Striking Teachers, Striking Baseballs and Piano Recitals....What a Month!

Hi folks! Happy Late April!

This has definately been the most roller-coaster month besides mother-in-law's hospital adventure. We've had school plays, baseball games, piano recitals, and teacher striking in front of our schools. This is Day #3 of the Capistrano Unified School District teachers' strikes. Each day we are glued to the tube, newspapers, or our phones, waiting for the news of whether the strike has ended or not.

The last time CUSD has had a strike was in 1974, when I was born! This is the first strike in California this year, and the outcome will determine other districts' negotiations. We will keep praying that there's a quick resolution and the kids can return to some form of normalcy in school. Left at home, my kids fight like cats and dogs....not good....

Yesterday Caleb had his piano recital! The teacher asked him to play in both recitals, so we rushed back from church and enjoyed this special time. It was surprising that he played quite well considering the battles we've been having over his daily piano practicing (or lack thereof!).



It rained last week, and the coaches on both teams (UCI vs. USC) decided to GO!!!! So they played in the rain!!



The parents were all hiding under jackets, makeshift tents and folding chairs. It was great! The boys had a blast and din't mind being int he rain, for it makes them feel like they are playing like Major Leaguers! Go Trojans!

Though much of my flowers have withered prematurely, I'm determined to grow more! So I've invested in hummingbird "bell-shaped" flowers, sunflower seeds, more Gerber daisies, and sunflower seeds! Nothing will stop me!

And though our loquats took forever to ripen, they are big, beautiful, plump and sweet today! Yeay! Have a happy end of April, and I anticipate May will be a better month! Well, MAYbe! (^_^)

** News Update ** [Added a day after this blog entry]
April 27, 2010 @ 7am ~ Wohooo! Got phone call from school announcing that the teacher's strike is OVER!! Thanks for praying, everyone, and Praise the Lord!

Our 2010 Spring Break!

We were able to go on a short trip to San Diego because the kids had spring break. It was a much needed break and we all had a good time and were recharged!

We went to Point Loma to see the Lighthouse, and also the U.S.S.Midway Museum (A Navy Ship)! It was very interesting! I cann't believe how small the beds were (6 feet long)! It felt claustrophobic just to be in the ship for 2.5 hours....imagine living in it for months and months!

U.S.S.Midway! Here we are!

The beautiful Point Loma!

We enjoyed the San Diego Zoo, as always, and even saw a baby panda make his way down a tree!

Wow, long time no Blog! Our tough month of March!

I noticed that it has been almost a month since I last posted! Coincidentally, the last post happened on the day that mom in law was rushed to the ER room due to pneumonia and sepsis. It was quite shocking for us all because her bladder surgery (2 weeks prior) was successful and she didn't display any side effects. As it turned out, she had a hard time breathing from the two previous conditions and thankfully was resuscitated. But the 3 weeks following that incident she was in ICU in Santa Ana.

Hubby and dad/bro-in-laws were in and out of the hospital and I gave weekly updates to hundreds of family and friends. Thankfully, she is stable enough to be transferred to Newport sub-acute rehab care (tonight!) so she can recover slowly.  

During these past 3 weeks, we took father in law to some of Caleb's baseball games to give him a mental and physical break. We cooked and ate with him and had a "sleepover-party" (as Abbie called it), to keep him 'distracted'. We all took turns praying for MIL in the hospital and sang for her, all while wearing gowns, masks, and gloves in the ICU. We are blessed by loved ones who prayed for mom, and all 400 of our church friends who prayed for her as well.

Hubby was keeping dad company in the evenings and visiting the hospital lots after work, so I decided to try something new to entertain the kids (who missed daddy) during those nights. So... I  attempted to make my first California roll (in 35 years!) Thankfully, they loved it (though it was not.... too pretty).

It was a tough month, and we are so thankful we survived it. Though we are not out of the woods yet, we are thankful that we have the love, encouragements, and blessings from all of our loved ones.

All of us siblings (3 brothers, sister-in-laws, and kids) put our heads together and helped one another. Thanks to cyber-technology, we discussed treatment options, relayed updates after visiting mom,  and encouraged one another to rest and keep up the good work. We have grown closer than ever through this trial!

I can't believe it's April already! We're 25% through with 2010! This is a time to count our blessings. Though life has lots of ups and downs, we have much to be thankful for. Coming up tomorrow is Good Friday, and I'm thankful that our Heavenly Father loves us and gave his life to redeem me and cleanse me of my sins. No one can love as much as He does, esp. for those who reject and disobey him constantly, like me. I am thankful that He is patient with me and loves me unconditionally.

Happy Easter, Beloved (^_^)!! And remember that Somebody loves you and is willing to pay a price to remove your sins so you can spend eternity with Him (and other loved ones in Christ). He is your Creator and Heavenly Father. And YOU are MUCH more precious than many sparrows...and chicks! (And God loves and created these ultra-cute baby animals!)

Piano Brother and Ballet Sister (^_^) (^_^)

Sister loves to supervise Caleb and pretend that she's the piano teacher. Maybe she just enjoys seeing him suffer....



Sometimes she would make up her ballet steps in accordance with Caleb's piano playing tune......or just fool around and laugh hysterically!



I guess it's good to listen 'as a family' when the kid plays his piano songs ~ It's like a recital and he feels accomplished when we clap loudly after he's done! And....it beats having them fight...which is all the time at this beautiful stage of our lives....



He even tries to play one song with eyes closed....I guess he really likes challenges...

Our Newest Spring Hobby (^_^) Flowers Flowers!

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Abbie and I started to buy flowers in late February after we asked the gardener to lop off all the shrubs in the front yard. Sinc ethen, we've gotten addicted to flower shopping at Home Depot and Lowe's, and added weekly to our collection!

It started with Cobbler stones and little flowers....

Then we began buying big, tall flowers and huge, heavy bags of Miracle Gro Garden Soil....

Then decoration for the planter like flags, dragonflies, and butterfly stakes!

In our family room, we're sprouting sunflower seeds and Valentine "forget-me-nots", and we're excited they are growing!

Me & hubby & sprouts!

Finally, we've added Thai basil and grape tomato plants to our back yard.

Planting flowers is very relaxing (though back-breaking), and addictive. I really enjoy every step of the process and seeing our little pretty flowers grow and thrive.

Finally, Spring is almost here! What a fun project to start on, after 10 years of shrubs (and caring for little babies)!

I guess our life turns a new chapter for our family, since my little ones are finally 'bigger kids' (8 and 4!), and I have the luxury to try new hobbies now! 

Happy Birthday to Dad (^_^)

We were so happy to be able to see dad this year, as he visited us from Taiwan! Since we immigrated to the U.S. 28 years ago, we have not been around when dad's birthday rolled around in mid-March.

So we are so happy that we could gather (minus big bro, Dan, we miss you bro!) and surprise dad with a yummy mango brulee pudding cake from 85 degree bakery!

This was the first time grandpa Alex got to meet little Kyle, who is almost 3 years old! Kyle is Debbie and Bruce's little boy. The kids also enjoyed singing "Happy Birthday" to grandpa, and playing with him on the floor!



Happy Birthday, dad! Though we don't see you often, you are often in my thoughts and always in my prayers! We love you and God loves you!