Easter Eggs

Today we dyed Easter eggs!
This was when I asked them to smile at the camera and got a grin from Sophie, but a squished face from Brandon. ^0^ Nevertheless, they were happy to be dyeing eggs, at least I could be sure of that.

I put some glitters, which came with the dyeing kit, in the coloring bowls, which I kind of regretted after. Because after the eggs were dried and they wanted to peel the shells and eat the hard-boiled eggs inside, the glitters got everywhere. I ended up having to wash every peeled egg under the tap to get rid of majority of the glitters.

I also marked the shells with a wax crayon before hand as a surprise for the kids when they were actually dyeing the eggs and the patterns from the wax marks revealed.

After the eggs was dried, we did a special delivery to A-Gong and A-Ma (grandpa and grandma) and shared our irresistibly beautiful eggs with them. (irresistible mostly to the kids as they gobbled up at least 3, 4 eggs each, whereas before, I'd have to beg them to eat their eggs) ^^

We do plenty of crafts and baking all over the house, but the dining table is one of favorite places to gather. Ronald Reagan once said, "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." I only hope to create good memories for my children at the dining table. ^0^

Next time, I might share about the drawing and crafts we do at the coffee table.

Edible Arrangements

During the funeral week in San Jose, Tim and I ran around town none stop everyday trying to put together the memorial service for grandpa like everyone else in my big family. One afternoon we felt compelled to go visit grandma. After all, she is left behind, forced to live on alone without her lifelong partner. We wanted to make grandma feel better (even though that was highly impossible during a time like this), so we stopped by an Edible Arrangements store near downtown and got a little fruit bouquet on the way to her apartment.
Grandma was touched and liked the way it looked, unfortunately, she refused to open the wrapper and eat the fruits inside. She convinced us to bring it back for the other relatives. After many back-n-forth conversations, we finally obeyed, thinking that right now she should have the right to have things her way. And she really should.
Anyways, so this was the fruit bouquet from Edible, when it arrived at my uncle's house, everyone (10+ ppl) was astonished at the sight of this beauty. They all crowded around to take pictures of it as if a movie star had arrived. It was quite hilarious.
This picture was taken by my cousin, I just got it from him today.

1st death in my family

Tuesday 3.3.09 we flew into San Jose in the morning. Noon time, we went to see grandpa in the ICU, breathing in difficulty. At 7:08 that same night, he went to be with the Lord. Friday 3.7.09, we held a service in memory of him and we went to the graveyard site and lowered his casket into the ground.
Everything is done. His life on earth. His worries and sufferings. He is in a good place with our Lord.
I miss grandpa. I truly do. I look forward to seeing him again in heaven.
Meanwhile, grandma is grieving, she's left behind. I want to take care of her the best I can.
This week is a rough week on everyone in my family. I sit in silence right now as I reflect on what had happened this week: death. How fast it came and just took my grandpa away from all of us. We cannot buy time. Our time is in God's hand.

外公 Grandpa

外公昨晚病危，又送进了加护病房。医生要家人们做好心理准备。
My grandpa is in ICU again, and this time he may not come out from it. The doctors warned us to prepare our hearts...
我不知该怎么做心理准备。做了准备，心会好受一点吗？
I don't know how to prepare my heart for this. Even if I did, would my heart hurt less?
表哥说他瘦得可怜，躺在病床里，一条管子叉进他的肺部辅助他呼吸。不能讲话，不能大小便，不能吃饭。每一样“不能”就有一条管子叉近他的身体里去。
Cousin William went to see him last night before I talked to him on the phone. He said grandpa lost so much weight. There's a tube inserted into his lunges to help him breath. He can't speak, he can't go to the bathroom, he can't eat...apparently, they have a tube for everything he can't do.
医生觉得，老人84，这样拖下去会给他带来更多的痛苦。如果家人同意，他会把这些大小管子拔了，让外公安详的去。。。
A doctor spoke to my relatives. He thinks that keeping grandpa alive this way brings him more unnecessary sufferings. He suggested that if it is okay with us, he would pull the plugs and let him go in the most peaceful way possible. After all, grandpa is already 84, the hope of him getting better from this is slim...
痛苦的让他靠机器活着，还是帮他决定离世的日子呢？对我来说，两种抉择都是错。
Should we leave him to suffer under all these tubes? Or should we decide for him the date which he can leave this world? These two options to me are both unfair to him.

****

亲爱的外公，你可以自己选择吗？
Dear grandpa, can you choose for yourself?