Looking back at 2025

Let the haters hate.... and let the nay sayers say... but I'm going to claim we've hit the quarter century mark. Still remember quarter century ago... we were soooo scared of Y2K.  Then when 2000 rolled over... we were scared of 2001.  (Make up your mind, humanity...). I've always liked the word "Quarter."  Football and Basketball games are divided into Quarters... unlike Halves and Periods.  The dollar is most easily made up of Quarters.  Quarters were used for pay phone, laundry, meters, vending machines, newspaper stands.  It was easily the most powerful and versatile of the US currency, forever embellized by (arguably) the greatest president in US history. The clock is divided into quarters.  Arguably... modern maps and globes are divided into quarters... following wind a game of mah jong being split up similarly.  The word itself... stands alone and stands on top. Beginning with the rare "Qu-".  At the end of typing all this... I peek over at my 建東銀行 calendar and realize it's 2026.  It's a quarter + 1.  Dang it!!  And with that... here we go.... my annual top 10 when looking back at 2025... our quarter +1 century mark. 

1. Year of the Rat - It started in 2025 and carried into 2026.  Ratatoullie.  Mickey and Minnie. Pinky and the Brain? Omg.... that first night hearing rustling under the bed.  That one night when I felt something licking or chewing my foot.  That first day of grabbing a cup of noodle in the garage and seeing it all chewed into.  That morning bout of fighting and chasing it in the kitchen only to see it run up the fireplace.  It all culminated with the war that ended all wars,.. inside NN's room. Even now, I have PTSD when I walk down the stairs every morning... expecting to see a gray blur scurrying in and out of the kitchen cupboards and counters.  It's almost been a year... and I still have my mouse traps lying around... just in case. 
2. Birth of SBAM - Towards the end of last year... I was asked to take over our Stennis and Michoud sites.  With a new leader rising on the horizon... and a seasoned leader sunsetting... in the midst of uncertainties and operational issues... I started making that familiar trip to Louis Armstrong.  My goal was once every two months... if not more.  My photo albums started to fill up with gumbos and jamalayas and rice and beans.  While my United mileage started to creep up to the [mini] Apex of Silver Status.  
3. Pecha Kucha - I never doubted I was going to deliver... but to deliver to a room of 150-200 leaders, culminating in a standing ovation was unexpected. I didn't think I was going to top that... only to find myself 2 months later... giving an About Me presentation now to almost a 1000 employees... and getting the customary accolades followed by random strangers sending me IM's like, "Thank you. I felt heard."  Feel sorry for the people that had to follow me... *snicker
4. Return to Worship Team including Missions Conference - 3 summers ago... I went to take a drumming class just to have some fun.  Huda thunk I would eventually make it back on stage as part of the worship team.  And on the first day of returning I teamed with NN.  Followed by checking yet another item off my church-bucket-list of being on the worship team at Mission Conference!!!  Let's see if I'll be around for Deeper Life.... and if that works out... then the last thing, I think, on the church bucket list would be to translate for Deeper Life!!! Will it happen.....???  Doubtful... but ask me 4 years ago and I didn't think I was gonna be drumming either.
5. Glamping / Disney - So many things to write about... so many things that happened.  Just gotta give thanks for family trips that I need to cherish as we slowly run low on time with us as a family unit of 4 where we go on trips together.  Next time... it could be 3.  Or it could be 5.  Who knows?!?
6. Juli (RIP) - that last thought was actually planted by a friend, colleague, co-worker, boss.  She just came back from a trip to Italy with her family of four.. saying those exact words about this being a family trip for four.  I didn't realize how big an impact this would have on me.  Occasionally... I'll see actresses like Kristen Wiig that give off Juli vibes.  Or we'll be talking... and inevitably... someone will accidentally call Andrea, Juli.  Or even that moment... when I had to formally and finally remove her from my TEAMS Chat List.  I find solace... that I was able to travel with her one final time, broke bread, shared lives, and created so many fond memories.  Her legacy will live on forever. 
7. East Coast Trip - I tell everyone, including my kids, I love them equally.  There is no bias or favortism.  And yet... I like them differently.  Not one more than the other... they're just different.  And this year... NN did not make the list in spite of everything we've gone, and continue to go through.  Having led with that.... I spoke to SW on the phone on Tuesday or Wednesday of the ECT and asked if he was partnering with anyone to the boat dance.  He aptly said yes... and as a father would... my fatherly advice was, "Treat her with respect."  Friday night.... pictures start leaking online.... and one by one... you see his friends pop up.  And then his friend group is there but he's not with them!! Where is he?!?!?  Then finally... one of the moms popped a picture of a table with both guys and girls.  Initially... I thought it was the girl sitting NEXT to him.  Come to realize... that was her "wing-woman."  SW's partner was the girl across from him.... and as the days turn into weeks... into months....turns out they're in a steady relationship! (Very cute, wholesome, and innocent).  To a point... where SW met the girl's mom at graduation!!!  And then... come one long summer... they ended up separating due to long distance... and then... they're back together?!?!?!?!?  What's going on????? All my preaching about no dating until college... out the door when the rubber meets the road.... 
8. Colonsocopy - sometime, in 2023-24 (I forget), I got fat.  Really fat.  My stomach stuck out so far it was embarrassing. One time...mom saw me and acted "surprised."  She held her comments back but I knew.  I knew!!  Then this year... I finally signed up for my delayed colonoscopy, which preceded with fasting.  I parlayed on the 2 days of not eating with another 3 days of complete fast followed by a month long period of no carb diet.... doubled down with running and high intensity interval training.  I've since boomeranged back to a normal human being (heh), and eliminated by bouts of chips and soda binging. Now 15 lbs lighter... the kids say, "you're so skinny now, Bah B." 
9. 8 Mile - How often are resolutions kept??? Heh... still remember in the beginning of 2025... when SW burned me in both long and short distance running that I committed to run a 10 minute mile.  Only for him to challenge me to run it in 9.  Only for me to push it to the brink to run an 8 minute mile.  Fast forward into 2026... SW joins the cross country team... making huge strides that I may have achieved at my best and healthiest days as a teen... and he is my pacer.  He tells me he'll pace me for a 8:30... since I just hit my 9 minute mark... and during those 4 laps... I can tell he stretched me and pushed me.  7:56.... on the 4th lane.  It was faster than that!! All I needed... was a little push...  
10. Day of Reckoning - and with a little push... it came down to needing that little push that shoved me to my day of reckoning.  3/19th... and everything goes down (or up?) from there.  Only time will tell.  

2025 went by fast.  As did the first quarter of the century.  Will this blog even be around to catch the next 25....?? Let's not get ahead of ourselves... let's take this one step at a time... one moment at a time... 

Looking back at 2024

(Edited on 11/30 - Thanksgiving Weekend: Just realized... I never finished my Looking Back at 2024 post)

1. changing churches
1. sandy, nancy
2. SW responds to call at Deeper Life
3. moving to Manet
4. finding new tenants 啊虎，啊燕
5. mice/rat problem
6. Niners losing Superbowl (again)
7. hiring Sylvia
8. 3 car accidents
1. me on lawrence
2. joyce with tesla
3. hawaii oops!
9. lost my data on laptop
10. Tahoe camping - running from a bear
11. Hawaii trip
12. softball
13. huge bouts of fights with NN
14. silent treatment from SW
15. NN - Tropical Touch (elation to disappointment) regional champs, AP exam, 
16. SW - basketball / Eclipse (summer of disappointments)

Looking back at 2023

Last day of the calendar year... and it's poetically, "123123." Poetry doesn't always rhyme... like the word "2023." 2023 was the year of rabbit or was it the hare?  And hoppity-hop it went... bouncing away quicker than we can lay eyes on it to admire.  Giving way to the year of the dragon in 2024, that pretty much swallows up any hoopla (or hop-la) from a rodent. (I know... I know... the calendar doesn't line up that way). A year of international upheaval, an on-going war followed by a brand new, deadly war.  And sadly, that same familiar war plagued our own soils via another year of gun violence.  Congress was not exempt from its own Civil War... when the GOP was as divided as "Tastes Great" battled "Less Filling"... resulting in the birth of a new, third heir to the presidential throne 9 months after the original third heir.  In the midst of civil upheaval, the Capital was busy avoiding shutdown, while waging its own war on epic inflation due to COVID, rising interest rates preventing the Millennials from buying a house, and diving unemployment numbers as the Biden Administration desperately try to salvage a 2024 run at the White House.  Unemployed, the Dodgers are not, as their front office land the once in a lifetime talent and shrewdly defers his $700M to after his contract his done... while reaping the benefits of countless more Free Agents.  The rest of the sports world look on with envy... as did the Niners when Mr. Irrelevant's UCL was torn in the NFC Championship game on their way to a devasting defeat (only to provide new hope in this coming season). Unimpedingly, any indictment, mugshot, or rape charges against one man has only highlighted the state of America's morals and how we view our king.  Across the pond, the world viewed the crowning of it's own King (and Queen consort) - she's never gonna be fully accepted.   Neither is the world going to ever fully accept the realities (IMHO) of Global Warming, as man makes another futile attempt to tame nature, only to be spanked by the Maui Fires, Hurricane Hilary and a.... heavenly Spy Balloon?????  

On a personal note... Joyce and I have our health and jobs.  The kids are flourishing in all capacities.  Our parents continue to age.  Another chapter ends... while another chapter must begin.  Following last year's top 10... I have to break out top 5's for NN and SW, otherwise, my top 10 will be pre-occupied with all of their moments. 

NN: 

1. Elected class officer
2. Being accepted into AP Chinese
3. Making her Jr. High Basketball A-Team - winning PHD
4. Making it onto her Club Volleyball Team - Tropical Touch
5. East Coast Trip - First "official" date at the Boat Dance

SW: 

1. Jr. High Basketball - MVP
2. Making onto Club Volleyball Team - Titan
3. Being rotated back in for the 3rd and final set and winning the game against Stafford
4. Science Camp
5. Crying at Sunday Morning Breakfast

Without further ado.... my top 10 of 2023.

1. RIP Ricketts and Mr. G - Death hit extremely close to home this year... one unexpected... and one, well, was close to home. Amazingly.. both Celebrations of Life were filled with laughter, joy, and fond memories.  Tears will pass.. but the stories will live on.  
2. Year long injury - One unexpected pull up and a day of volunteering at Second Harvest.  I've never dealt with a lingering muscle pain as long as I did this year.  So much pain in the simplest things I do.  Was thinking rest would make it "go away."  Eventually, I came to realize, the only way to get well, is to work out.  
3. Household gets COVID and Shaw-HANK 2023 - After returning from Seattle.. Joyce gets COVID.  Then SW gets it.  Then a few days of taking care of them... I finally succumb (again).  NN was amazingly spared.  And out of all this... I (along with half the known population) caught up on Suits!
4. 1-17 - After 3 seasons of coaching Jr. High... I finally got my first victory... when an opposing team forfeited.  Woe is me.
5. Busking - Never have I ever imagined I'll be jamming a guitar and belting Beyond to complete strangers!! HA!!
6. ESL and Tutoring - Finally got reprieved from other ministries so I can take on this one... something I've always wanted to do but didn't have the bandwidth for.  There's something about immigrants and learning English that's so ingrained in my DNA... I wish I can do so much more. It ain't always easy... but man... it can be so rewarding. 
7.  Dream (or nightmare) of slum-lording - After who knows how many months.. we finally rented our house out.  The city finally approved our permit.  We finally jacked up our house.  Then we had to deal with the cement contractor.  And the air conditioning contractor. And the flooding foundation. Then it was thoroughly and absolutely cleaning out the house.  Showcasing the house.  Drawing up the lease. Finding renters.  Getting everything finalized... and a week before we signed the lease... we discovered extensive water damage to the kitchen.  Property Management is not for the lighthearted.  But thankfully, by the grace of God, our renters are angels.  
8. Mom's San Diego Trip -  Aside from her Pilgramages... she's never gone on a fun trip on her own...with her own friends.  I simply can't register her ever doing this.  And yet... here she was... sending pictures to us from Sea World and Balboa Park... and texting us that she's going to the Crystal Cathedral.  Drawing a weird parallel... this was an odd symmetry to NN's East Coast Trip last year where I was looking forward to getting texts from her... just so I can know what she's doing, where she's visiting, what she's eating.   Much deserved... and I hope she gets to do more of these while she's still active and able. 
9. "I'm gonna go sit with my friends." - Something I'd expect NN or SW to say to us at any public event... but this came from the mouth of Joyce.  At one of SW's volleyball tournaments... she decided to ditch me and NN... and go with with the other moms on SW's team.  I can't even articulate how giddy I am that she found this group of women.... a Dutch, a Hungarian, a Japanese, a Vietnamese, and a East Coaster.  Simply wonderful.
10. Drumming on Worship Team - Never have I ever... but here I am.  

Looking back at 2022

2022.  An even year.  The year of the Tiger.  A midterm election year - which means it's 2 years after/before the presidential election and Olympics.  Which also means it's the World Cup.  The world mourned as Neymar lost to scrappy Croatia and the whole world cheered (except for Brazil), as Messi was finally coronated as the Great of All Time (more on that later).  Along the way... we also mourned for giants and titans such as Queen Elizabeth, Sidney Portier, Jiang Zemin, Angela Lansbury, Pope Benedict... and to bookend these two sentences, Pele - THE Great of All Time. The year started with the world coming out from a pandemic only to slapped in the face by Omicron like Monday slaps Garfield or Will Smith at the Oscars. We witnessed the invasion of Ukraine nearly kickstarting World War III, just as we were inundated by headline after headline of mass shootings, eclipsed by the "never would I imagine" overturning of Roe v Wade, followed by the inevitable implosion of cryptocurrency, to a preview of the 2024 election with down to the wire... many days after... election-fraud drama.  The world predicted a record breaking number of COVID babies due to SIP... and two of our closest family friends helped bolster that metric. It's almost cliche to say... but it should be said...  Looking forward to a better and brighter year.  Before we do... let's have a look back at 2022....

I think I need to launch a separate mini section for NN and SW.  They're both in middle school now.  Young Adult's.  Beings of their own.  If I included them in my Top 10.... it'll be more like a Top 5 cuz they occupy so much real estate.  Kinda like when Beauty of the Beast got a Best Picture nomination only for the Academy to spin off a Best Animated Picture category.  "And the winner is..."

NN:

1. Being selected to Basketball Team A only to be demoted to Team B and end up winning the PHD.  Not to mention scoring that one basket against Team A during a scrimmage. 
2. Being selected Team Captain of the Volleyball Team B and earning PHD again.
3. Auditioning for and winning the lead role in Music Man Jr... only to be stricken by a voice cancelling cold the week before going live.
4. Hawaii
5. All Church Retreat

SW:

1. Making into King's and transitioning middle school
2. Winning MIP and MVP for flag football and basketball
3. Hawaii
4. Driving a golf cart
5. All Church Retreat

Without further ado.... here is my top 10 of 2022. 

1. Affordable Housing - on some random summer day, Siu Han calls and asks me to help her find housing cuz she's afraid of being evicted.  Huda known that that would've launched me into months of research, learning, scaling, and finally... overcoming the situation by placing her into Affordable Housing.  I've documented this too many times in the actual blog... but to see first hand how helpless non-English speakers are in this land of opportunity... is propelling me into my next phase of ministry. 
2. Warriors Championship Parade - Not one, not two, not three... but four chips in the last 7 years.  If you don't call that a dynasty... then what??? To cap off a season of improbables... the impossible happened.  NN accompanied me to the Warriors Championship Parade with dad.  In the end... it was a horrible day.  But a day... that eeked into the top 10. 
3. He's gone - I preach to the kids.. we will never get a pet outside of a fish.  Picking up poop.  Walking them in the early mornings or late at night in the rain. Socials and schools. Begging for dog sitters during vacations. Doggie hotels which lead to depression. Dental, salon, and vet bills. All that.... just to cover up the fear of inevitable separation. Never have I thought that I'll be so attached to one that wasn't even my own.  Is there such thing as doggie heaven? Based on Christian dogma... they didn't "believe and confess."  Then again... based on Christian drama... they will be judged by their hearts.  I choose to believe... we shall meet again. 
4. Coach Henry - what started as an innocent email asking for parental help turned into a legacy in the Leung household. Initially... I signed up to shag balls and find an excuse to hang out with my tweenage daughter.  Huda thunk that it'll evolve to being an intricate part of NN's 7th grade year... and led to being invited to coach the Boy's team with an [un]forgettable season for SW's 6th grade season.  Yes... I am 0-12.  Winless.  The biggest loser.  But to be able to spend such quality time with my children.... I'm the biggest winner. 
5. First Victories - NN started her athletic career 0-12.  Never would I have thought that I would be on hand to deliver NN's first organized team sport victory.  After leaving the courts for 10+ years, my first venture back equated to a Dubya.  1-12.  Can't wait for #2 to roll around.
6. Hanging up the badge - 5 years as CS MA, it was time.  To wrap up a lame duck year... there was CNY, CS Picnic, WOG End of Year Carnival, translating at Mission Conference, All Church Retreat - planning, budgeting, performing w/ NN on stage, MC-ing, Rally of Church.  And what did NN say? "I don't think you can stop being MA.  You love doing things too much.  You're going to be listless." She's not wrong.  
7. Fantasy Baseball Champ - Most everything is detailed in the blog post... but the side comment I heard from the kids when we hung out at Jeff's house was, "Daddy... you were so tense during those final weeks.  Always on your phone."  I poured my life into those final weeks.  Can't wait to do it again. 
8. Remodeling - I barely blogged about this topic...  What started in January of 2022 of commissioning a foundation contractor to lift our house... turned into 3 months of design... followed by 3 more months of obtaining a permit.  Only for me to get an AC and concrete guy to start the demo and I find out I have to wait another 3-4 months (at best) for he actual approval.  I got so antsy... my contractor stopped returning my calls and grew snarky with me.  I got so impatient... I nearly marched up a City Council meeting and blasted the city during open mic time.  Cool heads prevailed and I ended up emailing my City Council rep (no response). Hurdle after hurdle... and 12 months after the process started, the foundation was fixed.  The concrete was poured.  The AC reinstalled.  And the handy man patched up the walls and fixed my doors.  12 months of paying mortgage for an empty house while renting a townhouse in Sunnyvale.  Don't ask me how we did it.  Now let's get this sucker rented so I get some money flowing back in!!!
9. Hawaii  - 8 day vacation in paradise with a group of 15...  and the one thing that sticks out as my top moment...was nearly drowning, while being unable to help my kids.  That feeling of inadequacy and utter helplessness will haunt me forever. 
10. COVID - After 2 years of dodging bullets... I became a metric.  I get what I deserve.  Of all the people in my family.. I'm the least observant of masking and sanitizing hands. If not for my love for my wife... and SW's respritory sensitivity... I could careless about any of these guidelines and suggestions.  I'm not an anti-vaxer or anti-masker... I'm just lazy.  Somewhere along the line... I must've let my guard down and BOOM!!! Shawshank for 11 days. But at the end of the day... it wasn't the physical sickness I feared.  But the emotional loneliness I dreaded. Locked up in a room.  Eating by myself (or Facetime, during dinner).  Sneaking a walk when no one was home.  Couldn't touch my wife. Couldn't hug my kids.  Thankfully... I had a couple of close friends to text to keep me sane (Heart U Nita and MC!!!) Oddly. it was also the NBA playoffs and finals, so evenings were entertaining.  If there was ever anything that would make me keep my mask on... it's that emotional separation.  Never.  Ever. Again.  I love my family too much.

Top 10's are just a list I make when I browse through my blog.  I know there are more events that would make this list.  God continues to do amazing things in my life every day... like, keeping me safe from that careless driver on 680 the other day.  Those "moments" will never make this list because it's something that didn't happen.  Those special, countless, moments of anointing.... can only be summed up in one word, or one number, rather..... 2023.  

Thank you, Jesus!! I love you!! 

Looking back at 2021

My favorite post of the year... Looking back.  Every year... I've had the luxury and honor of looking back at 365 days of highs and lows to recount the 10 moments which shaped my year.  How I love to re-read my own blog posts to remember, re-traverse, reminisce, and by God's grace, relive those moments in time. 

2021

I famously kicked off the year by saying, "For the first time in human history, we can truly say that hindsight....is 2020." Unbeknownst to us... 2021 kicked our butts the same if not harder than 2020.  It was the year some of us welcomed a new president, but along the way, experienced one of the most shameful moments in US history when protesters stormed our very own US Capitol. 2021 saw Cancel Culture bloom and Wake Culture blossom, taking along with it... statues, monuments, street names, school names and household names including Dr. Seuss, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Diane Feinstein, and Mr. Potato Head. Ironically, it was the year where an impeachment was unsuccessful, nor was the California recall of Gavin Newsom. In the midst of all that... we found a glimpse of justice in the verdict of the death of George Floyd...finding little relief in a societal imbalance that can't possibly be nullified with one trial.  That courtroom, along side other courtrooms, came into the spotlight, most notably with the topic of Abortion where states like Texas passed the Heartbeat Act, and with a Conservative Supreme Court, might actually, finally, overturn Roe v Wade. (never in my lifetime...??). After an endless time of occupation... 2021 was the year American troops finally withdrew from Afghanistan... only to see the paper government collapse and offered us a modern day version of the Fall of Saigon. Speaking of fall... who can forget the ominous rise (and fall) of banal stocks like GameStop and AMC... as the people (via Reddit), dished it to the top 3%, causing a frenzy and halt in "free"-market trading. The world united as one during those few weeks of the Olympics as Japan limped to the finish line or the podium stand... while goliaths such as Simeon Biles announced to the world that "it's OK to not be OK." Humankind shot to new heights... as numerous NASA missions blasted to Mars, to the moon to an asteroid and even launched the first of several leisure space travels via Virgin, Space X and Blue Origins.  A historic season of 107 wins by your mediocre San Francisco Giants... in the midst of vaccine roll outs... only to be punched in the face by Delta (July) and then again Omicron (November). To that fateful date in June... when at work I found myself taking a piss... with another man.... taking a piss in the same bathroom.  Whoa.... 

Moving to my own personal top 10.  

10)  270 

9) 遙距居家令風雲 

8) Audit to Quality -  After 4 years of being in Audit... I was moved into my current role of Quality Assurance.  Another dicey career move, I must say.  Those first three months were brutal having to rebuild my production stamina.  Where will this path lead??? 

7) Tahoe Trip 

6) 68,000 Steps

5) Tweenage daughter - Not one event that stands out but they're all little strands of thread, interwoven into a tapestry of fatherly failures but Godly grace. 

4) Beat that Wall

3) Relocation 

2) It is finished 

1) Spirit of Hecker Award

And deary me... as I'm crossing my eyes and dotting my tees... I just realized I didn't do a "Looking back at the 2010's" post, like I did with "A look back at the 2000's".  Dare I try??? 

Looking back at 2020

As if God is playing a joke on us... 2020 is the year we look back and it's the exact year where we don't want to say "hindsight is 20/20."  A year we wish to never relive for the rest of our life time, or the life times of forever more.  Any normal year... I would say that 2020 is an election year... an Olympics year. The start of a new year... the beginning of a new decade.  A year of canceling, a year where Black Lives Matter (All Lives Matter).  A year of record breaking election turnout.  A year of untimely deaths.  A year where we truly felt the Wrath of God. Like any "Year in Review" and "Looking back..." posts... I start by reading my own blog and news outlets' year in Reviews.  

2020 kicked off with the "Wuhan Virus" when so many people initially wrote it off as "just another flu."  I still remember that one Prayer Meeting where PAL was fearful of going back to Hong Kong for his Dad's funeral. It led to some of our friends arguing amongst their marriages about over worrying and that the CDC will take care of it.  I even reprimanded PAL by saying, "草木皆兵" when he asked about CNY.  It was the year where we had a ton of infighting at work... but eventually capitulating when, ironically, it was the cancelling of March Madness, where reality finally set in.  

2020 was the year where Black Lives Mattered... to a point where the Washington Football Team and the Cleveland Baseball Team finally chose to rename their sports franchises - something I never expected to see in my lifetime.  It was a year of political [mis-]handling: DACA, trade with China, government firings, an impeachment that was never going to happen, deaths of John Lewis and RBG and ultimately the election.  A year where my worst sports nightmare all happened... when the Lakers and Dodgers both claimed their respective championships.  A year marred by natural disasters through hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes... and was spiked out when the Bay Area skies rang orange for 3 full days.  2020...was truly a year we'd love to forget, but is a year we'll forever remember.  

To continue the tradition... here are my top (and bottom) moments of 2020.  And with so much happening this year...  here are my top 11.... in reverse order.

11) Funerals Galore - The new reality is setting in.  We had the wedding phase.  Then the newborn phase.  Countless birthday parties. We're now approaching the funeral phase.  Frankie's dad. 凌太. Carlo. Seth's dad.  阿婆. 大舅父.  And for all those who died from the coronavirus or a cop shooting.  RIP. 

10) Paul's Life and Letters - 1.5 years of studying the Letters of Paul, including Acts. This revealed to me a whole new dimension of the bible, of God, and it brought me ohhhhh so much closer to my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. (SC, KK, GN, ML). "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" ~2 Tim 4:7

9) Super Bowl LIV - that forgetful Sunday night when I drove around 280 and 85 for 3 numbing hours.  And it all came down to 3rd and 15.  FUCK!!!!!!!  

8) Dinner with Dad - back in January where I went out to SF to celebrate Dad's bday, originally at HOPR, but eventually at Harris.  An unforgettable night of sharing and fine dining.  The moment that tops this evening is when dad shared, from the bottom of his heart, how he truly was scarred as a child and started to weep. I tried (and failed) to give my dad a hug that he so desperately needs.

7) Presidential Election - The night of November 3rd will live in infamy where we watched, state by state, the color turning red.  But the analyst kept on insisting that the votes have not all been counted and it's still too early to call.  The days and nights that followed where we kept watching and hoping. The day, when the states fully declared that Biden is now the president.  And to this day... that @$$hole is still not conceding.  No matter how good (or bad) these 4 years have been... I firmly believe... the next 4 years will be better. 

6) Friday the 13th - that fateful day when we received an email from Heritage that they were going to shutdown school for the foreseeable future.  The day that resulted in spreeing to Lunardi's to get whatever was left of the meat at the deli.  The day that ignited dining table Ping Pong, garage HIIT, reestablishing the Leung Family Altar, revitalizing badminton, creating the Leung's Garden, and allowing the family to polish off Series after Series like Perfect Strangers, Full House, Fuller House, Crash Landing on You, Prince of Tennis, 回到三國 and 使徒行者. 

5) Let it rip!!!- after months and months of deliberating, we finally bought SW Minecraft.  And it opened so many doors for him and his friends.  Not to mention that countless times we had Pokemon tournaments, Beyblades tournaments, Super Smash tournaments.  But none which comes close to Siu Wah and me going on that 3 hour car ride where he famously says "Before Google Hangout...those were the good old days."

4) Coming of Age - With the onset of puberty and Crimson Tide.  I can't neglect those initial days of Shelter in Place where there were countless shouting matches between Mommy and Nui-Nui.  And the days where we prepped for her admission to TKA.  Or the days where she would just hide in her room... Hanging Out with her friends.  None could top those moments... where I ran along side by her... and she was about to give up.... I reached out to grab her hand, hoping to provide one last ounce of energy.  And at the end... choosing to let go to let her sprint to her finish line.

3) Apocalyptic Shopping - the one night, before SIP was officially announced, Joyce and I dropped the kids of at Awana and we made a run at Costco and Smart & Final.  We bump into a dad who was getting diapers...he looked at our cart and smiled, "Apocalyptic Shopping, eh??" The coming months... where we were able to walk side by side through this apocalypse together.  Who else would I want by my side?

2) Mom's adventures back to HK - "This is the bed bug thing, all over again" said Big Bro.  When we found out that 大舅父 was on his last breath... we did everything in our power to ensure she was able to see him one last time.  The plane ticket.  The hotel.  The 3 day COVID tests.  It was all worth it...the day she sent a pic of her, Maria and 大舅父 at Wah Fu.  There are some things you can take for granted.  But 親情 can never be replaced.

1) Dad accepting Christ - that fateful day when I got a text from PAL.... 

Your dad accepted Christ today.  I led him through repentance prayer.  He followed the prayer word for word!

And if it took a pandemic for all that to happen.... keep it coming...? Maybe...?

Looking back at 2019...

One of my favorite posts of the year... I thoroughly enjoyed this year's Looking Back post.  This year, I wrote a whopping 183 posts.  That's an average of 15.25 posts per month, 3.5 posts per week, or 0.5 posts a day.

2019... was a special year.  To 50% of the population, it marks the end of the decade, the decade that shall be known as the Naughts or the Tens.  It's actually NOT a prime number.  It was the year we embraced the end of the Skywalker Saga. A year where I can't find a list of top 10's for the year, but a bunch of videos.  A year where our USWNT took the nation by storm while Tiger roared back and dawned another Green Jacket. A year where I can't bear to see another child's blood shed.  A year of civil unrest and protests (Foreshadowing my Looking back at the 2010's post).  A year of natural disasters (Foreshadowing my Looking back at the 2010's post). And it was the year that we saw an impeachment. 

That was for the world... but as for me... here is my top 10 for 2019.  Starting selfishly with the Honorable Mentions - surely there will be, with 183 posts!!!

1. 溫婉嫻靜 - my Nui Nui Ju... as penned by her Chinese School teacher.  No compliments have come close to shadowing these four characters that I can't even fully comprehend. 
2. Nui nui woes - my heart aches as I type this knowing that it'll get worse before it gets better. 
3. Awana - 4 months into the program... I can barely recite one bible verse.  Both kids have it rolling off their tongues. 
4. Summer Nomads - week after week, we took the kids to a new camp.  They found new friends. Their normal...as simply chaos.  And in the midst of all that chaos... we had that one day at Lucky's where we had a beautiful scavenger hunt.

And without further ado... in reverse order....

1. Let's Proclaim 2.0 - yet, another 10 weeks of leading kids to question their faith and ultimately give a speech about why they believe in Christ. And I'm still at awe of how I was able to lead that one boy and teach him public speaking... in Mandarin.
2. Reconnecting 2019 - a promise I made to someone where I reconnected with the Fab-5, Nancy and my Coach.  I originally set out to reconnect with my ex'es... but in the end.... some hatchets are probably better left buried. 
3. LEAD Summit - Luminate.  Elevate.  Activate. Duplicate.  "Conversion comes after discipleship."  To be a pioneer of this effort... with zero experience... with even less expectations... in the end... it was my standout SJCAC moment of the year.  
4. Bed Bugs - "Good night.  Sleep tight."  OMG... Just when we thought we cleaned and tossed everything... Just when the exterminators nuked the house... Just when we thought we can buy everything we can buy...   
5. Project 21 - Of the 21 things... I may have accomplished 2-3 of them? And when I apologized to NN for not helping her accomplish her goal (running a 10 minute mile) and me failing on my 21 projects... she gladly offered up, "That's ok Bah-B, we can do it before the end of the SCHOOL year!"  BOOM... just extended Project 21 for 5 more months.
6. Family Fads - we come about 5 years late to these these fads, but boy did it transform our family.  
1. Beyblades - SW was so addicted, focused and dedicated, he designed multiple blades out of Lego, to a point where his blades were able to transform with just a few touches, so he can make instant upgrades.  He'll wake up and start tinkering.  Come home from school and modify it.  He'll spend hours designing, testing and enhancing his blades.  The opportunity finally presented itself culminating in our recent succumbing / spoiling of the starter kit... followed by a half dozen new blades for Christmas.  Rarely does a day go by where you don't hear "Let it RIP!!!!!!!!!!!" 
2. Pokemon Cards - SW got his first set of cards 2 years ago, not cuz he knew what they were, but because everyone else in school had it. 2 years later... we dive head first into the game.  And then the game exploded when we got the Costco expansion decks.  And started reading the graphic novel and watching the show on Netflix.  To this day, we still don't know how to play the game the real way... *shrug*
3. Pokemon Go - What started as a treat during a half-day resulted in days and nights where I Uber my family around looking for raids, gyms and poke-balls.  Mo liu?? Yes... very much so.  And these mo-liu moments will last forever in our family's memories.
7. The Shaw-HANK Redemption and Kintsugi - ever crawl through 5 football fields of sh!t smelling foulness? Ever repair the unrepairable? (Looking up to the heavens...and still wondering...)
8. PCS 2019 - haven't written a post about this yet.  The two biggest things out of this experience... is 1) I need to repair my relationship with mom and 2).....
9. Transformation Continues - A year where she led worship with me at Prayer Meeting... a year where she sacrificed her body (literally) for her daughter at camp... a year where she stepped into the hidden spotlight of translating a sermon... this was yet another year where I find myself in love, more than ever, with my wife.  
10. "Where dreams come true" - By itself... it already stood on the Mt. Rushmore of 2019.  But it came as a pair... how can the mouse ears not rule the year? A year where we not only go on a Disney Cruise, we also visit the "Most Magical Place on Earth."  In all honesty... I'm not a fan of either of these trips.  But when the love of your life has her dreams fulfilled.... and the kids echo saying "best vacation ever", you can only smile... nod... and not look back...

Looking back at 2018

Looking back at 2018.... I went through CNN, USAToday, APNews, TheRinger... trying to find the 1-2 nuggets that define 2018.  Nothing significant enough to crack my top 10 this year.  So let it be known...that 2018, is the year I am completely selfish, self-centered, self-focused, self-promoting.

As in years past....we'll start off with the countdown..............

10)  Ministry Assistant - 2018.  Not all the following are "MA" related.. but I'll just roll it into one, to make things easier. What a year.  How did Joyce ever put up with me for doing all this.  To a point where my friends (my best friends!!) were saying "You're doing too much."  

• 7 letters to 7 churches -  9 week Adult Sunday School on the just the 1st two chapters of Revelations.  I guess the biggest fruit we bore was PAL taking Revelations and turning it into his sermon series. That's what we get for inviting him to guest lecture.  Hmm....
• CS Directory  - Man that took a lot of work!  Not to mention moving to a new database...updating all of our attendance taking methods... and updating our archaic email alias.  Glad I was the pioneer to plow through it.  BOOM!!
• Friends and Family breakfast / lunch - Body Life, not outreach.  Everyone over-did it.  Everyone complained about it.  Everyone loved it.  Glad we were able to pull it off not once, not twice... but a surprising third time!  All the while raising up new leaders to do the work.  BOOM!!
• CNY2018 – Alliance Got Talent -  Took CNY to a whole new level for the third year in a roll.  Live voting by text?! Who would think of that???  With Joyce being a core part of 3 acts. Me on the other hand... none.  
• Men’s Retreat  - how do you get 100 men up to the Santa Cruz mountains and back?? Let me organize it...that's how.  
• Gospel Sunday - Prompted the Hamster Wheel series.  Praise God for all those who enter His kingdom.  Praise God for STEAM.  Praise God for so many brothers and sisters... who are witnesses surrounding each other like clouds and rainbows.  
• Two Lost Sons Musical - 怎去猜想這夢會變真??  Any other year... this would have been top 5, if not top 3.  Writing my own musical... how about that.  
• ARROWS – Let’s Proclaim - Get a bunch of kids... sit down... critically think about their faith and get up to pronounce it.  They came in as boys...they left as men. 
• Kids Church (Short Term Mission) - Enabled myself to spend 6 weeks serving in Children's Ministry.  It's not about passion... it's about obedience.
• Blue Sky Sunday - No one saw this coming.  My accolades.. next year, there will be an all-church picnic.  Next year... Mandarin Service will also order shirts.  My personal accolade... next year, we kick off church planting. 
• CS Budget - After seeing how the budget gets handled (within CS, mind you), I wanted to submit my resignation to PAL.  But hey... I spent nearly every penny that was budgeted to us in 2018.  BOOM!!
• Prayer Meeting - The week after Ted wants to take me under his wing to one day preach on the pulpit... I get the call to lead Prayer Meeting.  Man... it's hard.  Had some great ones.  Had one horrible one.  I'm not to grade myself...since this is given unto the Lord.  May all our prayers be from His heart.
• Wild Fire Fund Raising - Took all the lessons learned from Gospel Sunday and Friends and Family to create simple fund raising breakfast.  This was after the whole world told me "Stop! You're doing too much."  Ironically... I wasn't even here that Sunday.  
• End of year Party - Requirements were - "Cheap.  Laughter. Tears."  It was cheap.. to a point where PAL chastised me.  There was laughter.. everyone danced, even the 70 year old.  I had tears... swept the room to thank every person who made a difference in my spiritual walk.  I love my church family.  I am so grateful they love me in return.

9. Chinese School - Finally... the kids attend Chinese School.  If there is one thing I must insist on... is my kids grow up in a Christian environment.  There is another thing I insist on.... they must know their culture.  China is rising.  In 20-30 years, they will likely be traveling back overseas to do whatever God calls them to do.  It's my job to equip them and prepare them in every way possible.  After near 5 years of waiting and praying... God finally answers my prayers.  Lo and behold...the kids don't hate it.  If only they can remember... "飲嘅係美國人嘅水， 流嘅係中國人嘅血."
8. 14 years overdue - already blogged about this here.  Will always remember that fateful day when I got one of the biggest surprises of my life - all for a near meaningless gesture (to me).  People don't touch you like that anymore.  Whatever I did 14 years ago to be blessed 14 years later... I will never fully understand. 
7. Family - had to cheat again and roll them all into one.

• Cherie Visits - my one and only 細妹 visits.  Someone who I've never met.  Someone who I spent 2 days with.  There are many things you can pick and choose.  Family is not one of them.
• Divorce - who would've thunk it'll hit home, so close, so hard.  And it was in the midst of this stormy season, that family came together.  And it's not about weathering the storm so much as it's dancing in the rain.  
• Big Bro comes back - after 8 years, that night they land, and I met them at Top Cafe.  I walked in... saw the four of them sitting there, eating 焗豬扒飯, 豉椒排骨炒河, 鹹魚雞笠炒飯, 雲吞麵.  And my little nephew see me in person, point and say, "二叔."  Culminating with Christmas Dinner... where I made a small, but long overdue toast and got choked up, when I officially welcomed my brother and his family back home.  Blood will always be thicker than water.  

6. Time With Abba - I normally go to work early and pick up the kids early.  That's our routine.  But about half way through the year... I suddenly find out that whenever Joyce drops off the kids in the morning, they're listening to the Bible App with her.  So one day, I did the same thing, going through the chronological bible plan.  After we were done listening, the kids automatically each give a response.  Then they say a prayer.  My wife got them to start doing what?????
5. NN needs atropine - 2 years ago... I wrote about how she needed glasses.  Earlier this year, we got a new pair.  And out of curiosity, we went back for a second visit around October.  Just to find out her vision has gotten way worse.  She's 9... and her vision is as bad as mine when I graduated high school.  Much to our dislike... we finally bit the bullet and opted for atropine.  It won't cure her myopia... but maybe it can slow it down? Her words, "I'm so disappointed in myself."  My words, "I failed as a father."
4. Bringing SW fishing - All through life, I've wanted to be an All American dad, something my father was never able to provide for me.  Not his fault, we just weren't that Brady Bunch family.  We weren't even the Simpsons or the Bundy's.  That very moment, when I walked out from the Bait and Tackle store with two fishing rods and a bag of red-worms, I achieved my own personal dream of going fishing with my old man.  We didn't catch anything... but man was it magical. 

3. Joyce Returns to Worship Team - As much as I disagree with what Joyce did and how she was handling this, I had to stand by her.  I have to... she's my wife.  All I could do was pray for her... and continue to be her biggest cheerleader.  God listened to my prayer. And He sent an angel in the form of Samantha to love Joyce unconditionally. I was 99% certain this wasn't going to happen. But that 1% was all it took.... ironically, I didn't even find out from it directly from Joyce.
2. The Big V - any given year... this would top any man's list.  Even before any of the previous 8 happened, I was sure this would be #1.  To go through with this procedure??? Seriously.... seriously!!!  The Trader Joe's frozen peas.  Wearing briefs for the first time in over-a-decade.  Being out of commission for a weekend. Ohhhhhhhhhh weeeeeeeee...... how can it not top the list???

Sigh... in recent weeks... I had an inkling.... #1 was going to be reserved for something else.  It was either heads or tails...  I was hoping, wishing, praying, holding out.... and the results came in.
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1. SILENCE.

It's not about how you begin, but it's about how you end. And that....is how 2018 ends. When does recovery start? When will I even be coherent enough to write about this. In due time. I need to capture this moment. These feelings. This anguish. This sorrow. These tears. At this moment in time... I recollect a poem blessed onto me over 20 years ago. That feeling of hurt is vaguely familiar. But nothing like today.

"Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I'm a hundred." Pooh thought for a little while. "How old shall I be then?" "Ninety-nine." Pooh nodded. "I promise," he said.

Onto 2019................

Looking back at 2007....

So I just noticed.... that this year (2018), I've written more blog entries through July, than in the previous two years.  I wonder why?!?!?  And in my searching... I come across a post I made in 2007, the year where I made 140 blog entires?!?!   One of the more interesting on was my reflection of 2002, 2003 and 2004 using the following format.  Which I will do, for 2018.   This only works if you write what first comes to mind.

I am: getting old

I think: I can achieve greater things, but time is passing by too fast
I know: I can achieve greater things, if I can travel back in time
I want: SW to grow taller
I have: a beautiful family
I wish: I can travel back in time
I hate: that guy in the White House
I miss: the days when we drive out to Giants games... come back late... and head to work the next day
I fear: that I will never achieve my own ambitions
I hear: worship music from my kids' room
I wonder: if I will ever leave my current company
I regret: not getting that ONE question right during that ONE interview
I love: my wife
I ache: in my back and legs after a weekend of working in the yard
I care: too much about my church
I always: find fault in others, but never in myself
I am not: the person you think I am
I dance: and strained a muscle
I sing: 80's cantopop... and I love it
I cry: when I read my old blog posts
I do not always: do TWA
I fight: the wrong battles
I write: my blogs... not because people read them, but because I read them
I win: when another person accepts Jesus as their personal savior
I lose: when I make that sound to my wife "Tsk!"
I confuse: my kids when I can go from Happy Dad to Angry Dad in a split second
I listen: to God's voice....
I can usually be found: with my phone in my hand
I need: to sever this addiction I have with my phone
I am happy about: the independence of my current job
I should: start working out again and lose this beer belly

Looking back at 2017

I love writing this post.  It gives me a chance to look back at my posts and re-live the entire year.  Looking back at 2017.... here they are... as customary, Nuuuuuuuuuuuumber 10.........

10. Snow Trip Vindication -  Back in 2015, we took Nn and Sw to Palm Springs, hoping to play in snow.  We got all our gear...we dressed up... we bought the tram tickets.  Only to find out, due to the drought, there was no snow.  When we broke the bad news to Nn... all I can remember hearing was, "Awwww......"  That knife in the heart has been pulled, but the wound is slowly healing.

9. End Times are near - Irma, Harvey, wild fires in NorCal, SoCal, earthquakes... not to mention flooding right here in San Jose (1 mile from my church).  Not to mention a full solar eclipse where the sun turned to darkness.  Not to mention re-establishing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (oh yes... that's coming).  Jonah got Nineveh to repent, not cuz of the words he uttered, but cuz of the signs that preceded him. 

8. End Times are here...? - "Covfefe?" "Fake News?" Record breaking attendance at the Inauguration? Only to be bested by REAL record breaking attendance for March on Washington. Trial and failure to repeal ObamaCare (God bless you Senator McCain) only to see the beginnings of Reaganomics 2.0.  Members of the Cabinet rotating like a revolving door.  I still can't figure out 51% of the country.... 

7. CNY2017 - it never turns out the way you imagine.  And it never goes as bad as you would think.  But the fact of the matter is... CS attendance was highest in 2017, the day AFTER CNY Night Market.  A resounding uproar to keep this format.... but little do they know.... 

6. Ep 8 - The Last Jedi - waited 2 whole years.  And the week it comes out, the family gets hit with a stomach virus.  I famously lost 7 lbs in one day from diarrhea, and I still went out to the city to watch it with Geoff and Anderson.  In the end, it really wasn't about the movie... it was about making and keeping a promise with my best buds.

5.  Redemption - 2016 Father's Day goes down as the one of the worst ones ever.  That pain (like the pain of 2002, or the pain I still have from SB47) will never be healed.  But this one helped.  It would've helped more if we could've gone 16-0.  But that's being too selfish now, aren't we?

4.  Departure from Eden - Two months since the handover... and I love it!!!  I should've handed this over years ago!! Sometimes the biggest act of love...is learning to let go.  

3. SW lands in the ER - In 2015, Nn landing in the ER took first place.  Why does SW only get 3rd? Probably cuz I was the one who cut up NN's finger.  But it was mom who fed him that cashew? Or deep down, we knew that SW was going to be fine.... praise God for His protection. 

2. 塞翁失馬焉知非福 - 3 separate full day on-sites. Not to mention the countless phone / pre-on-site interviews.  Every time... I feel like I creamed it.  And each time, I'm met with disappointment and depression.  I still can't come to grips that there are people who don't want to hire me.  It makes me feel a bit better if I tell myself, "I'm overqualified" But there's that one side of me that says, "You're a failure."   

1. NY/DC vacation with Dad - There are too many moments in the East Coast trip that caps off 2017.  But the one moment that takes the crown of the vacation, the one moment that stands head and shoulders above all other moments has gotta be the night we land at NYC and have dinner with the Leung family.  As Dom Toretto says in Fast and Furious, "It's all about family.........."  

Onto 2018.....  

A look back at 2016...

Alas... the tradition continues.  It's actually kinda fun looking back at the past 12 years - especially at the end of 2009 when a did a full decade recap. Here are the top moments of 2016, in reverse order if you may.

Honorable mentions:
-leading worship on Christmas Day
-officially started job hunting only to find it quite humbling I can't find one

10) Cancun - Nui-nui always says this is her second time going to Cancun. The first time was when she was in mommy's tummy and we went for our baby moon. 6 full days of alcohol and gluttony, came back home to de-tox.

9) The Mark of Death - 2016 marked the departure of my 大伯 and 三嬸.  It saw the departure of Roy's dad, C-hing's mom, Tall Ken's dad, Ben's grandma, Tim or Sue's grandparent.  It saw Joyce's step dad battle liver cancer.  A new found friend's mom battle and triumphed over breast cancer. So many of my childhood icons also died... Muhammad Ali, Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia), David Bowie, Prince, George Michael to name a few.

8) Election 2016 - The entire buildup since 2015... I was sure Hillary would win.  I wanted to volunteer for her campaign. I took both SW and NN to the voting booths with me, so they can say "We were there" for this historical moment.  And a historical moment it was..... that night..... when the color of the US just would NOT turn blue.  By 8PM, when the California polls closed....and Hillary still hasn't won.... America knew.  We all knew. 

7) Family Altar - It's been a passion of mine to establish a family altar at home.  And through two separate, unrelated events (21 Day Prayer Journey and Advent), I think I was able to do it!!  The kids actually expect to have "Family Time" now.  I still remember making that declaration during Intercession one morning. How faithful God is in answering my prayers!!

6)  魚蛋米 - Christmas Day when visiting dad, he said he's been eating 魚蛋米 every day since attending Thanksgiving Retreat.  Did he lose weight?? Nope.  Then I sat down by the couch... and saw a bag of chocolate and 3 jars of nuts.  He says, "I only eat those while watching TV."  No wonder he didn't lose weight!! But more importantly... dad attended a church event with us.  He read the bible.  Copied down bible verses.  And I even heard him worship along with everyone.  I still get choked up thinking about it.

5) Nui-nui needs glasses - in the back of our minds, we've always had this fear.  Just cuz both Joyce and I need glasses.  And in this day and age of tablets and smartphones... how can kids NOT need glasses.  Still remember that fateful day when we found out she couldn't read a giant billboard about 50 feet away.  The gut wrenching feeling of failing at parenting.  I hate to be vain and say it... but now my daughter isn't "perfect" anymore.

4) Siu-Wah attends Kindergarten - after 5 years of staying at home with Han-Yi... Siu Wah finally graduated from home life and moved into the real world, with real kids, with real rules, with real English.  We never once thought he would cry... he didn't.  I never once thought he would struggle... he didn't.  But we certainly never would have thought he'll become the school pet - and all the kids in school would look after him like they do.  The biggest compliment we get, "We're amazed at his tenacity in playing 4 squares with the big kids."  My boy... is growing up right in front of our eyes.

3) Warriors - it wasn't suppose to happen this way.  It was Father's Day.  We were up 3-1.  We beat them last year.  We beat them earlier in the season.  And we were the better team.  I bought a bunch of warriors clothes for big bro, Ah-So, and Eason.  I even had dinner and a beer with dad as we watched those final seconds tick away... and Kyrie "F**kin" Irving drove that dagger into the midst of all our hearts... thus turning it from one of the best, to one of the worst father's day ever. 


2) Nine months in the making - For the same time it takes to have a baby, we finally got "done" with remodeling and moved home.  Ohhhhh... the aches and pain of the whole process.  The newfound ability to hate someone.  The disgust of knowing that wickedness can be so real.  But alas... able to come home.

1) Clark Chai-Tian Leung - How fitting that the top moment of 2016 actually doesn't belong to me.  But big bro.... who after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness... finds his promised land!  A land flowing with milk and honey.  Amazingly enough, that land is in Beijing.  He reaches new heights in his career.  He finally settles down and gets married.  And in that timespan.... he became a father... and me an uncle. These things only happen on TVB shows.  Not in real life.  Not to people I know.   But alas... it did.

And that wraps up 2016.  Here's a look back at the past 12 years.



2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008 - can't find it
2007 - can't find it
2006 - can't find it
2005
2004

Looking back at 2015

I'm almost 11 months into 2016.... time to write my "Looking back at..." post. 

Since it's been so long since I drafting this post, I'm just gonna whip through it and call it DONE.  Top 8 events in ascending order.... why 8??? I have no idea.


8.  Wine Cork Way - After 10 years of living on Theresa Lane, we finally remodeled.  Through the weeks and weeks of frustration in looking for temporary housing, we were about to move EVERYTHING into storage and rent a hotel. When on a fateful Saturday, we find the perfect condo. Truly divine intervention.  And unlike the 20 other places we looked for, this place wants a short term lease!  No 9 month lease...or 12 month lease with a penalty clause.  Originally, the landlady had someone else lined up.  But for whatever reason, the first choice fell through and we were next on her list.  When applying for the place, I even went as far as sending a family portrait to her... to show her how cute my kids are.  Not only does it have central AC (for one of the hottest summer ever!!!), it had a private washer and dryer, a 2 car garage... AND we had a swimming pool.  This cozy little 2 bed 2 bath condo sorta became our vacation home.  It was also the place that Nn learned to ride a bike. And the best thing.... it was only 0.5 mile away from home.

7. Nui-nui - PTC/graduation - Parent Teach Conference, I cry. Graduation - valedictorian. 

6. Star Wars - Episode 7.  Waiting in line for 4 hours.  Why? Cuz I love Star Wars.

5. Wanting to Quit - I hate my boss' boss.  The devastation is too much to bear.  Took my authority away.  Then gives it back to me.  Then takes it away.  I can't stand it. 

4. Warriors Champions - another one bites the dust.  One more Bay Area team wins a championship.  And it was beautiful.


3. Big bro gets married / becomes a father - Finally. 

2. Remodel - after two redraws....we finally start.  Part of the worst nightmares we've had to go through.  Never had we collectively hated someone so much.  But alas... it's done.

1. Christmas Day Incident - Nn's finger.  Carved up my baby's finger.  Got her into the emergency room.  And almost a year has past and I still get shivers every time I think about it.

Looking back at 2014

Eleven days into the New Year, I figure it's about time to write the annual Look Back post.  I actually started thinking about this before the turn of the year.  And every time I try to sit down and put ink to the paper, I successfully find an excuse to not write.  Now I know why.  2014.... really wasn't that eventful.  But as tradition would have it... I will oblige.

Where to begin? How about no where near home?

10) ISIS (and terrorism) - When you're in the moment... ISIS strikes fear, anger, confusion into everyone.  Beheading reporters, innocent massacres, coffee shop takeovers... Terrorism is real.  It's not just in Syria or Jordan or France.  It could happen in our very own neighborhoods.

9) Ebola - Hard not to make mention of this when Ebola Fighters were awarded the "Person of the Year" award from TIME magazine.  The closest I came to Ebola... was two days after news came out that a nurse from Africa, with seemingly no symptoms, flew on regular American domestic planes.  Only to later be diagnosed with Ebola. I had a cross country flight that week (on United, not Frontier) and Joyce made me bring disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers onto the plane.  Felt so weird wiping down the plane while everyone was boarding. 


8) LOST - One of my favorite TV shows of all time about a plane crashing landing on a mysterious island and disappearing off the face of the earth.  Flash forward (pun intended) 5 years... and Malaysian Airline Flight 370 blasted headlines.  From hijacking, to re-routing, to insane pilots, to... mysterious island with unknown powers???

(moving from world news to personal news)

7) Disneyland - You know it's a slow year when Disneyland is a top 10 highlight.  Well.. this is the first time the four of us went.  And we're cheap...or frugal enough... to bring a rice cooker with us.  One night, we had Costco chicken.  Another night, we found a Ranch 99 and bought a Roast Duck.  Most memorable part of the trip...aside from the whole trip..?  How about running a 103 degree fever, but still taking Nui-nui to see the fireworks, cuz I promised her I would.  (Previous post found here)


6) Pastor Ed - I didn't know him well. But I will never forget him. I still remember how I was annoyed by his way of reading the bible passages during Sunday Service (always faster or slower, never on the same pace). I still remember him apologizing to me when I first encountered the Holy Spirit, and he didn't do more to counsel me. I still remember his fatherly guidance at Hong Kong PCS.  I still remember how he gave me free reins to introduce Stations of the Cross to a protestant church's Good Friday service. I still remember his smile...his laff... his energy... his love for Jesus.  I didn't need to know him well... cuz come to think of it.... I knew what I needed to know.  RIP my brother.  I'll see you up there.


5) Translating - Already blogged about it here. Standing up by the pulpit... preaching God's word.  In Chinese no less.  This event was so significant... I even got my 1 blog reader to comment on my blog.  Now THAT'S significant!!

4) Promotion - Made L5 Manager this year.  After the whole debacle last year... my boss really came through.  I once told Joyce... if I make L5, I'm done.  I don't need to climb up anymore.  But in my mid 30's... and I'm already an L5? C'mon.... I've gotta push for L6.

3) We ARE the Champions - 3 times in 5 years that the Giants are World Champions.  Everyone's dream (or nightmare) of it going to Game 7.  And guess what?? I didn't even watch the game (blogged here).  DYNASTY???? In this day and age?? HECK YEAH!!  Most importantly... this came in a year where the Sharks lose to the Kings after being up 3-0.  This came in a year when the Warriors made to Round 2.... only to lose to the hated LA Clippers.  It came in a year when the Niners lost to the hated Seahawks due to an eff-ed up referee call that put me into F-YOU mode for a good 6 months.  And oh btw... the F-YOU mode brings us to event #2.

2) Season Tickets - Never in my wildest dream, would I ever imagine being a season ticket holder.  Everything was set up perfectly.  We had a winning coach, a new stadium, a championship caliber team, a place to hang out with by BFF and I was gonna make money off of this!!!  Well guess what.... the coach is now gone.  The stadium is a complete failure. The team is old, decrepit and broken.  My BFF and ticket partner doesn't even want to go anymore.  And I can't even give these tickets away!! But that moment.... that very moment when I walked up the stairs with my son and my dad to see Levi's Stadium, that you can NEVER take away from me.

So what could possibly take the top prize of being the #1 event of 2014.......? How about.......

1) Leung's Whole Food Diet - Back in May, we blogged about Eating Healthy, and avoiding processed food.  It all started one weekend, when Joyce says, let's try to eat brown rice.  We do it for Saturday and Sunday, out of fun... and we've never turned back.  It seems like centuries ago... yet, I can still hear it in my ears, SW complaining, "好痕啊."  Poor little kid.... battling eczema and scratching himself till he bleed.  My heart still aches thinking about the suffering he went through.  My heart aches even more... thinking how Joyce struggled every night to keep him from scratching.... only to come home after a long days work, to see SW bleeding again cuz he scratched uncontrollably during his nap.  This post isn't about eating healthy.  This post isn't about SW being healed from his disease.  This post... is for me to forever remember that I have a Proverbs 31 wife.  And that 才德的女子很多，惟獨你超過一切。

And that..... was 2014.  Next time I write something like this, we'll be halfway through the friggin decade!! WOW!!

A look back at 2013....

2013.

People in America hate the number 13.  Rumor has it... hospitals and hotels don't have a "13th floor."  My friend's mom is a nurse...and she says hospitals don't have a room that ends in 13.  2013 wasn't a particular bad year... but it certainly wasn't a great year.  One would be looking forward to 2014.... cept that in Chinese, "14" is just as bad as lucky number "13."  Without further ado... the annual top 10 of 2013.  But since '13 was so blah, I can only think of 8 things.  Hehehe... 8.... maybe that'll counteract the bad luck?

8) Pope Francis - I've said it before and I'll say it again... Once a Catholic, always a Catholic.  Even blogged about this one here and here.  Let's just prayerfully hope that he does bring the millions of Catholics closer to God.

7)Hawaii - Despite all my complaining... this was actually an amazing trip.  We didn't do Pearl Harbor... we didn't do a luau....I reluctantly went to the Dole Plantation.... but we did swim with sea turtles.  We did go snorkling.  And we fulfilled one of Joyce's life long dreams.  

6) World Series flag raising - Opening Day - Can never take these days for granted cuz it could very well be the last time it happens in my lifetime.  I wept tears of joy as the orange banner was raised... and standing next to me... was my one true love.  Heaven was a place on earth...

5)Family Altar - What started on that fateful November date has continued to run strong in the Leung household.  And it's not by me or Joyce forcing it... but the kids beg for it.  And the best part of Family Altar....is being able to share it with our friends. 

4) Cancer and death - It kept coming... one after another... my friends' wives kept being impacted with breast cancer.  My other friend's dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer....and the weekend of his niece's wedding... his sister commits suicide.  Then there's this.  Next time there's any Cancer fundraiser... I'm there!

3) Diaper Free!!!!! - Just today... we returned the box of diapers to Costco that we'll never need again. The stress was unbearable those few days when he first stopped wearing diapers... and the stress continues whenever he goes out and needs to go "poo-poo."  But from this day forward... we are done... DONE I TELL YOU!!!!

2) Joyce joins the worship team - OH MY GOD!! (and that's not a pun).  Prayers answered.... saints and angels showed up in a timely fashion.  On the whim of quitting... things took a change for the better.  And the two kids... they love it that mommy is worship God!!  Why can't she do this more often????


 and last....but certainly not least...

1) Superbowl 47 - I've blogged too much about this.  And despite the legend behind this Superbowl with the infamous blackout...the comeback...the Harbaugh Bowl... the last 5 yards.... this will always be the Superbowl that put me into "F*CK YOU" mode for 365 days.  No.... I haven't recovered yet.  Not even close.....

2014....... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........ let's win something this year, please?

A look back at 2012...

This has got to be one of the quickest 366 days and one of the busiest.  Taking a look back at the past 12 months... it's safe to say the lows outrank the highs this year.  Regardless, I'm a firm believer that things fall apart so they can fall back into place.  All roads, both peaks and valleys, must be traversed, to get to your destination.  Without further ado... here are this year's top 10 (and as one may notice...they're not all good.)

1. 4 more years! - 4 years ago it was "CHANGE." 4 years later... it's "FORWARD."  From "binders of women" to "47%"... huda thunk this election would've been as exciting and entertaining as it was.    Just three short years until when "HILARY 2016" hits the streeets... oh baby!!
2. Best friends milestones - Micah says "Hello World." Short and Stubby becomes a father.  Anderson takes the plunge... and Nui-nui was the flower girl.  Awwww....
3. Action Learning Team - 18 weeks of stress, struggle, turmoil...working on a project equaled to solving poverty or world hunger. Sacrificing my family, my marriage, my spiritual life, my day time job....all culminating in a 2 hour presentation to the Executive VP and her Executive Leadership Team.  The outcome? Warm reception with key highlights of "Hank's volume, gestures and story telling."  Boo-yah!!!
4. 2 HR Investigations - Some folks get by with one in their entire career.... I just so happen to have two in the same year. Geez louise puh-leeeze.... and due to confidentiality, I can't say more... but needless to say, two of the lowest points in my professional (and personal) career, regardless if I was right or wrong. 
5. Giants World Series - 2 in 3 years...I literally gave up after down 0-2 in the NLDS. Then gave up again after being down 1-3 in the NLCS, and never had complete confidence until Theriot slid home on the fateful October night.  And this time...we made it to Market Street for the ticker tape and confetti.  Jaded? Maybe... but I'll take another one (or two....or three)
6. 49ers NFC Championship dud and Season Tickets - Wrapped two events into one.  The first one was actually a non-event, cuz I was being punished and didn't even watch the Niners/Giants game.... and how Kyle Williams fumbled TWICE!!!!  And 10 months later... I become a Niner Season Ticket holder.  Section 321 Row 7 Seat 24.  Wow.... cheap, Chinese families aren't suppose to own season tickets!!  For the rest of my life... no Fall Sunday School for me. HA!!
7. Disneyland - The Happiest Place on Earth truly earned their money this year. The only thing that can possibly top Star Tours has got to be Nui-nui seeing the "Princesses" in real life.  Case in point... Nui-nui was sound asleep cuz her sleeping schedule was so messed up.  She was exhausted from the long drive, the sleepless nights, the hustle and bustle of getting in and out of line.  But the minute I said, "Nui-nui.... it's a princess!!"  She woke up like Snow White waking up when Prince Charming kissed her.  That....and pulling over in the middle of I-5 so she can poop... has got to be the bestest memory of the Disney trip.
8. Nui-stones and Daidai stones - Another cop out this year and claiming their "milestones" as one major milestone.  This includes Bebe's first (fill in the blank).  First words...first step... first whatever.  Undoubtedly... and I'll admit to it... he doesn't get nearly enough PR as Nui-nui did when she hit her milestones.  Then there's Nui-nui...who started private school... who was a flower girl... who started Children Sunday School... who can spell and write her name... who can recite John 3:16.  Honestly...what CAN'T I write about them??
9. Joyce's breakthrough - A sensitive topic...but nonetheless...worthy of being #2.  After years of being at SJCAC... Joyce finally makes a breakthrough and dives into her very own ministry.  I've had my opportunities...and I've also passed up on opportunities.  All the while...praying, waiting, expecting that her turn will come up. Knowing full well...that the Lord is faithful...He will answer prayers and one day, we will be serving together. 
10. Parents Separation - My parents are now divorced, separated and leading different lives.  Simple as that.  Starting from that fateful September day, when I got a call while I was on business travel in Denver... life will never be the same, ever again.  Actually, this really started back in December 1994 - Christmas Eve.  Now, Dad has his life. Mom has hers.  How I possibly got through those months of planning, calling, moving, buying, more calling, more planning, more moving, more buying.... I will never know.  But amongst my friends, I guess I'm now in the majority.  My parents are officially separated.  They no longer live together. We will forever have to flip a coin at every holiday.  I will forever have to explain to my children that marriage does NOT last forever. 

What a way to end 2012.... let's just hope that 2013 will have some hope.  Looking back at 2012...I don't think it'll be that hard.

A look back at 2011

2011 - What is 2011? It's a prime number as well as an odd number.  It's a first of the 10's, I guess, or whatever you call this decade.  It marks the end of many eras (Space Shuttle, Steve Jobs, Oprah, War in Iraq) as well as the beginning of many more (Occupy, Middle Eastern Revolutions, Jim Harbaugh). 
But what was 2011 for me? Or.. in reality, what was 2011 like for my family?

Let's go through the bottom 3 of 2011 before we hit the top 10. In no particular order....

1. Sharks lose to Vancouver in Game 7 of Western Conference Final / Buster Posey goes down with season ending injury. -- I know... how can sports matter so much in your life? I don't know either... bite me.
2. Virus and bacteria and germs - oh my! - Croup, Multiple bouts of cold, Hand Foot Mouth, food allergies plagued Nui-nui and Bebe and ultimately our family.
3. Being a father / Being a husband / Being an employee / Being a son- there was a 2 month period where I completely failed at being any one of the four. And when that happened... I had no one to turn to for help or comfort.  No one.

Let's do the easier one... or the happier one... or the one where I actually blogged about.
In reverse order, as it should be, I guess

10. Got jobs??  - In this economy, we can't take anything for granted. Childcare, diapers, data plans, gas... they all cost money.  Not a day goes by where we're not thankful (though we do complain every now and then...tee hee!)
9. United Premier Membership. - >25,000 miles in one calendar year.  What does that mean? In 2012, free upgrades, early boarding, free baggage check, etc...
8.  Mother/Daughter Bond - During the 2 weeks MIL lived with us to during 坐月, Joyce was able to re-establish a mother/daughter relationship that is oh, so precious and priceless.
7. Family reunion in NY - Blogged about it here.  In essence, got to see members of my family I've never met and might never ever see again.
6. Promotion to Manager - Finally made that step from engineer to manager.  In a way, it caused a huge strain in our marriage and family... (see bottom #3 above) but it also helped me earn #9.  A new chapter being written.... and thus far, the first few pages have been respectable.
5.Wedding Bells - Two of my closest friend and my best friend got engaged and/or married this year. One word.... FINALLY!!!!
4. Fruits of the Loin - Two of our closest family friends were blessed with their little ones 1 week apart!  Eden Fellowship's population increased by almost 40% within two months!! 
3. Nui-stones - Simply too many to summarize in a couple of sentences.  But looking back at my 2011 blog, over 70% of the entries were dedicated to Nui-nui and her daily/weekly/monthly milestones.
2. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!! - And to you who thinks I'm crazy for putting this #2, NEW YORK CAB DRIVER SALUTE TO YOU!!!!   56 years of futility and we finally get to raise the World Series Banner at AT&T.


and the #1 event of 2011 for me.............. it's actually quite easy when you think about it.  It's already been foreshadowed twice in the list above.  

1. Birth of My Son - 為梁家繼後香燈.  I know... it's old fashion.  I know... it's old society.  I know...!  But there still was that infinitesimal pressure of needing to have a male in our blood line.  No idea where that idea came from.  And not even saying it's right, proper or justified.  In any case, that day was best summarized in my Running Diary. Though, that's not why it's #1.  Any children is a true blessing from God.  I can only be thankful that I even have the honor of being a parent twice.



For all the good times and bad times... I still give praise and thanks to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior!

2010 Year in Review

The final day of the first decade of the second millenium... last year, I did a Decade in Review, top 10 and bottom 10.  This year, I think I'll just do a Top 10 of 10.  Without further ado... in reverse order.

10.  Introduction to TORTURE - Nui-nui's first baseball game and it happens to be Game 4 of the NLCS.  As epic as a playoff baseball game can be.  To summarize the final play.... "Fly ball (ROOOOOOAR!) Huff tags, runs... slides (ROOOOOOAR!)" 

9.  LOST - Never have Joyce and I been so captivated by a TV series that we would bust out our VCR and record shows!   

8. My name is Sailor Hank!! - VBS always gives me the chance to be a celebrity for a month - even though the fans are not older than 10.  But the special moment from this year was Joyce breaking through her normal self and joining me on-stage as Olive Oil to my Sailor Hank. 

7. Step by Step - My goal to run a half-marathon by 30 was off by a bit... but nonetheless, a lifetime milestone, nay... 13.1 milestone was reached.  And in the end... it was just another run in park. 

6. 我們愛, 讓自己不一樣, 讓世界不一樣 - Friday night, we send Heart of Christ an email telling them we'll be joining them.  Saturday morning, we find out we've been selected to start a new Young Couples' Fellowship.  Oops!  

5. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away - Ironically... two of our closest friends announced to us they were pregnant on two different nights that the Giants lose in the postseason! Thereby, cushioning my anger and sadness.  PTL!!

4. When two become one... - Not a day goes by that we don't argue how we would re-do our wedding if we had a chance.  I want a luau.  She wants to have it in a hotel.  But the thing we can't not agree on (sorry for the double negative) is spending the rest of our lives together. 5 years down... a lifetime to go.  And on this date.. I proudly restate my vows....

"In the name of God, I, Henry, take you, Joyce, to be my wife,
to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better or worse, for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow."

3. There's a 1st for everything - There were a lot of firsts for Nui-nui this year.  This culminates them all.  First step, first sentence, first timeout... but none more memorable than having a friggin' BBQ on the hottest day of the year in a house that does NOT have air conditioning!! HA! Nonetheless, the Teddy Bear party was successful and both Joyce and I survived that day in one piece.

2. I can die in peace - Where were you on the night of November 1, 2010? I will never forget.... one of my great fear of dying without seeing a Giants World Series is finally put to rest.  Brian Wilson....Fear the Beard...throwing the high fastball - strike three.  And all those years of agony...all the ghosts that have built up... all the sorrow that have been ignored... relinquished once and for all.  (Do I really pick the Giants winning the WS over my daughter's 1st bday...? HECK YEAH!!!!)

1. The announcement heard around the world - On an unassuming morning in August... Joyce wakes me up.  I annoyingly tell her it's her turn to feed Nui-nui breakfast.  And her response was... "老公, I'm pregnant." 

And those are my 2010 best.... moments in time.....

A look back at the 2000's...

As the decade comes to a close... I look back at the past 10 years of my own life and came up with two lists.

Bottom Moments of the 2000's

10. Prop 8 - For the record, Prop 8 did pass. For the record, I voted "Yes" on Prop 8. And for the record, it was NOT an easy decision.
9. Bush defeats Gore - Indecision 2000. I still hold firm to my belief had they done the recount correctly a decade ago, America will not be in the demise it is in now.
8. Breakup of Friendship - Thanksgiving Day 2000. The part that hurt most was... I never got a chance to defend myself.
7. Unemployment - I already touched on this an earlier post. Still remember the words uttered by Joyce when she waited all day for a phone call telling her she got the job. "I was so happy when the phone rang...but it wasn't them." She never got that phone call.
6. Facing the fact parents are getting old - We made so many phone calls to insurance agencies, hospitals, clinics, specialists... signed soooo many forms... went to so many doctor's appointments... learned so many medical terms (in English/Chinese). Now, we just see their bodies slowly wither away.
5. Father in Law's battle with cancer - Old age is for certain. But cancer and chemo is simply scary.
4. Natural Disasters - Katrina '04, South East Asia Tsunami '05, Sichuan Earthquake '08.
3. 2002 World Series - Game 6 - Up 5 runs with 6 outs left. Where did it go wrong? I can cope with the unemployement. This... I simply still can not deal with.
2. Nui-nui's close calls - Never, by own my power, could I have gone through all those ups and downs.
1. 9/11 - (Picture is worth a thousand words)

Some of you may say, "How can you put the World Series in front of your parents health?!?" To you I say, the World Series was a moment in time that pierced extremely deep to which I have yet to recover. Parents being in the hospital time and time again became more of reality than anything... And now for the happier list... the Top 10 Moments of 2000 (subject to change).

Top 10 Moments of the 2000's

10. Bejing Olympics Opening Ceremony - 同一个世界 同一个梦想 - I think the comments in an earlier post already captured the essence of this event.

9. President Elect Obama - Can the Democrats retake the White House? Can America have a minority can become the most powerful man in the world? Can America help make Dr. Martin Luther King's dream come true? Can we rally behind Hilary Clinton and the entire Democratic party for a better America? Can we? "YES WE CAN!"

8. Prop 8 - I think the greatest thrill of Prop 8 wasn't so much the outcome, but the fact that we citizens actually exercised Democracy and went out to campaign, to rally, to petition and to vote -- exactly what our forefathers fought for. Coupled with the significance of the Presidential Election... the voter turnout annihilated the polls. That was the big moment...

7. Skydiving - Turning 25 and right smack in the middle of my quarter life crisis. Life was nothing but a bunch of humdrum. And it hit me... (no, not the ground)... I needed to seek out some excitement! The sky is the wrong place to look. There is no adrenaline rush in skydiving. But jumping from a plane was a lifelong dream nonetheless.



6. Graduation - This happened so long ago that it's easy to forget the significance of becoming the 2nd Leung to be a college graduate and to achieve the dream my dad had in us when we emigrated to America.

5. Top of Great Wall - 不到長城非好漢 - Another life long dream of mine, to step foot on the Great Wall and climb to the highest peak. Once again, the essence of this was captured in an earlier post.

4. Game 5 of NLCS - I still remember the winning call like it was yesterday...

"Bell, possible winning run at second. Here comes the pitch. Kenny Lofton.. LINE DRIVE BASE HIT UP THE MIDDLE. BELL, ROUNDING THIRD, HEADING HOME, HE'S SAFE!! THE GIANTS HAVE WON THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE!! KENNY LOFTON, THE MAN THEY LOVE TO HATE IN ST. LOUIS, KNOCKS IN THE WINNING RUN. AND THEY COME POURING OUT OF THE DUGOUT!!" ~Jon Miller.

More importantly, we were there live.

3. Baptism - (I actually don't have a picture for this.) The events leading up to this turning point in my life was probably more storybook than the event itself. And this turning point opened up a brand new chapter, nay... a brand new VOLUME in my life. Opening doors I've never imagined possible. And experiencing God, like I've never imagined before.

2. Birth of Nui nui - Rachel Yat Hei Leung / 梁溢曦 (click here for the Running Diary).

Rachel - pure; a ewe lamb
溢 - 福杯滿溢 (詩篇23:5) / "...my cup overflows." (Psalm
23:5)
曦 - 晨曦 (約8:12) / "I am the Light of the World..." (John 8:12)

1. 9/16/2005 - Yes yes yes... for the one or two of you who might remember, my wedding day was on 9/17. But my top moment certainly is NOT my wedding day. Goodness... my wedding day was one of the most exhausting days of my life. Everything was sorta planned. Everything was kinda in place. Everything was almost running in order. Yet, nothing was as special, as meaningful, as magical as the day before the wedding - at Grace Cathedral - for my wedding rehersal. It wasn't just a rehersal, though. Each and everyone of my bestest and closest friends were there. My immediate family was there. My pastor and my spiritual parents were there. That was exactly what I would've wanted for a wedding, a little private wedding. And it was on that day, that I first had the opportunity to say my vows outloud for Joyce and for me to hear, inside a church, with God and men as my witness at that moment in time...

Runner up Top Moments of 2000's:

• Francisco's baptism
• Hong Kong PCS 2005
• NLDS Game 4 - 2002: "Ohhhh ooh-OOHH-ohhh"
• Grandma's 100th birthday
• Spring Training 2003