VBS Afterthoughts

   VBS is over!!!!!  Man, I felt that it went by so quick.  I don't know, this year's VBS felt very very different from previous VBS.  I think it's because this year, I was involved at the very beginning and I know what was going on throughout the entire process.  Although there were some tough times during the planning process (like when no one showed up at our first meeting >.<), I gotta say, this year's VBS is definitely the best VBS that I have ever been in.  It was just so amazing and encouraging to see brothers and sisters from both congregation just come together and serve.  It was also cool for me to have a chance to know the brothers and sisters better.  And now that VBS is over, I am going to miss the kids, but I am also going to miss working with the "VBS crew".  

I want to spend a little time to write about the kids.  Kids' receptiveness of God is just so amazing.  For instance, Tim asked his class to write a letter to God and one of the students wrote that, she would like to thank you God for loving her and that she hope God would be with her on Saturday because she has a swim meet on that day.  Then she wrote that she knows God will be there on the sideline and supporting her.  How sweet is that?  Also I remember this one time, when one of our parakeets died at home.  While I was putting the dead bird in a box, my niece came up to me and asked me what's going on.  So, I explained to her how the bird is now dead and we need to throw away the dead body.  With tears in her eyes, she told me not to do it, because she believes that Jesus would come and help the bird.  I was shocked and she just kept telling me and ensuring that God would indeed come and heal the bird.  After all these experiences with kids, I have to say, we need to give them more credit.  More than often, we feel that they are too small to understand, but no, their faith and love for God is so pure and strong.  It's very encouraging to experience kids' love for God. :)

Long Update

Wow.... I haven't blog in quite some time.  Actually, we were talking about it in fellowship recently.  I shared how times have really changed, in the last few years, the popularity of blogs has skyrocketed.  And we shared how some of us are too "lazy" to keep a blog.  hahaha... I think I might be such a person, I always have stuff in my mind that I want to blog but once I get the chance, I'll be too lazy to actually do it.  Enough about the blogging stuff, so much stuff has happened since my last update.  Let me start with the more recent ones, since these are the ones that I remember vividly about. (getting old, losing my memory :p) 

Went to California Adventure with family this past weekend.  It was a lot of fun.  I really like it over there, it's a more "kick-back" place than Disneyland.  It's like a mini Disneyland for kids and family.  Very nice, lines for rides aren't long (I think max waiting time for that day was 15 min?)  Seeing how my nephew and niece interact with the different Disney characters and how my nephew would get scare on EVERY SINGLE ride was pretty fun. :)  Owen talking with Crush and Dor riding the Tower of Terror... man, it was one unique experience. 

Went to San Francisco for five days with family 2 weeks ago.  The trip was pretty cool.  We didn't go to a lot of places, there were times that weren't very pleasant.  But overall, I felt that it was a good trip.  For instance, they have a new parking lot at Chinatown, and at each parking spot, they have a fortune (like fortunes from fortune cookies) printed on it.

I also got to see how fortune cookies get made.  It's pretty cool.  And man, the food at San Francisco is both cheap and good.  If I have the chance, I would want to go again, maybe with friends next time? :p

Church stuff has been ups and downs lately.  Mainly stressing over VBS and retreat.  Sometimes, even though there is nothing to stress about, I would still feel this sense of uneasiness within me.  It's just very frustrating.  For instance, I was stressing over the price of the retreat for a very very long time.  The longer I wait, the more frustrated I was.  I keep hearing voices in my head, like having a conflict within my own mind.  I would try to persuade myself to lean in one or the other direction.  But thankfully, God made the decision for me.  Now that's out of the way, I feel so much more relieved.  One might think that it's not very hard to make such a minimal decision, however, to me it felt like an epic battle.  I just don't know how to describe it.  Hopefully, I can grow closer to God.  Actually, I don't hope, I know I will grow closer to God if I have the desire/will to do it. 

Enough venting about church stuff, let's blog about something else.  I feel like recently, my mood has been low/down.  I am often frustrated about different things.  I often feel like I lost a sense of direction.  With faith, family, future, marriage.... I feel so pressured at times.  I would try to not think about it but only having it to come back and haunt me later.  Man, I truly dislike these feelings.  Sometimes, I would think is this an alarm from God? Or God trying to show me or tell me something through these thoughts/feelings?  I do not know.  Hopefully, I can find that sense of direction soon. :)

Are you interested?

Do you believe?

Do you believe that there is a special someone for everyone?

I do.

I believe there is a perfect someone for everyone.

You might not know this person yet.

You might not believe that such a person exists.

But I tell you the truth, this person DOES exist.

This person never misses a phone call from you.

This person will never turn their back on you.

This person wants to give you the best of everything.

This person wants to spend all the time in the world with you.

In fact, even when you don't want to spend time with this person, this person would wait patiently for you....

This person of course is God. :)

You might have already met Him,

You might have never heard of Him.

Either way, give Him a chance. He is waiting. :)

Reflections:

Today in English sermon, Ted's message gave me an insight that struck me quite hard.  This is the first time I truly realize how God value His time with us.  We just tell Him when we want to meet with Him and He'll be there waiting, like we are some sort of VIP; when in reality, it's the complete opposite.  I was just simply awe struck.  I cannot comprehend why the person who created us, would humble Himself and meet with us according to OUR schedule.  Simply amazing.  Simply love.  Incredible.

Pre-Valentine's Day

Valentine Day History

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialized. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

The following images are amazing, I believed the person who drew the 2nd and 3rd images was offered a job to work with Matt Groening!!