During Open House week, we had an unexpected addition to our family.
Zachy with "Eleanor of Aquitaine"
My 11 yr-old nephew, Zachary (he's 7 months older than Hannah), came to stay with us for the week since there was no one at home to care for him. His mother was away with his middle brother's Washington DC trip; his oldest brother was at a school missions trip in Mexico and his Dad was transitioning to a new position at work.
Dinner with E-Jeung
You see, his school was on Spring Break when his brothers' school was not. With mom and brothers away and dad working 12 hour days, he was going to be shipped off to Goong Goong and Popo's house (his grandparents) for the week.
Nothing against my parents but it's not very fun to hang out with your grandparents 24/7 especially when the grandparents watch and listen to Chinese radio and TV and grandpa goes to Ti-chi and grandma goes to tutor at Kumon every day.
So being the loving and generous auntie that I am, I offered to take Zachy in for the week even though my girls still had school to attend. From 8am-3pm it was just me and my rental son.
I wanted him to feel at home and to have fun. It was his Spring Break! So every day I took him out to lunch to eat his favorite foods. (Dragon BBQ deep fried chicken, McDonalds, Ohana BBQ, Costco pizza) In turn, he followed me everywhere I went: my weekly grocery shopping to Safeway, Marina, Target and Costco (went to Costco twice that week actually). He followed me around the school and waited as I went to my meetings. He even waited patiently for an hour when I got a pedicure.(I got him a new Nintendo game for his early birthday present so he was happy.)
At home with me, he watched one DVD a day (Rise of the Guardians, Epic, Tinker Bell-Pirate Fairy) and played his Nintendo. Once the girls came home, he was much more alert and entertained. He watched all sorts of cartoons with the girls, Arthur, Martha Speaks and made crafts, iron on pearl bead shapes, and played school with Hannah and her stuffed animals. He was a very good guest teacher. He even watched YouTube music videos and sang along with the girls. One of their favorites was "Happy". He adjusted to 'sisterhood' quite easily which was quite impressive if you only lived your whole life with two bossy big brothers.
Denny's lunch
On his last day with us, Good Friday, I took him and the girls out to watch Rio2 and ate lunch at Denny's before I dropped him off at his Dad's work. He didn't seem to miss his parents nor brothers and was happy to hear that his brother was bringing him gifts from DC.
It was a true pleasure having a 'son' in the family. He was very helpful: unloaded and carried groceries without me even asking (my sister trained him well); he never complained; but he ate like a bird. Seriously, my girls (who really don't eat that much) ate more than him. He is an extremely picky eater by choice. Rice and seaweed are his main staples and I stocked up on seaweed packs before he came. I know my sister cooks up a storm every day and buys a ton of groceries. I have learned that it is not for Zachary that she is cooking and buying for. (It's the 'Big Man' aka Daniel #1 brother).
Unfortunately he acclimated to 'our family' schedule quite quickly. My sister says he's an early riser (7:30am) and early to bed (8:30pm). Well.. at our house he woke up later and later each day (on his last morning with us it was 9:30am) and slept later and later (one night it was already 11pm and he was falling asleep on the couch watching TV and he didn't even take a shower yet. He eventually got to bed at midnight that night).
Let's just say my sister wasn't happy with 'that' schedule and that type of care but you get what you pay for right?
It is THAT time of year again where the battle of the parents students Open House projects begins.
Fourth Grade theme is "Missions, Transcontinental Railroad or Gold Rush" 3-D project. Since Emily did the Transcontinental Railroad when she was in 4th grade, Hannah is supposed to choose a different theme than her sister's. (No 'recycling' a project if you know what I mean).
So Hannah chose Missions.. and the one she chose was one that she actually visited (abeit 3 years ago.. yes we plan early!)
Mission Santa Clara
2011 Mission Santa Clara
In front of the Mission
Hannah and her Daddy drew and cut out the foam pieces to construct the building.
Hannah's Mission Santa Clara
I totally forgot that I coordinated a wedding in this church (my first Catholic wedding) for my cousin Ben and his wife Grace.
Hannah designed and printed out the interior.
Hannah's was the only Mission in her class that had a removable roof.
In sixth grade, Emily had to choose a medieval life to depict. All the Middle Schoolers had to dress up and 'be' their famous person. On the evening of Open House each one stood in front of their completed poster board with a "pretend black 'on' button" on their table. As you go to them, you 'press' their black button and they share about their famous selves in 2 minutes or less.
Emily was Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western Europe during the High Middle Ages (1124-1204).
Emily said she gave her presentation over a dozen times that evening.
I must say I was totally impressed with the quality of presentations and costumes that each 6th, 7th and 8th grader presented.
Hannah went to the ACSI Speech Meet again this year representing her 4th grade class along with two of her classmates.
Hannah with Sabrina (who memorized a bible verse) and Laneya (who memorized a folktale)
She memorized a poem called "Secret of Happiness" by Helen Steiner Rice.
Every student was a winner since everyone receives a ribbon. 15 students came from KHA from grades 1-6.
Nine Christian schools from around the Bay Area were represented and over 150 students competed. Three ribbon levels were awarded: Superior, Excellent and Good
Hannah received a Good ribbon for her speech. She was doing so well until the end where she froze and forgot her next line. Eventually she recovered but points were deducted for her hesitation. It's not easy speaking in front of a room of 70+ people. But she did her best and she had a great attitude after some crying in her friend's arms. She decided that she wants to get all the colors of the ribbons. Yes! What a great idea!
Emily was the only student to represent her 7th grade class at the ACSI Math Olympics this year at the host school, Milpitas Christian (Mandy and Kyle's former alma mater). I guess at this age kids don't care to spend their Saturday at school taking some math tests. But not my daughter. If she's invited, she will go! Her Pseudo-Tiger Mom says!
Emily receiving her ribbon from the MCS principal.
And she ribboned in 5th place in 7th Grade Reasoning. This is her 5th year going to the Math Olympics and she has ribboned every year except the first year she went. That was when she was in third grade. (Maybe she didn't have a very good teacher that year! LOL!)
Each student had to take four 11-minute tests in one of two categories: Computation or Reasoning.
Emily has always preferred reasoning over computation. Do you know what Reasoning is?
WORD PROBLEMS! I'm thinking.. are you serious? That is definitely NOT from me! I get confused reading instructions on a cake mix box.
Over 126 students participated from seven Christian schools in the Bay Area. KHA sent 20 students and 10 ribboned! So proud of our kids! (Of course you notice everyone is Asian or Indian.)
Today is Mother's Day and we had our annual church slideshow to honor and celebrate Moms or Dads. This year it was Moms. (We alternate each year so next year the fancy slideshow will be pictures of the dads with their kids.)
FCC Portrait 2014
Sometimes it's hard to relate with our moms until we become one. This video below tells the truth and nothing but the truth!
Our Founding Pastor's wife, Marti Williams, preached during Sunday Service today. It was
absolutely appropriate since she was sharing about how her relationship with her mother and mother-in-law molded her to become the mother and grandmother she is today.
She had nine pieces of advice and I loved them so much that I wanted to share them with you with my interpretation of her insights.
1. Just "BE" with Jesus so you can fully give like Jesus.
Being a mother is about giving. Giving until it hurts. Giving until you are empty and exhausted. And Marti says you cannot give when you are empty so we need to fill ourselves with Jesus on a daily basis. We need to just be still and know he is God. The One who can truly give us all we need to be the best mother we can be to whomever we are 'mothering' whether you are caring for your own children, someone else's children, your students, or your parents who have aged to the point that they are like children.
2. Do not compare your children with other children.
You will never get pleasure out of that. There will always be a child that is better in something than your child and someone that is not. Why is that important? Does it make you love your child any less or more? So forget about comparing.
3. Don't compete with your child or live the life you wished you had through your child.
Celebrate who they are. Praise them for their uniqueness and strengths. Encourage them in their passions. Don't make them feel bad because they are not like you when you were a child. Don't put pressure on them to be someone you wished you were, or make them into someone you want them to become.
4. Be present with your child.
Sit, talk, listen, watch, and enjoy your child. We moms tend to do that more when our kids were little since we don't want them to put something dirty in their mouths or touch something that is dangerous. You don't want to miss their 'first step' so you watch them like a hawk. But as they get older and more self sufficient, watching and admiring them wanes. When adults reflect on their childhood they don't remember the items that you bought them, but instead remember the times you spent together. Don't stop making those memories.
5. Be patient. Hold your tongue.
When growing up Marti shared that her mother never ever criticized her nor said anything negative about her (at least to her face). Her mother was always encouraging and filled with praise for her daughter. (Now you know she did not come from an Asian family! LOL!)
Because of her upbringing, Marti's words to others are always words of praise, thankfulness and encouragement. That is just who she is. When she married Pastor Sherman, her mother-in-law let her son go and never ever came between her son and his wife. She cherished Marti and respected her as her son's wife, her new daughter, and the mother of her grandchildren.
How freeing is that? I mean WOW! That is so freeing. I would not have needed to learn to how build up my own self-esteem because of my parents' negative criticism of me while I was growing up. But of course that is a different culture. Giving praise meant giving someone a 'big head' and that was a no-no in the Chinese culture. You need them to be constantly striving to be better so the negative criticism pushes you to do better, while positive praise makes you lazy and ungrateful. But my mother had good intentions. I don't think I am who I am without what she taught me. To never take anything for granted. To work hard and spend wisely. Buy what you need not what you want. Stay loyal to family. Family will always be there for you. Family willl never leave nor abandon you. My mother worked 24/7 to provide everything that I needed until I got married, so life for me as a newlywed can be fresh, new and free. She sacrificed her needs and wants to provide for her children. She still gives unconditionally to me and to her grandchildren.
My mother-in-law, Pauline (left) and my mom , Dolly (right)
I have to say that I can relate to one of Marti's relationships. My mother-in-law is the perfect mother-in-law. Yes, I am biased but it's true. She loves me for who I am, never uttering a negative criticism nor comment. She never puts her son in a position that he has to choose between me or her. She freely gives, lavishly encourages, and praises me and loves me unconditionally. She prays for me, and she shares the love of Christ to my unbelieving parents. She never stops sharing to them. I know that God will hear our requests. One day they will know Jesus as their Lord and Savior in part because my mother-in-law is a determined and faithful prayer warrior.
6. Do not disrespect your spouse in front of your children.
Children model and emulate us at a very young age. They want to be like us. They want to dress like us and do what we do. They watch us and learn how to treat others by watching how we treat each other. They can tell if you don't like someone, disrespect someone, or if you're just being fake with someone. They get it. They see it. And they will copy you. You are damaging their relationship with your spouse if you treat your spouse disrespectfully in front of them.
7. Don't tell your children how to raise their children.
(Well I'm not there yet but I will listen to this piece of advice.) Just don't go there. They know how you think. You spent their whole childhood with them. They know what you will say. Just leave it at that for the sake of preserving your relationship with them.
8. Let It Go..
Marti shared her own daughter's insights on the subject of motherhood:
"Release your agenda for your child. Don't try to create your child in your own image. Be attentive to who they are, who God created them to be, and help them discover their purpose and calling and dreams that may be different from your own. Know that no matter what, there are no formulas, and trusting God with their lives is all we can do in the end." Christy Williams Ingebretson
9. There is no way to do it all right.
We do our best with what we've been given, and ask God to redeem the rest! Calloused knees help! (quoted from Marti's friend, Mary) Yes we need to pray for our children. And not only for good health, safety, good grades, nice friends, get into a good school so they can get a good job so they can find a good mate so they can build a great family so their kids in turn can have a good life etc..
Here are seven additional specific things to pray for your children:
1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from hearing.
2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful, persistent call.
3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.
4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.
5. That their thoughts will be pure.
6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.
7. That when the time is right, they will GO!
(borrowed from Jon Bloom, Seven Things to Pray for your Children)
I hope you were encouraged with these words of wisdom as I was today.
If you want to watch Marti's whole sermon, you can check it out here: Mother's Day 2014
I do weddings, showers, retreats, conferences, VBS, birthdays and even a memorial and funeral or two. But an all school fundraiser? A Jog-A-Thon? This I have never done before. But life isn't fulfilling unless you do something new right?
So I put on my first all school event + it was a fundraiser which upped the stress level since it involved money. So guess who did all the admin stuff? Yep.. I was so anal about tracking every penny that I had to do it all. Next time I r-e-a-l-ly need to delegate but since it was my first time and I pretty much didn't know if it would flourish or flounder, I needed to have control. So if it went sour they can blame it all on me!
The kids ran in 2 sessions: K-3 and 4-8 graders. Above are the 4-8 graders.
A Jog-A-Thon is kind of like coordinating a wedding. Instead of focusing on the bride and groom you focus on your guests. Instead seating all your guests, your guests just run around and around for 30 minutes.
4th graders coming around the bend... Hannah is on the far right
The bride, groom, musicians, pastor, scripture reader, candlelighters
are all your parent volunteers each having specific tasks to do at a
specific time: lap talliers, drink stationers, tabulators, BBQers,
snack distributors, balloon blowers etc..
7th graders around the bend and Emily getting smooshed by her friends
As for the mother and father of the bride and groom, it's the principal and administrators that you keep happy showing them that you have everything under control. Basically you keep them away from everything, don't give them a task. All they need to do is to be there and look happy!
2nd graders : my niece, Marissa (in the red and black striped shirt) staying strong
As for the gifts, well.. our school goal was a lofty $10,000. That is a ton of money for a 160 student body. But God showered us with His blessings and we exceeded our goal and raised over $15,000!
The Drink Station.. some kids just stood there and drank and drank and drank. We almost went through 600 cups in 30 minutes by the K-3 kids
I would have been happy with $5,000 since the previous month we just finished raising funds for Mission Month for a school in Guatemala. It is asking a lot of the parents who are already shelling out a ton of tuition money to attend KHA to give more money to their school.
Parent Lap Talliers: Hannah is getting her tally from her Auntie Matthea (Goo-Jeh)
So I was so blown away by their generosity when we exceeded our goal to raise funds for our PE/Athletic Dept.
Hannah is very light on her feet and apparently very fast, I was told by her PE teacher
Not only did we have great kids and generous parents but we also separately received over $1,400 in parent donations for raffle prizes, a souvenir water bottle for each participant, snacks, etc.....
Emily and her good friend Caryn
...and I had over 20 parent volunteers helping me through this one-month
event with the majority of them running the day-of event. It could not
have been a success without them. I am sure of it!
Each student had a lap card pinned on their back to track their laps
This event proved and
solidified the importance of parental involvement in our children's
school. Since starting POPS (Partnership of Parents and School.. aka our
version of the PTA) this year at KHA, I knew that if we pulled together
parents to be personally involved in their child's school, great things
will happen! And it did!
My co-horts: Brad Monk, PE Teacher/Athletic Director (the money was all for him to spend!) and Cynthia Chambers, Director of Student Affairs... my boss at least for this event
Now because I was in charge of this event didn't mean that my girls didn't have to work hard to raise funds either.
Emily ran 20 laps (2.5 miles) and Hannah ran 19 laps (2.4 miles)
Class Competition Chart: Hannah's 4th grade class won for the highest average per student and Emily's class won for highest amount per class.
In fact they worked super hard and I have many of you readers to thank for your generous donations in supporting them.
Our money thermometer tracker
Hannah raised the most funds out of the whole school with $718 and won the Amazon Kindle Fire. Emily won one of the bonus raffles prizes: a $50 Target gift card. She raised $681. (The 2nd highest)
Happy Winners
And no, the majority of the monies were not donated by us. You kidding me? I must have logged over 150 hours on this event alone! Basically 'working' full time for a month for no pay!
Next year, they want to do another Jog-A-Thon this time to raise funds for our Music and Arts Program. UGH! I'm tired already thinking about it!
Many thanks go to Ralph Anderson for the gorgeous pictures of the event!
Every afternoon even on the weekends there is always a lot of commotion coming from behind by backyard. Kids talking. Kids laughing. When I try to peek out there to see what's going on, I can see them but I can't see what they are doing. I've always wondered what they were doing back there.
The view of the back of my house behind my fence.
Well.. now I know. They were planting, irrigating, weeding etc.. Behind my backyard is Tule Ponds, a wildlife sanctuary to many animals and plants that reside in the area along with having a natural constructed wetland combined into a single ecosystem.
It looked like a mini greenhouse was being created behind my backyard. Oh I wish we had a part of this land! My backyard would be so much bigger!
It is not open to the public rather it is open by appointment and reservation only. They mainly host school field trips and student and/or adults who desire to do some community service.
Emily and her friends, Caryn & Adrianne, getting ready to do some physical labor!
Eww ..don't want to know how many other people have used those same gloves!!
To celebrate Earth Day, KHA's middle school worked on several restoration projects:
non-native plant removal and...
Our 8th graders pulled weeds.. looks like they're working in the rice paddies in Vietnam right?
...dry brush removal from the trails.
6th graders shoveling dry brush
Even weeding the potted plants.
My house is just a few doors down this street from this spot!
It was a great opportunity to help restore and preserve God's creation in our hometown. The kids also took it one step further to support our environment by walking from school to the Ponds (1.55 miles) and taking public transportation back to the school.
My daughter, on the other hand, instead of taking the bus back to school for me to pick her up to come home, walked all the way home by herself. She exited the gate (see above) and walked to our house just a few yards away. :)
That was literally the very first time she walked all the way home after school all by herself.
