Party Time at the Alagatas'

What a great get together!

Hugo and Liza and their kids are vacationing here from India.  And whenever 'old' Evergreeners arrive on the island, it's a great reason for a party.

Tonight we had the party at our house --

The Klassens
The Jaos
The Yons
The Niednagels
The Alagatas
And Vicky Lin

The Gos and the Lins were going to come... Maybe next time...

What always amazes me is that the kids don't see each other very often. But when they do, they can hang together like the best of friends. And the adults seem to have endless things to catch up on.

I truly believe that one of the reasons why Evergreen Fellowship grew and made such an impact on so many was living out the truth of John 13:35 --


There was such a bond of unity and love among the brothers and sisters in this fellowship.  Anyone who came felt the love of Jesus and could recognize us as Jesus' disciples.

So, whenever an 'old' Evergreener comes back to Taipei and there is a party, that love of and for one another is still very evident.

Seek Him First!

Strength to Leap Over To-Do Tasks

This day was really interesting!

It was another go, go, go day.

Dropping Isaiah off at the MRT Station as he had practice in the morning.

Supervising Abby's homeschool History and Geography Unit Test (she passed!).

Cutting a dear sister's hair.

Calling my mom.

Going to pick up Isaiah.

Dropping off Abby at church.

Dropping off Isaiah at the MRT Station as he was going to a concert.

Talking to my brother, Eddie, as he is thinking about sending his son, Nicolas over for three months.

Cleaning house as we have guests coming tomorrow.

Doing a load of laundry as it was overflowing on our back balcony.

Mopping the floor (it really needed a good mopping, so I was on my hands and knees).

Cooking.

Attending a birthday/Christmas/Costume Party.

Now, I'm home and blogging...

Isaiah just called and he is on his way back from the concert so I'll be out again to pick him up.

And it's 11p.m. and I'm thinking of going for a run... ha, ha, ha... I've been running around all day!

I like this verse -- Psalm 18:29 -- I felt as if by the strength of the Lord, He has helped me leap over walls today... the walls of things to do!!!



Seek Him First!

Lots Going On

This weekend is the HOP Annual Family Retreat. But we won't be able to go.  WHY?

Read this list of reasons --

Abby has her big 'practice' entrance exams on Tuesday and Wednesday. So she needs to buckle down and hit the books.

Alan has the Soochow University English Department Athletic Day, which he is very involved with, plus many of his students from 10-12 years ago emailed him and said that they'd be there.

Isaiah has a Christmas concert to attend. He was invited by his old classmates who attends the number one boys' high school on the island. The concert is part of their 116th school anniversary celebration.

And in addition to all the above mentioned events, we are hosting a get together on Sunday night and the kids are to go caroling with their youth group on Sunday afternoon.

I must also mention that here in Taiwan, there is no holiday for Christmas... so... it's a really busy time with lots going on.

But thank God for His promises, like Psalm 139: 16 --


Seek Him First!

My Many Little Gifts From God

I've been helping a sweet family get themselves packed and moved... all the way from Taiwan to the States.  That's one of the reasons why I totally forgot to blog yesterday.

I spent today sorting through the many items that I had brought back.

Towels, clothes, shoes, DVDs and knickknacks were packed and donated to the New Life Presbyterian Church as they are having a Christmas Flea Market all this week.  Three HUGE boxes were carted away.

I also went and dropped off things to different people.

And in the midst of all the sorting, I found a few things that I am going to keep for myself. These are things that I either needed or wanted --

A summer green sleeveless shirt, two pairs of dangling green earrings, a hair band, a pair of socks and a bottle of green tea scented spray!  I love green... and so does Beth!

With the green top, I just love the embroidery around the neck -- so intricate. As for earrings, I need simple dangling ones as I find that my pierced ears need to 'breath'. I can still wear studded earrings, but I will have to take them out when I go to bed at night!

Now, all these little gifts are wonderful, but what is really awesome is this --

You might be very puzzled about the above picture.  The small one is what I have had for quite a while. I love using it when I go running.  It is very comfortable and it keeps my hair "in place".  I have been looking for a longer one. Each time when I go back to the states, I'd go to different places, trying to find an identical one, just a little longer. And today, in the midst of all the sorting, I found one... Beth had one in all the things I carted from her house!  Amazing! What an answer to prayer!


God indeed supplied all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I feel so blessed.

In helping others, God gave me a collection of so many little gifts.  And each time I use these items, I will be praying for Beth, Leo and their kids.

Seek Him First!

Joints Are Not So Disjointed!

Tonight Isaiah went to the Chinese herbalist again.

This time, since we had made the appointment last week, he got to see the doctor quite quickly and we were finished by 8:30.

The good news... the doctor said that his hip joints aren't as uneven as last week, probably because he is walking with better posture. I think it's an answer to prayer!!!

Isaiah still has one more week of 'medicine' to take but he does not need to go back next week. YEAH!

Isaiah did say that his knee pain has gotten much better. But if he was to run really hard, his right knee would feel sore again.

These are the things we need to continue to do --

He has to warm up properly.
He has to ice his knee after a hard workout.
He can't drink cold stuff.
He has to walk with good posture.

I truly believe the Lord is our Healer!

I praise His Holy Name!

Seek Him First!

Baking With Eggnog

Only around this time will we find eggnog for sale at Costco or other higher end supermarkets.  So, when I found eggnog at Costco, I went ahead and bought 7 cartons. Each carton was very small. And it was not 'cheap'. But since Alan loves it, I had to splurge.

On the side of the carton, there was a recipe for eggnog bread pudding. I don't usually follow recipes, but I decided to, just this once.  I looked at the recipe and couldn't believe it. For every two cups of eggnog, it wanted me to put in a cup of sugar.  Eggnog is already so sweet that I can't even drink it. But the recipe said it, so I did it.

When I took the bread pudding out, Abby and I had the first bite. Oh, it was so sweet that the only way I could eat it was to wash it down with a sip of black coffee. To my utter surprise, when I brought it for the love feast that evening, the entire pan was gobbled up.

So, today, I decided to be adventurous and make eggnog pumpkin banana raisin bread.  Yes, it's really true.  I put in sweetened pumpkin pie filling. Instead of adding water, I put in eggnog.  I threw in lots of bananas and raisins and brown sugar instead of white sugar.

How did it come out?

Fabulous!!!!!  Not too sweet!

Great for breakfast!

Thank God for His creative Spirit! Like how He gifted the craftsmen for building the tabernacle, so He gifted each one of us. And for me, baking is one way to express that creativity!


Now, I just wish eggnog wasn't so expensive as there are many different concoctions that I'd like to try!


Seek Him First!