Annual Update, Part 4

Lovely 2021: 

Tutoring, teaching, speaking, helping, studying, tap-dancing, caring… those are all on going… I am blessed! 

It was difficult to send Isaiah off to the UK as I had really wanted to go with him. The LORD knew that quarantine would be in place and provided Isaiah with a wonderful homestay situation. We are still able to have Family Time once a week and it’s always fabulous to see him and to hear about how he is doing. My Mom has continued to decline in her dementia. I am praying for an opening so that she can stay at a long-term facility. But calling different places has been a bit daunting... the waiting list is so long! I will wait upon the Lord to be gracious to me. And that brings me to my verse for 2022:

Isaiah 41:8 -- Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore, he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Tim Keller's book mentioned Ps. 88. I never realized how it is included as an invitation for us to be honest in our dark places... This is how it begins:

And here is a little summary with lessons to be learned that I found online:

Seek Him First!

Annual Update, Part 3

Abby 2021:

1. Even during Covid, I was able to travel with family and friends, especially the "Around Taiwan in 10 Days, Scooter Trip." My classmates and I were really fortunate to be able to do the trip together. God sent His Angels to keep us from harm. Jesus is surely our Emmanuel. 

2. I was the captain of my Social Work Department Girls’ Basketball Team. My teammates and I both found a great new coach!!! What a praise!! We played fairly well until Taiwan went into Lockdown with Level 3 Alert. That ended our tournament play. I think it was a gift from God, giving me a break from basketball. We thought things would open up again, but it never did. We held online meetings and elected the new captain and co-captain.

3. I got accepted to a summer internship working with a community near our home. God led me through fire and water during this internship experience. There were times of fun and stress, busyness and relaxing. I’m really grateful for the experience. When the internship finished, I had to do two presentations. They were difficult projects, but my professors commended us for a job well done. 

4. As a senior now, I have less classes, but a big part of my schedule now is tutoring. I teach several different kids. I also work as one of the ministry assistants for our church. I praise God for the opportunities I have to earn and save some money. I am learning to use my time wisely, an aspect of my life that is a work in progress.

Looking ahead to 2022, I'm expecting to graduate in early June, then possibly go overseas for a six-month DTS program in Germany from September to around April. 

My verse for 2022 is Psalm 86:1: "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." 

May God continue to guide me in His path, so that I can live for His glory.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Another point from the message yesterday was: 

With Jesus in our heart, we should look at everything with wonder!

Seek Him First!

Annual Update, Part 2

Isaiah 2021:

1.    Graduated from SCU: Awards, Friendships, Basketball Team, Tennis

2.    Internship at Franklin Investment

3.    Postgraduate Studies: In the UK, Away from Family, Establishing New Friendships and New Church Family & Fellowship, Completing My Studies

4.    Travel: Ali Mountain, Around the UK

5.    Relationship with Vikki: Four Years, Continue to Pray

6.    Tennis: Rock Up & Warwick Team

7.    Seeking Internship or Full Time Job for 2022

2022 Personal Passage: Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Isaiah has been in Coventry for over three months. I sure do miss him -- a lot! He usually serves as our HOP drummer... For the month of November, we celebrate his and Abby's birthday with fun activities, then we just had our Christmas party... I try to write him weekly and send him a package or two... And we have our weekly family time! That's always very special. He's been to London. He also has join one tennis competition. He didn't get a part time job, but is in the process of looking for a paid internship or a full time job. We will see how the LORD leads.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Today our speaker, Pastor Winston, looked again at the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-20. One point that I want to share is the idea of Glory to God in the Highest. 

What does glory mean? It's the idea of how much influence or weight does something have. Is God truly the one who influences you, if you say you live to glorify His name? When we sing about glory to God, we are stating that He should have the most influence in our lives. How about the nations around the world? Do they make decisions in light of the glory of God? 

I cherish that reminder! I want to glorify God through the way I live. How about you?

Seek Him First!

Merry Christmas!

Starting today, I will be posting our annual updates. 

Here is Alan's:

Alan 2021

1.    Went on family outings before Isaiah’s departure for grad school in the UK, such as Ali Mountain from April 2-4th

2.    Planned and held ICEE Week at Soochow University from May 3rd – 7th, just before Level 3 Covid Lockdown on May 17th. Soochow University went to online teaching for the rest of the school year, resulting in no graduation ceremony for Isaiah. No tennis. No basketball. Mask was required even for a run or a bike ride. All restaurants were closed for indoor dining. Things finally eased up on July 27th.

3.    Gave the Father’s Day message at House of Praise on August 8th, which was unique since I’m usually in the States at that time.

4.    Acquired some great bikes from the ‘trash’ at our complex.

5.    Sent Isaiah off on September 21sts to study at Warwick University in England.

6.    Delayed start of Soochow due to Covid then had two weeks of online classes.

7.    Won first place in the National University Faculty and Staff Basketball Tournament in Taichung on November 11/14. Abby went with me and we had a great Daddy-Daughter Time! 

The ups and downs of this year have reminded me that the Lord is the one Constant. In the midst of the chaos, I must trust Him who gives me peace and security. I may not know what is going to happen, but the Lord does. He is my refuge. 

My personal verse for 2022 is Psalm 18:2: 

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Daily Lovely Insight:

Joy, Peace, Love & Laughter- those four words were the theme for this year's Annual HOP White Elephant Christmas Party! It was a lot of work... tremendous amount of work, but so worth it! We had more than enough food, gifts and joyous memories! 

And I was again so inspired and awed by the coming of Jesus in the town of Bethlehem, born in a stable, laid in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloths. Astounding! It's a thought that I will never be able to 'wrap' my mind around... The Son of God, the Immanuel, coming in the most humble way, and dying in the most horrific way... His love shines from beginning unto forever... 

Seek Him First!

Christmas Eve!

We decided to brave going to Costco... We had to... Alan had reserved three pumpkin pies and the date for the pick up was today... 

It was crowded but we found egg nog... so not a wasted trip!

We also went to RTMart as we needed potatoes and carrots and other items for the turkey soup on Sunday! 

Abby went to meet up with her friends and we went shopping... 

We got back and put everything away and I started dinner prep!

Alan had a church meeting and I went for a quick run as Mom was home... always so on time!

Daily Lovely Insight:

We had family time on this Christmas Eve... and it felt so special to be 'together'. I think that's the simple beauty of Christmas...

Seek Him First!

Cleaning Up the Shoe Cabinet & Back Balcony

Those two tasks were on my to-do list and by 2pm I had finished! I was so thrilled with the results!

The front door looks so much more organized! And the back balcony is neatly stacked! 

And yes, I had to do another load of laundry, editing and tested the three CD players I had! What am I doing with three CD players? Because only two of them worked properly!

I went for a run and came home and finished up a few more tasks!

And all too soon, Mom was back! I wanted to take a nap, but no time for that... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

One Christian decluttering expert mentioned this which I thought was quite interesting: cluttering is a sign of a lack of trust towards God! People hoard thinking God won't provide when they need something, so they keep everything for the 'what if...' I guess it's like the Israelites who gathered more manna and found on the next day that it was filled with worms. But when God instructed them to gather more, the manna did not have worms!

Seek Him First!

Getting The Party Set!

That was the task today -- getting the Saturday Christmas Party set! Over 80 people... the program, the songs, the entertainment... and then to meet with the restaurant to drop things off, to make copies of things... the list goes on! This annual event gets bigger every year!

Alan had his health check-up and departmental meeting.

Abby was home until 4pm when she went off to play ping pong. She was going to play basketball, but the weather didn't look favorable.

Mom was home and enjoyed her dinner. When she went off to bed, I ran off to finish the errands.

Daily Lovely Insight:

                                     "Midnight Clear (Love Song)"
                                                                          Chris Tomlin

It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth 
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heaven's all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
Through all the weary world
And man at war with man hears not
The love song which they bring
O hush the noise and cease the strife
And hear the angels sing

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God evermore
Good news, great joy for all
Melody breaks through the silence
Christ, the Savior is born!
Jesus, the love song of God!

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God evermore
Good news, great joy for all
Melody breaks through the silence
Christ, the Savior is born!
Jesus, the love song of God!
Jesus, the love song of God!

You're the love song
You're the love song
You so loved the world
You're the love song

It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth 
To touch their harps of gold!

This is one of the songs we will sing... Jesus is the love song! I just love that thought!

Seek Him First!