12 years!!

Just realized... that I've been writing this blog for almost 12 years.

12 years!! Over 1000 posts!! That's no small feat!  And if this website continues to hold up... I will continue to write.  I know only 1-2 people read this.  But I'm excited that I've been able to do something consistently for over a decade.

(Reaching arm over shoulder... patting self on back)

Advent and Family Altar

One of my goals of 2016 was to be able to establish a Family Altar.  A time of prayer with the family.  So many times we succeeded...and so many more times we failed.

During the time of Advent, Joyce bought a book that Sandy C-mo recommended.  It's a pretty lousy book in my humble opinion.  The writing is convoluted and hard to read.   The message is decent, but forced.  And if an adult has to read it 3-4 times to grasp it, how will little kids understand? And I have to translate it to Chinese too!!

The first two nights were horrible.  The kids not only disliked it... they hated it!!  Both nights, we ended up scolding them.  What was suppose to be a holy, sanctified time, turned out to be the exact opposite of what God finds pleasing.  The third night... I literally wanted to give up.  I told them... "I don't want to do this anymore.  God will not like this."  And it wasn't to scare them... or play mind games with them... I literally did not want to spend my time arguing with the kids.

God is faithful.  After that one night... the kids have changed their attitudes.  They now know... there will be 2-3 minutes of reading and daddy talking.  They know that before they can advance the snowman's nose one number (before it gets to 25), that we will need to spend time as a family.  They know that we will do this, every night, for the rest of the Christmas season.

I spent all year trying to establish a family altar.  And guess what... a family altar has always been there.  I just needed to bring my family to Jesus. 

Happy Thanksgiving

8 years.  It's been 8 years since we've been to a CS retreat.  The excuse is... we have kids.  The real reason... we rather spend time with family (one night) and not have to rough it.  This year was different.  Our kids are old enough now.  It's time to go back....  and this year... my dad came with us.

He who's gone to a handful of religious services... including me and big bro's First Communion.  My wedding.  And.... that's about it. 

I knew he just wanted to spend time with the grandkids.  My hope was... he can come to accept Christ and find salvation. 

The first night... after the speaker was done speaking about "Our Roles in the Work Place" dad pulled me aside and asked a million questions.  I went through Apologetics.  I went through System Theology. I went through Christian History.  Alas... I went into Salvation.  And in the end... I was too timid to push.  I didn't ask if he was ready to accept Christ.  Maybe I was scared.  Maybe it wasn't the right timing.  When will be the right timing......?

The next morning.  We had our traditional TWA.  I specifically went to Daiso and bought him a notebook and a 4 colored pen.  I had a bible for him, bookmarked to all the right pages.  And thankfully... it was Brother Danny who was leading him.  The thought of my dad... reading the bible... copying the bible... brought me to tears. Was I dreaming? Was this really happening??

Throughout the rest of the weekend. I was worried about one thing.  His hard of hearing. He's going deaf in his old age and he hasn't gotten his hearing aid yet.  There were times he couldn't carry on a conversation with others.  There were times he couldn't hear me speak... and I was 2 feet away from him.  But I believe...whatever he was able to hear from the speaker... more importantly he heard the Spirit in his heart.

Saturday night... the speaker had a calling.  It wasn't quite appropriate withe the crowd and with his message.  I was praying hard that dad would raise his hand.  Alas... will have to wait till next time. 

Next time....?  I can't keep waiting for "next time" or "the right timing."  Otherwise... there won't be a next time or the right time. 

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Oh... and... wow.... what an amazing weekend.  Thank you Jesus!!

Nightmare

Woke up in a cold sweat last night.

It just occurred to me that Nn and Sw... both attending private school.  Second Generation, Evangelical Christian, middle class family.  They're both going to grow up and become.... Republicans. 

She needs glasses...

It was out of the blue.. I wanted Nn to read a random sign on the streets.  She said she couldn't see it.  I first thought she was kidding.  Then I thought we were blocking her.  Then it got serious. 

She couldn't read the license plate in front of us.  We got to Costco... she couldn't read the prices. 

Then the waterworks started flowing.  She got scared.  "Will I need surgery? Will I need glasses? And most importantly... Will I still be pretty?"

Joyce and I were pissed.  We told her.  We told her to not rub her eyes.  We told her to not read in the dark.  We told her this and we told her that.  But ultimately, we we are pissed at ourselves, but we directed our anger at her. 

True... she doesn't take good care of her eyes.  But she's 7!!!  We need to be accountable.  Maybe it's genetics.  Both Nn's parents have glasses.  All of her grandparents have glasses.  Maybe it was inevitable.  Guess we'll never know.

Today... was clearly a bad bad day. 

Democracy - You get what you deserve

Tuesday night..I was literally frightened and scared.

As we watched on TV, and the states that ought to turn blue - stayed GRAY.  That empty feeling.  The math just didn't add up.

We also saw a few more states voting to legalize recreation marijuana.  Almost 2/3 of the USA now have legalized marijuana. The future... is bleak. 

It was about 9PM.  None of the news outlets called it yet.  But we all knew.  I bet Hillary knew.  It was at that moment... I seized my daughter by her shoulder.  I looked her in the eye in the most serious look I can give her, and said.  "Sweetie.  You must stand firm.  In the future, you will go through rough and challenging times.  But you must believe that God is sovereign and in control." 

The next couple of days... I read about protests.  Mass immigration. People nesting for 4 years. Calling for change of the Electoral College in favor of the Popular Vote (which, btw was closer than a major metropolitan city's population).  Sour grapes? Sore losers? Or true patriots?? 

The White House, the Senate, the House... and pretty soon, the Supreme Court.  What will America become? 


One friend of mine said... we survived 8 years of Dubya.
Another friend said... at least we won't have too many gerrymandering. 
And another friend of mine said... it's democracy, you get what you deserve. 

Another Halloween....come and gone...

Yesterday was Halloween.  Another day where I get so nervous about the neighborhood kids coming to Trick or Treat only to read a sign on our door that says, "Our family does not celebrate Halloween.  Have a safe night. God bless."

I can't deny that Halloween has been made to be a fun holiday.  As anti-Christian as it is.... I can't blame people for wanting to dress up their kids for a night of trick-or-treat.  In my facebook feed... I see so many cute costumes.  And kids with smiles on their faces.

But deep (DEEP) down inside... I know this is not pleasing to God.

Thankfully... both NN and SW understand (for now) that we stand firm in our beliefs.  But when I hear those kids knocking on our door and reading that sign... I get goosebumps and cringes that they'll end up throwing eggs at our door.

Another one bites the dust...

Three family deaths in one week. 

One in China.  One in Vancouver.  And one here, in San Francisco.
Went to the funeral service on Sunday and witnessed dad cry.  Part of me thinks he forced himself to cry to grab attention and he overplayed the situation.  Part of me thinks he really misses the departed.  And part of me thinks.... he's realizing that with all his peers moving on... that his number could be coming up.

Kindergarten - Part II

Had the rare opportunity to see SW "play" with his friends after school today.  A bunch of 3rd, 4th, 5th graders were playing Four Squares.  And like any 3rd, 4th, 5th grader... they play to win.  But SW would line up... literally a head shorter than the rest of them... and act like he's part of their crowd. 

These young adults... they play rough.  They play to win.  The ball is traveling at lightning fast speed.  There's no way SW can keep up with them. No way!!  But when it's finally his turn to play... all the other kids flip a switch. 

The server, purposely serves it really easy for SW so that he can return the ball.  Whoever gets the ball next will fire the ball at light speed at the other guys.  But every 3rd of 4th hit... they know to hit the ball very lightly to SW.  So that he can return the ball back to them.  One kid in particular purposely LOST to SW.... and he played it out like SW really killed the ball. 

There are many other little things they do... like if SW gets hit with the ball... all the boys will crowd around him to see if he's OK.  Or they will whisper to one another and remind one another that, "Hey!! Hit it lightly to him!"  And they all know he doesn't speak English - but they don't make fun of him or pick on him. 

These kids.  These young adults. They were raised correctly.  My heart melts to see that there are people out there who are taking care of my son.... my little peanut.

Joyce told me that one of the mom's said, "My son loves taking care of younger kids... as long as that kid is not his brother!" 

Thank you Jesus.... for letting SW experience this. I pray that he will one day, turn into these young adults, and share this love with future young, ambitious children who don't know any better.

Sibling Rivalry

Yesterday Nn said something quite astounding. She complained the whole school cheers for SW when he plays four squares. And he gets preferential treatment and always gets to serve. She ended her rant by saying, "個個人鍾意小華多過我。" Wow!! Did I hear that right??  Nn is jealous of her brother's popularity??? 

I guess throughout her first few years at school, she's always been the center of attention. Huda think her first rival.... Would be her sibling!

Under all the hilarity, I'm super pleased that Nn is willing to share her deepest feelings with us. Before I pass any judgement, first and foremost she is open and honest. And I pray this won't change - ever.

Kindergarten

I can't help but admire and boast about SW... and his leaps and bounds in going to school. 

The principal called me aside the other day and said, "I had him in my office for a chat and he spoke so well!  I was surprised!"  Should I be surprised that he spoke so well...? Or should I be surprised he was called into the principal's office?

SW is 5.... the ripe age for kindergarten.  But everyone in his class are almost all redshirts.  So they've either gone to kindergarten twice... or they're at least a year older.  But the kids will still play with SW and not pick on him.  Is it because they think he's cute? Or do they really bond???

SW says he has two best friends.  One of this "best friends" gave him some Pokemon cards... to which we started playing with at home.  Does SW really have a best friend??? In reality... sadly to say... these are his first group of friends aside from the Fellowship kids...and Han Yi. 

SW is reciting nursery rhymes and singing a bunch of English songs.  When did he advance so much???

And yet.... at the Pumpkin Festival today... he was still mistaken for a girl (due to his long hair).  And he was still thought of as being 3 or 4 years old (again, he's 5).

My son..... the happy go lucky guy who's now suddenly the biggest Star Wars and Pokemon fan in the world.