Final Step in Adoption

The final step in the adoption process is to have the adoption legalized and recognized in California.  We had to take Mui-mui to see the Judge in the Superior Court.  Once the adoption is recognized in CA, we can apply for a California birth certificate.  Mui-mui wasn't born in a hospital in China, so she didn't have a birth certificate.  We are finally done with all adoption paperwork. 

Mui-mui is thriving and learning new things everyday.  Recently, she can do a few new things.  She can repeat the sounds that we make.  She can use the all powerful word "no".  When she wants something and we give her the wrong thing, she would say "no" and shake her head.  And she can say the word "give" in Cantonese.  When she wants something, she would point to it, stretch out her hands and say "give". 

J Learned to Ride 2 Wheels at Camping Trip

My family enjoys camping, so we tried to go annually.  This year we went to Big Basin Redwood Forrest in Santa Cruz.  I have to admit, this year I was not that excited to go because K is still small and I was fearful of mosquitoes.  At all church camp in Santa Cruz last year, I got three bites that still itches till today.  K did not like camping because she can't climb, roll around on the ground, get into trouble, and she didn't get much sleep.  I was thankful that my parents and Uncle prepared all the food and also cooked it.  I spent the entire time looking after K, which tired me out.  H bought all kinds of insect repellent for me and the kids.  We had insect repellent with 64% deets for me, natural and nontoxic repellent for the kids, repellent only made for clothes and equipments, citronella candles, OFF powerpad lamp, and OFF clip on.  I guess all those things worked.  I left with only ONE bite on my forehead.  I forgot to put repellent on my face. 

Hebron took the time there to teach J how to ride two wheels.  At home J was nervous about riding without training wheels because he said he is not as old as his big brother.  But we assured him that if he tried, he will be able to do it.  Sure enough after alittle while he was able to balance and ride, but can't stop or start.  After another session, he learned to stop.  But was not very good at it.  J told H, "I am so proud of myself.  I am such a big boy."  Unfortunately before we ended the second session, J ran into a wall and hurt himself badly.  We had to take him to urgent care.  The doctor said that the injury was not as bad as it looked.  Praise the Lord for that!

Then and Now

San Luis Obispo is a special place for H and I.  It is where we met, grew in the Lord, learned to serve God, met many of our good life long friends, and of course earned our degrees.  We love Cal Poly and had fun walking on campus again. It brought back so many great memories.  We passed by Yosemite dorm rooms where I stayed during my freshman year and where H and I tried to "study" together.  It is the place where H tried to impressed me with his piano skills.  It's worked!  I admire someone who can improvise on the piano.  We stayed up many many night in the lounge to worship God.  H and I lived in the same apt complex after I moved off campus.  Mustang village was where I shared a tiny room with two other girls.  Then after that both H and I moved to Boysen Street where we lived two doors from each other.  Along with our roommates, we started a cooking schedule.  Each person cooks one night for everyone.  This way we have hot food daily without having to cook everyday.  Yes, H actually cooked in college. 

 Then: At pismo beach with our roommates and friends (1996).  Can you find H?  I was holding the camera.

 Now: At pismo beach 15 years later with our kids.

 Then: Look at how young we were. 

Now: On the same surrey three kids and 30 + pounds later. 

A Free Meal

We are currently in San Luis Obispo. We normally take a vacation in the summer, this year we've decided to make a weekend road trip to the the place where H and I met. We can reminis and also bum out at Pismo Beach. When we were students, we love going to Thai Classic in SLO, but it was getting pricey. H found another Thai restaurant on Yelp near our hotel, Thai Dheva. We decided to go because Yelp was selling a $20 coupon for $10.

Look at our meal! Four delicious dishes (fried rice, green curry with pork, green beans with tofu, and eggplants) and it was FREE to us. What did we do to get this? Nothing. How did we get it? Well, the couple at the next table, who were strangers to us, paid for our meal and ask the waiter not to tell us until they left. When the waiter told us, I was in shock. They did what? Why would they do such a thing? Who would do such a thing? They did a good deed without expecting anything in return, not even a thank you.

The Father has taught me so many lessons about giving in the recent year. The first lesson is to give generously to everyone. Most of us are giving to our family and friends. We often buy them gifts and treat them to dinner. What about the people we don't know or don't know so well? Our adoption and this experience of generosity from strangers made me think about who I am to give to. During our adoption fundraising, there were many many people who generously supported us; some are good friends, some are strangers, some we didn't know so well, and some of them I have not heard from in a long time. Everyone gave out of their giving hearts. Again, I thank you with all my heart. The strangers at the restaurant made me think about the people that I give to and the people I don't give to either intentionally or unintentionally. I am not sure if you are like me. I don't hesitate to give to those in need. Well, that's because those people can't provide for themselves. But I don't intentionally seek out for opportunities to give to people I perceived to be financially well off. This experience taught me to be generous to everyone because generosity itself is a blessing to both the giver and receiver. The strangers gave to us for the sole reason of blessing us. Not because of our good looks, my cute children, and certainly not because we looked needy. They knew we can afford it; we were there intending to pay for our own meal. God used their generosity to teach me something.

The second lesson I learned is to give without the expectation of anything in return, not even a "thank you". Those strangers gave to us but didn't give us the opportunity to thank them. Have you had the experience where you searched long and hard for a gift for someone or you got him/her a HUGE gift and you waited for that person to say "thank you" and express their appreciation? Most of the time, I don't wait for the appreciation, but sometimes I do. The waiting for the "thank you" is expecting something in return. We should not give expecting anything. I always teach the boys to say "thank you" to be polite and rightly so. We should be polite and say "thank you" for a gift. However, the generous giver does not expect appreciation. Good lessons learned.

Students from China

Last week we hosted two junior high school boys from China.  They came on a language program to visit the US.  There were about 24 students staying with 12 different families from Jensen Ranch.  We only had to provide them with breakfast and dinner.  During the day, they participated in a program in Palo Alto.  It was an interesting experience.  Even though I can understand Mandarin, it was hard to communicate and speak the language.  And they don't speak much English.  So conversation are limited to "Are you hungry?" "Do you want juice?" "What did you do today?" "It's time to eat." "Are you tired?" "What do you need?"

We are always happy to open our home and share God's blessing.  I tried to be a good host and expose them to some traditional American breakfasts and dinners.  I get up early to make them hot breakfast everyday before going to work.  (Boy, that was hard)  The two Chinese students were respectful and polite.  They ate everything I serve them, but not the fruits.  I bet there are things that they didn't like, but ate anyways to be polite.  I try not to torture them too much with American food by making one Chinese breakfast and dinner.  We also took them out to dinner one night and to Boomers.  Boys will be boys, so they had fun driving go kart, playing lazer tag, and mini golf. 

I was surprised to find out how wealthy these students are.  I have always thought that the majority of people in China are poor.  I see otherwise through this experience and our trip to China in December.  I guess as the country gains more wealth, so does its people. These students are from very wealthy families.  They are meerly in Junior High and one boy bought himself an iPad2, the most expensive version.  Another girl in the group bought her mom a Louis Vitton purse for $5000. From talking to the guide of the tour, these students' family own businesses and have net worth in the hundreds of million.

The Little Engine that Could

I was driving home yesterday in H's old Honda and it stopped three times as I climbed up the steap hill to our house.  It stopped the first time at the first possible left on the long hill.  I thought, "Oh no, is this car breaking down?  We can't get another car."  I then looked at the gas tank and it was empty.  So I turned off the engine and turned it back on hoping that it will go just a little further up.  And it did.  I shifted to second gear hoping it would have enough power to take me up the hill to the traffic light.  It huffed and it puffed and it went up a little more and stopped.  I restarted the engine a few more time and it finally made it up the hill.  It felt like I was in the story the Little Engine that Could.  I was able to turn left at the traffic light and made it to Carson lane.  Then the car completely stopped and can't move even an inch.  It stopped right at the entrance to the short cut that leads to our house.  What a blessing it was that the car made it and I didn't have to walk up the hill.  I only have God to thank for that.

So why did I let the gas tank go to empty?  First, the annoying empty indicator light is broken and it didn't come on.  There are many other reasons, but most of all it's been a busy week.  We are hosting a couple of students from China.  So ever since last Friday I have been running around buying food and other things in preparation for their arrival.  I made sure the fridge is stocked and have enough food to make them different varieties of breakfast and dinner everyday.  H and I have to coordinate who is picking up our kids and the students.  On top of that, H and I switched cars and I usually gas up my car on Wednesday.  Gas station was not on my schedule for Monday and Tuesday.  PTL that the car is not broken.

Already 7 Months?

K has been with us for 7 months already.  It's a short time, even though it felt like she's been with us since birth.  In 7 short months, she adjusted so well that people and doctor can't tell that she spent 10 months in another country, speaking another language.  Like all babies at this age, she has to learn how to communicate with her parents.  On top of that, she has to adopt a new language while she learning to decode what adults are saying.  I have to say she is doing extremely well.  The Pediatrician only expects an 18 month old baby to say three words in the language she was born into.  K is not even 18 months and she is able to say 9 words in two languages, both of which are not what she was born hearing.  So she is developing really well.  PTL for that!  In English, she can say: hi, bye, more, Mommy, and Daddy.  In Cantonese, she can say: hye (shoes), bie (to put), Mama, nie nie (milk), and bay (nose). 

K is a smart girl.  She can understands a lot of things and can figure things out from context.  One time she got into the cabinet and took out the cover to my thermos and played with it.  She hid it amongst the kitchen toys.  I had no idea what she did to it.  I saw that the cover is missing and while holding the thermos, I asked her in Cantonese where is the cover?  She immediately turned around, headed straight to her kitchen toys, found the cover, and brought it back to me.  I don't think she understood every word I said, but she was able to do what I asked her to.  Amazing!  I think most babies wouldn't remember where they put an item, let alone understand what I asked.   She also picks up things we say rather quickly.  Whenever I head to the laundry room or pick up my purse, she will quickly follow me and make sure that I get her shoes for her.  She loves going out so much that whenever I say any of these phases to the boys, she will be the first to head over to the laundry room to put on her shoes: It's time to go, let's go, or put on your shoes.  She is also doing well with the nanny.  She no longer cries hysterically when I leave for work.

No Training Wheels!

Today, I went to Val Vista park in Pleasanton to teach C how to ride a bike with no training wheels. We got these $10 pads for him that protected his hands, elbows, and knees, and I assured him that with these awesome pads, it will not hurt when he falls. And off we went! Here is a video of him after about an hour of learning. Not bad at all! He still has some trouble starting up, and rounding corners can be a bit tricky at times, but overall, he's doing great! We're so proud of him that we gave him 10 Pokemon cards as a reward. His bike actually looks small for him. He needs an 18" bike. If you have one that we can have or buy from, let us know. I will work on teaching the the second born another day. Teaching two in one day is too much.

Where is the bow?

I am soooooo excited to be able to officially drive my new Sienna van.  We got it a couple weeks back and have been waiting for the license plate to arrive.  Both our cars are made in the same year and are really old.  We are afraid that they may break down in the future and we won't have enough money to get another car. After the adoption, we don't have any more cash to get a used car.  So we have been waiting for the opportunity to get another car with 0% financing.  The opportunity arrives to get this car when Toyota offers 0 down and 0% financing.  Toyota often have this deal for their sudans, but not often for vans.  At the same time, H (Hbrn) got a promotion at work.  God's timing is perfect and He provided us with my very FIRST new car.  H did his homework and got a great deal.  So good that only a few dealers are willing to give us that price.  Since I haven't had a new car before, I am kinda afraid to drive it.  I am being very careful with it and not take it to the bad side of town or drive it too much.  The boys love it, especially all the push botton features.  H loves it for the blue tooth feature that can play the music from your iPhone and allows you to answer the phone using buttons on the wheel.  I love it for the space and automatic sliding doors.

I've always imagined that when H gets me a new car, it'll come with a giant bow on top like in the commercials.  H even asked the dealer where to get one.  Unfortunately, you can't get one.  Well, we have a tiny bow instead.  We are truly blessed and thankful for God's provision. 

Remember the commercial?  "I love what you do for me, TOYOTA!"

First Day with the Nanny

Yesterday was my first day back to work.  After having a baby clinging onto my side for almost three months, it weird not having her with me.  Hebron was home with the nanny to show her what to do.  Mui-mui drank milk from her in the morning.  But refuses to drink milk from the nanny during the day and in the afternoon.  In fact, before her afternoon nap, she threw a tantrum.  I think that's because Hebron was home and she wanted Hebron to take care of her.  She will need a few weeks to get use to her nanny.  This morning when the nanny came, Mui-mui cling on to me like a piece of tape, fearing that I will leave her.  I guess that is normal at the beginning.

Having a nanny is great!  She is just who I need in my life.  She cooked for us and cleaned the kitchen when Mui-mui slept.  When I got home from work, I was able to spend some time with the kids and not worry about cooking because hot food was already on the table.  She made a vegetable dish, a meat dish, and Chinese soup.  I can get use to this.  I hope this arrangement works out and Mui-mui likes her soon.  It's making my life alot easier.  Praise the Lord!