It's All Good

1) Had a good lunch with my parents and hubby at an Indian restaurant.

2) Chat with two great sisters at Cos. while shopping with my parents.

3) Mom and dad prepared a very nice dinner. We had salmon, broccoli and rotisserie chicken.

4) Johnny was able to go play badminton since we finished dinner early.

5) Had a nice chat with Cammi on the phone.

6) Working on Jeannie's SOAR application; and Jen D. is so nice to help with her essay!

7) Kids went to bed before 10:00pm! Hooray!!!

8) Looking forward to the Chinese New Year gathering on Feb 5.

Be of Good Cheer

It was a great RS enrichment meeting tonight. Lou and her sister presented a topic on techniques for overcoming negativity. I never am an optimistic person, but I would love to be one. So, this year, I am going to in cooperate a few of these techniques in my daily life.

A few quotes that serves as a good reminder:

"By focusing only on that which is wrong, we rob ourselves of the quality of life that we are capable of having."

"If it's not fatal, it's not a big deal!"

Just keep smiling and everything will be alright!!! :D

"Learning to Love Learning"

About a week ago, I came across an interesting article in the Ensign by Elder Bednar, "Learning to Love Learning", and why learning is essential to our gospel and eternal salvation. I am impressed with the thought and idea behind his address. Knowledge is power, we are here to learn as much as we can. We are also instructed to share and teach one another what we learn while here on earth. Afterall, there is nothing we can take with us as we pass onto the next life except the experiences that we have, memories which we built, and the knowledge that we learned and shared with our family, children and friends.

It's been quite a relaxing transition from the YW to the Primary; and I indeed was able to spend more time by myself and with the family. Last Sat, Johnny and I had finally finished all the insulating projects in the attic, yeah!!! It's been quite job, but we are very proud of ourselves for getting it done. My next project is to get the house organized. I am not in a rush, but I also want to give myself a deadline and be done before the Spring break is over!

I have been trying to incorporate exercise, playtime, homework, scripture story time, and TV time in Jady's daily routine. Somedays we are able to do all, and other days we could only do a few depending on the day's schedule and how much errands I need to run. This kid is a free spirit, and she has been a little wild without much of my supervision. :)

Mis:

1) went to the dentist for a cleaning, but need to go back in a few weeks for a filling because the old one is coming off.

2) currently reading a book, "Boost Your Serotonin Levels by Michael Murray". it has some very interesting insights on overcoming depression, obesity, and insomnia with 5-HTP.

3) searching for a good soy burger recipe and will try to make some for the family this Sunday. the kids are not too thrill about it... sorry, i never ask them to choose me as their mom! haha... :P
4) still have not heard back from the publishers... will call and email them when the month is over.

5) am a little surprised to find out that one music theory i learned for many years were different (i wouldn't say it's wrong because the Royal School of Music still use it), but i have to relearn many things for songwriting purpose. so far so good. it would be nice if i had the fifth circle and the chord progression chart memorized! :)

6) will take a trip to walxxxt today and before this Sat.,... Sarah S and I are hosting a babyshower for Sarah M., at my house.

7) help out tonight at Evan's Cub Scout in preparation of the Blue and Gold Banquet.

8) Johnny is having a company dinner Thursday night.

9) mom and dad should be home from Korea by Sat (3/20).

Problem Solved

It's been a year since the last time I talked to my friend. There was a huge misunderstanding between her family and ours, and we had not talked since 2007. I got a few of her emails last week and I was reluctant to reply at first, but then, I decided to open up and told her what I had in mind. We had some sincere cocnversations and it truly helped mend our relationship. Being a stubborn minded person, I am so gald that she started the process. Without the courage that she had to present her side of the story, I would have still have unease feelings about her. Thanks for a loving Father who teach us to learn and forgive each other. It was a great reunion afterall!

Email from the Publishers.

I finally heard from both publishers, and they are reviewing my proposal. I called the one from HK and she told me that the team is looking into it, and it would take them a few weeks to review it, but as soon as they made the decision, they will call me. Just wondering if they are going to pay me to go back home for the pictures and stuff... that would be so nice!!! :)

As for the publishers in the US... I've been emailing to him a few times and he is surprisingly efficient and very responsive. Nothing promising yet, but at least I got my foot in the door.

Hi Pauline,

I received this email with the four attachments (and two other emails with some of these attachments). I will begin our initial review of your material and should be back in touch with you in a few weeks.

Best wishes,

William

Final Day in Young Women

Last Sunday was my last day serving in the YW. Greg G. talked to me two weeks ago of releasing me from the calling. I truly had mixed feelings of leaving my girls, and I didn't realize it would be such a difficult adjustment. I sure appreicate all the free time I am going to have on Wed. nights, Sat, and Sunday, but I also had so much fun with the girls. It was a busy calling, but yet exteremly rewarding. I am glad to get to know each and everyone of them... they are all different, and I learned so much from them.

My new calling? Serving in the Primary as a pianist, or chorister. I like being a pianist, but not too sure about being a chorister because of my Chinese accent. Will try my best to help!

Proposal to Publishers

Great, I am finally done with 40+ dishes and picture taking. Just submitted my proposal to two publisher, one from HK and one from the US. Really am tired, but look forward to hearing from them!

On a different note, I am getting close to finish my personal progress book. Just looked through the book and find out that I have actually done a lot last year... family history, crafts, and cookbook, writing a song and stuff. I am just amazing! :) haha....