10 things I love about the Chirstmas season

1. twinkling lights

2. the smell of evergreen in the house

3. glowing candlelight

4. Christmas music

5. Nativity sets

6. Christmas newsletters

7. Christmas cookies

8. The Nutcracker

9. Festive Spirtis

10. The reason for the season

Gratefully remembering Tianjin, China

Tianjin University, August 2005

Zhu Han, Yan Han, Me, Juliana, Fawn & Jane

Dearest Teacher Judy:

Thank you for your blessings and encouragement. In theses years, I often get the encouragement from you, I am touched and happy. In the university, we have so many lessons every week, this situation was totally unforeseen . And I have a strict English teacher, he is very strict with us. I am very respect him, because he told us the way of study English is very useful. English is very important and useful for me in the daily life and graduate school entrance exams. I worked so hard every day and reading so many books of literature. But I am worried about my human relation sometimes, I want to find someone who shares my ambitions and outlook on life.

I joined a league about English speaking, it is called “AA”. It means “advance and adore” . And we have a senior fellow to teacher us how to read the English better, he can speak English very well. He is a Cantonese, a very kind and lovely boy. In fact, the students in the AA league are very kind and cool. We reading English together in the morning, I must wake up early every day, it is not a comfortable thing, I often feel freezing and tired. But I never give up!

Thank you for giving the virtual flowers and the picture. Happy Halloween and the Thanks Giving, the blessings of late. I am attaching a picture of my university’s snow. The snow is very beautiful, like fairy tale world. I hope you can like it.

Yours Juliana 
(November 21, 2009)

Sounds like a ...

nightingale!  Matt Nightingale has been on my mind so much lately.  Finally gave in and loaded "Still Standing" to listen to while I walked to class.  The result was tears streaming down my face - his voice is exquisite.  So rich, layered, emotive ... he has always touched me deep, deep in my heart.  I was blessed to have this man as our worship director for 5 years - which means most Sundays I could hear him.  Then he released this incredible CD, and he became portable.  He went with me to India, and sailed across the Pacific with me to Hawaii.  We are now far apart - he and his family have settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he has taken a position at Redeemer Covenant Church. I am so thankful for this blessed man and the gift of his precious voice and spirit.

Joshua, Luanne, Matt

Zachery, Emily, Jacob

I get by with a little help...

from my friends!  I am definitely a people person.  I relish getting to know someone - ALL about them, their family, hometown, likes, dislikes, job, faith, dreams, challenges, fears, desires, goals, style, and on and on.  There is no such thing as TMI (too much information) to me.  The more I know about someone, the better friend I can be.  I am curious by nature, and I am grateful for that trait.  It motivates me to ask, to learn, to delve, to ponder.  Now my dear departed mil was the opposite.  She adamently believed that it was rude and intrusive to ask questions of anyone.  "Mind your own business!" was her motto.  She was certainly cordial when meeting new people, just distant.  My husband, through assimilation, is similar in relationships.  He does not ask, but fortunately, I do tell.

Friends make the world a better place and I am thankful for each and every friend that has touched my life.

Sobriety ROCKS!

22 years and counting ... and still in awe of the gift of sobriety.  I know how to drink - it is easy!  Get drink.  Lift - gulp, gulp, gulp - put down.  Repeat until empty.  Repeat process until adequate stupor has been acquired.  But not drinking - that is a different story.  Until the grace of God set me on the path, and continues to keep me thoroughly focused.  I am grateful for the freedom of recovery.  And I am humbled by God's grace.

It's November already!

Do you notice how the days just seem to tumble by?  I have heard that the older you get, the faster time goes, and this is my experience.  This is the month of gratitude - taking time to count my blessings and express my love and appreciation to the important people in my life.  I will start with my husband, who is my best friend as well as my lover boy.

Glenn's work is all-consuming - requiring both physical and mental energy.  He works long hours and is dedicated to his company's success.  I feel grateful for my husband's companionship each and every day.