Abby and I on a tandem bike
Heading out on a longer bike ride
At the suspension bridge
Seek Him First!
Monday, May 25, 2015
The Fun Family Time!
Here are some pictures from our overnight trip in Fulong --
Then tonight we had our Bible study potluck --
We're missing Wendy and her baby Kimmy. Yes, we had two babies in these past 6 months! We're a very fruitful group of sisters in Christ!
Seek Him First!
Seek Him First!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
What A Blessed Sunday!
Today HOP joined the Dachih/Neihu Joint Worship Service at Nanhu Senior High School. Before the service, several of us met at the nearby McDonald's for breakfast. What fun!
The worship time was filled with joy. Just the thought of singing together with brothers and sisters from 11 other different churches made my heart swell with joy unspeakable. What joy!
At around 11:15, we took off to head to the Marina Bay Resort in Fulong. The traffic was very light and we got there in less than an hour. Even though it was drizzling, nothing could dampen our spirit of being together as a family for a short vacation. We could not check in until 3p.m. so we went off for lunch. We drove to a lunch box place and spent about 11US$ for five lunch boxes. How yummy!
When we went back, they had the room ready. The kids and Alan changed into their swim suit and I went for a long bike ride. How fantastic!
We get free buffet breakfast tomorrow morning. In the evening they will serve free desserts. The lobby has free coffee and snacks. How fabulous!
Yes, tomorrow is Monday but it's a homeschool day for Abby. And we asked for leave for Isaiah. For today, we're together as a family and that's just such a blessing!
Seek Him First!
The worship time was filled with joy. Just the thought of singing together with brothers and sisters from 11 other different churches made my heart swell with joy unspeakable. What joy!
At around 11:15, we took off to head to the Marina Bay Resort in Fulong. The traffic was very light and we got there in less than an hour. Even though it was drizzling, nothing could dampen our spirit of being together as a family for a short vacation. We could not check in until 3p.m. so we went off for lunch. We drove to a lunch box place and spent about 11US$ for five lunch boxes. How yummy!
When we went back, they had the room ready. The kids and Alan changed into their swim suit and I went for a long bike ride. How fantastic!
We get free buffet breakfast tomorrow morning. In the evening they will serve free desserts. The lobby has free coffee and snacks. How fabulous!
Yes, tomorrow is Monday but it's a homeschool day for Abby. And we asked for leave for Isaiah. For today, we're together as a family and that's just such a blessing!
Seek Him First!
Saturday, May 23, 2015
What A Breakthrough Day!
Isaiah went down to Miaoli to compete in tournament play today. This might be the last competition for this school year. We were praying for a breakthrough. Just for him to win against an opponent or two, either in single or double play.
And he WON! Not first place, but his first game. Actually, he won two games -- one in category 2 and one in category 3. So, it's time to celebrate!
And he WON! Not first place, but his first game. Actually, he won two games -- one in category 2 and one in category 3. So, it's time to celebrate!
The Team (only the 6 boys on the left)
Seek Him First!
Friday, May 22, 2015
What A Date!
Friday is our "date" as both kids are in school and Alan is NOT.
But I had quite a list of things to get done.
The list included -- Dropping things off, picking things up, going to RT Mart (snacks), Costco (groceries) and B&Q (items to fix the screen).
And we were meeting a couple to help them set their budget and get on the right track for their finances.
Needless to say, by the time we got home at 5:30, we dragged in the 'stuff' and we both felt --
WHAT A DATE!!!!!
It wasn't all running around as we did have two hours to have a nice lunch together!
Seek Him First!
But I had quite a list of things to get done.
The list included -- Dropping things off, picking things up, going to RT Mart (snacks), Costco (groceries) and B&Q (items to fix the screen).
And we were meeting a couple to help them set their budget and get on the right track for their finances.
Needless to say, by the time we got home at 5:30, we dragged in the 'stuff' and we both felt --
WHAT A DATE!!!!!
It wasn't all running around as we did have two hours to have a nice lunch together!
Seek Him First!
Thursday, May 21, 2015
What An Improvement!
Isaiah just had his second set of tests. As you might remember, I was away in the States two weeks before his first set of exams. When we'd talked on the phone and I'd asked him about his studies, his typical answer was that he was putting in the time in reading his textbooks and preparing for his exams. His pat answer was, "My score will reflect my effort, Mom!" (And Mom was said in a very strong way, meaning, 'stop nagging me'.) So, I told him, 'I hope so' and left it at that.
Well, the scores came back and reflected his lack of effort.
This time for the second set of exams, I was home. And Isaiah followed our household rule in that he studied about 60 minutes each night, five nights a week.
The result --
1st Tests 2nd Tests
Chinese 67 95
English 97 96
Math 84 94
History 75 85
Geography 62 80
Citizenship 60 77
Biology 100 100
Chemistry 49 95
Overall Average: 78.3 90.3
Class Ranking: 6 3
In fact, he was very close to being ranked 1st in his class for this set of tests.
I know Isaiah. He is very capable and smart. If he would just put in a little effort, he can do so well in all his subjects.
Now, I will be gone again two weeks before his final exams. I asked Alan to PLEASE keep to our household rule about studying. That means he has to study five days a week and he cannot have his cell phone next to him when he is studying. Because if he did have his cell phone (which was what happened on the first set of tests), he wouldn't be studying. He would be texting his friends for those 60 minutes. Oh, he will have his books opened, but what he is really doing is texting people. The kids who live at school also have to abide by this rule. All cell phones are given to the dorm parents during the time of studying and again after 11p.m. Students are not allowed to have their phone at night.
I hope that Isaiah has learned from this because the improvement from the 1st to the 2nd tests is just too dramatic!
Seek Him First!
Well, the scores came back and reflected his lack of effort.
This time for the second set of exams, I was home. And Isaiah followed our household rule in that he studied about 60 minutes each night, five nights a week.
The result --
1st Tests 2nd Tests
Chinese 67 95
English 97 96
Math 84 94
History 75 85
Geography 62 80
Citizenship 60 77
Biology 100 100
Chemistry 49 95
Overall Average: 78.3 90.3
Class Ranking: 6 3
In fact, he was very close to being ranked 1st in his class for this set of tests.
I know Isaiah. He is very capable and smart. If he would just put in a little effort, he can do so well in all his subjects.
Now, I will be gone again two weeks before his final exams. I asked Alan to PLEASE keep to our household rule about studying. That means he has to study five days a week and he cannot have his cell phone next to him when he is studying. Because if he did have his cell phone (which was what happened on the first set of tests), he wouldn't be studying. He would be texting his friends for those 60 minutes. Oh, he will have his books opened, but what he is really doing is texting people. The kids who live at school also have to abide by this rule. All cell phones are given to the dorm parents during the time of studying and again after 11p.m. Students are not allowed to have their phone at night.
I hope that Isaiah has learned from this because the improvement from the 1st to the 2nd tests is just too dramatic!
Seek Him First!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
What A Good Day!
When I was in high school, I had a creative writing teacher who did not allow us to use the word 'good' in any of our essays. If that word appeared in our writing, the paper would be returned with the word 'rewrite' in red. But there is no other way to describe today, but to use the general term 'good'. It was indeed a 'good' day.
The day just flowed from one thing to another.
I went over to Wendy's in the morning, but since it was raining, Kimmy and I stayed indoors while Wendy went out for about an hour or so. On her way back, she ordered water dumplings for me. TWENTY delicious water dumplings, which I picked up as the restaurant was right downstairs. I came home and started baking, trying a new recipe. While it was baking in the oven, I ate my lunch. When the oatmeal banana raisin cranberry apple sauce 'cake' was finished, I put some in a container and went over to visit with Vanessa. She just had a baby -- a 4.5 kilos boy -- Harrison Cole. Her in-laws are here, so it was fun to chat and visit with them. I scootered back, ate dinner and went off again to Wendy's. It was Ryan's birthday and I wanted to babysit so that they could go out on a date. I dropped off my scooter first for a tune up and the guy said that I needed to change the back tire. So, I left my scooter with him and walked over to Wendy's.
I brought a book and their house had WiFi. After finishing the book, I listened to the Bible in Chinese and found that you can listen to the Bible in like 100 different languages. What a great way to learn another language! I'm going to do that again and maybe listen to the Bible in Spanish and German or Turkish and Hebrew.
I heard Kimmy at around 9p.m. and grabbed one of Wendy's shirt and went in and patted her down. The smell of her mommy soothed her immediately. How amazing!
And soon, Ryan and Wendy were home!
I went back to the scooter place and picked up my now tuned up scooter with a new back tire!
Yes, indeed, it was a good day... a very good day!
Seek Him First!
The day just flowed from one thing to another.
I went over to Wendy's in the morning, but since it was raining, Kimmy and I stayed indoors while Wendy went out for about an hour or so. On her way back, she ordered water dumplings for me. TWENTY delicious water dumplings, which I picked up as the restaurant was right downstairs. I came home and started baking, trying a new recipe. While it was baking in the oven, I ate my lunch. When the oatmeal banana raisin cranberry apple sauce 'cake' was finished, I put some in a container and went over to visit with Vanessa. She just had a baby -- a 4.5 kilos boy -- Harrison Cole. Her in-laws are here, so it was fun to chat and visit with them. I scootered back, ate dinner and went off again to Wendy's. It was Ryan's birthday and I wanted to babysit so that they could go out on a date. I dropped off my scooter first for a tune up and the guy said that I needed to change the back tire. So, I left my scooter with him and walked over to Wendy's.
I brought a book and their house had WiFi. After finishing the book, I listened to the Bible in Chinese and found that you can listen to the Bible in like 100 different languages. What a great way to learn another language! I'm going to do that again and maybe listen to the Bible in Spanish and German or Turkish and Hebrew.
I heard Kimmy at around 9p.m. and grabbed one of Wendy's shirt and went in and patted her down. The smell of her mommy soothed her immediately. How amazing!
And soon, Ryan and Wendy were home!
I went back to the scooter place and picked up my now tuned up scooter with a new back tire!
Yes, indeed, it was a good day... a very good day!
Seek Him First!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Fast Tuesday!
I woke up early and set an alarm to wake Abby up. She did not get up! She was feeling so tired!
So no swimming today!
She started on Science and was much more motivated and alert. The rest helped!
I worked on household stuff and answering emails and fixing an iRobot that I had found in the recycling trash of our complex. After troubleshooting and getting it to work right, I took the battery out. Besides the initial glitches, I think it also needs a new battery. I'll have to find out how much one will cost.
I took her over to school and went grocery shopping. I made a special Tamale Mexican dish with a simple recipe that I found on line.
Then I went to look at a possible "investment" property and had a meeting to talk about test writing. I have been getting many offers for different part time jobs and writing one set of test each month is one of these offers. I have accepted this part time job as I can do it at home. The pay is not great, but it will generate a little bit of monthly income... a very little bit!
After the meeting I rushed back to pick up Abby and had to rush her over to her cram school. They are starting to prep for high school math already.
Overall, I would describe today as FAST TUESDAY as I felt like I was Flash Gordon, going from one place to another or from one activity to another!
Seek Him First!
So no swimming today!
She started on Science and was much more motivated and alert. The rest helped!
I worked on household stuff and answering emails and fixing an iRobot that I had found in the recycling trash of our complex. After troubleshooting and getting it to work right, I took the battery out. Besides the initial glitches, I think it also needs a new battery. I'll have to find out how much one will cost.
I took her over to school and went grocery shopping. I made a special Tamale Mexican dish with a simple recipe that I found on line.
Then I went to look at a possible "investment" property and had a meeting to talk about test writing. I have been getting many offers for different part time jobs and writing one set of test each month is one of these offers. I have accepted this part time job as I can do it at home. The pay is not great, but it will generate a little bit of monthly income... a very little bit!
After the meeting I rushed back to pick up Abby and had to rush her over to her cram school. They are starting to prep for high school math already.
Overall, I would describe today as FAST TUESDAY as I felt like I was Flash Gordon, going from one place to another or from one activity to another!
Seek Him First!
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