2018 Messenger

Volume 23 Issue 1 2018

Merry Christmas to our family and friends! December comes around much too quickly. May you experience God's joy and peace during this Christmas season. We'd love to hear from you!

Blessings to you,

Matt, Cezanne, Emily & Hannah

EMILY (18 years)

We threw Emily a surprise 18th birthday party with her friends from preschool to high school!

“I’ve been enjoying my last year of high school by taking a lighter load of classes with some fun classes as well. Spirit week was super fun dressing up, going to rallies, and spending time with my friends as seniors. I love taking photos of my backyard birds and also filming a home video of our DC/NY trip. Recently, I’ve been volunteering at a bunny shelter every week and I became a foster mom for a friendly gray bunny. College apps have kept me busy, but I’ve submitted them all and have even heard back from one. God has guided me through this entire process since the year began, telling me not to worry about what’s to come, everything works out in the end.”

Emily is a Senior at WHS and is thankful that the stress of college apps are done! She is considering graphic design as a possible major in college. She grew up fast all of sudden: she got her drivers license, drives herself to school every day, lost her wisdom teeth, and started volunteering weekly at a rabbit shelter in Richmond (driving 1 hour each way)! This true introvert transforms into an 'extrovert' whenever you ask her about bunnies, birds or books (in that order of importance).

On Emily's bucket list: to visit the world renowned bird research lab in Ithaca, NY

Sandhill Cranes at the Reifel Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver, BC

Some of Emily's creations: a poster for one of our church events and one of her bird photos she took herself!

Last Spirit Week antics!

Emily's bunny heaven!

Emily fostered Owen from House Rabbit Society in Richmond.

HANNAH (15 years) @am_hannah

Hannah's 8th grade promotion from Fremont Christian School

“My highlights of 2018: 8th Grade Disneyland Trip, 8th Grade Promotion, DC/NY Trip, Sadie Hawkin’s Dance. This year God has taught me that he is always there for me and will never leave me. When I’m stressed or worried, he reminds me that he’s always by my side in every situation; good or bad.”

Hannah is a Freshman at FCS. She began attending FCS in junior high and decided to stay through high school instead of attending the same school as her big sister. At the end of 8th grade, she went on her first overnight trip (school trip to Disneyland) without either of her parents. Hannah realized that she really enjoyed singing in the junior high girls chorale, so she decided to continue in high school concert choir. It requires a bit of dedication since practice is before school starts. She loves fashion, skincare (K-Beauty fan), shopping, and being on her phone all the time (youtube/Instagram).

Loves to pose for pictures!

A postulant in FCS' "The Sound of Music"

Hannah and her Squad

The Three Good Fairies at the Sadie Hawkins Dance

FCS Concert Choir

Fall concert at FCS

MATTHEW

Sore joints and "mysterious" aches keep reminding Matthew that he is getting OLD! But he loves being active so he just lives with the pain instead of giving up basketball or snowboarding. A friend from church invited him to join their 30-30-30 challenge: 30 sit ups, 30 push ups, and 30 squats every day for a year. He fell for the "trap" because now it's morphed into the 55-55-55 challenge! Despite the aches, Matthew is constantly grateful for good health, being able to exercise and enjoy sports, and having opportunities to build on friendships at work and at play.

Matthew considers it a privilege to be able to mentor and encourage fellow team members whether it's at work or at church. Work life can be challenging and stressful at times, especially when coworkers are not getting along with each other. Matthew says it's only through constant prayer and the grace of God that helps get him through each day.

This year is Matthew's 30 year high school reunion (yes he is that old). He still keeps in touch with his old group of HS friends, and they planned their own mini-reunion get togethers outside of the main event. It was a sweet time of reconnecting, especially with one good friend that he hadn't seen in almost 20 years!

Doing his 30-30-30 in Tahoe

Old friends, still young at heart

Informal 30th High School Reunion

 CEZANNE @mamacez2017

“Diving In” is how I would describe this year. I subbed only a few times just to support a teacher-friend who had to care for an ailing mom. Now since KHA K-5 school has temporarily closed for a future re-org and reboot, I've completely stopped teaching and dove myself into church ministry. I continue to oversee Women’s Ministry, co-lead our Life Group, and assist our Youth Pastor at FCC,  plus added overseeing Hospitality and Welcoming Teams. I also dove into researching colleges for Emily to look into and boy, was that an educational experience. Let’s just say that applying to colleges was nothing like when I did it 34 years ago! I also immersed myself into travel planning, spending hours researching and planning our DC/NY trip for Hannah’s 8th grade graduation celebration, and also planning a good friend’s 50th birthday weekend at Women's Retreat Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center. My next assignments: planning New York in March for Hannah’s school choir trip and Japan in June for Emily’s graduation celebration.

Top: Ana, my Life Group co-leader since 2007. Bottom: Some of my wonderful ladies from Women's Ministry.

A special high school reunion to celebrate Darryl's (far right) life after a near death heart attack

My girls accountability group since 1989. Celebrating Marj's (front left) 50th birthday.

FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

College touring in LA; celebrating high school graduations; Ow family vacation to Washington DC and New York; the girls volunteering at Resonate Church’s Turn It Up summer camp; Ma family mini vacation to Monterey; being on the local news; and reconnecting with extended Ma family in Vancouver. 

The girls' cousin Joshua graduated with honors from The King's Academy... now attending Santa Clara University

Friend, Courtney, graduating Washington High School ... now attending California Baptist University

At DC's reflecting pool and the Washington Monument

Wall Street in New York

Volunteering at Turn It Up summer camp

Beach Bound in Monterey with Ma extended family

Ma Cousins at Monterey Bay Aquarium

We made the local TV news when we met our city's new police chief at our Neighborhood Watch potluck

The Gang is back! Old friends are precious!

Ma extended family from Vancouver, BC

Unbeknownst to me, my family decided to mock copy me after they took my picture. Life with teenagers!