I have never been so thankful for power until this week!  Our condo's thermostat went from 73 degrees down to 46-47 in just a few hours and Kevin and I, were freezing babies for two days.  Boiled water constantly to try and keep things warm and I was getting cabin fever and tired of having to go to sleep at 8 o'clock because there wasn't enough light. No internet connection meaning no daily audio bible.  BUT thank God for a gas stove and fire. One thing I love about power outages is getting to light candles and making smores.

I've never been so happy to go to work or just to see people either. I have to say on Wednesday, I was wishing for a snow day real bad, but after staying inside with Kev, who was sick and couldn't play in the snow with me, I wanted to go to work and was so excited to see and talk to people again.  With power out and toes about to break off, we also had Kev's college buddy come visit for the winter storm! A visitor during this!?!? How brave.  It was so much fun to have a visitor during such extreme conditions!  And nice that Kev's friend Ritter is a tough MK/soldier and was content staying in our humble igloo.    When he left he folded the eight something blankets he used so neatly.  I was very impressed.

Well, today is the day to clear out our candles, clean up all the crumbs I dropped while eating SMORES in the dark, and prepare for Sunday.  By preparing I mean that I'm making cookies for our teen's Sunday School.  I think this is my favorite part about teaching teens because it's an enjoyable and low stress to bake for them.  The teens are grateful for anything to eat and I get to try out some old and new recipes.

New Ingredients

Oh wow, it's been quite the month so far.  Some things that have made life exciting?  New things! I've decided that it's important to try new things, and in my opinion new ingredients add some nice spice to life!

Chinese kids do not eat feta and I have never thought to buy it UNTIL a few weeks ago.  I barely know how to use it, but it's just exciting to have something new and seemingly gourmet in my fridge.  I'm used to Kraft Singles American Cheese so exploring feta has been great. We made our very own greek salad a few weeks ago. Who knew you could make greek salad. sigh.. the things I learn.

The other ingredient I chose this past week was collard greens.  I didn't really know what they were. I'd heard of them but never tried them and now I kind of know why. They taste like bad bitter vegetables, which kind of works for me, but they sure don't go in salad or with oyster sauce that well.  But I guess that's what you get for trying new things.  Collard greens, just like feta are not what typical Chinese kids eat. Apparently it's a southern dish.  I'm happy to have been introduced to a new green though.

The grocery store is like my mall. So much fun...

Nothing Creative

I was backtracking and looking at the numerous other blogs I've had in my life.  It makes me feel boring now because my xanga/blogs used to be so interesting.  Is this what happens when you get older? Well, nevertheless, I've been able to slow down in life and I'm enjoying it a lot. Maybe that's a tradeoff for being less busy. I'm starting to realize that busyness in my life is just not good at all. This Sunday, I was reminded in the sermon that when we're busy, God cannot use us because we're not available.  I'm sure that God has used me in the past decade, but I'm wondering if God had something else he wanted me to do sometime in these past few years and he didn't bother to use me because I was too busy.  Too busy with school, too busy running, doing programs, eating, too busy trying to keep up with every single one of my friends that I've ever met in my life.

What I've noticed lately is that for the first time in awhile I haven't felt on edge when I'm driving. Maybe it's the "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" chapter I read on using your driving time to relax rather than getting angry at the selfish and arrogant drivers around.  People who drive slowly need more credit you know? I used to give dirty looks to anyone who would tail my car and then speed past like they were so important.  It would make me so angry. Sometimes I'd just have to try to breathe deeply, other days I would press my finger on an imaginary button on the steering wheel and imagine that the car that wronged me would blow up. I learned that method from a guy in college.

I am extremely thankful because last month (December) my grandma after many many years somehow taught me how to knit.  I know everyone is learning to knit now and it shouldn't seem that hard, but when I was little Mama tried to teach me multiple times and I got so frustrated and she got so frustrated that she taught me how to crochet instead.   Priscilla was smart so of course she learned to knit, but man it probably has been 15+ years since Mama last taught me and just last month, dream became reality!

My other praise to the Lord is that just yesterday I learned how to crochet this one difficult stitch that I thought Mama would never be able to teach me.  After Yeye passed away I have really realized that I can't take people especially my grandma for granted. So when I have time, I love to visit her and I've been pretty motivated to learn all I can from her. Mama is a master knitter/crocheter. I wish I could show you a video, but she is a speed machine when it comes to her fingers. For most of my crocheting career I have only made scarves and I literally only use one or two different stitches and just use different color yarn to make each scarf look different.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to learn this difficult pattern that Mama was trying to show me. In fact, I was so hopeless that I was just hoping that she would crochet at least one more scarf with this pattern thinking that at least it would be one more memory I have of her.  I am so proud (clap clap clap) to say though that yesterday I learned this pattern and these scarves I'm sure will be in demand.  Place your orders everyone.=)  Pictures of my first finished scarf (with this pattern) will soon be posted.  Give me a few days.

I'm not sure why but I think I'm less honest the older I get and in some ways, that could also equate to more boring! AH, sigh.  I think I have a chronic condition aka addiction to blogging.  From xanga, to blogspot, and now even turning "Kevin and my" wedding blog into my own blog.  That's a sign of total addiction.

Anyways, today is one of those days where you stay inside even though you really just wish you could go outside.  I haven't touched outside ground or breathed in any fresh air and it's already 2pm.  I'm not sure why I'm so silly sometimes.  Maybe I think it takes too much effort to go out, or sometimes I'm scared to see people, or in some ways I could just be to lazy and too unmotivated to have to interact and behave normal altogether.  You must know what I'm talking about.  I think when I'm at home I can act as silly, as tired as I want, as grumpy as I want, hehe, and I can wear pj's and glasses and not have to try to look good AT all.  

Kevin just asked me if he could play videogames. I just realized that I have taught my husband so well. Him ask ME if he can play video games? Since we're on the topic of marriage, I found out a friend of mine separated from her husband this week. It happened a little while back, but she and I got married the same time so it was pretty disheartening to hear how these things happen. I have really a great husband, he really is top quality and cares for me so much, but when I hear stories of friends or other people who I know who divorce or have marital issues that are destroying their marriage I remember that I am not immune to any of that and I had better get off my lazy butt and be good to Kevin and strive to be a good helper to him.  I was ultra impressed because today as I listened to DAB, one woman had a prayer request because she had separated from her husband of 20 years and now her husband was married to the person he had an affair with. Anyways, she said she has been praying for the success of her husband and his new wife because she wants her four children not to have to see any more divorce. She also said she has been praying that although her husband left her, she is praying that he and his new wife would come back to the Lord.  Amazing to have that kind of love.   

Guns and Christians

With the most recent shootings, I realized that many people are against guns simply because a few people were stupid and abused the power of a gun to kill others.   As a result, many people despise guns, when in reality they really aren't that bad or bad at all.  I'm sure some of you would beg to differ.  I was always afraid of guns myself because I saw that in crime, guns were often what killed.  But then I went to school in small town world and realized that a whole lot of people in our country own guns and surprisingly, they aren't killers at all. 

Guns I've been thinking are a whole lot like Christians.  Never thought about it until this past weekend, but a lot of people, especially in the cities seem to really dislike Christians just as much as guns.  I hate to say it but I befriend people and I hear their bias against Christianity and while they like me, I often wonder if they still would if they knew that God was number one in my life.  I'm not sure they would.  Hmm.... Why is that?  I think it's that small number of people again who rather than abusing firearms call themselves Christians, go to church, tell people proudly they're Christians, yet totally do not live like they care about God and they really don't have a relationship with him. You see them on Sundays yet you also see them doing a whole of other things and they put out the worst reputation for Christians.   I hate that, because in reality, with God, we become more loving and the Holy Spirit if we listen and are in tune with God helps us to be radically loving making a dramatic difference in the lives of others.  

Alright the thought of the day..... time to sleep. Thank God for Friday. =)

Today's blog is completely dedicated to my grandpa.  Most people connect New Year's to Dick Clark, but I connect New Year's and New Year's Eve to Yeye.  His birthday was January 1st and so as people count down to midnight and are partying it up, I always think of my grandpa around this time.  He would have turned 99 tomorrow, and although I had hoped I could brag about Yeye making it to 100, he did make it to 98 and I'm thankful for that.

Interestingly enough, the night before Yeye passed away, I was in our living room telling Kevin that I thought Yeye could qualify for hospice, meaning he had "6 months left to live".  When I told Kevin that he exclaimed, "Are you kidding? Your grandpa isn't going to die soon. He's going to live at least two more year." He was so strong for his age, like the iron man of life, so much so that I thought and I'm sure others thought might live forever.

I miss my grandpa and have missed him throughout these past few weeks alot, but today I really really miss him. My dad asked me on Christmas what I remember most about my grandpa.  There are so many memories, especially considering that he was one of my housemates for 20+ years.  The thing I remember most though is that he loved me a lot and I was very very special to him.  Of course there are other memories, but that was the message I got throughout my 27 years with him.  Here are some of the other memories:

New Year's Eve - When we all lived together, my sisters and sometimes my cousins even would count down with Dick Clark to midnight and right after we yelled "Happy New Year!" we'd stampede up the stairs to my grandpa's room and give him a big hug and kiss and wish him happy birthday.

Checkin up - This past year Yeye would often call me to check up to see how I was doing with school and everything.  It's nice having someone check up on you often.  I'd use a lot of energy to talk extra loud so he could hear me, but he would call at least once a week and tell me if he missed me and of course, he ask me when I was coming to visit next. He told me that if I was busy, not to visit, but I'm glad that I never listened to him and visited as often as I could. My friend Sooz told me in college that "Friend are always more important than homework," so I use that same principle with Mama and Yeye.

A little sweetness - The reason Ye and I got along so well could have been the fact that he always had sweets on him. He had a stash of Snickers and chocolate and cookies in his room and I was highly supportive of that.  He believed in sweets and classics like Snickers and Coke and he valued the power of sugar.=)

I guess part of growing is experiencing the reality and truth of life...that people don't live forever, things fall apart, and we need God.  I'm sad to not get to see Yeye and wondering when I'll see him next, but I thank God for so many good friends and family, much laughter, and an excitement for life as I wake up each morning.  God has been sooo good to me.

What Each Day Holds

Rather than starting on the 1st, I've started listening to the Daily Audio Bible a few days ago.  I feel like I need the bible, the direction of it and the calmness and peace of God throughout my life, especially in the next year.  I know I'm no longer sick now because I woke up this morning with all sorts of ideas in my head:


What am I going to make for my friends coming over today? Didn't we invite Kev's mom over tomorrow? How am I going to find time to spend with my cousins if I do that? I want to learn how to crochet something more than scarves.  Should I train for a marathon? I need to call this person....


When I'm well my mind races and it's a sign in the morning of how much I need God to just set me straight, so like I said I decided to listen to the Daily Audio Bible.  What I remember is that I need God and each morning, I really don't know what each day holds.  There are some days more intense than others and deep within in me, I want to be prepared for anything that will happen. Some days I wonder if something crazy might happen to me at work or if I might faint unexpectedly, etc. I remember I thought this on the morning of October 22nd.  By the way, did you ever notice how nice and symmetrical that date is (10.22.10)? Anyways, it was a Friday morning and I remember wondering how the day would pan out.  God knew and he gave me an inkling that I needed to be prepared for quite an intense day.  So much so that that morning I decided to take a extra mini walk to the end of my parking lot and back just because I felt like the fresh air and short physical activity was all I was going to get, but was much needed for the day.

And before that I had read a short devotion and this was the only verse that God gave me on that morning. It said, "Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you..." 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NLT).

God prepared as much as he thought I needed to be for the day with his word and I'm thankful for that. As I drove over to Lins House that morning, I was frantic because I knew something traumatic had happened to my grandpa, sad, and yet together because I had that verse written on a post-it note to remind me to do the work on that day, I was going to "do the work" and just be there for my grandpa and grandma.  I really didn't think Yeye would die on that day, but God really knew what I needed. The interesting thing is that the second part of the verse "He will not fail you or forsake you" was a verse I had given Yeye a little while back. It was the main verse that I thought of when I thought of him and I had given it to him because someone I worked with reminded me that when you get really old, death is nearer and what is ahead of you can be scary and uncertain, so for older people sometimes they don't need verses like "Love is patient and kind..." or other verses they've heard multiple times, they need to know that whatever happens, God will always be with them and they will never be left behind.

It was almost as if God had given the verse to both myself and Yeye.  The first half of the verse was a reminder for me to remember to be a blessing and the second half of the verse was for Yeye as went on to what is pretty uncertain. Yes, heaven, but how many of us really know what it's like? We will truly see what unfolds today....