Gratitude IMHO

If you know me well, I do not like change, was never good at it, never looked forward to it but life is filled with change and we have to adapt. I'm rarely bored. When I find something I like to eat at a restaurant, I usually order the same thing each time (salmon terayaki and hamachi kama at Japanese places). If I like a particular movie, I'll watch it over and over again (right now my favs are Crazy Rich Asians and AntMan and the Wasp). I take much comfort in the familiar, the routine, the predictable.

 So when unexpected change happens, it literally throws me for a loop.

This year has been filled with CHANGE for all of us. Some were unexpected.. some were planned.
Matthew's developed more aches and pains due to playing basketball. After 23 years, his company moved to a different building and had to adjust from working in a private office to an open shared space where he can't eat his lunch at his desk nor decorate it like he wants to.

His old private office to...

An open space with an adjustable desk

Emily got her driver's license and a car to drive; experienced a very slow and painful healing from the removal of 4 wisdom teeth; became an official adult; diligently worked on college apps for five months; goes an hour each way to volunteer at a bunny shelter every Saturday since July; and got our very first 'temporary' pet. She has fostered 3 bunnies already and will be on her fourth next month.

She fostered Owen, an adorably people friendly gray bunny who had hip surgery; and two black bunnies, Momo and her daughter, Won Ton, two extremely active girls.

Sadly, I had to turn my living room to a cardboard amusement park for the bunnies.

Hannah got braces (did not like) and contacts (does like); started school as a high schooler; had her first co-ed birthday party and was nominated (1 out of 4 girls) to be Homecoming Princess for the Freshman Class. She wasn't chosen but was honored to be nominated. It was a great surprise for her since she was new to the school.

Celebrating Hannah's 15th Birthday at the ice skating rink

I had vertigo, a strained rotator cuff, tendonitis in my hand and big toe and am currently going through menopause (do not like any of it).

We had five significant home repairs: re-grouting and caulking of the whole kitchen and bathroom;  fumigation from dry-wood termites, repaired part of a rotting roof, repainted the exterior of the house and fixed a broken furnace in the middle of a very cold winter. We even found a mouse in the attic!

The before and after of my sink was night and day!

The grouter took 4 long hard working hours to make my tiles look new again after 23 years of constant use and dirt!

After the fumigation, had to patch up cracks and created a totally different look for the house - March 1995 vs Dec 2018

I stopped teaching since KHA closed and didn't want to sub at a new school (don't like change remember?). So I spent most of my time doing administrative duties in various church ministries at FCC.

So even though I don't like change, change is inevitable .. it's a part of life and I am so GRATEFUL knowing that God does not change. He gives me great comfort and peace that in times of change He is unchanging. If I pray and lift all my anxiety and uncertainty to Him, He will take care of it. He healed my vertigo through a Pastor who has the gift of healing, as he prayed over me.

He is faithful and brings joy in the mist of change.

I embrace the change so that I can live life on how God has planned. He never wants us to live in the past. We should learn from the past not live in it.

Some changes are huge blessings...

I do like learning new ways on how to take care of my skin by using K(orean)-Beauty products and getting microdermabrasion facials (highly recommended from my sister-in-law). I have not changed my frequency of attending IMX Pilates classes (4-5 times a week) and it has significantly improved my flexibility, strength and stamina.

I'm in all these pictures if you look hard enough!

My mom, after 23 years, visited my MIL for the first time for Thanksgiving while my dad was in China. 

New additions to our families on each side:
This past summer, my baby cousin Tiffanie and her husband Roy, had an adorable little girl, Elliott Wen Movshovitz and Matthew's cousin Sherman and his wife Elaine had cutie Roman Jenkins Ma.

I know that there will be more changes next year as Emily goes off to college: for her to be independent and away from home (she's a homebody like me) and we adjust to 3 in our home;

Got acceptance letters from 3 out 7 of the schools already..

Hannah will need to adjust to not having an on-demand tutor at home (and it's not her father) and a buddy to hang out with; Matthew and I will be taking our first sans-kids trip to NY since having the girls to hear Hannah sing in Carnegie Hall with her school choir (Hannah will be with her friends instead of us the whole time) and I will be planning a Japan trip for Emily's graduation gift. (A completely foreign place for me to plan a trip: don't know the language, don't know anyone there; looking into local tour guides to take us around.)

But with all these changes the constant of having our Lord and Savior with us as we navigate life's twists and turns gives me peace and hope to what He has planned to come.

Of course, if it's completely crazy, outrageous, and not so good... don't change! LOL!

Happy New Year everyone!

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!

High School Fun

Last week was the 'last' Spirit Week for Emily as a Senior at WHS. Every morning the Seniors gather (as early as 4:30am) to rally themselves to be the most spirited class in the school.
Monday: Army
Tuesday: Hippy
Wednesday: Nerd
Thursday: Celebrity
Friday: Unity (School colors)

Emily went all out this year! Going out with a bang!

Backpack Emily joined by Alex Map and Dora Julian

Emily even participated and danced in the Senior Skit! 

Hannah went to her first high school dance.. a Sadie's Dance... a prize given to the best themed costumes.

The Three Good Fairies

Mary & Burt; Tourists; Insurance Guy; Baseball Fanatics and the Three Fairies

Some of Hannah's freshman classmates

I wasn't very involved in high school until my Senior year, being the true introvert as I am. Emily is taking my lead but Hannah has a head start!  Both had a great time at their respective schools.

Legal Adult

I threw a surprise birthday party for Emily's 18th.

Lunch at Jang Su Jang in Milpitas - Korean BBQ feast!

I gathered friends from both the schools she attended. So it was like a mini-reunion.

Kimber Hills Academy reunion of friends from Preschool - 8th grade 

Washington High School friends 9th-12th grades

Huge thanks to Danika who helped me keep this secret celebration a secret and helped pick up the balloons and cake and gather the kids for me at the restaurant. before we arrived.

Danika, Emily's devoted youth counselor,  created this beautiful favor card!

Emily didn't know what type of party she wanted and doesn't really like to bring attention to herself but I felt that 18 is a momentous age and we should celebrate her! I mean she had to find a new doctor because she can no longer go to her pediatrician whom she has seen her whole life. She is in a whole new age category when I book a flight or hotel for our family. I don't have to sign any documents for her as her parent/guardian. The next would be 21, legal age to drink alcohol, and 25, legal age to rent a car. Then it all goes downhill. Every age afterwards is non-celebratory except maybe 80!