Temple

So Johnny and I woke up at four this morning trying to get to the NY temple.  The traffic was good and we made it right on time.  As we entered into the temple, the worker asked if we drove.  He said he doesn't normally ask that question but he did this morning since he has a feeling that we have a car parking in the garage.  Then, he gave us a discounted sticker for $10 off parking fee today.  How nice!

The session was wonderful as always.  We were asked to be the witness couple.  After we were done with the session, a sealer came downstairs and recruited us to do some sealing for him.  We of course had no problem with that request since it was still early.  We did a few names and then a brother walk into the room with the slips of his uncle, aunt and grand parents. We sealed them all together.  After the sealing for the brother, I asked for a permission to get my grandparents paper and seal them as couples.  What a wonderful spiritual experience it was to be able to act on behalf of my grandmas and Johnny for my grandpas.  I love grandma Ng wai-Ching and I still missed her a lot.  Tears streaming through my eyes as I heard the blessings was pronounced.  I hope all my grand parents get a long well in the eternity.

My heart was full as I thought of the incident.  How grateful that I am for the sealer to ask us to stay.  I know the Lord will bless us and our family when we serve others.  Who in the world would think this experience will turn out to be beneficial to my own family?   Thank you, Lord!

Wed & Thur

4/9 (wed)
Kyle's has been in my thought for a few days, so I went to see her this morning.  When I was there, I found out that she's actually having an annual physical check on her cancer cell count.  What worries me was her complained about the pain on her kidney.  I hope the results will come back normal that she is in good health.  Hope the Lord gives her enough strength for recovery.

Stop by to see Mary but she's not home.  I hope she is feeling better and like the tulips that I bought her.  Left a FB message but she didn't response.  I know read the message... Sometimes, I wish I know how to read people.

Went out to lunch with Johnny.  Bro. Urbinx came to help check on the car and there is a need to replace the struts and sway bar... but interesting not the front as suggested by the guys from the shop, only the rear! Johnny and I were in shock since they guys has been talking about the problems in the front all this time.  Thank goodness that Bro. Urbinx was able to show us where the leaks are and what needs to be taking care of.  Now, we just need to order the parts and pay him to fix it.

4/10 (Thur)  

Can't deny that I am getting old!  I went to help Amber and her family with packing and loading some stuff on a van, came home and slept for a good 3 hours until Jady woke me up with a kiss.  Johnny already warned me not to lift heavy boxes and objects because of my elbows.  But I did it anyway.... this is a problem.  I don't know how to say no to people.  I am such a terrible mother.  I need to spend more time serving my family. :(

 

Love Through Service

It was really nice to spend some time helping Michelle cleaning her apartment yesterday.  I thought about the many reasons why she is not comfortable coming to church other than being sick and in pain.  I love her dearly and I want her to understand the gospel and feel Christ's love for her, but I don't know how to approach this given with her situation.

I have many thoughts in the past as to how to reactivate her.  I think the Lord knows my desire, and through a phone conversation, I found out that she have a tough time cleaning her tub and sweeping the floor.  She is able to clean her kitchen and the rest of her house.  So, I volunteered to help!  As I finished the cleaning yesterday, Michelle and I had a really good talk.

I don't know where in the world I have this love for her.... but I do!  As I was there yesterday; I can literally feel that she is a special daughter of God.  We talked about how life should be (to be happy), we talked about her job before she became disable.  We talked about her family and health.  It was all good.  She is so loved but she might not know.  When I drove home yesterday, a few things came to my mind.

1) I thank the Lord for giving me the time and good health to serve.
2) I want to visit her every other week to help her clean or cook or just to hang out.
3) The most important  -- to share message with her about God's love for her and that she can rely on Him in any circumstances.
4)  I need to spiritually prepared myself so that I can share the message with her.

I am so glad that I wasn't born in the church because being a convert brings me a perspective on the challenges that a convert would face.  I know the Lord will help me with this endeavor!

Another Fried Chicken

This week went pretty peacefully.

Tues: The recruiter called Johnny for an initial interview and he will forward Johnny's resume to the department head.  We shall see what will happen next.  We are confident that the Lord will let us know when our time is up here in PA.

Wed: Costco... is terrible.  I called in the morning and the person told me somehow they didn't process my request (generator pick up) -- which I submitted 3 weeks ago.  Now we are back in the game and have to wait for another how many week???

Thur: Feeling a little uncomfortable with a few members in the study group and I wonder if I should stay.   The truth is rumor and gossiping do affect lives and have a negative impact on how we see others.  I heard too much lately and I need to refrain  myself from participating in those unproductive conversation.  Watch with eyes, listen with ears and feel with heart -- never forget to feel for my own experience but no other!

Friday:  Took Evan to the Dr. for a clearance for his foot surgery.  Everything is going well and we are only waiting for 4/17.  Went to the youth auction... this year is kind of interesting.  It's potluck (so the youth were luck out) and many items were put in silent auction.  So, I hope they have raised enough money for camps this year.  Don't know the reason why, but Evan decided not to go this year.  We had a great time at the auction, and Michele G. was there.  So, I was super happy to see her!

Sat: Conference was nice!  Many great talks and I love the quotes from the general authorities!!!

Then, Jady and I went to mother and daughter date at Wegmans while Evan and dad went to the Jensens for  the priesthood session.  I should have took a picture of Jady's look as I showed her the many options and food choices she could pick.  Her eyes were wild opened!  :D  She still missed her Churcx fried chicken, the restaurant that was closed for some reason.  At first, she wanted to eat at Hibichx Grill buffet and I asked why she wants fried chicken all the time... Then, Johnny jumped in and said, "because she knew how much you love fried chicken!"


Johnny told me that Jady and he had a conversation on the trampoline the other day when he asked where she wants to live?  Her response was, "somewhere that is warm.... because mama is always cold!" That statement alone just makes me cry.   She is so sweet and thoughtful and all she is thinking is about her mama!!

After dinner, we went to JoAnn and got some fabric to make hair bow. Jady and I did part of it and we just need to finish the rest.

Throughout the whole Sat.,  I also looked for bedding, mattress, furniture, dishes, kitchen utensils for a family who moved from Utah without anything.  It's another humbling experience indeed.  I struggled for two days for one of my favorite set of dishes I kept in the dining room cubicle -- hardly ever used by our family.  I questioned myself why do I even struggle if I am not going to use it or have to worry about scratches every time my family use them?  I might as well gave them away to benefit others than collecting dust here.  Why do I even bother to worry about these things as this family don't even have a bed to live on?  The spirit had taught me to be generous and giving and I have learned to sympathize with people who's circumstances is less unfortunate than I am.

Sun:  Made two meals for two sick families and then our own.  Evan insisted of making crostine.... so, here our food for the conference.  We also made fried rice but was late to a potluck dinner with the Spanish members.  Oh well... I will never make my day this busy ever again on any future conference weekend.  It's tiring and I lost the spirit quickly! After the second session, we went to help deliver the stuff to the new family with the Gracia's family.  I love this new family as well as the Gracia's!  They are truly wonderful, spiritual, and real disciples of the Lord!

How Much I Like the Conference Talk - April 2014

“Why is it the ones we loves most often become the target of our harsh words?”  -- President Thomas S. Monson

"Don't destroy another's confidence with careless words." Thomas S. Monson

“All men have their fears but those who face their fears with Faith have COURAGE as well.”  Thomas S. Monson 

”Placing blame leaves the wounds open.... only forgiveness heals.”  Thomas S. Monson 

“Satan can keep us busy, distracted and infected by sifting through information, much of which can be pure garbage… One should not roam through garbage.  Marcos A. Aidukaitis. 

“Why do we resist endings? Because we are eternal beings.  Endings are merely interruption, a temporary pause in our eternal progression, which will one day seem small in the eternal Joy waiting for us.”  Dieter F. Uchtdorf   

“All of God's children are made of the stuff of eternity.  Endings are not our destiny.”  Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

“Choose to be grateful no matter what... “

“In his plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings.”  Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

“Instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances whatever they may be.”  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“How much of life do we miss waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God for the rain?" Dieter Uchtdorf

"Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of once and for all."  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Reaching out to rescue one another in any condition is an eternal measure of love.”  Ronald A Rashband

“God made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life.”  Neil. L Anderson 

 “Our priorities, tendencies, inclination, desires, appetites and passions will have a direct hearing on our next estate. Let us always remember the words of the Savior: ‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Michael John Teh

"The truth will always be opposed. " - Lawrence E. Corbridge Indeed! This is when you know you're in the side of truth.

"You've prepared for this for millennia.  This is your moment to perform.  This is your four minutes!  The time is Now!  Gary E. Stevenson
"You have the Savior of the World on your side, how can you fail?"

The miracle of the atonement can make up for imperfections in our performances. 

“The gospel is not weight; it is wings.  It carries us!” Jean A. Stevens

“Agency is your power to become.”  Randall L. Ridd

“In the temple, all feelings of inadequacy, and imperfection begin to fade.”  Rosemary M. Wixom

“We will become agents who act rather than objects who acted upon.  We will be blessed with spiritual traction.”  David A Bednar

“His atonement also enables us to do good and become better in ways that stretch far beyond our mortal capacities.”  David A  Bednar

“The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely on the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.”  David A. Bednar

“We are not and never need be alone.  We can press forward in our daily lives with Heavenly help.”  David A  Bednar

"Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction, we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that matter most." David A Bednar

“Destructive words can take a situation from hazardous to fetal.”  W Craig Zwick

"Today’s complexity demands greater simplicity." Elder L. Tom Perry

Conference Lunch!  Another incentives to watch the conference!  

Yes, we actually have bacon twice a year!  :D  Only when there's conference... 

An Email to Evan and Johnny (March 28)

Just want to let you both know that I can't sleep tonight because I am terribly upset with you both!  

Evan, how come you keep failing in your social study class and not telling us?  Why is that you think you are able to enjoy your privileges when you are getting a C in your class?  I told you to study and you said that you have read the chapter many times and did the tests at the back of the chapter, and I felt betrayal when the outcome didn't seem to match what you've told me!  What happen to your "zone"?  I hope you see the problem and learn a good lesson here.... When you are being prideful, starting to relax and being lazy.... This is what will get you!   I seriously not looking forward to a letter from your school!!!!!  

Dad, please stop blaming on me and asked me to sit with him.  He is in high school and he knows exactly what has worked in the past.  He is the one to be responsible for his own action.  It's not my fault if he knows how to study but choose not to.  He needs to learn self discipline and self motivation, not me!  He is compelled to be good if I sit by him.  I do not like forcing, stalking people and I don't want to turn to be a tiger mom or a helicopter parent!!!!  Do you read me or not????  I hope you also remember what you said at the beginning of the school year after I went to the guidance counselor who suggested of signing him off from the honor class.  You refused to take her advice!   .... "I don't think he should drop the honor class, if he gets a bad grade, it's okay with me... It's better for him to struggle!"  Then, stop getting upset on me when this is your choice!  Say what you mean!!!

Enough saying to the two of you!  

Evan, with your grade in 70...  In order to pull up your grade back to 80, you will at least have 90s in all your future exams and quizzes.  You should also be asking for extra credit work and check with your teacher for all the mistakes you made.  You obviously didn't spend enough time reading your text book.  You got side track with your laptop, emails, basketball and band.  Since you are not self motivated to study.... You will now need to do the following.

1 You will have to have an overall grade of 80 in order to go back to band practice. I will explain to sister Howard on this.  Getting a C is not acceptable and non negotiable in the house.  

2 Do not turn on your laptop until you are done with all your homework and study.   You will only get 30 min each day until your overall grade go back up to 80.

3 No basketball playing until you read 2 times of the whole chapter of what you are learning that day and will be learning the next day.  I mean the whole chapter of every single subject!  No question ask..... You know how much I hate to ask you everyday of the thing that you supposed to be doing!  Do not rush through your reading... This is probably why your grade is going down.  You can earn your time for basketball practice when your grade starts to show improvement.  

I am trying to be reasonable with you both!  So be responsible and do your part!  Evan, I need your stoga ID and password to your pinicle.

Opportunity or What

3/28/2014

The Lord always hint me for something.... About a week or two ago, Johnny told me about him getting bored with his current job.  I thought.... oh no.... we were not ready for retirement yet, there's simply no reserve for us at this point.

Then, I got this overwhelming feeling of gratitude and my submission to the Lord's will.  Now... it's becoming more interesting!  Johnny got an email from a recruiter at the church headquarter on Friday about a job opportunity.  The church is looking for someone to analyst the statistical work for the financial portfolio.  Johnny doesn't have the business background so he might not be the best candidate for the job, but he would like to talk to the guy and see what exactly this is about.

Needless to say.... I have been searching information on homes and schools in the Utah.  Why am I getting myself into this??  I don't know... Just have way too many thoughts.  We don't even know if he will get the job, but I know our hearts are prepared even if it means his pay will be so much less that he is making right now.  The school is decent but not as good as here and I know the adjustment is going to be difficult because the kids grow up here and it's more diverse.  I struggled a little after the past few days of searching.  But, it's always nice to be reminded of the incident I had yesterday.  After all, I asked for it!

Well, no more searching today until Johnny had the interview!  May be our time is not up yet!  Who knows?  Speaking of that... I also felt kind of weird the other day telling someone that we've been in PA for 8 years!  Don't know what tomorrow will bring...  But, if we truly are covenant people, we shall not fear!  :)