End of Summer Camp 2018

Little did I realize... Summer is actually a nightmare for parents.  Without regular school, what do you do with the kids? Insert.... Summer School, where all these high-priced programs pop out everywhere.  Every church hosts a VBS for a week.  Parents are desperately finding and registering their kids to go here and go there.  Makes me think back to when I was a kid... and what we did over the summers as we grew up.  Wow...

So today marks the end of Chinese Summer Camp for NN and SW.  They spent a total of 6 weeks at a Chinese School.  To Joyce and I... we just needed a place for them to be safe and have "some" fun.  We didn't expect them to learn anything or be fluent in Chinese.

Here's how their summer ended.... they were both able to recite:
弟子规，圣人训。首孝悌，次谨信。
泛爱众，而亲仁。有余力，则学文。
父母呼，应勿缓，父母命，行勿懒，
父母教，须敬听，父母责，须顺承。
冬则温，夏则凊，晨则省，昏则定。
出必告，反必面，居有常，业无变。
事虽小，勿擅为，苟擅为，子道亏。
物虽小，勿私藏，苟私藏，亲心伤。
亲所好，力为具 ，亲所恶，谨为去。
身有伤，贻亲忧，德有伤，贻亲羞。
亲爱我，孝何难，亲憎我，孝方贤。

They were able to sing a Mandarin song.

Nn became a translator for some of her classmates... not cuz she knew Mandarin well... but she knew enough.

SW went from knowing nothing... to being able to understand 75% of what the teacher is saying.

Lastly... all the teachers made it a point to tell me... NN is an amazing student and "好乖."  They don't say it out of being polite or manners... you can tell that they truly are amazed how wonderful my NN is.  

"NN.... you are the apple of my eye.  爸B loves you." 

Pretty Good Bay Area Restaurants

Recently I've discovered that the South Bay... really isn't a good place for eating.  Sure, sure.  People say we're diverse.  The people is great. The food is awesome.  But if a friend from outta town were to come here... I wouldn't know what restaurant is a "must."

So I reached out to some of my close, glutton friends.  Here's a list.  I personally haven't tried all of them, but here's a list nonetheless.  Not ranked in any order, whatsoever....

1.  Yummy Tofu and BBQ (best seafood pancake) https://yelp.to/qTKq/JdjqnqbdgP
2. Nick's Next Door - pricey American https://yelp.to/qTKq/rBEb8VkdgP
3. Dan Izakaya Sushi Bar https://yelp.to/qTKq/LCOK89tdgP
4. Lei Garden - not the BEST Dim Sum, but overall best bang for the buck and not a crazy wait time like that OTHER place.  https://yelp.to/qTKq/b25WRlDdgP
5. Must Be Thai https://yelp.to/qTKq/AukGMWQdgP
6. Los Gatos Cafe (Brunch) https://yelp.to/qTKq/0qTQbJ4dgP
7. New England Lobster Market and Eatery https://yelp.to/qTKq/lErWvPbegP
8. Thai Love You (very small place) https://yelp.to/qTKq/6DQzzDffgP
9. Amami Sushi (get the Omakase) https://www.yelp.com/biz/amami-shima-sushi-cupertino
10. B Patisserie (a bakery - get the kouign) https://yelp.to/qTKq/yIEzDt6cgP
11. Hog Island (get the seafood stew, chowder, and of course...oysters) https://www.yelp.com/biz/hog-island-oyster-co-san-francisco?osq=Hog+Island
12. Ramen Parlor https://www.yelp.com/biz/ramen-parlor-san-mateo
13. Original Joe's (there are 3 locations...) https://www.yelp.com/biz/original-joes-san-jose-9
14. Dish Dash https://www.yelp.com/biz/dishdash-sunnyvale?osq=dish+dash

I'm sure there are more... and this list is probably very shoddy.  But hey.... next time I need a place to go, I'm gonna start with this list.  BOOM!! 

"Oh my gosh, say...."

Went to a local Japanese restaurant.... and once again, Joyce ordered the Omakase -  a chef selected 12 piece nigiri that costs $36. 

I had it last time... it was nice.  It was good. It was................ fish. 

I couldn't really tell the difference.  Fish, to me, is fish.  And if I find something I like... I want to have my entire plate be that fish.  Not one fish I like... and eleven that's mediocre. 

I, on the other hand, ordered a tonkatsu.  You can't go wrong with tonkatsu.  It's fried pork.  C'mon.  $13.  BOOM!!!   Tonkatsu wins.

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

Short Term Mission

There's been several short term missions lately at my church.... Vietnam, Mexicali, San Francisco!! (my hood).

I've never been... nor do I envision myself going on a STM anytime soon.  But here I am... at the end of summer, and I just finished my own personal local 5 week STM - serving in Children Sunday School.

The 5 weeks came and went.  And I can say... I'm still alive and not actively hating it.  But it did come with a cost.  I missed out 5 weeks of family lunches.  I gave up other ministries to work on this one, since I made a promise.  I did lose personal time planning out the lessons.  And ohhh yes... I had to deal with those kids.  Those brats. Those twerps that need a little discipline from Teacher Henry.

I blogged about this already... but during this STM, I was able to witness Teacher Amy - a true pillar of SJCAC.  30 years, non-stop, she's taught Children Sunday School.  Rumor has it... she's about to call it quits.  I don't know if there'll be another Teacher Amy.  Her love... her passion... her dedication.  Unparalleled.

During this STM.... I found out that some of the brats and twerps that were disobedient and rude... actually has some developmental issues.  ADHD, Autism, Aspergers.... the list goes on and on... (and I just realized they all start with "A").  These kids... they don't know what they're doing.  My heart goes out to their parents.

During this STM... I realized how well behaved and rooted my two kids are.  The last week, Joyce had a sister's group and couldn't take them to lunch.  So they ended up with me.  And you can see a notable difference in their demeanor, their behavior, the way they will actually sing outloud and dance with you.  I won't say they have a bigger heart for Jesus because....

During this STM... I had a chance to introduce the Holy Spirit to the children.  They've probably heard of Him before.  And at the end of my story telling, when I asked "Who wants to receive the Holy Spirit?"  They all raised their hands.  (AMEN!)

During this STM... I saw with my own two eyes, the power of prayer.  SW got sick, got a tummy ache, during today's Sunday School.  I took the opportunity to pray for him... along side with all the kids.  In the name of Jesus... we blessed him.  Not once, not twice, but thrice.  And on the third time, I asked two boys that were his age to come pray for SW.  Simple prayers. Nothing long... nothing eloquent.  But it needn't be.  These kids..... these brats.... they're prayer warriors and prophets.

During this STM... I was blessed to be able to serve with C-lai Chan and C-lai Tsang. Two of my most favorite people in the world.  Even for that short 45 minutes - 1 hour.  Love my sisters....

During this STM... I made a bunch of mistakes.  Including the science experiment gone wrong... including going off the wrong direction as my fellow teachers.  As well as over-relying on technology to be my crutch.

During this STM... I once again established the fact that OBEDIENCE trumps PASSION. I don't have a passion to serve in Children Ministry. But I will be obedient to my Father when He calls me.  And when I do... He will bless me in ways I can not imagine.

During this STM... I almost, just ALMOST, think that Children Ministry ain't so bad.  I can do this.

After this STM... I snap out of it and realize.  HECK NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOOM!!

"Chirp-Chirp"

Last night... there was a cricket outside my bedroom.  It's chirping got so loud and annoying, at 11:30PM at night, I rolled out of bed, found a can of bug-killer to annihilate that sucker!!!

After spraying half a can at every direction... It was silence. 

I walk back in my room, about to go to bed when I hear.... "Chirp-chirp"  "Chirp-chirp."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Handy Hank

I'm an engineer.  I hate Lego's.  I hate putting IKEA furniture together.  I am NOT handy. 

I've always envied my dad... without any formal training, he can fix and do just about anything. 

We have a plumbing problem at home right now... and with my Masters in EE, I have no clue on how to begin fixing. 

I wanted to clean, strip and repaint the concrete floor of my backyard.  I rented a pressure washer... and was done with it after 10 minutes.  I started stripping the darn floor... and wanted to quit and hire some hombres to do this.  And do a better job mind you.  But I love to have a story to tell... that I actually accomplished something.

And then... tonight.  We inherited a bike from our friends for NN.  No point in spending hundreds of dollars for a 10 year old... only to have to buy another one when she sprouts again.  But if something is free... it probably comes with some baggage.

The bike's brakes were very loose.  And the gears didn't shift.  After a lot of internet searching.  After a lot of youtubing DIY videos... after hours and hours of experimenting... I finally got the gears to shift!!!  One of the happiest feeling you get... when you're able to fix your children's toys for them.

For that one moment in time... I was Handy Hank. 

Already...?!

For no apparent reason... NN started crying tonight. 

When asked why... she said, "Cuz I'm fat and I'm not pretty."

She's 9..... omg.....

Prayer Meeting - 7/25/2018

A monumental prayer meeting tonight...

1) Sam Tes shared about X-Club.  A ministry where our church reaches out to a local public middle school kids to build relationships and lead people to God for healing. These are under-under privileged kids... and to hear that 2 of them were sexually harassed?!?!

2) Miranda shared about Word of Grace - how we've had MS and CS b&s lend their lives to nurture the parents.  And how Miranda is a one-person army... under constant spiritual attack... but will continue to fight the battle in the name of Jesus. What keeps her going... that ONE person that she can bring to Christ. 

3) Papa John/Christina/Cindy - over a decade of excellent service by these folks.  Years and years of reaching out to a lack of response.  Until finally... they changed their direction and started to pray and intercede.  Pray and intercede.  And on the latest "celebration", two words got 1/3 of the room to respond to the Altar Call..... "Last chance."  Imagine a senior hearing those 2 words.

4) Finally.... Mandarin Congregation sharing their church planting vision and mission.

The only sad thing..... CS only had 5 people show up.  2 of the 5 were presenting/sharing.  1 was the spouse.  Dang......  Prayer Meetings are not what they use to be.

Senile

We make fun of our dad for retelling the same stories over and over again whenever we have a family get-together.

Lo and behold... the last few College get-togethers... I see us re-telling those same stories. And some how, we still laugh at them.  Or we make ourselves laugh.  They really aren't that funny anymore.

Great America

Went to my annual work picnic yesterday at Great America.  I still remember in years past... my company would take over the park and have only company folks.  Time went by... and we shared the park with the general public, but with a fully catered BBQ lunch.  Time went by... and we had a subsidized lunch.  Now... it's just general park admission and I have to pay for parking.

As I was soaring over the park on the Eagles Flight...the little sky tram... I see a lot of old and a lot of new.  This park has not escaped the Passage of Time.  Staples like Logger's Run and Revolution are no longer around.  But the 2-story Merry Go Round has never changed.   Back then, I can play all day and all night and not get tired.  Today... I went on a kiddie, spinny ride and I got motion sickness and wanted to barf.

Fr. Steve... SDP... the tutoring kids... Chinese Altar Boys...  all these ghosts of the past will rush back the moment I step on these sacred grounds.  And it delights me when I see new coasters going up... it just means that this place is still making money and won't be closing soon.  Some day.... one day.... let's hope that day ever happens.