A Warm Saturday!

Yes, the weather changed again... very warm... 

I didn't go run as I used the morning time to go and drop off a bag for a friend to bring back to Annie! Mission Accomplished!

Isaiah was home. He didn't get up to play tennis.

I got back and Mom was ready for her lunch!

Isaiah met up with Vikki at 3pm. They had dinner in Shihlin!

I went over to pray with Ariel and Robert and our pastoral couple. I let Mom listen to old Chinese songs and had a strap to keep her in the chair. Just as I got back, she had untied the strap. I can't believe it. Perfect timing! I got home just before she got up.

I went to World Gym this evening after Mom went to bed.  

Because Alan will be back tomorrow, we did not have our usual evening conversation. He was already on the plane... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

We were praying in Ariel's apartment. 

What a journey! 

The remodeling is finished. The LORD took them through the long road and did a lot of faith building in the process. 

God is more interested in growing and maturing us, not just for us to get through life and difficult circumstances with flabby spiritual muscles.

Seek Him First!

A Different Friday!

I was at World Gym at 1:45 and someone who goes there regularly asked, "How are you here at this time?" And I thought... That's right... It's Friday, and I'm usually on a date with Alan! 

On Fridays, I usually go to World Gym in the morning as I'm home by 10am.

So... what did I do today?

I had a leisurely breakfast of two hard boiled eggs and a Chinese fantwan with coffee!

I rested!

I went to Costco as Annie wanted some contact lenses for Kurtis and we have a friend going back.

I stopped at World Gym and lingered a little longer, doing more reps.

I ran my usual 10km and hit a fast 1k record of 5.41! It started raining just as I headed out. 

I sat and read.

Isaiah came home this evening and I had ordered KFC to surprise him. He gets very traditional Chinese food at the reserve command base, so he likes to have western meals on the weekends! 

I also had time to chat and pray with Alan.

Overall... it was a very refreshing Friday!

Daily Lovely Insight:

I think I forget too easily all of God's constant goodness... by slowing down, I am reminded of His Presence and His Peace. 

II Peter 1:13 says, 

This verse also has the words STIR UP, which is in the passage of focus that I have for this year. God wants to stir me up by way of reminder... and I think when I slow down, I hear better!

How about you?

Seek Him First!

Finally... Another PR Day (Personal Retreat)

I have to be very intentional about planning these days... And I planned for this one.

No appointment... 

BUT... trying NOT to rush is the point, which is very difficult.

When I got Mom up, the sheet was wet... She had peed through three layers of clothes and I had to change the sheet... So, that threw out my original 'time schedule'. I had set on going for a run as soon as Mom left, and that didn't happen. Yes, I could have changed the sheet while she's having dinner, but I had set that time to do what I'm doing now -- blogging!

So... I did the cleaning and then at 9:45, I decided to change plans and catch the elusive nap! YES, I did... I napped! It was marvelous... I could have slept the day away. But no... I got up at 11:30 and headed out. This was my afternoon plan! Go to Shihlin Residence Tulip Festival and maybe the Lantern Festival on the other side of town too.

It was the first day and there was quite a crowd. The weather was magnificent! I walked around and I just love tulips. The museum was closed for lunch, and I told Alan that we will have to go on 2/17. 

I then was overly ambitious and scootered to the Sun Yet Shen Memorial Hall... where the lanterns were on display. Wow... I couldn't even find a scooter parking, so I gave up that plan and went home! Which actually worked out as I had time for a run and a quick stop at World Gym. No time to use the jacuzzi or the sauna, which was part of my plans for today. I got back and as I popped Mom's dinner into the microwave, the phone rang... YUP! The van was heading over!

During dinner, I had a shower... and checked my emails.

After Mom went to bed, I headed out to drop off donations and get a massage! 

I also had prayer time with a sister and then with Alan.

Daily Lovely Insight:

The Hebrew root to the word, Sabbath, means to cease or to stop. And this is one area that I'm working on this year. Being intentional about keeping the heart of the Sabbath. As a believer, how do I keep the Sabbath when Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath? I don't want this to be a routine or a ritual. I want this to build and deepen my relationship with God. So, what do you think? Do you keep a "Sabbath"? That's why I'm setting aside days to be a PR Day. I'm trying to do four a month. It's not 24 hours as I have the care of my elderly Mom. It's about 8 hours, 4 times a month! It's a start!

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3)

Seek Him First!

MOE Class Has Started!

It was a rush to get Mom out and into the van... and I was on the road, heading to the MOE Office. I didn't get there until 9:20!

There was nothing to edit, except three posters.

I had emailed myself things to do, such as the ppt for my talk on 2/26, emails to respond to, essays to read. It made the day go by a lot faster... and my lunch time class started back up. So, no chance to run around the CKS Memorial Hall. I had 12 ladies signed up for the class... four newcomers! I had put together a list of questions regarding their CNY vacation. It was a very enjoyable hour.

At 5:20, I headed out and went to World Gym before rushing to be home by 7pm.

The lady left, Mom was in bed, I put everything away, and tutoring started at 8pm.

At 9:05, I was out the door to run errands -- bills to pay!

Isaiah was lining me throughout the day. He is now in Taoyuan/Chungli and he will be back on Friday night. He can leave at 6pm, but I can't go and pick him up because Mom is due back at 5:10. Plus the traffic is bad at that hour. So, he is going to take a taxi with a few of the other cadets and I'll pick him up at around 7pm, which is perfect as Mom would be in bed by then.

At 10;15, Alan called... and then just before 11pm, the driver that picked up Nic and Eddie came over here as I was to pay him an extra 200NT$ because the pick up time was before 7am. 

I felt so sustained by God... Tomorrow is my Personal Retreat Day! YIPPY!

Maybe I'll get that elusive nap!

Daily Lovely Insight:

The LORD sustained me... 

Seek Him First!

The Elusive Nap!

I wrote to Pam, one of my best friends, that I'd have time to take naps today... Well... I guess I spoke too soon!

After Mom left, I did another load of laundry. I don't know how the time between 9-11 flew by! I organized Mom's clothes, and bathroom cabinet. I organized the goods we got from Annie and the kitchen cabinets, so that when Alan comes, I'd have room for what he will be bringing. 

At 11:00, I left to run errands! First, I stopped at World Gym -- 20 minutes. Then went to two different iPhone places. One had only one person working, so the phone won't be finished until later on this evening. Another place could get it done in 10 minutes. But for some reason, my screen now is wacky. I went back to ask him to test everything. He said that it's all fine... but it's not. I will have to go back again... tomorrow! Then, I went and bought bananas, got cash and updated my bank book, and met with Isaiah at the cell phone place. He wanted to upgrade his contract. We got that done and I went to ask about my Costco credit card. My expires in March of this year and Cathay will be terminating their contract with Costco. So, they will mail another credit card that I can use from March to August! We will have to switch to Fubon Bank, which got the contract for offering the credit card for Costco members. I was home by 1pm and changed to my running clothes. Finished 10km and rushed home to shower and change. Isaiah and I were out the door at 3:10 to pick up things that Annie had sent with a friend and to drop him off at the meeting place for the bus back to Yilan!

The traffic back home started. I got home, put the food in the microwave and the phone rang. Yup!

After Mom went to bed, I was out the door for my evening Bible study!

The phone was still wacky. But I prayed and after my Bible study, it seems to be working again!

I got home at 9:15pm and chatted and prayed with Alan, when he called after 10pm!

I was so happy to be in bed... 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Isaiah let me listen to a short sermon blurp:

Don't let your ears be trash cans to the profanity, crude, lust-filled things that are around. Be intentional about censoring what you listen to. 

WE HAVE A CHOICE!

Seek Him First!

A Day of Cleaning!

I got up at 3:56! YUP!

And Eddie and Nic were downstairs, waiting for the taxi by 5:18. The traffic was so smooth that the ride was only 33 minutes! I could have driven... but I'm glad I didn't. It was dark... and I get lost easily! Spending the money for a taxi was the right decision!

I came back upstairs and stripped everything and started to put back my clothes into my chest of drawers. I rolled up the mat and the sleeping bag and did what I can before getting Mom up.

When she left, Isaiah was up and he helped me. We took everything down to the local Laundromat after I put one load into our washer! We used two industrial sized machines! He waited there to put everything into the dryer, while I went for a run and a quick stop at World Gym.

Isaiah went and met up with his old roommate from Coventry and had lunch together and went for a walk at the Riverside Park! The weather was fantastic!

I came back from my run and picked up the finished wash! Everything was nearly completely dried! I brought things up and took a shower before busying myself with folding what was in the dryer at our house and spreading everything out from the Laundromat.

I then started making dinner for this week as I'll be gone all day Wednesday. Fish sticks, cheesy rice and broccoli. I also baked for MOE.

I made the beds and the house smelled so nice... not only because it was thoroughly cleaned but because of the oatmeal raisin cookies! Not to mention the dinner that was cooking in the electric pressure cooker!

Isaiah was back and he helped to put things under the storage unit of our bed. He lifted while I laid the extra blankets back into the storage area.

Mom was back... Isaiah went down to get her.

After Mom went to bed, Isaiah and I went to get a massage! YES, it's true... I finally went! Isaiah rode the scooter.

I also made a decision. I will not buy a better phone as iOS 15 can still be updated on an iPhone 6! I'm very happy. I changed the battery for 700NT$! I will wait until my phone can no longer update the latest version of iOS.

And yes, I got to talk and pray with Alan!

Sleep at 11:45 never felt so good!

Daily Lovely Insight:

These verses rang so true in my heart today... 

Jeremiah 32:38-42 & Psalm 119:68 --

Seek Him First!

 

Sunday Already!

I sent Eddie and Nic to the National Palace Museum after getting some 'fantwan'. Then I came home to get Mom up and eating her breakfast!

Isaiah and I started to clean... the bathrooms and dusting and mopping! I will have more to do on Monday, so I cancelled my tutoring and ordered a taxi for Eddie and Nic. I think I just need to rest and not try to rush around, especially if it's raining!

Then when Eddie and Nic finished with the Museum, I picked them up and sent them over to get a massage!

I went back home and fed Mom lunch and kept cleaning!

At 2:30, I went and picked up Eddie and Nic and headed to church.

Church was quite packed as everyone was back!

Eddie and Nic attended, but I'm not sure how much they were listening!

Tonight Isaiah went and played basketball and we came home, after dropping off some new friends.

Eddie and Nic packed while I got Mom to bed!

Then Eddie, Nic and I headed to Shihlin Night Market! It wasn't so crowded as it was raining! But it was still fun!

Tomorrow, Eddie and Nic will be taking off early! I will spend the day, stripping all the bedding and cleaning the house!

Daily Lovely Insight:

John 9:1-12

What Jesus cares about is very different from what we are concerned about. The disciples asked him, why the blind man was blind from birth? Their reasoning did not come close to God's point of view!

And so often, we try to figure things out on our own, when we should ask God for a deeper connection to His heart and then we will see the purpose of our circumstances.

Seek Him First!