I'm Exhausted!

As soon as Mom is off, I get started with so many tasks. 

I rode the bike down for a friend and ran back. It was so hot. I took a super quick shower and started tutoring. When that was finished, I hopped back on my bike and rode madly to drop off something for another person. When I got back, a friend had dropped off donations. I sorted through those and sat down to work on the editing! I got a message that Set 1 had only a few corrections and can I get it done today? So in addition to working on Set 2, I was going through Set 1!

At 2:30, Alan and I headed out in the car to pick up a few things from a lady who is returning to Fresno, California. We drove as we wanted to go look at this shoes store. I am down to one pair of running shoes. How many kilometers have I ran in the past 6 months? I just looked: 838miles! That's pretty amazing! That's about 140 miles a month! 

We came back and I was back on the computer to finish the editing!

Alan went down to pick Mom up, which gave me a few more minutes. I had already made her dinner. So, I finished Set 2 and the revisions for Set 1! All emailed off! Yippy!

Alan went off to play tennis with the kids. Since I didn't find any shoes, I decided to look at the Brooks Online here in Taiwan. I couldn't believe it! They had running shoes on sale! 1390/pair! The regular price for these is over 4,000/pair (look below). So, I bought three pairs for the price of one! I'm super happy!

BROOKS】Women's Neuro 3

NT$4,490

NT$1,390

These past two days have gone by so fast... I have so many things to do... and Alan and I would love to take off and do something fun together... Maybe tomorrow... But then I might get another set of editing... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Yesterday was Thomas Chalmers. Today is James Chalmers. Here is how he died!

A year later, he was on a vessel with Tomkins near Goaribari Island, and was visited by natives who appeared to be in a dangerous mood. Chalmers resolved to go ashore and Tomkins insisted on going with him. Both men were murdered and eaten by the natives on 8 April 1901.

Seek Him First

Yeah! Day Care Center Reopened!

For some reason, Mom seemed to have known that she was going back to the Day Care Center because she was up so early!!!!!!!!! The van came at 8:30 and she was happy to be off to 'see her old friends'.

I got started with cooking and getting things done before my morning Bible study started at 10am. We are on Psalm 139. We finished at around 12:30 and I had lunch and a nap!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't want to get up but I had to... Prayer Meeting at 3pm. 

At 4pm, I was out in the sun, trying to get a quick run in before Mom was home at 5:10! 

She ate all her dinner and was not wanting to sleep! 

Alan and the kids were off playing tennis.

I was going to ride the bike to drop off to a friend, but since no one was home, I didn't go out. Mom was finally asleep at around 8pm! I hope she sleeps through the night!

Daily Lovely Insight:

I always enjoy reading the book of Isaiah. But today,  in addition to reading from the book of Isaiah, I read about Thomas Chalmers.

Seek Him First!

Last Day of Level 3 Lockdown!

Yes, it's true... Things are to be opening up tomorrow.

Ms. Hsieh called and said that Mom can go back to get an acupressure massage. I booked it for Saturday!

The Day Care Center sent me a message. The driver will pick Mom up tomorrow morning at around 8:40. We will see how she does tomorrow!

I had to go to see the doctor for Mom's sundowner meds this morning after tutoring from 8:30 to 10am. That place was packed! People were getting vaccinated. It was crazy!

After getting the meds, paying 50NT$ for the appointment and a month's worth, I went to Carrefour and scored -- big time. Cookies for Mom... Fruit milk for the kids! Salad dressing for me! I could barely get everything home on my scooter. I called Alan to meet me in B1 to lug everything upstairs. I started cleaning and sorting and putting everything away. Our cupboard was just beginning to be a bit bare as we had finished all the bottles of salad dressing that I had bought last time. We are eating a lot of salad now with the summer heat!

I ate a quick lunch and made fish for Alan, and took a nap! I was planning to nap for only 10 minutes so that I can go for a run before Alan headed out for tennis... I was so exhausted that I napped for 60 minutes and had time only for a 55 minute run! Alan was late meeting up with the kids!

I finished the first set of editing for Taipei City Government, Tourism Bureau. And in the evening worked on editing essays for another client! They sent me the second set which I am to finish by Thursday! 

The day went by way too fast!

I still need to move the bicycles... finish organizing the kitchen cabinets. Tomorrow I have Bible study in the morning and prayer meeting in the afternoon! Plus, I have to work, work, work! This new job will be from now until the end of August. And it's going to take a lot of time to finish!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Isaiah 43:19

I read this verse today and the sidebar had a reference for the word 'new'... 

II Cor. 5:17

Isn't that just a beautiful thought?

Seek Him First!

A Lot Done!

The day flew by... 

Abby and I rode our bikes as I had two books to give away and errands to run. Alan was home with Mom. We got contacts for Abby plus refills for white out tapes... and then shopped around Shihlin! It was so hot! 97F but with a feel of 111F!

The service was broadcast from our house! It was very nice!

Mom had a bit of diarrhea so she could only have toast for dinner! I gave her three pieces!

After we cleaned everything up, Alan and I watched TV. We are on a new show: The Good Doctor, the American version. Isaiah has been keeping us posted on the medal standings of all the countries!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Our speaker today shared from John 9, the healing of the man born blind! 

So here are some questions to consider:

Why did John use an entire chapter to talk about this one healing?

How is this healing different from any other mentioned in the Gospel?

How far was the walk from the temple to the pool?

Did anyone help him to get there as he was walking with mud on his face, not to mention that he's blind?

How does this particular healing relate to our salvation experience? 

Seek Him First!

A Lot of Rain!

It rained all last night and this morning... 

Alan drove so that I could go and pick up a free pair of Vans for Abby! And I also brought two bags of stuff to give away... 

After getting back, I went for a run! Splendid... it was so refreshing after the rain... I was the ONLY one out there... I was feeling so good and since everyone was home with Mom, I ran over 15 km. That's my longest since the level 3 lockdown! I wanted to keep going... 

Alan and the kids went to play tennis after I got home! The courts needed to be squeegeed... In the morning Abby had a long meeting with the supervisor of her internship. Isaiah had a pre-departure session with Warwick Administrators. It was very informative! Alan spent the time preparing for his talk on 8/8.

Tonight we had Family Time! And for dinner, leftover pizza! YUMMY!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

More Stuff GONE!

Quite a busy day of giving things away... Golf bag gone! Drawer organizer gone! Shower curtains and hooks gone! Vacuum filter and books gone! Small Toshiba gone! YEAH!

I walked down to get the bike fixed for a neighbor... 

Abby was home for her internship because of the typhoon!

Alan and Isaiah went to get Isaiah's ROC passport renewed and then went to pick Vikki up! Isaiah has also started the visa process for the UK. It's so complicated! Once we get that, we will book the ticket. Most likely he will take off on 9/21!

For dinner, we ordered from Pizza Hut! Yummy! I also had cooked stuff, but it was fun to splurge!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Today is Mom Bea's birthday! 

It reminded us that we are usually there in the States to celebrate with her with dinner at the Boat House -- Lobster or Prime Ribs! 

Instead we're having Pizza Hut!

We pray that God would extend Mom Bea's life and ease her back pain! She has truly honored God with her life! I rarely hear her complain about things. And I know she prays for us, daily! She has been a faithful steward of God's many gifts!

Seek Him First!

A Relatively Calm Day!

I went for a quick bike ride to see what the weather was like. So, even with the rain, it was still hot and muggy! This typhoon is not bringing much wind... 

I also went to the post office to mail a few watches to a dear friend. She sent me the lemons and bananas from her farm in Taidong. Alan has so enjoyed the freshly squeezed lemonade!

I met up with one gal who wanted children's DVD and a drawer organizer. 

I got back home and organized a couple of cabinet areas and did another load of laundry... Yes... 

Mom was up and I made her sit! And it worked! It was a long bathroom session!

After lunch, Mom actually went to take a nap and this time, it wasn't just for five minutes!

I went for a run... Again, a short one as Alan went off to the tennis courts... 

I had cooked two different dishes this morning, so we had plenty of delicious food for dinner.

Good News: The overnight facility has openings. Bad News: before being admitted, Mom is required to undergo the Quick Nose Test for Covid, costing 3500$! That means, it's not worth it if she goes there for a weekend. The director said, "Best to come for a longer stay, using up all your government subsidized days. Or decide if you want her to be at the facility long term!" If we admit her long term, it's self-pay and we can't afford it just now with the cost of Isaiah's schooling. We had thought that by September 2022 it would be more affordable for us to cover that expense. Of course, I'm sure my siblings would be willing to chip in, if we decide to do that by September of this year! So, we will see!

Daily Lovely Insight:

The other day, I was in too much of a hurry and a container fell out of the cabinet and broke. I swept up the pieces and decided to keep the lock-lock glass lid, thinking, "Maybe I'll find another container!" What's the likelihood of that every happening? This afternoon, I went to throw away a few plastic containers and my habit is when I go down there, I try to make that area a bit nicer as some of the residence just toss things, never looking at the signs posted on the wall for each bin! I go and take out items in a bag set in the glass recycling area and there is sat -- a glass container. And... when I brought it up and washed it, took out the lid, PERFECT FIT!

With God, nothing is impossible!

Seek Him First!