It has been a long time since I last blogged.  As a matter of fact, blogging has almost become once-a-year ritual in September.  Not sure why but it just happened.  Life in the city has gotten very rough.  Everytime when I think I have endured the most challenging work day in my life, I am surprised the next day. 

my grandpa was an integral part of my childhood.  to start off, he gave me this wonderful chinese name.  we lived with grandpa before i was school-aged.  it was a time when i don't remember much.  but i do remember spending every summer with them and getting spoiled.  when i was little, he was always a symbol of authority. but when i was growing up, grandpa got nicer and nicer.  i wasn't sure if it was because i was less of child needing discipline or if i started to understand his love which was so not explicitly expressed.   

my grandpa was a very tough person.  he had many adventurous stories about his escape from the communist party that would totally keep me away from the tv or toys.  only when i got older, i realized what ridiculously harsh circumtances he had survived.  i had learned from him the importance of courage, dignity, independence, and probably the love of dogs.  as the eldest son in a traditional big chinese family, he had inherited all the good old characters for the head of household.  he had always been the protector of the family and he had tried to protect us from the grievance of his eternal departure by spending the last moments of his life alone, not knowing that it had further saddend our hearts.

happy birthday, grandpa.  i will miss you forever.

This afternoon, I will be driving back to Austin for a recruiting event.  It will be the first time in a long time that I’m driving by myself to another city.  I’m excited because I really enjoy driving.  But I’m also very nervous because there’s a tornado watch and severe storm thunderstorm watch.  I just pray that both me and my car will arrive in Austin safely.

Clement’s parents have been in-town for almost three weeks.  They have really fed us with all kinds of tasty healthy food.  Last night, when I tried on my suit, it felt really tight. Sigh… I guess it’s really time for me to revamp the workout and dieting program…

Last night, Amy sent me the link to her baby blog.  Looking at the pictures of the tiny Aiden really broke my heart.  It reminded me of the kids I saw at the hospital a long time ago when I was shadowing the pediatric doctors/pharmacists.  It is really sad to see the kids going through all those difficulties and physical pains that may not even be bearable to adults.  Sometimes, I can’t help asking myself, for our generation which the world is so broken, is it for the better not to bring any kids into this world?  I don’t have the answer.  I don’t know what to think either.  But one thing I know, children are precious.  I’m no parent.  But being a teacher in the AWANA program just gives me a chance to have a taste of what great joy children are to the rest of the world.  Yes, there were times when they really upset me.  But I just can’t forget how joyful I was when they hugged me, laughed with me, and trusted me and shared their stories/secrets.  Of course, I learned tremendously from them spiritually.  Although I am called a “teacher”, the kids are actually my teacher.  No wonder Jesus told us to learn from the children’s purity! I know how imperfect I am and I pray that God will help me and give me wisdom not be a stumbling block to them. :)