October 16 2011

One of my friend was out of town, and needed someone to help conduct the music during the sacrament meeting. I volunteered! I think this is the first time we ever sat in the pew in this ward. We have a baby, so in the past 10 months, we've been sitting in the back of the chapel, try not to disturb other people. Sophie was doing pretty good in one of the front pew with Steve. I think we are ready to sit in the pews now. We can have the whole section to ourselves, and Sophie has more room to roam. Except when she sneak past my legs, and started running away. Not kidding, she runs! Let me stress this again, she is 10 months old.

Sophie made new friends quickly with an older couple sitting behind us. She gives the sweetest smiles, and jabbers with the cutest little voice. She even tried to give the old man her favorite bincky (passie).

One of the talks today was about being parents, and that we have the duty to lead and guide our children with righteousness. Every family is different, and the way each set of parents teaches in different ways. I can't remember the exact quote, but the speaker made the connection of hiking on a trail and ending up at the same place. When you are on the trail with a group of people, you'll see different sets of foot print on the ground. Each is unique, and no one took the same steps. Some walked on the mud, some walked on the grass, some stepped on the stone but all were going to the same destination.

I really liked that quote, i should ask her for it. Just hearing some one saying that out loud made me realzed that I am not doing anything wrong with the way I raise my baby and the way I run my family. It works for us, and this is who we are. It's okay to be different than other people, and it is so nice to hear someone say that. We don't have to do everything the same as other people, there's no specific "have-to's". I do however, would like a copy of the family proclamation hang up in my house. That's on my to-do list now.

The simplest thing will make life easier. It will work, and it will always work. When we are lazy and not read our scriptures or prayers, crap happens.

Still a lot to learn in life. I am glad there's  Yoga class and Milka chocolate to get me through!

p.s. I have accomplished my 2011 goal!! I can do a head stand! Next goal, the head stand without someone spotting/using the wall.

2 Angels

Grandpa Brewerton was asking for my conversion story. Here it is.

Two Angels

Moving to the United States was one of the most exciting changes in my life; everything is so new and foreign. I was excited to learn the new language, and make new friends. I never expect things would happen the way they did, but everything happened for a reason. Now I know that some changes are good, and I am grateful for the life and spiritual experiences.

I remember it was May of 1997; the afternoon was beautiful in Southern California. All the leaves and flowers are blooming outside. We had been in the U.S. for about five months at this point, and life hasn’t been easy.  It was such a hard adjustment, and the language barrier made it even harder.

My mother grew up as a Christian, so were my mother’s parents. I recall the stories my mother would tell me, about the her experiences at Mount Olive Camp in Taiwan. She had so much fun singing all the youth hymns, and learned much of our savior Jesus Christ. She wanted me to have the same experience, and get to know our savior. So, she would sing me songs about angels, and taught me how to pray. 

When I was a small child, my mother would tell me to say my prayers every night, so I can one day become a sweet angel. I listened to her, and I would kneel by my bed and ask God for a pair of angel wings.

On this particular afternoon, my mother seemed exhausted. My father decided to leave us shortly after we moved to the US, so there is only my mother, my brother, and me. My mother called us in to the kitchen, and asked my brother and me to kneel down with her for a prayer. The kitchen had a 1970 mustard color linoleum floor, and we did what our mother asked us to do. I was 12, and Kevin was 5. We held hands as our mother commence her prayer.

I don’t remember the exact words, but I recalled that she asked God for two angels.  Not just one angel, but we needed two angels to help us. 

The next afternoon, someone knocked on our doors. My mom opened the door, and she gasped “Angels!” I was a little confused to why she said that, until I came to the door. Two very tall Caucasian guys wearing white shirts, with golden blond hair and blue eyes were standing in front of our house.  The afternoon sunlight happened to hit their hair, and made them look like they had halos. They looked just like the angels in the movies! The only thing they did not have was the huge white wings on their backs. 

These two guys introduced themselves as “Elders” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Letter-day Saints, and they’d like she share the gospel of Jesus Christ with us. My mom was so happy and shocked at the same time, but our English wasn’t good enough to communicate with them. Also that they are actually Spanish speaking missionary doesn’t help either. They did somehow managed to tell us (in Chinese, which they memorized) that they have friends that can speak Chinese, and if they could come visit us tomorrow. We said “YES!”

As they promised, Elder Chase and Elder Webb came by the next day. We had discussions, and learned all the lessons. We were baptized couple weeks later. My mother was able to go to the L.A. temple a year later, and Elder Webb whom baptized us was able to go with her. Elder Webb was also there when my mother and I received our patriarchal blessing. He had such a tender soul, and gets teary very easily.

My mother was remarried in 2003, and our family was sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple in 2005. Elder Webb and his wife were able to attend our sealing, and it was a fabulous experience.

3 short years later, I am also married in the San Diego temple to my sweetheart, and we now have the cutest little baby girl. I am so grateful for the gospel, and the blessing s it brings us. 

God answered my mother’s prayer, and he sent his angels to us. We are so grateful for the “angels” all over the world that are serving the mission. Without the missionaries, we would never be able to have all the things we know right now. Our lives would be so different, and not as fulfilling.

I am grateful for the missionaries, and families that support them to serve a mission.  Thank you all so much for your sacrifice!

catch up for the past couple months

• Sophie is 9 moths, and she walks!
• I got a job back at my old department at Nu Skin, while Steve plays Mr.mom for a while.
• Food storage was awesome when we were unemployed.  ( DO IT!! have a food storage!!)
• My crazy habit of saving money here, and there is sooo rediculously crazy. I felt like a chipmunk saving nuts for winter. But it's fabulous! you never know when you'll need it.
• It was a very humbling experience that we qualified for government aids. ( I never wanted to be helped by anyone, and having to use government aid made me feel ashamed that I wasn't self sufficient.)
• Over all, it was a good experience to have. I've learned that it is okay to receive help from other people. My bishop said, " It gives other people a chance to serve you, and receive blessings"
• Steve found out that babies are in a better mood if you feed them enough food, and water.
• Steve realized how much I do in the house after being a stay-home dad.
• Steve and I appreciate and love each other more as we journey this experience. 
• I am far from perfect, and I am very prideful. ( In the sense that I want to do everything myself.)
• Steve was able to snuggle with Sophie more. I love seeing her snuggle with him, and watch football on TV
• I've learned that it doesn't matter what other people do, say or  have. It matters what Steve and I do, say and have together. Other people's opinion don't matter. It's our life, and it's our journey. No one knows how to live our lives better than ourselves. What worked for others might not work for us, and what work for us might not work for others. To each their own. 
• I am grateful for the gospel, and know that family is forever. I think about my aunt who passed away earlier this year from cancer all the time, and I think of our friend Danny and his surviving family often. 
• I have a great husband who loves me, and tolerate my every imperfection.
• I have a funny and happy baby who gives me hugs and licks my face... and sometimes falls asleep on my face with her tiny body across my face, in my bed.
• I am grateful to all that I have.
• I am grateful to have the opportunity to go to college and further my education, and grateful for times like this, that I could go back to work and support my family. 
• oh, and Sophie says:
• dada
• nei nei (boobs/milk in chinese)
• MA!!!!!
• Ah!!!!

Here are some videos of Sophie in the past couple months.

We were in the biggest sand storm in Arizona last week

While this was happening

We were sitting in Olive Garden having family dinner.

Apparently it was one of the biggest sand storm in the history of Arizona, and we were so lucky to experience such great event. Not~ Everything was covered in dirt, and the pool was gross the next day. The hotel had to close the lazy river for a day to clean it. Nonetheless, it was really fun to see what happeneds inside of a sand storm. Although I am still hating on that idiot who kept on opening the door to see the outside, while everyone still trying to eat inside of the restaurant.

It was so fun to see everyone, and being in a such wonderful resort. It was really hot, but I kinda got used to it. Most of the time we were in the pool anyway, so it wasn't all that bad.

We hung out with the fam for the week. This is what we did mostly. 

Sophie wasn't sure about everyone at first, but she warmed up quickly.

Sophie looks super cute in her swimming outfit

She just wants to jump in all the time. She's such a water baby and loves swimming.

love when they hug =^.^=

back the scene photo shoot

Mommy and I have many random photo shoots throughout the day. Here is what is really happening before she produce a decent photo of me. Hey ! I am cute, and I am the first baby. Mommy just likes to put me on her bed and take photos.

In between mommy trying to figure out her ISO, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and whatever else she needs to work on... and still need to figure out... This is what I go through each photo shoot with mommy.

aperture too small

mommy accidentally used the flash...

I smiled, but mommy suck at framing the photo on time

I thought it was really funny that she got so frustrated with her camera

I moved so much that my head band is falling down

OKAY~!!!!! Now it's on my face! Are we done yet????

Mommy put the head band back, and I was trying to grab the camera to show her how it works.

Total melt down. Okay, we are done. 

My mommy takes a lot of effort to take good photos, but I just want to show you what it takes to get to that one good photo.

Provo Gallery Stroll

When an event is free and fun, we are there ! I had some fun taking photos, and who knows when I'll actually sit down and edit these photos.... so I have decided to just upload them. Better than no photos at all.

Steve wants this car

 

Waite.... There is not a single picture of me in this!!! Babe, It's your turn to take photos!

I looked like a tard, but SHE is pretty funny

The funny word of the day--Bah~!