2020 Messenger

Volume 25 Issue 1 2020

2020 has been one whopper of a year, hasn’t it? Definitely one that we never would have imagined (maybe in one of my Young Adult books)!

At times we felt disappointment, sadness, anger, frustration and pain when we focused on the loss. Yet there were also times of joy, peace, and blessing when we focused on the gain. Know that God is here with us and desires for us to come to Him especially when times are hard. 

"For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says. "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep under control. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.. " Psalm 32:7-10

May you know Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas!

What were your losses and gains for this year? Would love to hear from you. Comment below.

Here are each of our Top 5 Losses and Gains this year of Shelter-In-Place. 

Celebrated her 20th Birthday in Sept.

EMILY (20 yrs)

Loss

5. Miss volunteering at House Rabbit Society

4. No Alaskan cruise with cousins

3. Lost my room at home to my sister

2. Foster bunny Graham passed away due to megacolon

1. Missing a year of in person college schooling, along with missing college friends and events

Gain

5. Learned new baking skills ex: bolo bao, Bavarian cream banana cheesecake, sponge cake 

4. Added more crafting hobbies ex: macrame, cross stitching, punch needle, digital portraits

3. Started In home lash lift service

2. Fostering new bunnies (many that needed medication or healing from surgery) and seeing them get adopted

1. Lots of time to spend with family

HANNAH (17 yrs)

Loss

5. Lost my bed to my sister (I’m sleeping on the floor)

4. No relaxing summer due to AP summer homework and SAT prep

3. Track & Field season cancelled after one meet

2. Cancelled summer cruise to Alaska with my cousins

1.  Never got the chance to perform & compete in Choir competition at Disneyland with friends

Gain

5. Got a new smile after 23 months with braces

4. Still had a memorable choir trip (minus the competition) and an early departure back home

3. Made lots of new recipes with my sister

2. Started my driving hours in lower than usual traffic conditions

1. Hanging out with my sister for nine months plus getting free tutoring

My Girls Accountability Group - during SIP meet weekly on zoom and once in person

CEZANNE

Loss

5. Losing the opportunity to watch Hannah's school choir compete at Disneyland and to see Hannah compete in Track & Field in her sophomore year.

4. Full House 24/7: No longer having a quiet empty house for myself during the day.

3. Not being able to dine at our favorite restaurants.

2. Not having my hair colored to its ’natural’ color

1. Having to cancel our planned Alaskan Cruise with family and our Vancouver trip.

Gain

5. Bible Study: Matthew and I meet weekly with our former pastor to learn how to better understand and interpret God's Word.

4. New Church: Met some wonderful new friends through online prayer meetings.

3. Exercise-At-Home: Bought a MOTR and started attending Zoom classes for a full body workout.

2. Emily Home: Being at home, Emily was able to design some graphic projects for me and tutor her sister in some difficult subjects.

1. Reconnecting: Being able to reconnect with many friends and family (63 of them); and for my girls accountability group, weekly Zoom meetings (35x so far) vs our usual 2x/year meetings before SIP.

Celebrating his 50th this October

MATTHEW

Loss

5. Commute: Lost a 2 hour round trip commute and replaced it with a 1 minute round trip commute.

4. Quiet work environment: Our home doesn’t have a lot of space for 4 people to work/go to school at the same time.

3.Coworkers: Several of my coworkers were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic. My team shrank from 5 to 2.

2. Exercise: Our lunchtime basketball group hasn’t played ball since March.

1. Job: My department at work is being shut down. Everyone in my department will be out of a job at the end of the year.

Gain

5. Meeting new church friends via Zoom.

4. New in-house hair stylists (Emily & Hannah).

3. New opportunity to start my own architecture practice.

2. Regular zoom meetings with friends.

1. Extended family time since Emily is home from college.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR:

January- Visiting Apple headquarters with the Ngs

February - Visited FRIENDS Pop-Up @ AT&T with Sus

March - Move Emily out of CBU dorm due to SIP

June - One-day outing to Half Moon Bay w/ Lees

June - Graduations: Faith Lee (HS) and Marissa Sam (8th Grade)

July - Climbed Mission Peak

Sept - Extended Ma Family Day Trip to Bodega Bay

Nov - Celebrated Hannah's 17th Birthday at Pier 39

Nov - Distributed 139 bags of groceries to needy families for Hearty Harvest at Grace Church

Nov - Ma Family Thanksgiving- outdoors, masked, distanced

Nov- Ow Family Thanksgiving (minus my parents and sister's family)