What a HOOT!

We are all just a bunch of monkeys sometimes...haha

Taiwan Taipei ZOO!!!

At the ZOO!!!

If you look closely, you can see Joy in the middle of the Flamingos. It was crazy how she snuck away and got in there.

We had such a blast at the zoo with our friend, Flora.

Joy is a Quiet Baby... hahaha

Now you can get a taste of what Church is like for us!

Joy's new baby

Incredible--how early the female nurturing instinct begins...

How lovely is a nurturing woman! How beautiful! How influential and impacting. For truly, it is LOVE and GENTLENESS not POWER or MONEY that makes the biggest difference in the end.

And yet the world rather glorifies "being tough"...persuading women to become more like men.
What a sad loss. (not that we don't need men. But rather that we need women in society--just like every man needs a woman!)

Best Video Ever: Joy Performing

Now you see what we go through when we go out...and there is music...!!!

Mommy and Daughter Date

Mommy and Daughter going out for a night on the town!

Bonding Time

Don't worry Joy was later clothed...

Yes, I admit, there are those days when mommy just doesn't have the energy...and Joy plays on the playground with just her diaper on...(the grandmas who sit around just love it!)

Jiu Fen Market...CROWDED

Hanging out with friends at one of the famous Markets...

during a holiday...

a rainy holiday...

and eating delicious dim sum, pancake ice cream, and peanut with cilantro ice cream rolls...(who would have ever thought that that combo would taste good!)

Dinner with Friends

Take a look at the "Cutest Babies of the Year"

Here we are with our friend and her daughter at one of the best restaurants in Taiwan.

So Yummy.

I swear I ate half of all the dishes.

the Fake Out

The Wet-the-Floor "Fake Out"

Maybe this is a crude Post...but James wanted me so badly to post it (more for our own memory).

Tonight we went to dinner with a friend. While there, I drank too much-Water that is. As usual, with my small bladder, I urgently asked the waiter where the bathroom was. By my "dancing", he clearly realized the urgency of the situation.

While trying to help me find the restroom, I saw how worried the waiter was. I just couldn't help it. I had to give him a good scare.

I suddenly stopped, looked down toward my feet, pointed to the floor, and with a horrified expression said, "uh-oh".

You should have seen the look on his face!He was MORTIFIED. His hands went up to his mouth to hide his shocked face. But his eyes and gasp said it all.

Oh, what a good laugh! hahaha

These are the moments that I revel in...

Favorite Vids

These are now my favorite Videos.

I watch them often...

(2 minutes long)

(1) Create
(2) Moments that Matter Most

I get teary almost every time...!

Joy, The Arab

This is Joy...playing dress up or something like that...

So cute.

She loves to put random pieces of clothes on her head and then walk around like she owns the place.

I love being a mommy to this darling little piece of art.

I wouldn't trade these moments for any "Nobel Prize" or other fame and grandeur that the world has to offer.

To Joy- I am the world. I am the "Nobel Prize." I am the most influential person in her life.

I want to enjoy every minute of the "fly-by" 18 or so years that I will have her with me.

*Ps. I want to thank my dad for correcting some spelling errors... :) haha

My B-Day: Nothing went Right...But everything turned out Perfect

On my b-day I was taught a PERTINENT LESSON: How to enJOY Life

At first, I wanted to celebrate my birthday in a fun way: go to the parade in the morning (it is also Taiwan's 100th Birthday), go see the fireworks at night, go to a nice restaurant...

But then, thanks to a great conversation with April, we realized that all of that leaves you unfulfilled still. We realized that what would really make this day beautiful and joyful is to try and serve others and bring them joy and love. So April and I thought of ideas how I could serve James, Joy...etc.

Suddenly, without selfish expectations, nothing can really get you down.

So when the parade didn't work out...Or the Fireworks...Or the Market...Or the Restaurant...I was not irritated or let down!

Rather, I was so content and at peace. Why?

Because I spent the day deliberately living for others. I enjoyed helping James finish his homework until late in the evening because I wanted to show my love for him.

I loved missing the fireworks because we got to simply chat with our hotel friends.

To my surprise, these sweet friends brought out a delicious Birthday Cake!!! YUMMMMMY.

Best Birthday Ever. Because my soul was filled by loving others.

What the Adults do in the Evening...

The "playground"...but not just for KIDS!!!

The Temple of Heaven

And then there is the "Chi"

We are learning to go slower...be one with God's creations...appreciate our bodies...learn to be more united and loving with your community around you.

The people in Asia are so ready and so hungry for more Truth (the Gospel of our Lord.)

They are so kind. So giving. And so able to recognize Light.

Mommy's new way of Feeding JOY

I have learned quickly--feeding Joy means staining her clothes...and mine.

The bibs just don't do the trick.

Joy wants to do it herself. I don't blame her. Mommy is just not quick enough.

So Mommy has improvised...

Beijing's Brides

love...weddings...THE GOWNS

Every day we would see at least 5 brides (with their grooms) taking photo shoots nearby James' work at this Catholic Cathedral (surprise surprise--in this mostly atheist country, the cathedral is more of a tourist location and a place where all the adults gather at night to get their "dancing" in...or work out.)

We learned quickly that these couples likely wouldn't get married for another year. But because the appearance of the wedding (the "Face") was so important, they had to start early....And start EXPENSIVE.

the Pavarotti...who knew they were in China???

It is so hilarious.

We constantly catch people--especially girls--sneaking pictures of Joy. They will act as if their friend is posing nearby and then "snap" a photo of Joy.

Other times, as you can see here, they are outright obvious.

For some reason, Joy does not fear all the crowds...I think it is simply because she loves people. (see my other fav scripture-- Moroni 8:16)

Joy's New Hat & Daddy...THE MONSTER...

It is so funny. Joy finds the funniest way to "wear" things. She loves to dress up.

Yes. She is only 1 year old.

The new thing now is the pants or skirts as a hat. I really am impressed with how creative she is. I don't mind her wearing it out in public. (I know--I'm an odd mom. But then--I think she looks cute in whatever she wears. So who cares what others may think? *Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 2:22 "Cease ye from [Fear not] man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?"

And here is what my cute hubby does almost every night...(He loves it -- and needs it--as much as Joy does:)

the "Squater Toilet"

FOR ALL THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT A "SQUATER TOILET" IS...

*James and I are still figuring out to go and come away completely dry...

**It is only for those with flexible legs. Surprisingly, the men here can all squat just fine. It's the male foreignors who have the trouble..

20 Hour Train Ride...in a flea-infested bed...

Yes, this is where our true China adventure began.

This is where our eyes were opened to see how most of China actually lives. It was truly incredible...eye-opening...depressing...awe-inspiring...and VERY WORTH IT.

The train ride.
20 hours.
With a baby.

A screaming, loud, energetic baby.

And a screaming banshee for a wife (j'k--but there were times when I sure wanted to! haha)

Let's just say--that the train wasn't your average sanitary train ride.

OK--so they didn't wash the bed sheets or pillows--I watched with my own eyes as they just fluffed them up and folded them back onto the train beds (4 beds to every room). That explained why there were black hairs all over my sheets and pillow.

The squater toilets--were fabulous. Urine would slosh all around and get all over your feet.

But to be honest--I would do that train ride all over again. It was beautiful to see how these humble people would give their shirts off their backs for you. How they would give almost all of their train snack food just because they wanted to help us out with Joy.

*See 1 Sam. 16: 7 "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord loketh on the heart."

And to see the gorgeous landscape. Breathtaking.

China is breathtaking.

Joy's Hair Fettish

I don't know why Joy has this thing with Hair...

In order to relax, she MUST find my hair and then tangle her fingers in it before she can go to sleep. (Hence, the thinner hair.)

Unfortunately, Joy also likes little children's hair as well. (This little friend's especially-because it is so fine and angelic). This is a shot of what often happens...

mOrE Cute Shots of Joy

Isn't she A DOLL???

I LOVE HER! She is such a blast.

Joy IN b l u e

B L U E

CUTEST BATH VIDEO EVER

This is Joy ("Le Le" is her Chinese name. It means Happiness) taking a bath with our friends' little girl.

Joy with her "I-don't-care" hairdoo

Oh the simple joys of motherhood!

These are the times when I am so grateful I am blessed to get to stay home and not have to provide. I get to raise and mold an eternal being! Rather than influence the outcome of some law suit and make loads of green paper afterward...where is the lasting Joy and sense of fulfillment in that???

On the Plane to China…

I feel bad for the people on our plane.

But on the other hand...we brought free entertainment--who happened to be darling (and loud).

Joy is literally a bundle of energy. She has a mind of her own. She knows where she wants to go and what she wants to do. Even my attempts at distracting her toward something that I deem less dangerous do not deter her.

Joy was so funny on the plane! We sat ther next to this sweet older Chinese man. Joy was climbing all over us (that is-all three of us.)

The worst part came when we were brought our lunches. Joy immediately grabbed the bread and fruit with both of her hands and threw it on the ground. While James was reaching down to get the bread off the floor, Joy quickly (it's amazing how fast those little hands can MOVE!!) went for the main course and threw part of it toward the sweet man next to us--who managed to dodge it. James and I just looked at each other and did what was the only thing we could do after a long and embarrassing flight--Laugh.
(Don't worry--we also tried to scold her and show her the consequences...but that just makes her more mischievious and she wants to do it again.)

By the end of the flight--we had a whole family behind us who saw our plight and played with Joy.

Lesson learned: (1) Laughter is sometimes the only way to cope with things in life...
and (2)avoid traveling with small children for long periods of time :)

L I F E =to grow, to love, to stretch, to wisen, ... to B E C O M E

GOOD TIMBER

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got it's share of rain,
Never became a forest King
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees,
The further the sky, the greater the length,
The more the storm, the more the strength,
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow

Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

By Douglas Malloch

This is one of my favorite poems. It speaks Truth so profoundly and simply.

Truly, this is one of the great purposes of this life--to become like our Father... In every sense of the word. Is there not a more beautiful destiny of us, His children that that? There was no easier way. We needed this tough earth life. To learn the godly qualities of patience, love, kindness, endurance, humility, strength...

One that I have learned (am learning) recently is: To grow broader shoulders. The only reason I was able to endure law school (pregnant) and study for the Bar (with a baby) and then during the Bar strain my neck muscles (see the first post-with my neck brace) and not have a nervous breakdown (at least not often!)--is because of this reminder.

My dear dad reminded me several days before the Bar: "Christy, you need not let this run your life, ruin your nerves, or consume your energy. This test is so small in the eternal perspective. You will look back and wonder why you were so consumed and nervous about a test. There are more important things. And you can meet anything! For heaven sakes-You are a daughter of a God. And He has a lot more on His plate than that. You must learn to "grow broader shoulders...stronger shoulders." You must learn to not break when hard things come upon you. You must learn to become more like Him." Amen Dad!

Joy's Language...

This is what Joy usually sounds like.

We call it the "Bit-a-bit-a" language.

She fearlessly uses it to contact everyone she decides to ...well, contact. (Adults, children-whom she unfortunately scares sometimes)

If there are any ideas about what she is saying...Please contact us at 1-989-755888888 haha

She is darling. She brings my hubby and I truly so much JOY.

Going Asian...

JOY.

Chinese Outfit.

She Always Wears.

Need I say more???