Big news; small tooth

 My tooth is loose!  It has been loose for most of February, until finally....the baby tooth came out yesterday while Iris was eating a soft ice cream cone.  I'm so glad that she didn't swallow it.  Anyway, it was exciting, especially because she's been wanting to see how much the tooth fairy would leave for her.  It is a real joy to see her excitement over an item so small. 

In school, Iris is still happy to see me, and gives me a great hug.  She's a bit clingy, too, but I figure that I need to enjoy this while she freely shows her affection.  She continues to enjoy being read to, including chapter books (Magic Tree House, Bobsey Twins) and listening to books on tape.  She is a whiz at memorizing Bible scriptures for AWANA, and making rubberband loom things.  She can even learn from watching YouTube videos, pausing and rewinding to get it just right.  Wow, she is learning computer things fast!

Her class wrote their name the French way (cursive-style) using different colors.

 
As for me (Cindy), I spent a week in Antigua, Guatemala to work with Common Hope-Fundacion para Familias de Esperanza.   Our team of seven came together swimmingly to build a two-room house, interact with social workers and children from San Miguel Milpas Altas, and met Guatemalan families (Chiappinos) affiliated with Common Hope.  I was most struck by the personal connections and sincere partnerships between Common Hope staff and the families who want a better future.  While there we learned about Common Hope's plan to be more intentional about getting students and their families sponsored.  Education is critical to help families climb out of rampant poverty and poor living conditions.
FACT:  a Guatemalan H.S. graduate can earn double what an adult without a diploma earns.

Solymar was a social worker who had a gentle and firm way of talking with families truly struggling to keep their kids in school.  She and the other 18+ counselors do an amazing job of discerning real needs and appropriate encouragement for the families.

Taught 27 fourth graders a rudimentary ESL lesson.  The real purpose was to connect with the kids, two of which were sponsored by members of our team from First Pres. Church

The experience of building a house, receiving incredible hospitality and thanks only proved to me that God can do anything.  He deserves all honor and praise.
At our first morning devotional, we sang these words:

"Lord I need you, Oh I need you...Every hour I need you.
You're my one defense, my righteousness.  Oh, Lord, how I need you!"

February began the year of the Horse

New Year's Eve...again!  In the Lunar calendar, Chinese and other Asian people celebrate a new year, and this is the Year of the Horse.  I gave a short presentation to the kindergarten students at Iris's school.  Yes, the dress I wore was made for me in SF Chinatown over 30 years ago!  It was tight, but I managed to fit into it well enough to walk around.  I was very thankful for the help of our local Chinese Association (RECA) to perform a lion dance for five classrooms.  The children got the story of the mythical great race of animals, received red envelopes (with chocolate coins), and enjoyed eating lucky candy or fortune cookies.  The children and their teachers were very appreciative. Even now along the school walls, I see the Chinese characters (horse, star, etc.) that they painted in class.  One kid asks me every lunchtime I'm volunteering, "how do you say._____ in Chinese?"  He greets me with "Ni hao!"  Sooooo fun!

Thanks to Nancy Wang, President of Redwood Empire Chinese Association, for bringing the lion dancers- her grandsons.

Next year, the principal would like to plan better, so that the whole student body can participate.

As for the New Year's parade, I missed it with my family because I was returning from Guatemala.  Read about that in another post.  Shin nian kwai le!

Can you say Monopoly?

It's been almost one month since Christmas Day.  I have not played Monopoly so many times in one month since...forever!  Iris has won almost everytime, too.  She LOVES the game!  Amazingly enough, I like how there is a lot of math that she can practice as she plays it.  As I ponder what the game is about, I wonder what monopolizes my life, energy and mind.  Is it Jesus?  If not, why not???  Here's a little of what's been going on for the past month.

1.  No rain.  No snow.  Boo hoo!  That means Iris probably won't have a chance to wear her rain boots, ski pants and gloves this season.

2.  Iris shared her bow and arrow at school, and her teacher and classmates really loved it!  The concentration, coordination and focus required for that is great for her age's development.  Who'd have thought?  (Note:  We bought it on sale at Big 5!)


3.  We're planning our family vacations for the year-Hawaii, Arizona (for a wedding!), and Disneyland.  It will be a fun and expensive year!

4. I'm not teaching an ESL section this semester by choice.  Instead, I've started training to be a Children's leader for Bible Study Fellowship.  This could be harder and more time-consuming that I thought.  I wonder where God's leading me now. 

5.  Brian's been busy building things, including a high bed for Iris-bed on top, area for desk on the bottom.  It took less than one week- a record!  As for work, he's already went and returned from TX.  This is one of three trips that he anticipates this winter-spring.  It's grueling to travel and work about 20/7. 

 6. I'm preparing for my week in Guatemala away from hubby and daughter in February.  Boy, am I clueless about what I'm getting into.  Fundraising is going well, and the team members are fun people.

7.  I'm starting a study about Kingdom outreach that will push me out of my comfort zone.  Another area of prayer.  I'm partnering with another mom, Sarah, that I think will be life-changing for both of us.

My prayer for 2014:  Lord, keep me joyful in Spirit, fervent in prayer, and peaceful in trusting your Power.

What's next?

After I pick up Iris from school, I often tell her what her options are for afternoon activities.  As we finish one activity, she sometimes asks, "What's next?"

I think this is a great attitude for this time of Advent, especially as God reveals himself through His Word, promise and Son, Jesus. It's an excitement of how we'll see God in the everyday, ordinary ups and downs of life.  Our family looks forward not only to hosting Christmas dinner with my family, but also to a break from the grind that we call work (and school, sort of).

Last month, my dad and one niece (Grace) had major surgery.  My dad was in rehab after that for two weeks, and is now home.  My niece will need follow-up radiation therapy.  A dear church friend had emergency surgery the Wed. before Thanksgiving, and has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.  This is a short list of the reminders of how much we are to be thankful, how merciful God is, and that we need Him, body and soul.  Believe me; I prayed and asked many people to pray for these concerns.  As I'm in a prayer ministry through my church, I see the greatest need in my life is to trust in Him and rejoice at all times.  That is hard, but Jesus is the Way, and that is comforting.

It is a week before Christmas Day and there are full days of projects, visiting, kungfu and gymnastics classes, serving the homeless for a Christmas craft, and singing Christmas carols.  Preparing presents and the Christmas Day menu is an added whirl of activity that has yet to happen.  As I tell Iris of these happenings, she perks up, while I think, "Wow, I could get tired.  Am I nuts?"  Yet, I value the time that I have to read and meditate on the Word from God, as well as, give myself permission to pause and relax with the Holy One-Jesus.  I would like to do this more and continue in that habit, especially as an example for Iris.

Queen for a minute

What's next for me?  I'm excited that this Sunday there will be a child believer baptism of someone I know.  I'll be taking part in the celebration, and more importantly, Iris can witness what baptism means.  I continue to prepare mentally for my week trip to Guatemala in February.  I also ask Christ and His Holy Spirit to guide me as I discern how He wants me to use the time that I won't be spending teaching next semester. 


One carol sung about the Child in a manger was"born to set His people free."
One my favorite hymns, Amazing Grace, also states the words, "Twas grace that brought my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. ...and grace will lead me home."

What fun!

 These are thoughts in my prayers this week.