Sophie's Birthday

After finishing up the book of Job in the Bible during my daily devotionals, I felt the mortal finiteness of myself and the omnipotence of God and His incomprehensible wisdom. I was reminded once again that God can do anything, and I cannot.

Today was my daughter's birthday party. I had been planning it for a month. I bought all the decorations to match the theme, made all the signs, ordered all the food and a birthday cake, hired an award-winning balloon artist and designed how the whole 3 hours would be played out. I even printed black-and-white photos of her past year and made backings for them out of scrapbooking card stocks, I dripped each photo with a crystal on a patterned string and was planning to hang them on the tangerine tree branches in the backyard. I thought I was doing a lot and was smart about every little detail. However, like Job, but maybe not to his extent, I was shown what a limited being I was.

Yesterday morning when I checked the weather for today, it showed that during the 3 hours of what's supposed to be Sophie's birthday party, there were going to be 40%-60% chance of rain, and then it would be sunny again for the rest of the night and unto the next day. I began to worry. All the planning might go to waste because of the rain. I though to myself, "it is freaking California. It hardly rains. Why all of the sudden? Why during Sophie's birthday party, where I invited at least 18 kids to come along with their parents?" It never crossed my mind that I'd have to try to make a plan B in case of rain. I was annoyed.

For the following 24 hours, I had never checked the forecast updates so frequently in my life. I clicked the live map to see the prediction of the wind currents and cloud movements. I kept refreshing the weather page hoping to see a change in the percentage of the raining possibilities. Opposite of my hopes and dreams, the percentage never decreased. The indications showed that it would start to rain right when I were suppose to start the party, and it were going to last throughout the duration of the party. I was sad, and I had no power to change the weather. It's up to God.

I didn't sleep too well last night, obviously trying to check for more weather updates. During the middle of the night, I thought God spoke to me in a comforting voice that things were going to be ok, the party would be fine, and the rain would not come during the party. However, I, of little faith, really, really little faith, didn't believe or trust Him. I struggled all night thinking about what I can do to not have the party attendees be rained on. I was trying so hard using my own power but I still felt helpless the more I checked for weather updates, because nothing changed in the forecast.

However when morning came, in spite of my weakness and unbelieving heart, God came through for me. He showed me crisp air, spare white clouds, gorgeous blue sky,  and 4 mph wind speed. That was all I needed to start decorating and putting everything outside in the backyard.

I was so thankful, yet ashamed of my disbelieve. I wasted so much energy just worrying, and I lost sleep over things I cannot control, yet God had already told me that He would take care of this.

Right when all the guests were leaving after the 3+ hours of partying and feasting, the rain came crashing down like the dam had opened its flood gate, accompanied by loud thunders. It was truly a miracle.

If this lesson had taught me anything, it would be to trust God fully, and to listen carefully to Him when He speaks, also, to be humble to realize my mortality and to recognize His deity. I can only give all the glory and praises to God, my Father in Heaven. Thank you for loving on us, showing mercy especially when we are weak, and caring for Your daughter Sophie, because she had a blast today at her birthday party. =)

A Year Slipped By

Looking back on my previous post, a year of time has slipped through my fingers. Actually a lot has happened within this past year.

First of all, we bought a house!

Not long after that, Brandon turned 1!

Then I got a job as a music teacher at a preschool-kindergarten and worked there for a semester.

During that four months, while my paycheck was the second best thing for our family, I lost the first best thing, which was time with my children. Everyday, I found myself acting like a strict military officer rather than a fun and loving mom.

In the morning,

"Hurry and wake up!"
"Hurry and get dressed!"
"Hurry and eat your breakfast!"
"Hurry and get your belongings ready!"

In the afternoon after I picked up the kids,

"Hurry and eat your dinner!"
"Hurry to take your bath, stop playing!"
"Hurry and go to bed!"

While working at the school was fun because I got to meet many wonderful teachers and super adorable children, I didn't feel at peace. Many times while driving to work, I would listen to online sermons that would just make me tear up. I felt that I couldn't spend quality time with my children day in and day out. I felt like I was always antsy and short tempered with Sophie and Brandon, and I was constantly trying to hurry them on so they could fit into my schedule.

However, the thing that urged me to resign wasn't quite just this. My dear mother-in-law was actually diagnosed with 1st stage breast cancer during the same time. She and my father-in-law live all the way in Hong Kong. I thought about how she helped and blessed us the past decade with her love, and I thought about the fact that I only have one mother-in-law, but I could have many jobs throughout my lifetime. I thought that it would cheer her up greatly if she could spend time with her grandchildren during this upstream battle with cancer. For that reason, I quit. I took both kids to live in Hong Kong with my in-laws for two months, and it was a blessed and unforgettable time for all of us.

3 days after we came back to the States, Sophie turned 3! We celebrated her birthday early while we were still in Hong Kong. Daddy also reunited with us, and we were all very glad!

The kids grew up a lot in Hong Kong. They are more independent, self-motivated and understanding. The best of all was that they got Mommy back -- the old mommy who would play with them, read with them, and draw with them, not the military officer lady who was saying "hurry" all the time. ^_~

So here I am, becoming a stay-home mom once again, and loving every day with my two little buttons. I am more grateful to be a mom than ever before. The time I have with them is fleeting. I won't even mind being ambitious and try homeschooling. They're learning together on sharing, being focused on doing tasks, reading books, singing songs, cooking and baking with Mommy, and above all, they're feeling loved, all the time, every day.

Different moms have different callings, I am not saying that everyone should do this motherhood thing the same way. I am simply writing my own story and composing my own songs and living out my own callings.

In a week, Brandon is going to be 2! Wow, time certainly flies.

Sophie turned 2!!!

My baby girl has turned 2! I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that she's already 2. She's so full of joy and life. My wish for her is that she'll continue to grow healthily, and her everyday would be filled with fun adventures and new discoveries with the people that love her. 

Happy birthday girly!

One Year Old Today

Sophie is one year old today! I can't wrap my mind around how fast this year has gone by. It seems like yesterday when I first held her in my arms during labor.

She's grown into an active baby. Not yet walking, but crawls everywhere in the house. She laughs a lot and uses "huh? huh?" to get your attention with fingers pointing to wherever she wants you to follow.

She loves music. She would bounce up and down on her bottom and clap to the rhythm when she hears music. She loves to hear me sing, or she likes grandpa showing her Chinese nursery rhymes from YouTube. She would get jealous when I play on my piano. She would pull herself up and press the keys to distract me so that I would pick her up to play along on the piano bench.

She's truly a gift from God. It makes me want to do my best to be a good mom. By the way, she knows how to say "Amen" after we pray together. Her heavenly Father must be loving that. ^_^

She has been growing very well this past year, and I hope she will continue to grow strong in body, mind and spirit in the years to come.

Happy birthday my dearest darling! I love you!

Sophie, Almost One Year Old

Sophie is 2 weeks short from turning one year old.
How time flies!
I can still remember the moment when I first held her in my hands, when I met my first-born daughter for the very first time. It was surreal and wonderful.
Now almost a year later, I am here sitting in my room typing this blog, because for the first night in her life, she is sleeping in her own room. I cannot wrap my mind around how fast she has grown. The midnight feeding sessions have now became unnecessary. No more burping after feeding. No more worrying about her suffocating by her blankets and toys while she sleeps. No more turning her head to make sure that her head remains round. No more tummy time or roll overs. She is now an active crawler and an almost-talker.


We've moved to California for a little over a month now. Tim hasn't seen Sophie since the Christmas vacation. I think he's going to be surprised to see how much she has changed when he joins us in 2 weeks.


I hope that Sophie will still love to play with Daddy just like the old days.


Here is to a new year ahead and to new life!


Cheers!

今天是我的生日

Today is my birthday. Praise God for the past 26 years of my life. He's been only good to me.
Praise God for my parents who raised me with love, patience, kindness and yummy Chinese food ^_^.
Praise God for my husband who took over the job of taking care of me when I was 24. He's been the most wonderful husband I could ever asked for. He also treats me with love, patience and kindness...and I make him yummy Chinese food now ^_~. 
Pictures to come later on. 

Wishing everyone a happy Friday!