get to try different kinds of bread which we would not usually buy if they were not 50% off.  The Green Market is known for 50% off milk, yoguart, soy bean milk and now lunch boxes.  This is something new as they are trying to attract the employees around the area.  We live right in the "silicon valley" of Taipei!

Curry with rice plus fried shrimps and some veggies
The regular price of each lunch box was 100NT$.  Then they mark it down 30% which is only 70NT$.  But by 5p.m. they mark them down another 50%.  So, each is only 35NT$ which is about 1.20US$.  They are very healthy and quite delicious.  The soy bean milk after being marked down is only 37NT$, which is about 1.25US$.

So, now you know what it's like to live in Taiwan!  Some times I don't even need to cook!  Buying the prepared food is so much cheaper and less time consuming than cooking.

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Just the Two of Us

A couple who moved to Korea gave us two vouchers to a fancy all you can eat restaurant called the Kitchen Table at the W Hotel.  The kids were at the library doing voluntary service.  Alan and I went to have dinner together -- just the two of us. The couple said that we could not give the vouchers to anyone else.  It turned out that each voucher was over 1400NT$ (that's almost 50US$). It included tax, tip -- everything!  The food was fabulous. They had a fondue bar and maybe 15 different kinds of desserts. They had four different kinds of fruit juices in these cute bottles.  They also had four different kinds of coffee you can order and 6 different kinds of tea.  They had an area for salads and fruits, an area for Chinese food, an area for Japanese food and they had roast beef and prime rib. They had someone make all kinds of Chinese noodles for you or if you wanted a fresh California sushi wrap, they'd do it on the spot.  And did I say it was ALL YOU CAN EAT!?!?! 

We felt so blessed...

THANK YOU JACK AND AUDREY...

THANK YOU GOD!

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A Story Worth Sharing

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.

With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ....'  With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.


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