Not A Restful Sunday!

I was delighted to attend a shower via zoom at 2am. Well, at around 3am, I heard the shower door opening up in my mom's bathroom... Huh?

I ran over and sure enough, Mom was in the shower. I was horrified. She was just strange... this was something she had never done before. I put her back in bed and tried to get back to the 'baby' shower... They had finished up! I missed the prayer time!

It was so nice to see Suz and Corenne and of course, Kayla and Sarah... Plus a few other familiar faces... 

I get back to bed and was up at 6:45 to pray with Alan. Feeling quite exhausted, I finished my time with Jesus and Mom was up again. This time... Well... I had to strip and make the bed!

Mom went back to bed and I went for a quick bike ride... I needed a little exercise because if I went back to bed, I would have slept for hours. 

I got back and Mom was up... And yes, I had to strip the bed again! She was back in the shower and got to talk to Annie after lunch. That conversation gave me time to make the bed.

I had a 15 minute 'power nap' and we were getting ready to catch a ride with our dear neighbor. You would not believe it... She did it again... I had to change her pants, and put the seat cushion in the laundry basket. I didn't change her socks and they were slightly wet. This was what happened: I had only gone to the bathroom to tie my hair and she grabbed a dish towel that was on a dining room chair, took off her diaper and pants and peed at the dining room table with the dish towel over the seat cushion! 

This evening after church, the diapers I had ordered arrived. I double layered them and ... please sit down for this -- I put two on Mom plus a swimsuit and locked her bathroom door. I will let you know if this works! She can't be getting up at 3am to take a shower. She can't be taking off her diaper and peeing in bed. Her behaviors are getting more bizarre. But I talked to a neighbor and she said these are all very common for someone going through dementia! She is going to find out if the full time care facility that her father is at has vacancies! 

On to other news:

Alan's team won the championship! They came back and won first place! 

Isaiah seemed to be enjoying the weekend get away!

And I love riding my 'new' bike! In case others missed my previous posts: I loaned my bike to a graduate student from Indonesia!

Daily Lovely Insight:

One point from the sermon tonight: Too many people believe in God because of the miracles. And once suffering or pain starts, they walk away from their Fatih because they don't see the miracles anymore. They believed not in Jesus but in what they can get from Jesus. The speaker referred to the feeding of the 5,000. Many of those followers came looking for Jesus to receive the resources, not because they care about having a relationship with the Source!

So, why do you follow God? 

What is your motive behind your relationship with God?

Seek Him First!

A "Clean" Saturday!

I got up early to pray with Alan and after my quiet time, Mom was up! I got her into the shower and did another load. She had breakfast and went back to bed! That was perfect as I had tutoring at 10:30! When I got back at 1pm, she was ready for lunch. Perfect! As I got dumplings for her lunch... 

At 2pm, Amy came over and together, we worked on the winter blankets and then Abby's room. It was fantastic to work together. It went so much faster. Mom was bored, so I had to lock the bathroom door. Eddie got to talk to her, and so did James.

After Mom went to bed, I pushed a bike that I had found down to get the tires changed and added a basket.  And now I have a new bike!

I got back and watched TV on YouTube while I did the stomach machine!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Very encouraging thought!

Seek Him First!

Personal Retreat!

Since everyone was gone, I decided to take a personal retreat day... I was called on to tutor, but I had to say NO. I wanted to finish Abby's room, look over my goals and consider the news ones for next year. Of course, I also had planned for a long run! I needed more time... But I'm grateful... I got home just seconds before Mom was back! Praise the LORD. The weather was perfect. And I did a circular route. I could have covered more distance, but it was very easy to get lost. And since I was running around unfamiliar territories, I had no idea where the vending machines were. And the bike places were not letting people refill their water bottle. So, several times, I had to go out of the park to find a 7/11 or Family Mart to buy something to drink.

I heard from Alan. They lost their first game by 11 points! But they won their second game. The morning game only had six of their players. No wonder they lost!

Isaiah is getting ready to take off for his trip to Wales with the Christian Union people. Please pray for him! I think he will have a splendid time. 

Mom was weird again tonight... I was about to strangle her. Let's just say I caught her before she made a mess in the room! And strangely, tonight, my neighbor called. Her father is in a full time care facility. She will find out if there is any room there... PRAY!

Daily Lovely Insight:

God really provides... I was running out there today... It got cool and I was thinking, "If only I had a scarf." Less than a minute later, there was a scarf, clean, on the road. Then I found a nice towel, clean! I needed something to pad my waist as the hip sack was beginning to cut! It was amazing!

Theodore Roosevelt said: Who at the worst if he fails... at least fails while daring greatly... 

Don't live in a gray twilight of the past... 

Seek Him First!

Everyone Has A Weekend Away...

Alan and Abby took off this afternoon for Taichung. They had packed almost everything last night. So, after they finished their afternoon class, they came home, picked up the last few things and drove off. They are staying at a very nice hotel with buffet breakfast every morning. Yes, I wish I was with them! But I have set the task of getting Abby's room cleaned up and when Amy, the helper, comes on Saturday, we will work on a few more tasks together!

Isaiah has a Christian Union Weekend Get-Away. He is going off to Wales! This will be his first get-away with fellow believers. He will most likely not be staying at a nice hotel as they were instructed to bring their own sheet and pillows and bedding... ha, ha, ha... 

So, today is 11/11, which in Taiwan is a big online shopping day!

Abby worked on purchasing a few things that we've been setting to buy. Free shipping! For the Bible study in December, we are going to do the keychain again. So, we bought more of those items. I had been wanting to look for these running flip-flops. So, I got a pair of those. Then we had a camera battery and Mont Blanc pen refills to order. Finally, I looked for running shoes. I placed an order for FIVE pairs (each pair is always less than 40US$ or else I don't buy!). Last time, they came back and said only one pair was available and when I received it -- it was a Men's 8.5. I don't know what I will do. I hope to give them away! Bless a brother in our church!

I had editing to do... And I did go for a quick run! The weather was actually warmer than I had expected.

Daily Lovely Insight:

George Tankervil was a martyr who passed into eternity on August 26th, 1555! As I read Matthew 25, I was struck with the contrast -- wicked and lazy to good and faithful. These individuals had such a resolve about their faith! And so, John 14-17 come to mind... How Jesus spoke again and again in those chapters of love and asking in His name... Those two distinctive factors would set us apart from the world: our love for one another and the prayer that avails much. 

Seek Him First!

The Things I Find...

I found a 7,600NT$ Mont Blanc pen... and a Cross pen... all in the recycling. All they needed were refills. Sure the refills aren't cheap... but still... Cross refills are 7US$. The same with the Mont Blanc. They last forever. I also have a collection of some very fine fountain pens... 

Anyhow, the day went by way too fast.

Laundry... Run... Bible Study... Errands! We also mailed off the birthday package for Isaiah. 

I got home, put things away and Mom was home way too fast... I barely had time to get the laundry folded!

I had no appointment in the evening, except prayer time at 8:30.

Daily Lovely Insight: 

Every Christian should have his/her own Mt. of Olives, a place to be with God, to get away from the whirlwind of life.

How about you?

Seek Him First!

Packed Tuesday!

I had my morning Bible study. We are on Psalm 90!

Then, the weather was perfect and I went out for a shorter run as I had tutoring at 4pm.

I felt rushed as Mom was back by 5:13 and I was barely finished with my student. We had a lot to do!

Then after Mom went to bed, I had my evening class.

Abby and I met up to look at contact lenses as the store closes at 10pm. 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Looking at Psalm 90: 1-3, God is our dwelling place, our refuge, our sanctuary, our stability, our hiding place. We can rest in Him.

Seek Him First!

The Temperature Dropped!

It rained early morning. I didn't sleep much as I went to bed at 2am and then Alan was up at 5am for the Chargers game. Yes, they won against the Eagles!

After getting Mom ready and out, I had to do two loads of laundry! While that was going, I cooked for tonight and our Bible study tomorrow!

I was going to go out for a run, but instead, I took a nap! That felt so good!

Then I ran to drop off a credit card that I found and then went for a run. The weather was cooler... so I went longer... but as soon as I got back, it was a rush to take a shower, edit and finish putting away the laundry and making Mom's bed. Sure enough the phone rang and Mom was back.

I had to tutor this evening... 

Abby had tutoring as well. Alan was home.

Daily Lovely Insight:

We are in the process of selecting our verse for next year. Here is one of the choices:

God is very poetic. The imagery in this verse is so beautiful! I can see each sunrise and sunset as God calling forth songs of joy. Wake Up... indeed the whole earth is filled with awe of God's wonders. I'm filled with awe... I hope you are too!

Seek Him First!