This time last year ...

So it's been almost exactly a whole year since I've touched this blog. Unbelievable! It has really gone fast, but has been so very full of ups, downs, blessings, pauses, advances and retreats. So much more than I could even put in a blog post. More than I could probably remember. That being said, I will go over some of the highlights. :) (I will leave out the days when I was sad and cried or got angry haha ... or at least try, but some will probably sneak their way in)

I came back from Taiwan right before Christmas in 2010 and had no idea what to do with my life. I wasn't a student any longer, yet I wasn't really a professional. I didn't know if I wanted to continue school or if I was done. I didn't want to find a job working in another other except my area of study but those jobs seemed few and far between. Honestly, I didn't want to get a job at all. I was tired. I crammed a lot of school and two study abroad/missions trips into a few shorts years. All I wanted was to figure out what was happening to my life! And things just seemed to be going down a drain hole, with increasing speed. I had no vision, no purpose, no goal for my life. I felt trapped. Like life had just dropped me at a bus stop in the middle of no where, with nothing in walking distance and no other buses coming back through these parts for the foreseeable future. I felt so depressed.

On the home front, my mom was working out of the home, which she hadn't done since she had us (a loooooong time) and my dad was home on disability waiting for shoulder surgery. Needless to say, things were quite different on the home front.

Nothing with my life changed for the next several months. Nothing that memorable, anyways. lol A lot of frustration and exasperation with myself and with my seeming inability to change my circumstances. All I could do was wait.

On May 5th, my dad finally had his shoulder surgery after much delay! Thank God! He is recovering quite nicely and has regained his movement in the left arm. Good thing it wasn't his dominant arm this time!! Also in May, our church started going through a period that has been difficult in more ways that I can tell you or would be appropriate to discuss. Both as a family and as an individual, I was hurt in many ways. For probably the first time in my entire life, I dreaded going to church. It became a place I didn't feel safe in. People took sides against each other and the true colors of human nature are not a pretty sight. People from other churches and even other countries thought they knew what was going on, but what was really happening, we couldn't talk about or try to set the story straight because of reasons of respect. We had ministers come through and give the congregation lectures about respecting the ministry when they had no idea what our church was really going through or how broken we were. It didn't mean we weren't trying to respect the ministry. It was just that respecting the ministry wasn't the problem at all ... it was that we were the ones who needed to be supported by the ministry and we weren't getting any help or encouragement, only beaten down. We were bruised and crushed and no one seemed to see it. But God is a Help in the time of trouble. All I can say is that it was, and in some ways, still is, a really difficult situation. Slowly, I'm starting to feel some normalcy in my spirit, but I'm waiting on the Lord to either do a miracle here or direct me/our family to a change of location.

During that time, I also applied to grad school and got in! I'm now a student in the Masters of Teaching program in the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) track through USC. They started providing their program online so students out of the area can participate and it's a wonderful program. I attend classes every week through an online platform in which I get to see and hear my professors and fellow students. We also have small group study sessions so I feel totally connected to my classmates in a way that most online programs don't provide. I think it also fosters a sense of accountability because I have to look my profs in the eye every week!! lol

The same day I found out I was accepted into the program, I also got a lead on a teaching job here in town to Chinese student pilots! Isn't God good!! I ended up getting the job and have been working there about 7 months now. Monday through Friday, I lead two classes teaching Aviation English to "my boys." All my students are male as they are in pilot training and female pilots are rare, especially in China. They are a great group of young people and I enjoy them so very much. They keep me laughing!! I applaud their patience with me as I have tried my wings at teaching a subject that I previously knew little to nothing about! They are real troopers!

However, this phase of my employment will soon be ending because my company is closing the branch here. All my students will be moved to Redding in the near future and I'll see them no more. But, we have each others' info for Chinese facebook, etc. so we'll stay connected for sure! They have told me when I come to China, to call them up and they will show me around. I hope to take them up on that offer someday in the not-too-distant future.

Right before school started last fall, I bought a mac. :) My computer was getting tired and I made the very logical argument that, because my program was entirely web-based, I would need a computer that would be a pro at media. It arrived somewhere around the 10th of September and I have been in love every since. <3

So, where does that leave me now? I just finished the 3rd week of this quarter, only 7 more weeks to go! Then we have summer quarter, which will last from April to June, and then I'm off for the summer. One more quarter in the fall and I'll be finished with my degree. It's a quick program but they make you work for it! ;)

This last Tuesday, I started observation hours. I sit in a 3-hour long ESL(English as a Second Language) class, watch the teacher, take notes, and then re-write them in a specific format answering certain questions for the professor. It's weird not being the student, nor the teacher in a classroom. It's also hard when I heard the students breaking class rules and I can't correct them!! lol It's hard to quiet the "teacher" in me sometimes. haha.

I'm going to Ladies Retreat in just a couple of weeks. This will be my first time to go to a Ladies Retreat and I'm excited! We are going to have a great time together in the Lord and enjoying each others' company. During that weekend, my grandma is going to be turning 91 years old (So I may come back home for the night to celebrate)! God has blessed us with her presence in our lives! Please continue to pray for her as I believe God is working in her heart and making her more sensitive to the things of God.

Currently, I'm trying to convince my older sister that we NEED to go back to the south-ish for a singles conference at the end of June. Not to prey on men, but to make friends! We need to get out more often and meet people! She and I are scheming about how to "modify" the trip, and possibly add another stop on the "way home." :)

I have picked up a terrible habit since coming home ... well, probably at least two ... 1. Chewing ice!!! 2. Online shopping!! It's addictive, I tell ya! And it comes right to your door!!!!!! What more could you ask for? Lol! But seriously, I am in the process of breaking those two habits! I have to in order to stay a sane woman! ;)

Well, I think that pretty much catches you up to speed on my life in big chunks! And, it's rather late here so I'm going to call it a night. I have mega laundry and room cleaning to do tomorrow, plus I need to do some reading/school assignments. In the afternoon, I'm talking Mom to lunch and to her birthday gift, a facial. Should be fun!

Until I write again, all my love~
Kate

P.S. One other thing! I forgot to mention that my job sent me on a trip to China during October! Me and a coworker went to do the prep work for selection of the next group of student pilots. The trip was quick and very busy, but we had a great time. The jacket I'm wearing in the picture below was bought at a silk factory in Beijing on that trip during our only day off! It was an amazing day! I also got to see/walk on the "Ba Da Ling" section of the Great Wall! That was an incredible moment to be sure! They say, "If you haven't been to the Great Wall, you haven't been to China!" I think there might be some truth to that! ;)

Where did the 7 go???????

My friend Brittany just went back to Taiwan after coming home for break during Chinese New Year. Much to her dismay, she relayed to me that our favorite 7-11 had been wiped out in her absence! Greatly disappointing indeed! That was our place to go for late-night runs to get Häagen-Dazs, phone cards, HSR tickets, pre-packaged sliced guava, pringles and Brittany's daily fix of coca cola!!! How tragic! Well, thankfully, since we are talking about Taiwan here, there is another 7-11 that is only about a 10 minute walk away from the dorm, right by the main gate. Still, it's much more inconvenient!!! lol

The excitement at our home never stops! My dad seriously broke his foot yesterday, thus postponing his surgery, which was scheduled for this coming Monday, another 4-6 weeks. He and my brother were trying to unload a piano by themselves from a truck and it went awry. My brother got pinned by the falling piano and couldn't get his hand loose. The piano was going to crush my brother so my dad wedged his foot somehow so the piano wouldn't further injure my brother and so that he could dislodge his hand. In doing so, his foot got broken.

In positive news, my parents are shifting things around and changing out some old things in our living room and dining room. It looks great and gives the rooms a fresh feel.

I feel like my life is a bit crazy right now. Last week I was out of town everyday. This week has been pretty busy so far, too, with all the adjustments and accidents. I need to finish up a nomination letter for one of my Davis professors who is a finalist for the Distinguished Teaching Award for 2010-2011. I'm "meeting" up with a friend of mine online tonight to help him proof a paper. I still need to take those books back to the library. And yes, my suitcases are still waiting for me. Ah, the juggling act we call life. On top of that, I'm in the "rethinking" process as far as where life is taking me in the next year or so. Hmmm a lot of prayer is required. My goal for now is just to stay at peace knowing that God loves me and is in control.

Sunday night, Bro. Scott asked me to share a testimony during service. I wanted to say something positive but I was feeling rather consumed just thinking about what is going on in my life and our family life, as well as thoughts of the future. No wonder the Bible admonishes us to think on things that are lovely and of good report. ;) Thinking about life can feel heavy at times. But anyways, I thought I would say something about love since I had just done the Sunday School lesson that morning about love and since Valentines Day was the next day. So I began about how the love of God keeps me. If it weren't for His love, I wouldn't understand how to make use of the joy and peace that I can find in Him. I feel like I am in a blender. God puts me and other life "ingredients" into the blender and then turns it on. All of the sudden the blender stops ... and the spinning slows down. And then more ingredients are added and the blender is turned back on, sometimes at a seemingly higher speed.

The comfort comes in knowing that God is the one in control of the blender. He is the Master Craftsman and knows exactly what recipe to use for my life. While I may not see what he's making now, the Bible promises that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it till the day of Jesus Christ. Just hang in there and enjoy the way the colors swirl as you're whirlin' by. :)

Home, home on the range ~

Greetings!! I'm not sure if anyone still checks this blog as I have greatly neglected it since arriving home.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Year of the Rabbit! Annnd almost Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

Contrary to what you may think, I did not, in fact, fall off the face of the earth. :D I've just not been disciplined enough to sit down and update. But here I go ~

Upon arriving home, Christmas was in the air and assisted, along with my friend Mr. Jet Lag, in keeping me distracted from the transition from Taiwan to California. I had a wonderful Christmas and was so blessed to be home in time for the holidays.

Next came New Years, which arrived with little fanfare. Although I have to admit that I'm still not accustomed to hearing and writing 2011 as our current year! January brought some birthdays with it, my mom and Tiffany. I hope you both have a blessed year. :) My dad was scheduled for surgery on the last day of January but it was postponed because of a recent respiratory infection.

So, that brings us to February! Which we have just barely started but are already about half-way through ... unbelievable! Presently, I'm sitting in the living room with my family around me, ease-dropping on an hilarious conversation my dad is having on speaker phone. I have library books in my room that are now overdue by about three days. And speaking of my room, it is calling my name because believe it or not, I have not completed unpacking my things yet. ^_^ haha ... ummm no further comment.

With February this year also came New Years for those who celebrate the lunar calendar. :) (In my dictionary, this translates as all my Asian friends and me ^_^) I was feeling in the mully-grubs about Chinese New Year because this is the first year since I've been "in" Chinese culture that I haven't been able to do something to celebrate. Little did I know, my mom was planning for us to go out to Chinese food as a family. :) It was so sweet and the food was great! During dinner, my dad used chopsticks for probably the first time in his life. It was pretty adorable. He was really doing his best and I appreciated his efforts more than I could explain. :)

There are two more points that I must share for your reading pleasure. Number one: This one is sort of a longer story but bear with me. Several weeks ago, my mom and I were going to grab some Chinese food for the first time since I've been home. Mom picked up the phone to call the restaurant that we usually order from to find out what time they closed. When she dialed I reached for the phone and told her I would try asking in Chinese and see what would happen. When the lady picked up the phone I said in Mandarin, "Hi, what time do you close tonight?" She replied in English, (with a Chinese accent, mind you), "Hello?" To which I repeated my above inquiry. Upon which she HUNG UP THE PHONE!! lol I was half amused by the situation and half insulted that she wouldn't engage me in my desperate quest to practice! As it turns out, she definitely speaks Cantonese, but I'm not sure about Mandarin. Anyhow, that is the back-up story to tell you what happened on Chinese New Year. So, my whole family thought this little escapade was quite hilarious and upon choosing the restaurant we would visit that night, my dad thought up a little "game". I had to call a place and ask them in Chinese what time they closed. If they hung up, there were immediately off of our possible list. If they answered me back in Mandarin, then we would put them on the "consider" list. :) We ended up only calling two places, both of which answered me in Chinese. We went downtown to a place we had never been but it was so good! I think it's the best Chinese food I've found in town!

Second story: My lovely sisters were in Starbucks a while back and saw a CD for sale that was a compilation in celebration of Chinese New Years. Hence, the assumption was that the music was either in the Chinese style and/or songs sung in Chinese. When they gave it to me, I was so surprised and quite pleased that they had "planned ahead" for Chinese New Year!! When I popped the CD into to stereo and began to listen, I was in for quite a surprise!! The first words I heard were English!! lol But the best part of the entire CD is track number 3. The song is completely in English and sung by someone with a possible Australian accent. The lyrics consist of, and I kid you not,(Verse 1)"Would you like to watch me dance? Would you like to watch me dance? I don't mind if all you want is just to watch me dance!" (Verse 2)"Would you like to watch me move? Would you like to watch me move? I don't mind if all you want is just to watch me move!"

My mom, brother and I were all in the room listening at the same time. We were dying!!! Mom and I were on the couch and laughing so hard that we were crying! It was so unexpected and completely random! I'm talking CREEPER SONG of the century!!! I'm determined to make the sound file into a ringtone and secretly set it as my mom's ringtone. Then all I have to do is lie in wait for the first phone call ... hahaha.

Another development in my life: overseeing the education of my brother. With my dad waiting for surgery and my mom working full-time, it leaves a gap at home that seems to be "kate-sized" at the moment. :) Its another example to me of how life and premeditated expectations can change. Flexibility is definitely a characteristic that I'm learning to incorporate in my life. My brother is a wonderful, smart and talented kid. But, as with any new experience in life, it has a learning curve and requires patience and humility on my part.

I just enjoyed a visit from one of my professors from Taiwan, Dominique. She came to give two guest lectures in a Chinese drama class at Davis so I went up to spend time with her. Dominique is so vivacious and thoroughly interesting. What a great few days hanging out with her.

In other exciting news, my older sister just passed her state boards and became a registered nurse! We are so proud of her! She is still in a nursing program for the B.S.N. and will complete that program this coming December, Lord willing.

Please keep my grandmother in your prayers as she is battling with cancer again, this time in her lungs. She is almost at the end of her first set of 13-day radiation treatments. As you can imagine, radiation would make anyone tired, especially a lady who is turning 90 years old next week. :)

Tomorrow, my JAM team is up for teaching the munchkins in Sunday School. The lesson that was prepared in the curriculum set wasn't doctrinally sound so I'm switching it up and doing a lesson about the thing that preoccupies so many minds on February 14th - love. I'm planning to take the angle that Jesus is the best Valentine we could ever have. He gave His all for us to show just how much He loves us. No one on this earth could ever surpass that perfect love. Afterwards, I'm sure there will be much merriment as we usually have amazing snack and fun stuff to do, especially on Valentine's Day Sunday. Last year we had a pizza party ... I'm not sure that we will fill them full of pizza this year, but I'm sure we will enjoy ourselves just as much.

I have decided to overcome the disappointment of not having a Valentine to call my own. Why not treat V-day as we did back in Elementary school? Valentine's Day was something we shared with all our friends to tell them that we appreciated their being apart of our little worlds. This year, don't allow Valentine's Day to be only for those in committed relationships. Remember that Valentine's Day is a celebration of love: God's ultimate love and sacrifice, our Christian love that is shared with the world and the love we share with our family and friends. <3

I'm singin': "H. K. I. A. ... it's fun to be in the H. K. I. A."

Okay, that was really lame ... but what's to be expected? lol. I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my connecting flight, which is in just a couple hours. I'm on the ground, currently, with my stuff next to me, eating a pastry from my favorite bakery on the street next to my "old" dormitory. My face is looking pretty red at this point or I might post a pic from my webcam. I think I'll wait till I get home to post any pics that I've taken from the last few days because the internet is a little slow and I don't feel like going through the editing process.

My flight from Taiwan to here went pretty well. It's a short flight so I don't mind it. The one coming up is going to be longer and more tiring.

I had a great day today! We had a time of prayer in the morning after we got ready, had breakfast together downstairs, ran some errands and went to the National Palace Museum. We looked around at some of the exhibits there and then went to see a Chinese Opera that was performed by students from a university. We all agreed that it was quite an experience, for sure. Anna and I came out talking like them ... it was pretty funny. She's quite good at it! ^_^

So, the walk from my arriving gate to my departing gate was quite a walk but I'm glad I'm here really early so I won't have to walk it rushed and worry about time. There are so many WHITE PEOPLE HERE!!!! ... weird.

I haven't shed any tears so far on this journey back to my home in the US. While I love Taiwan and feel comfortable there, I wasn't as sad this time saying goodbye. I think it's because 1) I've gone through this process last year 2) I feel strongly that I will be back in Taiwan, I just don't know when for sure. It feels pretty surreal actually to be going home. I almost have no feeling about this whole thing ...

... except I am pretty jazzed about Christmas!! However, it doesn't feel like it should be Christmas time yet ...

So, I have a lot of luggage. And when I say a lot, I really, really mean it!!! I checked FOUR pieces of luggage and have my backpack and a small duffel with me in the cabin. Anna and Alisha made no bones about laughing when we walked up to the counter for me to check my baggage and the lady asked how many were flying today ...
of course, I do deserve the teasing and it was, after-all, a funny sight ~~~ three girls to take care of the luggage of only one of them. It looked like we ALL could have been going on a trip. Anyhow, my only prayer is that me and my luggage get home safely and at the same time.

After I checked my bags and changed in most of my NT for greenbacks, the four of us got something to drink and played a few rounds of Phase 10. It was great fun. I finally confessed to Sis. Bracken that I had been calling her, "Bracken Sandwich" in Chinese on accident. She laughed and laughed! "三明治師母" has a nice ring to it, I think. haha

Anyhow, I could continue writing nonsense, but I think that would be a bad idea because it's only getting later and I'm only getting loopier sooooo I bid you all adieu and thank you for reading. I'll update more FROM HOME!

And we're off!!!!

Today, I left Taizhong but I took so many memories with me. These last couple of days I've been saying goodbyes to friends and classmates, taking pictures, going together to eat and just hanging out. These are moments that I wouldn't trade. What a blessing to encounter so many new friends.

We're in Taipei now! Getting ready to head out for some dinner and then hoping to catch the biggest night market in the city.

Pics tonight, if I don't fall asleep first! haha ;)

~k

He's never too far ... from wherever you are

I don't know who will read this blog post or what situations you find yourself in at the moment. But one thing I do know is this, my God will never leave me nor forsake me. This promise is not only mine, but also the promise He makes to all of His children.

Right before I left California in the end of August, I prayed several times asking God to meet me in Taiwan when I arrived. The Sunday morning service before I left, Bro. Brown called me to the front so they could pray for me. I found myself crying out to God from my own anticipation of loneliness and insecurities: God, please be in Taiwan when I get there. Meet me at the airport. Be at my school ... etc" As I was praying these words, Bro. Brown began to pray about the exact thing saying something similar to, "God, I know you are already there in Taiwan, that you're going ahead of Katie and are going to meet her there when she arrives." I wept uncontrollably as I felt that God was using Bro. Brown's prayer to confirm Himself to me.

For this whole trip, I've felt that God's promise to me was to be at each situation that I face before I get there and allow me to lean on Him for strength. While I've been here, there have been a lot of things that I've needed to lean on Jesus for and I'm glad and so blessed that He is patient with me as I learn to trust Him.

Now that I'm preparing to go home, I know that there will be many adjustments. I'm used to being a family of one most of the time here. On the weekends, I have family and friends, but it's completely different than fitting into a certain order/rank in a family unit. Don't get me wrong - I love my family. I'm excited to see them and to spend the holidays at home. However, it's still an adjustment to go from my life here to my life in Cali. The adjustment period last year took me about three months before I felt like I started fitting in in the US again. The time is coming soon when I'll need to go through that adjustment period again. Because I've experienced this sort of thing last year, I feel more mentally prepared for what to expect during the next couple months. However, I realize no matter how much I can predict what will happen, things are easier said that done.

Yesterday, while I was taking an incredibly long shower, words from an old song that I haven't thought of in a blue moon ran through my head. It was a song by the Martins. Today, I looked up the song on youtube. The words seem to speak to me and my hesitations. For me, it's a confirmation of God's promise - He is already there. No matter where I am, He's ahead of me, waiting patiently. I can trust Him and cast all my care on Him for He cares for me.

Here is a link to the song. I hope it is a blessing to you today, no matter where you are on the path of life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hriwNT1I-TI&feature=related

While listening to the above song, I saw this song, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pms8l_6LW8k&feature=related

Be blessed today and be confident that He is the God that sees you.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Found this and had to get a picture with it. It talks and sings in English and is rather creepy-ish. ^_^

Well, I am having a jolly time doing Christmas shopping for my familia. :) I'm almost finished! Brittany and I went out to YiZhongJie today and had fun looking around. I bought a really cute knit hat today and made Brittany try it on for me since my hair was up at the time. I told her that being a hat model was her calling in life. lol She didn't seem quite as amused by the whole prospect as I did ... haha. But she was a great sport.


This is what the street looked like today around 4:00pm at 一中街:





Taiwan is getting colder!! I know, that's unbelievable to those of you who have never been here and only heard the stories about the dramatic heat and humidity in the summer. I didn't believe Taiwan could be cold, myself ... which is why I arrived here jacket-less. Bad move on my part. ^_^ I have learned my lesson for next time.

I finished up my Christmas letter today and am going to work on the mailing this Monday ... we'll see how it goes.

Silver Bells. That song always makes me think of my Grandma Nita. It was her favorite Christmas song. I think I remember her most around the holidays. I wish that she were still around to teach me new crochet stitches and bake zucchini bread!! So yummy ... Because my memories of her are from my early childhood, I'm sure they are slightly warped but there are things that I still specifically associate with Grandma. I can still smell the cough drops she was always sucking on. I can see her Birkenstock sandals. I wonder what life would be like if she were still around ...

So I took this picture yesterday in our dorm bathroom. My question: how many tubes of toothpaste do three (3!!!)girls need? Apparently, the answer is 5 large tubes and 1 small one. Second question: How many toothbrushes do we need? According to the evidence, approximately 5. :) Don't ask me why ... cuz I have no idea where there is so much tooth paste and so many brushes in our shower. I can only account for one of the brushes and two of the tubes. One is almost completely empty and so I put a new one in.



My lunch today:

The place were I bought the yummy dumplings:


Their menu:


I found the saying on the tissue cover amusing and I told Brittany to make a "soft" face and pose with it ... this is the result lol:

P.S. The cover says, "Soft feeling for you." We tried to figure out what that would be in more correct English but couldn't really come up with a definite answer.

Well, my dear reader, I hope you have found this post amusing, because I have enjoyed sharing it with you. :)