Going in Different Directions

What a day!

I left at 9am this morning to head out to speak at New Beitou Baptist Church. My kids were to be heading to New Life Church as the youth group was to present the special music for the morning service.  They were running late so they had to bike to church!

They stayed there for lunch and then the afternoon was spent getting ready for the week-long children's camp.

After my morning service, I came home, got things ready for HOP, including a dessert that I had baked and drove to HOP. The kids were to meet me at HOP for the Love Feast!

They finally showed up at around 6:15.  We ate dinner and helped with clean up and came home together at 8:15!

What a day!

This whole week is going to be like today.  The kids will be going in one direction while I'd be heading out in another!

Seek Him First!

Abby Is Back!

Abby came back from the States early Sunday morning and immediately early Tuesday morning she was off for her week-long youth camp.

At first, she didn't seem to be connect with those in her group. But by today, she has made so many new Christian friends who have already sent dozens of FB messages and photos even before I picked her up this evening.  She has so many wonderful stories which she has not finished sharing.  I think she might have met several from Nanhu Senior High School. That's what I hoped would happen so that they can start meeting together on campus to encourage one another and to pray together.

Here are a few pictures which I downloaded from FB --

Seek Him First!

Typhoon Day

Yes, the government decided to declare today as a "Typhoon Day". All government offices, banks, businesses had a day off. Isaiah also had a day off. He only had to go to school for an hour of conditioning and he was finished. His vacation has started.

Since the wind was not strong, a dear sister and I went for our usual Friday morning prayer walk. The rain also was not heavy. We walked and prayed and shared for an hour.

Isaiah and I hung out at home. He had homework to get done. I had housework to get done. As the day went, the rain picked up.  The skies were very gray, but the wind never got too strong.

In the evening, after dinner, Isaiah and I watched Wimbledon.  He lined people and played video games on his cell phone while he watched. I cooked and emailed people while I watched.

What an unusually calm typhoon day!

Seek Him First!

Morning Downpour

I got ready this morning to take Isaiah to the MRT Station and thought I'd go for my run after I drop him off.

But as we pulled out of our parking garage, the rain started to come down.

We made it to the MRT Station without too much damage.  I decided to head back home and I'm so glad I did. After walking into our apartment, the rain came! A total downpour... a typhoon is passing by Taiwan and we are set to get some rain.

With the rain, the temperature dropped slightly. What a relief!

By early afternoon, the sun was out and the heat was back.

Alan called and he had arrived safely to the States. He was exhausted! It was so good to skype him!

I did go for a run, but not a longer one... instead, I went only 9 kilometers. Believe it or not, my thigh muscles are sore!!!!!!!! I did the run in 51 minutes, which was an improvement, but now, I'm feeling "it"!!!!

We are now waiting as Isaiah said that practice might be cancelled if the rain and wind get too bad! We shall see.

Seek Him First!

My First Run in A Long Time!

Yes, I actually went out for a run.

Even though it was not during the heat of the day, it was still extremely hot.

I brought two bottles of water.

I ran only 10kms, which took an hour.

I felt out of shape, hoping it was the heat and not my legs.

Tomorrow, I'm going to try to go longer... Notice the word TRY!

Seek Him First!

Happy Birthday to Alan!

Yes, Alan turned 57 today!

And he spent most of his birthday in two different airports by himself.

Yes, it's true!

This morning, he dropped off the kids as Isaiah had practice and Abby was on her way to her week long high school Christian camp in Taichung.

I finished up the packing and we headed to Taoyuan International Airport.

His flight to Seoul was set to leave at 12:55.  His flight to Los Angeles would not be leaving until July 8th at 2:15p.m.  He would be at the Incheon International Airport in Seoul for 24 hours!

There was WiFi, so I was able to 'chat' with him.

He did a Korean craft for free.  He brought lots of snacks from home and they served a nice meal on the flight to Korea. The airport has free showers and blankets. He will 'park' himself on one of the sofas and spend the night there.

This is definitely one of his most unusual birthday 'celebrations'.

I, on the other hand, came home and started cleaning the cupboards. I had brought back so many food items that I had no way to get everything organized in our very small back balcony. So, I had to redo the entire kitchen cabinets as well as the back balcony.  I spent the entire day getting this mammoth of a task done.

Isaiah finished practice early, so I went and picked him up at the MRT station. Since it was so hot, we had chicken tofu salad for dinner. Yummy! He did some math homework for about an hour while I continued with the task of organizing the kitchen.  (I realize that I have way too much stuff!)  Then we watched a movie together.

I have a difficult time falling asleep without Alan, so I continued to work on other tasks.

It's going to be a very productive 9 weeks!

Seek Him First!

We're Back!

What a whirlwind trip!

I landed with both feet running, sprinting... and it never stopped for 18 days.

In fact, I think I was so exhausted that I actually had a slight period. And that's very unusual since I haven't had a period for over TWO years!

It can also be that I wasn't running much leading up to our departure and of course, I didn't have time when I was in the States.

The Lord sustained me and blessed me.

He gave me time with my daughter.

He gave me time with my elderly parents.

He gave me time with my sister and her family. I even got to see William, their oldest son, who was heading to West Point.

He gave me time with my brother in law and his family.

He gave me time with Alan's mom and Aunt Ethel.

He gave me time with Suz and Pam.

He gave me time with Mark, Sherri and Amy.

He gave me time with Angel Go.

He gave me time with Judy and three of her kids.

He gave me time with Uncle Jesse, his wife Zoe and 'little' Abby.

He gave... and I was so blessed.

I realized again and again and again that my life lived for Him is NOT about the tasks and my to do list, but it's about relationship.  It's not about cleaning and disinfecting my mom's house. It's not about sorting and organizing another drawer or another closet. It's not about looking for lost things and buying new things. It's about holding hands and sharing hearts.  It's about being together, sometimes saying nothing. It's about laughter and tears.  Those are what will last and make memories.  How blessed I am as God has given me friends who are willing to drive to see me, even for just a few hours.  How blessed I am to have friends who will pray with and for me. How blessed I am to have a family that loves one another.

This trip was 'fast and furious'.  Physically, I'm exhausted. But my heart overflows with gratitude.

Seek Him First!