Happy Birthday, Alan!

I was up early... and out for a 10k run before getting Mom up and ready and out!

Then I ordered boxes for the Philippines. The team will be going in August and they should have told me earlier. These boxes most likely won't arrive while they are there. But we will see! We have already gathered things to be shipped. Anyhow, the boxes will be delivered on Monday. We will pack them and they will be picked up on Tuesday. Boxes to the Philippines take about 4-8 weeks!

I was out the door. I stopped at RT Mart to get a few items for a BBQ-Birthday Celebration tomorrow. I'm making cold noodle salad. I went to Costco for milk and fish sticks. Since it was so hot out, I had to scooter home to put everything away before heading out again! Next, I was at the copier. I had a letter to hand out for my talk on Sunday! Finally, I went to Miramar to buy movie tickets. To celebrate Alan's birthday, we're going to watch the new Indiana Jones movie!

I was back home and had lunch before I started working on my talk notes.

Alan had discipleship this morning and went to play tennis. This afternoon he had class at Soochow. Isaiah was at work all day. He had a dinner meeting with his new workmates.

Mom was back. And a friend came over to pick up the dining room table that a neighbor was giving away. After Mom went to bed, we took off. The movie started at 19:40!

We wanted to celebrate by going to have shaved ice after the movie, but I needed to get to bed in order to get up early! We will go for shaved ice tomorrow!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Celebration Started!

I was up early... and ran just 11k. I try not to run too much as it gets too hot!

I was home and got Mom up and out.

Then I took down the clothes and tidied up around the house before sitting down to edit and write my talks.

At 1:45, we left for afternoon tea at the Grand Hyatt...

Yes, Alan has class tomorrow, so we decided to do the Buffet today! It was delicious!

I had asked the Center to keep mom there as we drove over to pick her up.

Mom has lost weight... She is NOT eating as much! She takes a bite and leaves the food in her mouth. But if it's a banana, then she will eat it fast! She can eat a banana in less than a minute! Anyhow, with the weight lost, it is much easier for me now... but we are concerned if she continues to lose weight! She seems more tired! But she has been like this before and bounces back... so we are not sure what's going on.

After Mom went to bed, I continued my prep on my talks.

Isaiah went out with Vikki.

I had prayer time at 9pm. 

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

I'm Back to My MOE Wednesday!

Yes, I made it to the MOE Office by 9am sharp!

I had class at noon and I love these students. Then I had one student for my office hours. I was able to go walk and get a few errands done! YIPPY!

I was up at 4am this morning. After spending time with Jesus, I had my run before I got Mom up. And let me tell you... it was not early enough... When the sun gets up, the heat is tremendous! I am actually contemplating getting up at 3:30am.

Anyhow, the day at the MOE went well. And I was out of the office at 5:01. For today, I had brought my lap top and got some work done with my various upcoming talks. 

After work, I went and got my hair washed and cut... very fast! 40 minutes and I was heading home.

I had tutoring tonight at 8pm and I asked to have prayer time tomorrow. 

Is it possible to go to bed by 10pm???

Daily Lovely Insight:

Phil. 3:10

I quote this verse from the testimony of a missionary to Congo. I invite you to read this article!

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/a-woman-of-whom-the-world-was-not-worthy-helen-roseveare-1925-2016/

Seek Him First!

Two Bible Studies!

I was up early... Had time with Jesus and my run... It's getting hot even at 6:30am! Wow... But I was back home before 7am!

I went out to buy a few things as I had my morning Bible study. I made cold noodles and it turned out so good. The whole bowl was GONE!

After I finished cleaning up, I put a load of laundry in the wash and took a nap. When the first load was done, I did a second load!

This evening I had my evening Bible study! I left after I got Mom to bed... 

The day was hot... and I survived without turning on the AC.

Tomorrow is MOE Day, and I'll be inside with AC all day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Working On My Talks!

It's July... and I'll be sharing quite a bit! July 9th, July 23rd (at two different churches), July 30th, August 6th (also at two different churches).

So, today, I got up super early. In fact, I'm going to try to get up super early for the next three months in order to fit my run in before 7:30!

I went out at 5:40 and came back by 7am. Isaiah was up as he started his full time work today!

Alan went to school to start cleaning his office plus he had class in the afternoon!

I got Mom up and off and started... I finished off the talk for July... both the talk notes and the ppt!

Then I started on my Bible study materials.

At 11:10, a couple came as they wanted to pray with me. They are heading out to Singapore! We had counseled the couple through some difficult times... I was delighted to pray with them.

They left at 12noon.

I had lunch and rested. Then I started to cook dinner for Isaiah and Alan, the meat eaters, using the huge crock pot from Annie that I brought back!  

I listened to three sermons from the church that I will be sharing at to see what the other two speakers covered from the book of Proverbs! I am almost finished with the first talk from Proverbs 13!

Mom was back and I had tap this evening. Prayer time with two sisters at 9pm.

Overall, this has been a very productive day!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

Not So Foggy Today!

I was up early... and my brain was so foggy... According to my Garmin watch, I got 6.27 hours of sleep... Even though 4.51 hours were light, just to sleep 6 plus hours felt so good!

Since it was Sunday, and it was already hot by 6:30, I didn't even go out for a walk. Isaiah got his hair cut at the 100NT$ place and I cut Mom's hair... and trimmed her nails... She ate fruit. She looked not so alert, but got better as the day went on.

Alan was back from his tournament. They didn't stay to play for third or fourth place. It was too hot in Ilan. We left for church at 2:15 and helped to set up!

We had a lot of visitors today... That was really nice!

God sustained me... and after Mom went to bed, I did go out for a walk so that I can hit my step goal! It also helped so that I didn't fall asleep at 8pm!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!

I'm Back... The Art of Packing & Unpacking...

Yes, I crossed the International Date Line and skipped June 30th!

I can't believe it's already July 1st!

June 29th was a packing day... and it's an art form by now... 

I group like items together. I weigh the box or luggage to get each piece as close to 23kilos as possible. When I check in and the ground staff sees my first piece at exactly 23kilos and then my second piece is the same, he is happy and so am I. He knows I've worked on packing the bag to fit all the requirements. And the process of checking in is easy and smooth. For this trip, my four pieces were: 23, 23, 22.2, 23.2. When I pack correctly, the unpacking is easy. Food items, clothes, household goods, gifts... easy to put away.

Ok... Isaiah and I went shopping and I should have gone to the Dollar Tree or 99Cents Store sooner. They have such great stuff. Isaiah also bought his Prime drink mixes. We were home, to clean and do the last load. I had ran earlier and finished 13k. I was so happy... the weather was cool and I knew I'd be back to hot & humid Taipei!

Angel came over at around 3pm and we went for Ramen... YEAH... and a chance to catch up. We hadn't seen each other for four years!

At 5:45, I was back at Nadine Circle. Isaiah had loaded the car and I just had to fold the items from the dryer and put everything away. I didn't have time to do one more tidying up around the house. At 6pm, Angel took off and Annie, KR, Kurtis, Isaiah and I went to dinner at Maui Chicken! What fun!

After dinner, Isaiah and I were dropped off and that's when I had time to do one more tidying up! And by 8:30, Annie was driving us to the airport! I forgot to mention that we did wipe down Annie's van! It really needed it!

Check-in went well... Customs was quite crowded, but we were at the gate by 10:30! Our flight started boarding at 11:50. We took off a bit late, but we arrived early. 

I slept for most of the flight. I was just so tired!

And the miracle was: the whole flight was completely booked... the only empty seat was next to me. How blessed I felt... to be able to stretch out just a bit... 

We arrived and went through customs and got our bags. Nothing to declare... Alan was at the airport to pick us up!

We were home in Neihu before 7am.

One more miracle was that we met the team from San Diego, China Evangelical Church, that was coming to Taichung for their missions trip. The organizers are our old friends, Alex and Chrissy Tan!

Alan took off for his weekend tennis tournament in Ilan! I think he was very happy to go and not have to worry about another diaper.

Before Isaiah and I worked on unpacking, I first went into my prayer room to spend time with Jesus! While I was praying, Isaiah took everything out of the boxes and the luggage and our carry-ons. All like items were grouped together on our kitchen counter and the dining room table and on our bed!

As I started putting things away, it was difficult to keep going... Isaiah had to rest on the sofa. I had to make space in our limited kitchen shelves for all the goodies I brought back! I also had to make room for Isaiah's suit and work clothes that we bought! I kept going until the counter and the dining room table were cleared! I got Mom up and showered and while she ate, I cleaned her room! I put on the mattress cover. I was in a sweat by the time I finished. It zips around the entire mattress. I mopped the floor on my hands and knees. It needed a good cleaning! I reorganized the "diaper" table, filling up all the empty containers. And I changed her sheet and went through her dresser drawers! 

How was the house? Well... maybe I'm super picky... so NO COMMENT!

By 2pm, I was finished with everything and went out to run errands, actually to pay the bills! I don't know if I will run today... The miracle is: I ran three times this week and I already hit 40km. God is so good! Isaiah was home with Mom.

My brain was so foggy that it took four trips to get all the errands finished. I kept forgetting to bring something... It was weird... I guess I shouldn't try to run errands upon the first day of returning from a long flight!

How's Mom? She has slowed down a lot... and not very interactive! She is walking on her own and she is feeding herself. So, we will see!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Seek Him First!