HOP Appreciation Dinner

Tonight was our HOP Appreciation Dinner!

What a fun evening!

It was also our Anniversary. So how great to celebrate together!


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Anniversary Date

Since Alan and I wouldn't have time to go out for a nice meal on the day of our anniversary (which is tomorrow), we went out today. I bought coupons for a steakhouse that had a buffet soup and salad bar. The meal was fantastic.

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Using Coupons

Like in the States, there are many web sites here in Taiwan which sells 'coupons'.  I have found Groupons, Gomaji, and 17Life, just to name a few.

The web site I favor is Gomaji and Alan and the kids have enjoyed trying different restaurants on our Family Night.

What do these web sites offer?

A wide range of things... but I look restaurant deals that are at least 50% off and that are fairly near our house.  I just don't want to travel too far to have a nice meal.

So, thus far, I have tried restaurants, beauty salons (Abby is going to get her hair permed and I've bought foot and body massages), tea shops, and now I'm going to explore a bit by buying coupons for some nice hotel stays.

My experience so far has been very positive.  The only downside is that it can be quite time consuming and you definitely have to set a budget.  We eat out about twice a month for our Family Time.  And I try to set the budget at less than 30US$ each time.  I have discovered that you can pretty much order anything online! It might say 50% off, but it's best to compare before I actually order anything.  So, I take notes and when I see the same product, I will see what the price might be at the store.  I haven't ordered anything, but that's something I plan to do, WHEN I find a great bargain!


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Much Needed Rain

I called my mom and she said that it "poured" in Torrance.

My sister clarified and said, "Yes, it poured, but not for long."

Taiwan is also in need of rain as water rationing started this week in New Taipei City.

The temperature dropped dramatically and it started to rain today. Not exactly a downpour, but just a steady drizzle.

The day was a very restful day.  I had cooked and baked quite a bit yesterday, so today was a day of running errands -- dropping things off to my brother, going to Costco to get our annual portraits printed, and since I was at Costco, I did some grocery shopping.

No time for a run today... plus it was cold and drizzling.

Maybe tomorrow...

I read and worked on my Bible study material and spent quite a bit of time looking for great deals for a possible family birthday trip either in early June or mid-November.

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They're Here!

Our annual family portraits --

This Year's Theme:  Changes
Can you guess why we selected "Changes" as our theme for this year?

Our Family Verse: Heb. 4:12


Again it was difficult to choose just four pictures from the 50 that were taken but I had a budget!


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Family Fun Day

Today was a gift from God.

Isaiah didn't have practice.

So, last night we decided to head out at 9am to go to the beach.

We drove out to Fulon Beach.  The drive was fast and the place was not even crowded.

Our resident photographer, Isaiah, did a fantastic job, capturing the day on "film".

 

 

 
 

We had a late lunch at Noble Steakhouse and drove home.

The evening was still young, so we watched Interstellar!

We have not had a family day for such a long time.  The day was just filled with so many wonderful memories that I didn't want it to end. Thank you Jesus!

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He Has Risen! Yes, He Has!

What joy to know that Jesus is alive!

Today we had our first HOP Prayer Walk. Even though we had a smaller group of people, the sense of God's presence was not diminished at all.

We read four different passages and I highlighted some key points and everyone went out to prayer walk the area.

Mark 2:1-13
Luke 11:1-13
Mark 16:1-13
Luke 24:1-13

 l   Pray believing, not unbelieving.  We know that He has risen. Say that to the person next to you. He has risen. The tomb is empty! We do not need to sweep the tomb for Jesus' tomb is empty!  We can celebrate because He is alive! If anyone here has any unbelief, let's proclaim that to be gone in Jesus' name.

l   Pray with persistence.  We have asked before, and we’re not going to stop asking, or seeking, or knocking.  We’re asking for loaves of bread, manna, the Bread of Life, for our friends and families. They are hungry.

l   Pray to our heavenly father, knowing that He is more than willing to give us the Holy Spirit, the Holy Anointing, a fresh anointing from above, to cleanse and to convict. Let's ask that now for each one of us.  How much more our heavenly father gives to those who ask?

l   Pray for our earthly fathers, bringing them before Jesus, like those in Mark 2, who laid the paralytic before Jesus.  I feel that many of the bondage and brokenness in this land have come through fathers who have not taken their post as watchmen and as spiritual covering for their family. They have been like the paralytic, unable to move and to take up their weapon and stand as watchmen.  We are asking God to forgive and to restore.

Remember: He has Risen. He will explain and teach and bring to light what we might not yet understand, like the two on the road to Emmaus. 


Seek Him First!