Winter has arrived

 Winter and Christmas started with the decorating of a gingerbread house with cousins, aunts, Chloe and mom in Arizona.  We spent one evening with a new celebrity-Marissa B.- who flew home from NYC because she had finished marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  It must have been an exciting, memorable and expensive week for her (and her mom, Lynn).

People try to create the illusion of snow and use lights to make a west coast kind of winter beauty.  The Avenells accomplished 100 paper snowflakes in December.  Yeah!

We started with Advent Wreath-making at my church.  Lovely time with singing, decorating and eating cookies, which Iris enjoyed a lot!

 Rainy weather arrived with severity enough that local schools were closed for two days.  The next week was Iris's school winter show.  She was an amazing "rock star" with a guitar singing in French.

 After that, we were officially into the holiday spirit with going to the ballet in S.F. to see the Nutcracker.  What a treat!  Ah-ma, Aunt Ruth, Iris and I braved the rainy day by taking a cab to arrive at the Opera House.  Although we were way high in the balcony, we had a full view of the stage and enjoyed the dancing just fine.  The "snow" in the fairyland was most impressive because it looked real and the ballerinas and ballerinos were dancing in what seemed to be one-inch worth of snow on the stage.











 Activities continued with a holiday party at Iris's friend's house to make another gingerbread cookie house.  It didn't survive the day, so we starting eating the pieces over the course of one week.







The same day as the party, Iris had her first piano recital.  She was great using the pedal and finishing even after losing her place in the music.  Bravo!



We went ice skating a couple of times and had great fun.  Iris doesn't need the chair nor the railing much this year.  Going to the Snoopy gift shop is almost as much fun as ice skating.

Come on, Liam, you can do it!

We drove to a couple of our favorite lights displays.  This nativity scene is at the end of court.  Iris really loves to see this sight, as I do.  This is the reason for the season, and the reminder of how the miraculous story of this birth is for all eternity.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 
~ Luke 2:11-12

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Sushi got some clothes to keep her warm.

Thanks, Dad and Mom for my new bike (with gears)!

Perplexus is a great challenging toy!

Dad was in the kitchen cooking up a storm!

 

Is this all???

How about we..."go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”?  (Luke 2:15)

Merry Christmas and may the Good News of our Lord be with you!

It's a small world after all...

 

Our first ride-Radiator Springs roller coaster.

As Iris turned 7 years old, we took to her to Disneyland as promised.  I was excited to see California Adventure.  Both Disneyland and California Adventure park were fun, colorful and crowded. Iris surprised us by truly enjoying the roller coasters and not crying or getting too scared.  Her favorite turned out to be Big Thunder Mountain. 

 There were so many highlights:  World of Color (water show with all "Frozen" songs), Disneyland parade, the nostalgic rides like "It's a Small World" and "Pirates of the Caribbean", and new rides like "Space Mountain" and "Tower of Terror".

 

We stayed in a hotel nearby, so we just walked up to the gates early each  morning.

Swinging ferris wheel-new concept for us!

I got a few rides in with Brian at my side.  It was tricky splitting our turns of choosing and riding with two girls-a teenager and a 1st grader.   Iris loved being there more than anyone!  She was a trooper (for the most part) waiting in long lines.  She even talked to other girls her age waiting in line.  She seemed fearless!

Cool 3-D glasses for the Toy Story ride.

We tried to take advantage of the "fast pass" tickets, but the Matterhorn ride had a long wait by mid-afternoon.  By evening on the second day, our feet were tired and sore.  I realized that I most drained from navigating through the crowds and not getting very far or moving very fast.

Our meals were extreme-one dinner at Denny's with the worst service ever(!) to a free pizza lunch due to the waiter taking too long to take our order in Downtown Disney.  We left a good tip for him!


The only indoor show we saw was "Aladdin".  It was colorful and exactly like the movie's storyline.  The genie actor was funny and played the role with originality.  I loved it when the carpet was flying in the large theater.  The singing and dancing were okay, too.

The castle by day...

 Was it a successful trip?  I'd say yes because we were all together (including Chloe most of the time), we rode on all the major roller coasters, we had warm weather both days, and the girls got their "Minnie Mouse" ears.

No fireworks show at night due to high winds, but isn't this lovely?!

Of course, there had to be a photo with Princess Elsa somehow!

 Iris (and I) waited 45 minutes to meet Tinker Bell, and she told Tink that she didn't believe that she was a "real" fairy.  I really wondered why this was such a draw for her.  

Our last ride of the trip was a lu-lu!

Au revoir, Disneyland!

IRIS:  When can we come back, Mom and Dad?

50th birthday...really!

The most delicious frosted carrot cake that I've ever tasted!

On November 1st, my family (Brian, Iris and RYE student Chloe) and 40+ friends celebrated my turning 50 years old; a half century.  I can't believe it!  Well, I got a Lancome makeover just for the occasion.  See some of the photos from this special luncheon celebration.

God is good, all the time!

Longtime friend and restaurant owner, Jessie Reagan at China Star.

Thank you for your lovely thoughts in planning this, Brian!

Iris really wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" in Chinese.

My sister Ruth and honorary sister, Janette

Dear prayer warriors and friends, Kathryn and Sue B.

My brother Justin and wife, Lai Chan

All the time, God is good!

Birthdays come and go

Recently, I have been thinking of my cousins, Jean and Vivian, who have late stage cancer (lung and brain).  I've not seen them for years, yet I feel a connection to them because I know their parents (on my mother's side).  They have wonderful children that are all older than Iris.

Jean and her sister, Susan, both have birthdays in October.  My mom and I also have birthdays this month (more about mine in another post).  As I get older, I want to have a special day, yet I'm uncomfortable when others make a big deal.  It's a tension and it probably makes it hard for my husband to decide how to make it special.  He bought roses.  :)
  On my actual date, a dear friend (Lynette) and I planned to go for a walk.  After suggesting to go shopping, I was surprised when she told me that I needed to help her spend a large amount on a Macy's gift certificate. She wanted me to choose a pair of jeans as my birthday gift.  I have not bought jeans from a department store (except for 501's) in a long time, let alone at Macy's.  I've been getting used to thrift store bargains.

After that, we went out for a delicious Vietnamese lunch.  What a fun morning! I thank God for His allowing me to have a day.  Of course, other commitments for the weekend and teaching crowded my mind with some worry and stress.  I really couldn't rest in His mighty power and goodness until other sisters in Christ prayed for and with me at Bible Study Fellowship.  Not only did that encourage me to trust our Lord, but His faithfulness carried me onto enjoying a night out with my dear husband.  We had a date for dinner and a concert with Joshua Bell live.  The music was so beautiful and I kept thinking of how God ordains each of us with gifts and talents; just maybe not as renowned as Joshua's.

My cousin Jean had great musical talent that I admired greatly.  She passed away on Dec. 13th.  I found out a week or so after my birthday that cousin Vivian passed away on Oct. 23rd.

"The Lord is my shepherd..."

May my dear cousins dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen!