A Busy Monday!

The temperature dropped... but no rain! NICE!

After doing another load of laundry, I headed out to run errands. First, I dropped off Abby's scooter as the steering wheel was not working! I then went to the post office, the fruit market, the convenience store (we pay most of our bills there) and then went in search of candy sprinkles for a friend who is working on baking Christmas cookies. I got back at 12:30 and changed into my running clothes and took off!

I felt so good and ran for 14kms!

I headed back and took a quick shower and Elaine came over!

We had a wonderful time catching up!

This evening I went to my tap class and it was so much fun. We have the entire routine down and are getting ready for our final performance on January 9th! I also signed up for the winter class -- Improv.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Alan is speaking for the Christmas Service! And Psalm 96: 4-6 is only ONE of his many passages! I am praying that God will provide a translator for him because we don't have one right now!

Seek Him First!

 

Hope Never Dies!

That was my topic today at church!

At the end of my message, I just felt the Lord leading me to go up and pray for those who were weary and heavy laden... those who were feeling despair.

When I got home, two sisters sent me a message... they wanted me to know that the prayer really ministered to them! Praise God!

And today, Alan finished getting that 'newly fixed' iPhone S ready. I had to log in... what a hassle that was. But it's done! I now can use one phone for all the social apps -- Line, What'sApp, WeChat, Messenger, FB... Those are the ones that I have. And I can now update the iOS! My old phone had 8GB of memory. Now I have 64! What a huge leap! Annie talked to Mom this morning and asked when I'd be getting a new lap top... So nice of her! James talked to Mom, too, this morning! Eddie was out taking a walk with Em. By the time he got home, we were already at church! Next weekend!

Daily Lovely Insight:

I shared a few verses from the New Testament in my message... Here is a simple summary about HOPE:

Hope of eternal life

Steadfastness of hope

A living hope

Set our hope fully on Christ

The hope of glory

The hope in which we were called

Hold fast to hope

In hope we were saved

Rejoice in hope

Seek Him First!

 

Yes, It's My 59th Birthday!

The day started just like any other day... Alan went to play softball... Abby's departmental freshmen girls were in the top four, so they had their competition this morning. They got third place! Now we wait to see if Abby made it to the All-Star Girls' Team! Isaiah was volunteering with the New Life Church Children Christmas Program. He led the songs! I was home taking care of Mom!

When Alan came home, I went out to pick up a few items... but the time was way too short as I had to rush back. Alan and Isaiah had plans to meet up with friends to play tennis in the afternoon. So, I had to be home! Mom watched one episode of Little House and we were out for her afternoon massage. I booked two hours for her because there was no one to help. Sure enough, I couldn't find parking. So, after dropping her off and walking her up, I had to drive the car home. I put in a load of laundry and went for a quick run! I had to rush, rush, rush... Quick shower... Quick to get the clothes hung and DASHED out the door to pick up Mom. Again, no parking... So... I had to park illegally and rush up to get her!

After Mom finished her dinner, Abby and I went out to meet up with Alan and Isaiah as one of the tennis friends was hosting a party at a special Spanish restaurant! With no rain, we rode our scooters.

We got home and had Family Time! 

I was hoping for a more relaxing day... but not today! I think next year, I should do a little more pre-planning and hire someone to be home for 9 hours so that I can roam without worrying who can be home to supervise Mom, especially since Isaiah might be living in the UK. I must write that down on my calendar!

Daily Lovely Insight:

That's my prayer for today and for this coming year!

Seek Him First!

Getting Together with Old Friends...

It's our Date... and it was packed!

We first spent time reading our devotional books and praying together. I had made reservation at 11:30 for lunch with old friends. But first we had to stop at Soochow University as I wanted to try to find a second hand rice cooker -- the traditional kind. I didn't have time to look, but I instructed a student to look for me. She thinks she has found one for 100NT$. I will get it next Wednesday and pay her!

It was raining pretty hard when we got to the restaurant. It's the same place that we want to have our White Elephant Party. So, I ordered the 6-person set menu for the five of us. And definitely, the food won't be enough for 6 people! What to do?? I asked to add a soup for each person and also unlimited drinks, but the price will go up... I will pray... The luncheon finished at 3 and we went to pick up the iPhone that's fixed. Alan also dropped off his phone to replace the screen and battery. That was 100US$! We then headed to Costco as we needed to order the desserts for the party on 12/26! It was a madhouse... It was better as we were on the scooter. The line to get into the parking was winding around the block!

When we finished at Costco, we went back to pick up Alan's phone. YEAH! We got home, put everything away and the phone rang -- Mom was on her way home. (When the phone rings, it means the van is already on our street!) I put her dinner in the microwave and Alan went downstairs! How did the "Date" go by so quickly?

Abby had her internship all day and basketball games tonight. Isaiah had class and dinner with Vikki's family! After Mom went to bed, I went for another hour 'jog'. The weather was nice!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Continuing with the thought from yesterday -- God Things! 

We were at the Apple Repair Store and I start talking with this lady. She drove a Mercedes Benz, had an iPhone 11, wore some very nice clothes and jewelry and had done a couple of facial cosmetic changes. She just needed some encouragement, affirmations, gestures of care. I chatted with her... I think she felt better. After Costco, we were back at the store and I had bought a box of hot chocolate. I took out five packets and gave it to the sales clerk. She was very happy. When we arrived in our parking garage, I saw our cleaning lady and gave her a few packets. She was very happy. It occurred to me... Maybe I should just buy a box or two of 60 packets of Swiss Hot Chocolate and stand at the MRT station and hand them out and wish people a Merry Christmas! I think with all the social distancing and "work remotely', people are getting depressed and feeling lonesome! I think God made people to be relationship with one another. I think talking to someone face to face brightens people's day! So, don't be stuck with just chatting on a cell phone or texting people. If at all possible, get together with people during this holiday season!

Seek Him First!

 

Ran Today!

Even though the weather forecast reported, RAIN ALL DAY, it turned out to be a very nice day... warm and no rain!

Mom went to her program, and I started with a load of clothes and going over my schedule. I want to squeeze one more student into my schedule. He needs SAT prep! I'm looking towards Chinese New Year vacation, HOPEFULLY!

Then I ate a yogart and a banana. No problem... And of course, I rested!

At 11am, I decided to go for an hour... And although I only covered 9k, it kicked my appetite in gear. My stomach was feeling good... but I decided just to keep drinking liquid. 

My tutoring started at 1:30... the dissertation is almost finished! And when I ended at 5:06, the phone rang. Mom was on her way back. 

I had fixed her French fries with meat loaf... While she ate, I finished folding and putting away the load! I also ate some pita bread and made porridge. Alan actually wanted some!

Isaiah came home. He decided NOT to go to tennis practice. Abby had basketball practice and Alan has his usual Thursday evening faculty basketball! He never misses that! 

After Mom went to bed, I was out the door for more tutoring. The kid asked for 2 hours! He needed some extra help and in my favorite subject - Literature... and two of my favorite authors -- Poe and Hawthrone! They write some scary short stories!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Today as I was heading back from my run, I saw the guy who asked me to check on the crying girl about two weeks back. We ran and chatted. I didn't have time to share with him about Jesus, but I'm praying to 'run into him' on another 'run'. And that brought to my mind the difference between good things, best things and God things. Too often we get stuck with doing the good or even the best, but they are not the God things. I think God things are more than a load of clothes or a message sent. Not that those things are bad... But to let God lead to a place to meet a 'random person' to share Christ with -- that's a God thing. Like yesterday, carrying a tub of candy canes and talking to people... bringing a bit of Christmas cheer on a very wet and dreary day... Meeting those junior high school students and their teachers... Seeing a sister who attended Grace Baptist Church some 20 years ago and who now teaches at Soochow. She remembers Alan and I when we spoke on "He said, She said" and that impacted her! That was more than 20 years ago! I get busy with too many good or best things... I want to live more in serving Christ, following His lead in doing the God things!

Seek Him First!

Very Cold and Rainy!

My Soochow University study decided to postpone until next week because of the flea market they are sponsoring for the next three days! I went by just to spread Christmas cheer, by passing out candy canes and greeting people. It was fun!

Then I went and returned some CDs and get an old phone fixed... A friend gave it to me and the home button is broken and it needed a new battery. The whole bill will be about 80US$! It's an iPhone 6 with 256 memory... I think!

My stomach is still acting funny. Every time I eat, I feel bloated. NOT comfortable at all... Or it's painful like it's trying to churn and digest what I've eaten! So, I had two small cups of yogurt and two pieces of fruit. I will wait to see if my stomach will be feeling better tomorrow! No energy to run! Of course, the weather has also been very cold and wet.

This evening I had to tutor from 5-7pm and maybe I'll have a break during their Christmas holiday! 

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Lord sustained me through another day... Having stomach problems is really hard on the whole body! I hope the LORD will bring complete healing! It's not just not having the energy, but I have no appetite. Each time I eat, I don't feel well... I realize how important that organ is... just like the heart or the brain. No wonder the word of God says in John 7:38

Seek Him First!

Stayed Home!

Mom was fine this morning, so I called and drove her to the Elderly Center. The usual pick up is at 8:45, but I wanted to make sure she was fine after breakfast... So, I dropped her off at 9:30! And came home and rested...

I worked on my talk and then rested...

I put away the laundry and then rested...

I edited for a company and then rested...

Yes, that was what I did the whole day.

I canceled my tutoring... and I'm so glad I did!

I ate a piece of bread with a bit of peanut butter. It felt good... So I ate a hard boiled egg with salt... No problem. I've been drinking a lot of liquid! My sweet neighbor made us congee last night and dropped off a loaf of bread this morning! She messaged me and said she can make more... What a blessing to have such wonderful neighbors! We are blessed. My Bible study gals and students are all praying for me! They messaged me, asking how I was feeling!  I can honestly say, I FEEL BETTER. I'm not completely well, but compared to yesterday, I feel so much better! It sure helped since I spent the day preparing my talk on HOPE!

Daily Lovely Insight:

I had hoped to get a lot done this week... but being a bit ill... that plan went out the windows... But God is still my HOPE. And that's one of the points for my talk. HOPE is not a personality trait. HOPE is rooted in our faith and relationship with God through Jesus Christ. HOPE is steady as it is based on the word of God. HOPE does not waiver based on circumstances. Like how people waited in HOPE for the Redeemer, the coming Messiah, so our HOPE never dies because of the resurrection of Jesus! Praise be to God!

Seek Him First!