Merry Christmas!

WELL, WELL! I HAVE DECIDED TO SIGN A SONG--A FEW SONGS JUST FOR YOU!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR. I'M GRATEFUL THAT OUR SAVIOR BORN HERE ON THE EARTH AND SHOW US HOW TO RETURN HOME AGAIN SOMEDAY. WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THAT JESUS GOT HIS BODY BUT ALSO CELEBRATE WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. HE LOVES US. WE SHOULD RETURN OUR LOVE FOR HIM. 

THIS SONG BELOW I'LL HAVE TO SIGN A SONG AT CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS DAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

I LOVE YOU! 

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE!

Cherish Christmas

Last Sunday RS president gave a talk. Her talk made me think about Christmas. Actually it wasn't HER talk, she got the talk from her mother. Well, her mother was a student at BYU and heard the talk from Boyd K. Packer at BYU devotional. She loved the talk and had to get a copy of the talk. RS president wanted to find his talk but couldn't find anywhere! She was lucky to get the copy from her mother. So RS president wanted to share with us by reading some of his talk. I thought I wanted to share with you as well. 

Before you guys listen the talk, I wanted to share with my thoughts first. Last few years has changed so much since everyone got married and have kids. I was envy of my siblings that they have their buddies and kids to spend the special holidays. I felt it wasn't the same as  I used to have with my family. I admit I sometimes wanted to avoid to go home and to avoid the feeling of being lonely or feel the envy of my siblings. 

This year I have noticed my Christmas spirit has changed slowly. Less excitement. Less wow. Of course, I'm not going to be Scrooge! I still LOVE giving presents to my family and friends. I tried to keep the Christmas tradition and wanted to share with my roommates. They didn't share the tradition or excited to do the tradition. They were sweet to do it for me last year and two. I realized it was not their tradition. I feel like they were suffering. Haha. I asked them what's their Christmas tradition? They told me a few and they usually don't have one. 

Again I realized it's tough to get everyone on the same page to celebrate Christmas. Somehow I understood Heather in many ways. Heather wanted to keep the family tradition. For example she loved the real tree, tinsel on the tree, be surprised to see the presents under the tree on the Christmas day, and doing things together with family what we did for many years. I loved mom to make us eat our breakfast before chop down the stockings. It does bring many wonderful memories and lot of happiness. 

We grow up and we changed the tradition a bit. Mom traded in a fake Christmas tree. Dad bought a christmas tree fragment to fool Heather that the tree was real. (I thought it was funny..) But we still have special weird dinner on Christmas Eve. Heather was disappointed and hated to see the changes. She wanted to keep the same what she remembered. She was the youngest child in the family. Something I wanted to keep that tradition and never lose the Christmas spirit. I realized it's all about how we do with the Christmas spirit. For example our family, there are many things has changed but the Christmas spirit still the same. 

Now for me I feel the Christmas spirit has changed. I was happy to caught that now before I become one of people who don't believe in Christmas spirit. I do not want to be the person who just don't want to celebrate. Being single sometimes can tough to develop a tradition while a family can do. Hey, it's not an excuse--we need to be creative! Go to one of member's family, make cookies to give, set up a Christmas tree, etc. 


I did put up our Christmas tree up and magic to make the living room became a Christmas room. I loved it because I love to see many different nativities sitting around the room. (Annie LOVE nativities.) It's a GREAT way to develop the new tradition until I find a buddy to share with. 

So my goal for this year is to improve my Christmas spirit and develop new tradition to have a GREAT spirit in our home. Same the spirit I had for many years and planning to keep for many more in the future. Cherish my Christmas spirit. 

This talk made me look inside of me and saw what I was. I do not like that. I was glad that Heavenly Father lead RS president to give this talk. I knew it was for me. I'm sure it was for other people as well. I hope you enjoy the talk. 

I hope you have a GREAT Christmas holiday this year with your families. Enjoy it because it is special time of season while other lose theirs. Don't lose your Christmas spirit. It's no fun.


First counselor of RS presidency found his talk and it's free to download. Here you go.  

Boyd K. Packer's Talk

If you want to get a copy, let me know. I tried to put the PDF but it won't let me. :( Boo!

Les Misérables

October 18th--I had another opportunity to see the play called Les Misérables in Washington D.C. with my two wonderful friends. This play have two wonderful interpreters and it was the main reason why I wanted to go. Actually I went to see Wicked last summer and it was so much fun to watch the interpreters while watching the play.

At first, about two weeks before the play, I saw there was a movie on television and it was Les Misérables. I thought I should watch it and I did. I have learned so much about the story. I was thrilled to watch the play because I understand the story much better than I was in high school.

And this time, I enjoyed so much because of music. Two of musics made me cry! I tried to remember what the songs, but I only able to remember one song called, "Bring Him Home". It was such a beautiful play.  I was glad that I went to see the play. Now I'm looking forward to see other plays in the future when the interpreters are available.

Silly Boy

Annie asked me to help her by filming her doing speech therapy with kids. She have to give a big presentation at Speech-Language meeting this spring. It was a big deal for her. She had to borrow some kids for her presentation and she found several kids that their parents were willing to let us borrow their kids.

We visited one family with five or six boys. One of boys walked to me and started to talk. I told him I cannot understand him. His mother told him that I am deaf and use sign language to communicate. If he wants to talk with me, he need to ask Annie to interpret for him. He does not like the idea. He wanted me to talk with him. Actually he WANTS me to hear him.

He kept on the topic about me and my hearing issues. It was almost time for his turn to work with Annie. He left the room and wrote something and gave it to me. His face was very serious. He again tried to talk  as hoping that I would hear him. You can see how serious he was by writing big words, HEAR ME?! It was so funny! It took him awhile to accept that I CANNOT understand him even I can hear him with my cochlear implants. If he wants to talk, he need to learn sign language to communicate or use Annie to interpret.

So often, I always wanted to look inside of kids' head what they were thinking of. :D

The Roof

We got lot of rain recently. About two months ago, Katie told us that there were some leak in her bedroom. I had to check what she saw. I saw there were lot of water leak on the wall from the vent and one other area.  The odd is that the vent was not bottom, but it was middle of the wall. You'll see the picture to see what I mean. The carpet was soaked. I grabbed the towels and put it on the carpet where it was soaked.

Annie had to call the condo company about the leak. The roof man came and fixed the roof so the problem would be solved. The next day, rain comes and go.

Men came and ripped off the wall to see what the problem was. They found some mold were about to develop. One of men sprayed special thing for mold. Poor Katie because the insulter was removed and left it open for many days, even cold nights. I had to go and buy a heater for her. The reason they left it open because it has to be dry before they put it back. They thought it was fixed.

Nope, it wasn't fixed!! 

Annie had to call them again and complained it wasn't fixed. The roof owner came and think it was umm roof slider. That was causing the problem. So we have to call different people to come to fix roof slider or side? I don't know what it called. They haven't come to fix it. It have been opened and still having leak.. GRRR. Poor Annie. 

I hope they will get it fixed BEFORE the snow comes and decided to sit on the ground! It's not going to be pretty in the morning--when people found us frozen people. ;) Because it wasn't solved yet.... 

Forgot-Me-Not, O'Lord

This month has two things that we can looking forward to it. Actually, one of them had arrived last night. About one week ago, I convinced one of my visiting teacher to come with us to RS Broadcast night at Stake Center. Yahoo, I was able to pick her up, sit with us for dinner, sit with us to watch television (RS Broadcast), and rode with us until I drop her off. I hope she knows that she was not forgotten. And I hope she DID enjoy the event with us. I really enjoyed all four wonderful speakers from the RS Broadcast. All of the speakers have hit the right messages for us. I knew they have been prayed, pondered, and studied what they should give a talk to us. And I knew that they were inspired to give us the specific messages.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a sweet messages to us with gentle and so much love for us, http://lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-2011?lang=eng

I'm grateful for having gospel in my life and knowing the gospel is truly blessing from the Lord. I'm so happy that I had an opportunity to go the event and listen the RS Broadcast. Now I'm looking forward for General Conference and what the messages we need to listen and prepare us for next six months. My goal is to improve myself through listen and study the General Conference for next six months. Oh how wonderful message it can lift the spirit! I hope it will continue for many days ahead of me. I hope you all enjoyed the RS Broadcast as well.

New Ward

Ya'll know that I moved to Columbia, around 40 minutes south from where I used to live, Owings Mills. Annie bought a Condo last June. Living in a Condo was wonderful blessing than living in an apartment. No more loud kids, no more crowd cars, no more loud neighbors, NO MORE DOGS BARKING!!!, and many more. This place have trees around us. It was beautiful sight to look at while sitting on the couch in the living room. 


Okay, enough with that. We ended up transferred different ward from Hampstead Ward to Columbia 2nd Ward. I checked the LDS website and put the new address, it assigned us to Columbia 2nd. Soon after, I learned that ward have two deaf people. I was wondering who would it be. Maybe it will be good for me. 


Annie and I went to Stake conference and I ended up met two deaf people. One deaf woman with her husband and the kids. Other single deaf man. My heart dropped when I saw that deaf man because I knew him and I did not want to be near to him. (He fell in love with me and put a big pressure on me to say yes to go out with him. He is ..umm.. TOO OLD for me!) Poor guy, I had to blunt him that I will not go out with him. He got upset and commanded me to date with him because it's proper way. Guys, I do not want to go far with this. Now you get some idea why I do not want to be near with him. 


My heart sinks because I will have to face that deaf guy after we transfer to this ward. Annie and I got home and do whatever our things. I was thinking about the new ward. I really want to feel happy and able to focus on the spirit. I wanted to know what time the ward starts and which building we will go to. I checked the website again. I put our new address on the LDS website. I saw it gave us different information. I was puzzled--it said Columbia 1st. I can't believe this. I had to rub my eyes to make sure my eyes do not trick me. Yup, it did say Columbia 1st. 


I had to told Annie that we are in Columbia 1st, NOT Columbia 2nd. I do not know what happened but I was so happy to know that I do not have to handle that poor man. In fact, my worries were not over yet. I was worried to meet people in the new ward. 


I have been attending this new ward since June and I knew Heavenly Father lead us to this ward. Let me tell you why. Annie told RS presidency not to put us together as Visiting Teacher companion because Annie want me to make new friends without depend on Annie for communication. (Blah) Guess what? I ended up got a companion sister who can sign! The wonderful part was that we were assigned to visit three sisters. Actually, one sister. (Long story, different topic) That sister we visited know some sign language! She wanted to learn sign language! 


Awesome part that one of sister who visit me, she can sign as well! She does not sign very well but wanted to improved her signing language skills! I haven't met her companion yet but she said she wanted to learn as well. Wow, I felt I was truly blessed to be in this new ward. 


It wasn't over yet! Annie, I, and RS Presidency were discussing and I offered to give sign language classes for the ward to learn so they can communicate with me. They liked that idea. RS President talked with Bishop. Bishop approved and asked me if I can teach other wards as well. Yikes! Too much! I told him I will start our ward first and see how it went then we will work on it. 


Now I'm nervous because this Thursday I will start to teach sign language class to my ward. Yesterday the bishopric made an announcement about sign language class in the sacrament meeting! I think I can feel my sweating is about to start to come out of my skins. Oh yeah, I went in the chapel and wait for the meeting to start. There were two cute young women were exciting to see me and wave to me. They wanted to take sign language class. Well, I guess I will see them this Thursday. 

So far, those people--I LOVE THEM! They were so nice and friendly. I was happy to be in this new ward and I was relief to know that I'll be okay for several years. 

Chicken or Egg?

I couldn't believe a question "which comes first, chicken or egg" still around even brought it up in Sunday School this morning. I guess I had to share what is going on inside of my brain. I have been thinking of the question. At first I thought: Well, if the egg comes first, then who would sit on the egg to warm it while embryo developing into a chick? But it lead me to think different than a silly thought. Do Heavenly Father put Adam on the earth as a newborn? Well, it need a mother to give a baby. But it didn't make sense because a person need to give a born to a mother as well. Okay, the thinking cap didn't work.

I looked up the scripture and it has the answer for this question. 

Gensis 1:20-22

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Look at verse 22, God blessed them and told them to "be fruitful, and multiply". It's not for Adam, It's for birds and fish. It applied to animals as well. Heavenly Father put them as adult and they obey God and start to product babies. 

So chicken comes first! That's my opinion for the silly question....