01
Jan

My highlights for 2009:

Opportunities to speak and meet nice people

-I spoke at the Huntington Beach MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group of about 60 women. How nice to see so many young moms fellowshipping together. I can totally relate to all the questions they asked. For me to give them answers now is easy. It’s much easier said then done when you are in the middle of frustrations with your kids. I’ve been there, and am glad for the opportunity to give them some encouragement and perspective.

– I gave 2 workshops at a parenting conference, one on “Parenting Kids in the Age of the Internet”, and the other on “Keeping Teenage Kids in Church.” I was glad to see quite a few dads attending, showing their commitment of priority to their family. The 180+ turn out for the conference was just about what we expected. Being this was the first time for such a conference in this area for Chinese churches, it was a great success.  We’ve been asked to hold another parenting conference this year, 2010.

– I spoke on the book of Ruth at the UCLA AACF (Asian American Christian Fellowship) Women’s Retreat. It was my daughter’s college fellowship group and she was one of the participants 🙂 While I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to indirectly teach my daughter what I want her to know, I realize that I already taught her everything I wanted her to know. Her spiritual maturity is beyond mine when I was her age. I am very proud of her.

Away from home

– We took a family vacation to Japan! It’s very expensive for a family of 5 to go on a big vacation so we don’t get out much. But there isn’t much time left before my kids will be on their own.  We so decided to scrape and spend the money while we still can. It was a fantastic trip of both family time and new experiences. I blogged about it previously.

– My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Palm Springs. We were married in 1984 in a church in Pasadena, 2 young people who had no idea what we were doing. Twenty-five years later, I am still trying to figure out what life is all about. While in Palm Springs about 80 miles away from home, lo and behold, we saw a church friend at a restaurant at dinner time! I told my husband that it’s a good thing we weren’t having an affair. You never know who you might see, no matter where you are.

– We went down to Mexico for a one-day mission trip with our church people along with  several other churches. We woke up at 4am and came back at midnight. It was fun, a good experience, and I was very inspired to see God’s work in people who are so committed to serve the poor.

– My husband and I went to the Bay Area for my second cousin’s wedding, without our kids. We don’t often go places without our kids. But they had their own plans,. Why would they want to attend a wedding of someone they don’t know, and socialize with relatives some of whom they have never met? In fact, I hardly know the couple, other than the fact that we are related. But it was a good time, even a bit of dancing after the dinner.

Changes in life stages

– My son finished college! I am very proud of him, not just for academic achievements but for his positive attitude towards life, his spiritual awareness, and his drive to make an impact in the world.

– My youngest daughter started high school. She has to now start figuring out her academic path to take her towards her career goals. But at the same time, I remind her that academic and career success are not everything. “Don’t worry about your grades,” I tell her. But I know the reality of the competition to get into college these days. Challenging times for her.

– My other daughter is living in an apartment with 3 friends. From just barely adjusting to college life a couple of years ago, to now a junior living off campus, she is handling life well, doing all those things that I remember doing when I was in college. Good times!

– I reached another “zero” age, and it’s not 30 or 40. At least it’s not 60, yet. My sister planned a surprise party for me, and I was thoroughly surprised! I had no clue…and I thought I was a person with good intuition and awareness…I think I count 3 surprise parties in my life, and each time I was truly surprised. So maybe I am pretty clueless afterall.

Firsts

– First time attending an OMF Conference (Overseas Missionary Fellowship). It motivated me to explore possibilities of going overseas when I retire, hopefully within 8 years. I am thinking I want to help out in an orphanage in Taiwan.

– First time serving as Missions Director at church. After 20 years of serving at our church in various capacities, this is my first time being on the Missions Committee. Since I don’t have any experience myself in oversesas missionary work, I felt a bit inadequate. But it’s been fun because I am always up for doing something new.

– First time attending a 50th wedding anniversary party. What a testimony of love and faithfulness.

– First time going through a study of a book with my 6 good friends. Several of the friends I’ve known for 15+ years, one I’ve known since college. But this summer was the first time we’ve had free schedules to actually meet weekly, consistently for 6 weeks. We are in the same life stages, and as our kids are older, we find more time for ourselves and our friends.

That’s all I can remember right now. I”m sure I’ve missed some good stuff. God is always faithful, no matter what our external circumstances may be at the moment. I am thankful for 2009, and for the life God has blessed me with.

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