Birthday #9

First birthday

I'm 9!

After 8 years of birthday parties, this November 19th was probably the last of the group parties.  Iris turns 9 years old this week!  She loves gymnastics, so the party was at a gymnastics place with exactly 9 girls.  It was a fun afternoon on drippy November day.


Iris was able to help choose, help bake and decorate a "puppy" cake, including preparing the marzipan for the dog collar, tongue and eyes.  She prepared the goodie bags, thanks to Mom's ordering with Amazon Prime.

Jordan and Iris rock climbing

As Iris opened presents, she said, "Wow, how did you know I love crafts?" because she got (among other things):  pet plush toy kit, pottery refill, puff pens, painting fairy kit, weaving, and a sewing craft machine!

Lucia is a desk mate in Iris's class.

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Mom (Cindy) was grateful for sister Ruth (Aunt Ruth), Dad, Adriana and Nicole's help serving food at the party, too.  Above all, I thank God for letting me be a parent, teacher, and witness to His creating a beloved child Iris.  Happy birthday, daughter of the KING!

Remodel or Transformation?

After a year of thinking of a kitchen remodel, the time has arrived.  Our kitchen (retiled and updated about 15 years ago) was about to be made over.  A completely new look!  Yeah!  That meant hiring a designer and contractor to help us envision what we really wanted out of our space.  After a lot of discussion, we decided a few things- the wall must go!  In its place we'll have enough space for a kitchen island and counter.  It also meant saying goodbye to:

1.  The built in wall of cabinets that held serving plates, candles, and other supplies

2.  The fireplace; to make up for missing cabinets.

3.  The door between the entry way and the kitchen to make way for a desk area.

4. The partial wall (that we had designed about 10+ years ago) to create one "great" room space.

January 5, 2016 was the first day of the demolition.  It took about two weeks for the kitchen cabinets and appliances to disappear.  The fireplace was a little tricky in terms of the empty hole in the floor where the brick footprint was.  That needed to be built up.

We were relieved that the load-bearing beam in the wall that was to disappear could be moved up into the attic.  Engineer permits and inspection had to be done, but it's a new space.  For a few weeks, the walls were open for insulation and electrical wiring.

On Feb. 5th, the drywall workers boarded up the open walls and ceiling spaces from the kitchen, dining/living areas down the hallway to the bedrooms.  We are about halfway through the anticipated remodel and transformation of the home.  The cost is at the upper limit of what we originally wanted to spend.

As I witness the changes, I think about the transformation of our heart, mind and soul that Jesus accomplishes by his Holy Spirit.  In many people, Christ needs a complete overhauling and rearranging, so that we can be made pure in His likeness.  This is uncomfortable and sometimes painful.  It can seem like forever.  Yet, God never gives up on us.  He continues to work in ways unseen that draw us closer to Him and see the beauty of His holiness. And what is my cost for this incredible soul transformation?

I am reminded of a small booklet by Robert Munger My Heart: Christ's Home (click here for pdf).
As 2016, this renovation is a reminder of how I'm making space and trusting God with all the "rooms" in my life.  I need to clear the clutter in my heart and thoughts.

Lord, may I not fill these rooms with things that take me away from worshiping you.

Starting off the year with a freeze!

Birthdays, holidays, and an eight-year-old with an attitude on our hands have filled the past few months.  Now, it's January.  The start of a new year.  And what made this month memorable?  A trip to Taiwan with just Iris and me!

Below are photos of some highlights of our trip.  

Hua-Kuan and Ekki's visit

Seeing Aunt Sache

Ivy and Charles daughter, Gabrielle

Learning to eat "Buddha hair" fruit 

Rare reunion of Ah-Ma's siblings, and some of my cousins.

Photo opps!

Clear view from 89th floor of Taipei 101

But what happened was the coldest freeze snap in the 50-years of Taipei weather history.  And it happened during the one weekend we were there.  

The idea was to meet up with Ah-Ma and Ah-Gong, and Justin who was helping care for Dad at a hotel in Taipei.  The hotel was fine, but a few hiccups made this visit to Taipei a bit disappointing.

1.  Ah-Gong snores soooo loud that Justin had to switch to Iris's and my room.  We were still a bit too noisy for him.

2. Ah-ma got sick; Justin got a fever; I caught the cold, and after five days, Iris had a bad cough with fever.

3.  I bought the cutest red hat, and I bought one for my mom.  But when I visited Taipei 101, it disappeared.  I thought it had fallen in the elevator because I didn't see it in the van that we had rented.  I tried to buy another one for myself, the place had sold out of that color.  After returning home, Just got a communication from the hotel that the van driver found my hat-three days after we had used it.  So sad!

4.  Iris didn't really want to walk around outside, even before she was ill.  

5.  Iris was also hardly eating any of the food that we bought for dinners.  It may have not been so inviting because we ate at tables that were for morning buffet time; like a cafe that is self-serve everything.  Also, we were a bit limited in what we bought because we wanted hot soup-type dishes.  No sit-down restaurants that were just us.

On the last day of our trip, I came down with another fever and had been in the hotel for nearly 72 hours straight!  I was getting into a dark, sad, "I'm such a failure as a mom" place, that I almost wanted to stay in Taiwan while everyone else flew home.  I lashed out at Justin.  However, in the midst of it, I thought of the words to the hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  So, as the song goes, I took it-everything- to the Lord in prayer.  Prayer was so missing.  My prayers with Iris at nighttime.  My focus on God's love and beauty, instead of on my showcasing Taiwan's beauty for Iris.  

After listening to the hymn, and reading the backstory about Joseph Scriven, I believe that God had answered my prayer that I stated prior to going: "May this trip draw my family closer to Jesus"

Here are all the verses with powerful and comforting words that pointed me back to my best friend, Jesus Christ.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there.