Grand Prix Again

 After both boys winning first prize at the Awana Grand Prix last year, the boys wanted to race again this year.  Grand Prix is like Pinewood Derby in Boyscout it is essentially wooden car race.  The car must be made of a certain kind of wood and be under a certain weight and length.  And everyone must use the same wheels.  On race day, each car races 4 times and the results are the averaged.  The fastest car wins.  Since there are many contestants and wide age range, the boys are in two different divisions.  H helped them shape and design their cars.  

Getting ready to race.

This was J's race.  Look at it go!  We are the beige car on the left.

J won first place in his division and C won third.  This year, C is older so he races with older kids.  The competition in that division is fierce.  Last year, our car was the fastest at 195-197 mph.  This year, most cars are well over 200 mph.  The second place in J's division is only 0.8 of a second slower.  So he barely made it to first.  Watching the race in C's division, we were really nervous that C won't be in the top three.  So we were thrilled that at least he came in third.  I wonder how else to get a wooden car to travel at such high speed. 

Both boys' car is the same color.  This is C's race and he is on the far right.

Reached My Goal Weight

Me before weight loss.  I can't find a full body picture because I hated taking pix.

Me minus 30 pounds.

After 5 months of low carb eating, I have finally reached my goal of losing 30 pounds, that's about 22% of my weight.  I went from a size 8 to a size zero.  I feel great and have tons of energy.  I work out, cook, bake and take care of the kids and I am not tired at the end of the day.  In fact, I can keep going like the energizer bunny.  Just sometimes, I am emotionally drained since I'm with Mui all the time. 

I am amazed at how I was able to be disciplined and had self control.  In fact, that's not like me at all. I have tried other diets before, like South Beach and Cabbage Soup, and it didn't work for me.  I failed on those diets because I didn't have the discipline to go through with it.  Usually after about a couple of weeks, I give up.  And my failure is partly due to my love for bread of all kinds, cupcakes, and chips.  I usually endulge myself with a bag of chip after I put the kids to sleep because that's how I recooperate from all the events of the day.  So I don't know exactly how I just kicked those habits one day.  To me it's a miracle.  It's the work of my Lord Jesus Christ.  He deserves to be praised for this miracle. 

As I look back at these past months, I see that the Lord orchestrated things to happen so that I'll relinguish control and allow Him to help me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  As much as I didn't want to give up my paycheck, I know God was leading me to quit my job because it was causing emotional harm to me and my family.  I didn't know how to handle all the emotions and negativities, so I did the only thing that I knew how and that was to just spend alittle time with my Creator.  In my most painful and stressful times, the Lord reminded me that I need to focus on myself and be renewed.  So I have to learn to take care of me.  That sounds like such a simple thing, how can anyone not know how to take care of oneself?  I spend a lot of time taking care of my kids, my work, and even ministry that I have neglected myself.  I failed that those other diets because I didn't want to spend time to make special food for me.  When my kids were little, I make them homemade baby food and pack it with me wherever we go.  When they were toddler, I make soft toddler food.  To this day, I make sure that feed them a balanced meal and I bring them fruits, snacks and water wherever we go.  It's important to me that I take good care of my kids, but some how I don't do the same for me.  Perhaps, I didn't think that I was worth the trouble.  God showed me that neglecting myself affects every part of my being.  To be restored emotionally, I first need to be physically healthy.  The self help books that I read and research that I did all pointed out that physical health and exercise will help improve mental health.  Exercise not only keeps the body healthy, but makes the body releases endorphins which is a brain chemical that gives energy and lift up a person's mood. 

So it's not that I have a lot of discipline or self-control that I have successfully reached my goal, but it's all because of the power and strength that the Lord has given me.  Indeed, He is my strength when I am weak.  He knew that this is what I need in this period of my life.  With this new body, I have a renewed zest for life,  a greater contentment toward God and His blessings on me, a stronger self-confident that I can tackle other goals (especially spiritual goals), a bigger committment to be a better mom and build strong relationship with my kids, a deeper conviction that I can be a more supportive wife, and a revived desire to learn new things.  Both my sister and H, both commented that they noticed that I am happier lately.  Who knew that I can gain all this from weight lost. 

Busy But Purposeful Weekend

I love the Bay Area Sunday School Convention (BASS) and love learning from people who has been there and done that because they have such wisdom to impart.  My mom once said that exceptional people always learn from other people's success and from failures.

The busyness started on Thursday night when BASS started.  I raced to cook dinner and so that when H returns, he can feed the kids and I head off to hear Chip Ingram.  On Friday morning after getting the kids to school, I headed to a workshop to learn about how to manage strong-willed children in class while H watch Mui-mui.  Then, I rushed home to relieve H so he can attend his workshop in guitar.  After feeding the boys lunch and cooking dinner, I went back to BASS for a workshop regarding anger and forgiveness.  Then, I headed off to the Rock and Worship Roadshow concert while H went to BASS.  Even typing my schedule made me feel tired.  But PTL that He gave me the strength to do everything and had lots of fun.

Saturday was just the same.  I made breakfast while H went to a worship workshop.  After that I baked muffins for IBF and then rushed to attend two more workshops, one of which is How to Provide Counseling to People in Difficult Situation.  Then, I came home to make food for YFC fellowship, then rush off to YFC.

Although this weekend was packed and busy, it was purposeful.  I had an uplifting time singing and worshipping God at BASS service and at the concert.  I also learned alot of tips on how to effectively serve others.  But most of all, I am recharged and challenged to passionately love the God that sacrificed His only Son for my sins.  There were so much information that I think I will need a few weeks to look through, review, think, analyze, and apply.