Hyper Mom & Colder Weather

Mom woke up early and was ready to go out for a show... I had no idea what she was talking about... And she figured out how to move the chairs...

After breakfast, I let her watch In Touch and then took her grocery shopping... This afternoon, Abby had to go to Ilan, so we decided to drive her there since Mom did not seem tired.

It was a nice drive and we had dinner out there. We didn't get back home until almost 8. Mom was in bed by 8:30. Let's hope she sleeps a bit longer tomorrow morning!

Isaiah decided to stay home. He said he had homework to finish off...

The temperature dropped... now it's in the 70's... with a very chilly wind... I like this weather!

Weekends always seem to fly by way too fast...

Seek Him First!

Buying Extra Insurance!

What a headache... I try not to fret... And I keep surrendering...

We have always bought just the basic insurance for all of our scooters... Which is about 40US$ a year! But with Isaiah's recent scooter accident, I've been put on high alert...

So, I spent the day calling the different insurance agencies as each scooter is insured with a different company! And requested that we add the third party EXTRA insurance... honestly... it's only 70US$ extra per scooter... and we will be covered. Right now, the kid says to fix his scooter is going to be 500US$! He wants all the parts replaced not just repainted... We asked our scooter mechanic and he said he can do it for about 80US$ less... but that's it... So, we shall see what happens next. Please, please, please --- PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Ten years ago people weren't sue happy on this island... but now... it's a different story. I really think that all the stateside bad habits have immigrated here rather quickly and unhindered...

I hope guns and marijuana will remain illegal here... otherwise, I can't imagine what will happen!

Seek Him First!

Double Ten...

Happy Birthday to ROC... that was yesterday...

So, I didn't have to tutor these past two days -- VERY NICE!

Mom had her knee strengthening class, but she did five minutes of exercise and said she was tired and sat down!

I went for a 30 minute run... even though it was drizzling... the temperature also dropped...

Please pray... The guy that Isaiah had the scooter accident called to say that he wants compensation for his injuries and the repairs of his scooter... The insurance company will deal with the injuries but we have to pay for the repairs of his scooter... He is only now calling because the police report came out and said that it was Isaiah's fault... Pray that this won't drag on...

I trust God will take care of this... I choose NOT to worry...

Seek Him First!

Insanity Strikes!

I had signed up for the 12 hour run for this past February... and as most of you know, I didn't get to run. The organizers were very understanding and have allowed me to run in 2019, on Saturday, February 16th.

So, I was talking to a dear friend yesterday and she asked me about how much time I have these days to run. And I thought, I wanted to join one long run each year and I didn't get to do that in 2018.

This morning I went on line and found one... And in my moment of insanity, I signed up and paid for it!

Sixty US$! 55 kilometers... I must finish in 9.5 hours... From Taipei up the mountain to Ilan...

You can look that up...

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/26459266

December 15th, Saturday... The run starts at 6:30... and Alan said he can bring Mom to meet me in Ilan at 4:30!

After paying for the race, I decided to go for a run... It's two months away... And then I'll have two months to recover before the 12 hour ultra!

Seek Him First!

Mom's Mental and Physical State

If you ask me what's the most difficult part of taking care of my mom, I'd say, "Her mental state.."

For example, one minute she complains that her back hurts... the next minute she's standing next to me asking when we're going to go out...  Another example, we are back from an activity and she asks, "Where did we go?" I tell her... and five minutes (or less than five minutes) later, she asks again, "Where did we go?"  I can give you a dozen examples... Throughout the day, she asks repetitive questions.

Another thing is her hearing... It's very difficult to have a conversation with her... even with her hearing aids on...

I didn't plan any activities for her today... I took her out to walk around the neighborhood. She enjoyed the walk... but within just a few minutes, she was asking when we'd head back home!?!?! But as soon as we are home, she wanted to go out again! So, after 30 minutes of rest, I took her out for a second walk around the neighborhood!

After lunch, I put Little House on as I had to go and teach. She was very happy with watching her favorite program. Mary, my part time helper, came over...

And when I got back from teaching, the floor was mopped and the house was dusted! NICE!

Tomorrow is a holiday... and no tutoring for the rest of the week... I feel blessed!

Seek Him First!

My Usual Day...

Just in case you're wondering about my daily activities... here is a general run-down!

I get up around 5:30-6:30am and always go and have time with Jesus. It's the only thing necessary!

Then, I go and check on the bathroom and do my first disinfecting!

When Mom gets up, I get her into the shower immediately!

After she finishes, I disinfect the bathroom again.

I fix her breakfast while she is getting dressed.

On Mondays, I change her sheet and pillowcases!

She has her breakfast and I get her teeth brushing things ready.

After she brushes her teeth, I put her on the massage chair and treat her eyes and her nose with the spray.

She's on the massage chair for half an hour and I eat a quick breakfast and wash the dishes. (Sometimes if I've done a load of clothes, I am hanging them up to dry.)

We are usually out of the house by 10am. I try to make sure she has an activity every day. While she is at the activity, I run errands or I sit somewhere and work. Or I might rush home as I have my Bible study at my house! And on Friday, that's when Alan and I have our date!

In addition to her morning activity, on Monday afternoon, she has her mental class. On Wednesday afternoon, she has her massage. On Friday afternoon, I book a medical appointment.

On the weekends, she watches In Touch. On the week days when I have to work, she watches Little House. Of course, on Sunday afternoon,she goes to church with us.

After dinner, she has her evening routines, including writing her journal. She is usually in bed by 7:30 and I get to have four hours (from 7:30 to 11:30) to do class prep & sermon prep & housework, reading, and going through my emails. (I also blog at that time!) I try to go to bed by 12:30. And it starts all over again the next day!

Sometimes I try to fit in a nap after lunch.

And yes, I try to go for a 30 minute run Monday to Saturday. God has been very faithful.

Well, that's my usual day!

Seek Him First!

Starting On the Book of James...

House of Praise is starting the new series on the book of James. This series will continue until the end of 2018!

I had fun sharing the overview.

Here is my closing quote from a commentator regarding the book of James:

James has so much wisdom in such a small book that it’s like trying to get a drink of water from a fire hose.  There is so much packed into such a small space that you could easily take a year unpacking the truths that this book contains.  Like the Bible itself, which in an economy of few words, can speak voluminous truths that is like a beef bouillon cube, being so highly concentrated that even in a hundred lifetimes it could never be exhausted.  This is because God, the true Author of the Bible, is infinite in wisdom and knowledge and even if a person were to study the Bible for all eternity, there would still be at least a little bit more to learn from it.  This also describes the Book of James.  It is full of wisdom and like the Bible itself, it comforts the afflicted but it afflicts the comfortable.

I especially liked the last sentence...

I will speak next Sunday on James 1:2-18 -- A New Perspective on Trials -- Friends or Foes?

Seek Him First!