On Their Way Home...

It's been a week since Evan and Jeannie are gone.  Johnny is on his way home with Evan and Jeannie is checking out the BYU campus (per phone conversation).  I can't wait to see them home.... it's been such a long week. I  hope Evan won't get any tick bites, lice or flees!  Johnny and I have learned the lesson to keep their bags in a sealed trash bag and leave it inside the car under the sun for a good couple of hours every time our kids come home from camp.  Oh... there they are.  Got to get the washer ready!  :D

 

Life Without My Kids

It's a little tough to not think of the kids when they are not around.  Evan left to the scout camp last Sat. and Jeannie left to Utah Sunday morning.  Because Johnny needs to give a talk in the other ward, I went to church with Jady.  Yeah, first time ever.  I felt a little odd without the kids; and to be very honest, I don't like that feeling at all.  

I found myself wondering what they are doing throughout the day, and I hope that they are having fun.  Since my kids love my cooking, so I attempted to make "cheung fan" last night.  They turned out ok, but I would like to make a few other dim sum when they are home by the end of the week.  Wonder why Jeannie still hasn't called back...

I love the talk from Lizzy and Donna last Sunday on love and service:  

1) "Thy shall love thy neighbors as thyself."  We cannot develop the compassion to love others if we don't see the Christlike love from us within.

2)  Love is the essence of life, and TIME spells Love.  Donna quote from President Uchtdorf, "In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Whether family members get together for scheduled outings, sharing interests, or serving others, these gatherings strengthen relationships that can be eternal."  So, make time for the family should be our first priority.  

3)  Love unconditionally as Christ does.  (I found myself getting upset with the kids when they did something wrong, but I also forget how the Lord forgives me when I was bad - so love unconditionally in all circumstances)      

 

    

Back to PA

We are back from Miami.  While Johnny was at the work conference, me and the kids tour around the city of Miami and south beach.  It was sunny and humid, but we had a lot of fun.  The highlight of the trip was our surprise to the kids of a cruise vacation.  We were on a cruise for three days and it took us to the Stirrup Cay Island and the Bahamas.  The food was good and we probably ate too much.  The beaches at both locations were beautiful and it reminds me of Hawaii.  Now I kept thinking why we left Hawaii in the first place??  :)

Bahamas was beautiful and we had a local tour guide taking us around.  We saw a few historical sights, the Atlantis, and the city of Nassau.  The Atlantis was beautiful and so as the million dollar homes around it.  But what left me the most was the poor neighborhood not too far away from the riches.  There were beat up houses with broken windows, no AC; kids hanging out at the park playing basketball; trash, broken parts of cars, junks in every corner....  it was such a big contrast.

I want to kids to know how fortunate they are; and that they should have no reason to complaint about life when seeing the less fortunate people struggle in life.  

I felt the same way with downtown Miami.  It was a beautiful city, but I've never seen so many homeless people in my life.  They were everywhere, at the metro, bus terminal/stations and even at the beach!  I couldn't believe what I saw.  It was an eye opening experience.

This trip left me with questions of what we can help to balance our resources, and being an advocate of self-reliance.  There are many hard working families out there living below the poverty level.  We need to pay them a reasonable amount for the job they performed so that they can in turn sustain their families.  I strongly believe that the church has well prepared us to be responsible citizens.  We need to lead by example, to work  hard and provide for our families; to always prepare and save for the rainy days.   

  

Evan From Sister McCarxxx

Sister Mc: Your son is so sweet.... Did he tell you what he did?
Me: No.  What did he do?
Sister Mc: Evan came to talk to my grandchildren, James and Jane this morning.  He talked to James, "Do you remember what I said last Sunday?  I told you I would bring you a toy if you took Jane to church."  And so, Evan presented a stuff animal from his back and gave James a monkey.  Then Evan turned to Jane, "I am sorry that you were sick, but I am glad that you make it to church today!"  So, he showed his other hand to Jane and gave her a little stuff animal - a chick.
Sister Mc: Did you ask him to do it?
Me: No.  I am sorry that I didn't even know that Jane was not at church last week.
Sister Mc: Oh, he did it all by himself!!!  Wow.... I've never seen any kid like that before.  He is so sweet and kind and you should be very proud of him!

I do.. I do... very proud of Evan and Jeannie too.  They both had been sweet to include people in their lives.  I've heard many good things from people about my son as well as my daughter and I am so proud of them.