Emotions are high

August arrived with both exciting and sad news.  In early August, one man on the men's backpacking trip from my church disappeared.  After 6 days of searching without a trace, the grieving family called off the search.

Life is a gift, isn't it?  Iris enjoyed two different times at this year's county fair.  One date was this Dad for the demolition derby.  She really liked it!  Another afternoon was with Mom (me) for more games, rides and treats.  She really wanted to do face-painting, but I negotiated with her, so that she drew a picture on her face the next day.  She is starting to like Hello Kitty after all.

On August 10, a friend and fellow sister in Christ (Audrey) and I gave a presentation at church about how our teaching career has intersected with our Christian faith journey.  We titled it Teaching ESL:  A Scrapbook of Journeys.  It took several meetings and great reflection and introspection about how God could use our testimonies in this forum.  I was thankful for the time, but was even more thankful after we were done.  I videotaped it just for myself, but don't have a good way to digitize it to share with other interested people, including my family.

Last Saturday, our new daughter (Rotary Youth Exchange) named Chloé arrived to begin her year as an American high school student.  She will live with us for a few months, but the neatest part is that she is from France.  Iris can practice with her, and I might improve my rusty high school French while she is with us.  She is a lovely girl, who is outgoing, kind, smart, talented (theater and vocal arts), as well as a ready learner of the U.S. culture.  I look forward to the international connection we are making right in our own home.  I remember how my parents would host for a time or welcome on holidays many Taiwanese students or young adults into their home.  We would have strangers sharing our Thanksgiving meal.  My mom had the gift of hospitality when it came to cooking for a lot of people.  I wish I learned that skill better. 

Suddenly, the first day of the new school year arrived.  Whoa!  A first grader and a high school senior in our home, as I start teaching ESL again.  That means navigating different school schedules.  The night before my first ESL class, I stayed up very late, but prayed a lot that God will carry me through.  I knew I would be sleepy/tired because I had much to prepare for our girls, Iris and Chloé.  God knew what I needed when he orchestrated a chance meeting with a neighbor whose boy Iris enjoys playing with.  They had not played for a long time, so Iris got a chance to go over, Chloé prepared for school auditions, while I went out to make copies for class that evening.  It was all God's grace and mercy on me that I was able to function that evening.  This was despite me making the mistake of noting the wrong room number (and time) on my syllabus.  The students were patient, too.  It's just one way that God continues to remind that He is totally in charge.  I must accept my flawed skills at planning and simply rely on Him. 

Our first grader

   Likewise, my church is going through changes in worship times, leadership and demographics.  I continue to pray that all the members focus on the majors (God's Word, Jesus' commandments) and not the minors.  God is faithful, true, and loving.  One of my greatest joys is to read daily devotionals with Iris about who Jesus is.  Let the name of the Lord be praised now and forevermore!  Amen!

Finally, Iris lost two more baby teeth in one week.  Now, it's really hard to bite down on anything hard.  Thank God that she is growing one top permanent teeth now. I'm praying that she has a beautiful smile and won't need braces.  So long, summer.  Thanks for the good times!

Rainbow loom is still an obsession!

We started crocheting.  Here's Iris' new blanket.

School friends met at the museum for some last summer playdate

Summer camp-part 2

July 4th sparkler

July was a blur of swim lessons, a wedding in Arizona, camping in the redwoods, and Chinese Culture Camp.  I think Iris had a good time.  She was fantastic about traveling through the desert in the heat of summer.  112 degrees in Needles, CA!!!  But it was worth it to see dear Cousin Shelby marry Logan, as well as spend time with Daddy's side of the family.  I think the highlight for her was being with Frango at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Swimming in a warm pool (which cooled us off) was a treat, too!

Congratulations, Shelby and Logan

Camping near Leggett with the Osmers was short and memorable.  These three kids (Iris, Stephen and Claire) had creative fun devising a skit.  The parents were the audience.  We all went on a nature hike and learned a lot about the trees.  One unpleasant thing was that Brian had to ask some noisy camping neighbors to turn down the volume on music.  Strange, but the mother of the man defended her son to Brian.  I thought camping in nature was meant to get away from the craziness of technology and noise.  Oh well!

Brush painting in bamboo pattern

Chinese Culture camp was fun, especially connecting with the Kiehl family.  Some activities were a bit hard because Iris had a hairline fracture from a fall she had on a playstructure at the Berkeley Marina.  She got to see an X-ray of her arm, so that was very special for her.  AND she had to wear a splint for two weeks.  Of course, she still practiced piano, even with one hand. 

A lot of cooking that week.  Yum!

The Lord's been good to us! I'm thankful that Iris is growing up with a love of good food (usually sweet), an ease of talking to new people (once she decides to), and a gentleness with animals (e.g. ponies).

As for me (Mom), I spent time in July meeting and praying for the start of the Petaluma class of Perspectives on the World Christian movement.  I facilitated a three-week peek of articles related to the history of God's Kingdom movement.  It's been fun to connect with people from other churches.  I pray that this coming class will be the spark for an igniting of hearts to work for and with our Lord Jesus is bringing the good news to ALL nations, peoples, tribes, tongues.  May Jesus Christ be praised! Amen!

Summer camps-Part 1

In addition to her ongoing lessons in gymnastics and kungfu, Iris took lessons in swimming (two weeks) and pony riding (one week).  After four days of riding, Iris, along with friend Katie, demonstrated the commands they learned while on some gentle ponies.  "Taffy" is the horse that Iris rode on.  It was interesting that Iris could learn vocabulary in French and English, especially about grooming.  She was especially happy to trot with the pony. 

Take a look at their Friday demo:

What a serious look on your face, Iris!

Let's go, Katie!

Aloha-Part 2

Aloha is Hawaiian for hello and goodbye.  Iris said farewell to kindergarten and her English teacher, Ms. Claire Storm, who moved to Washington State in June.  I made a connection with a new friend from church, Debra, who shared some printed info about Hawaiian culture, and taught some hula as part of our Vacation Bible School (VBS).

 

Ahoy! was the word for VBS Son Treasure Island.  I participated as registrar and part of the missions team, including one day's presentation focusing on China.  It was really hard narrowing down (in 15 minutes time) to a point that related God's love and education at a grammar school level.  I'm not even sure it was clear because Iris couldn't remember what I presented.  I was grateful for so many people's input, prayers, and working technology.   

Iris had to say, "goodbye" to one of her classmates, Liam, but then "hello again" because the moms (Cindy and Stacey) signed them up for swim lessons.  They enjoyed making "purses" out of large ivy leaves.  What imaginations!

 We also said "hello" (temporarily) to Aunt Ruth's dog, Ichiban.  He's a puggle that might have enjoyed our company more, if he were better housetrained.  Iris got good at walking a dog his size, and was very fine cleaning up after him outside. This was good training for our future dog, "Daisy" or "Cupcake."






 Then in late June, we had to bid farewell and "au revoir" to our dear friends, Paul, Judy and Monique Hadley.  They have packed up their belongings; goats and all, and they moved to rural Massachusetts.  God only knows what awaits them in the future.  Their quiet and friendly ways, as well as their love for low carbon footprint have touched and blessed many lives, including ours.  Since they left, Brian and Iris have bantered about joining them, requiring ME to get a teaching job at my alma mater in Brattleboro, VT.  Dream on!

Finally, we have greeted new faces (for Iris) or familiar ones that we haven't seen in a long time.

• high school classmates of Cindy's: Jenny by phone and Denise in person (through Facebook!)
• Uncle Yang (A-ma's older brother) and his children my cousins, as well as Aunt Ling (A-ma's younger sister)  and Uncle Warren from Virginia.  We only managed to share two delicious dinner meals with them.
• welcome back to Aunt Ruth and cousin Noah, who spent 8 days in Spain on tour with Noah's choir.  He also graduated from High School  Whoo hoo!

 Life is full of comings and goings.  Where are we going next?  To the wedding of my niece, Shelby, and camping with our friends, the Osmers.  Isn't God great?!!