Therapeutic "potting"

I am lagging way behind in keeping ya'll posted on what's been happening with us. I shall do so in my next entry next week - I promise! Meanwhile, I want to quickly log this in before I forget.

As I am writing this, my body is exhausted from both travel and battle - against a sinus infection. The infection started a day before Thanksgiving (last Thursday). I'm on antibiotics now and hopefully it'll clear up soon.

We travel to Manila today for a few days to teach at a training conference. It has been crazy arriving home from the US late Monday night and then leaving again today. C'est la vie! Would you please pray for us?

Anyway, getting to the point of this log - the plants on our balcony have flourished much since last month. Some are overgrowing their pots. So, despite my lethargic body, I decided to re-pot some of them onto larger pots. To my surprise, I found the chore quite relaxing. I've hardly considered myself one with the green thumb but the little gardening, well, okay, "potting," that I did this morning was really soothing to my soul. I experienced one of those "transcendent" moments where words are not enough to describe the delightful but fleeting joy. What mirth! I guess such were the moments that CS Lewis and GK Chesterton frequently referred to in their writings.

In view of the nature of the experience, I have no doubt but to recognize that God is the source of all such pleasures...

Turkey overdose

We are back in Hampstead MD. now after spending a week in Virginia where Brian's father and his family is. It was nice to see them again and be able to spend some time with them. The first breakfast we had in Yorktown was at McDonald's! Yes, though we hardly frequent Mickey D's at home, when I am here in the US, I like their breakfast - their Sausage McGriddle is unparalleled! It's sausage pattie in a pancake-like sandwich that is filled with maple syrup! So absolutely yummy!

The McDonald's we would go to is right by Brian's dad's place and it always has a vintage car on display there. This time it was a Ford Thunderbird. (See pix below)

We also drove to Richmond to see Brian's grandmother who lives with her son, Mike, and his family. She's such a sweetheart! Though 91, her mind (and her humor) is as sharp as ever. Every time we see her, she'd tell us, "I always hope that ya'll come home but I pray to the Lord for His will to be done.." It's always hard to leave after we see her and wish we could spend more time with her. (See her pix with Brian below)

While we were in VA., we had some really good food. Of course, we went to Applebee's - where Brian ALWAYS orders the Tequila Lime Chicken. Then, we had baby back ribs at this mom & pop bbq restaurant near Mike's place - Chuck's Smokehouse & Tavern. The ribs I had were so, so good! The meat practically fell off the bones! Their prices were very reasonable, too. So, if you're ever in Colonial Heights, VA., do visit Chuck!

(Above: Neighbor's emu in Hampstead)

The weather here in the east hasn't been too cold the last two weeks but it started to get cold last night. Today has been freezing! It must be between 0 - 5 Celsius outside now!

When we got in last evening, we had smoked turkey again. I had 2 huge helpings! I was so stuffed! But it was good! I guess we have to go easy on the turkey before we overdose on it on Thanksgiving on Thursday.

I cannot believe that my break is soon coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday we were in Mexico. However, during these last few days, we'll be taking it easy - other than visiting downtown Baltimore on Wednesday, we'll just be hanging around the house to do some work, watch tv and play with Prancer - the cat of the house. Will tell you more about Prancer in my next posting as dinner is ready and 'Dancing with the Stars' is coming on soon. Cheers...

Chillin' in the east

Our week in So. Cal went past so fast as we had so many people we wanted to catch up with and so many other errands to run - banking, shopping, etc. Though supposedly a holiday (and fun), we were so busy and often tired at the end of each day.

We flew over to the east here yesterday. Got into Maryland last evening where Brian's mom is but will travel to Yorktown, Virginia tomorrow to spend a few days with Brian's dad. After Virginia, we will travel back here to Hampstead for chill time and finally Thanksgiving. It's much colder here than in So. Cal. but the chill is a wonderful change. Today, we woke up to a beautiful sunny morning as the pretty fall-colored leaves glisten. I am feeling much better and am beginning to finally enjoy our break especially now that we are in the east.


Brian has been catching up on football on tv (Redskins - his team is playing now) and I'm doing last-minute shopping for friends on Amazon to capitalize on the domestic free-shipping.


This evening we will have Steve's famous smoked turkey for dinner - always a highlight of our visit here! I'll leave you meanwhile with some pictures I took of trees behind the house here...

Back at BIOLA!

We're into our fourth day here in LA and we're enjoying every moment of it. I am feeling much better though I still have a slight lingering cough. We've been visiting friends (families) we know here since we got in on Sunday. Today, we visited our teachers at Talbot. First we met with Garry DeWeese (our friend/pastor/professor who officiated at our wedding). JP (Moreland) happened to be in Garry's room - so we said, Hi, to him. We caught up with Garry - personal and ministry. He prayed for us before we left. Our time with Garry is always very special - right from the time he counselled us before Brian and I were married.

Then we saw Scott (Smith) at his office. Bumped into Craig (Hazen) along the way and we chatted for a bit. He gave us a copy of the manuscript of his new apologetics fiction book - I'm really looking forward to reading it! As always, it's great to see Scott as we caught up with what each of us are doing... his writings, projects, etc.

I am presently blogging at the BIOLA library and am minutes away from sharing at the international graduate students' prayer meeting. So, this will have to be short...

Cold in Cabos

We are into our fifth day here in Mexico and jetlag is finally hitting me. It is presently 4am and I am blogging in the bathroom of my hotel room so that I won't wake Brian up. I have been up since 2:51 am and have not been able to go back to sleep.

Our flight here was quite brutal. The first leg was not bad at all - Sg to Hong Kong. But the flight from HK to LAX was quite uncomfortable (very limited legroom) and hence it felt like forever. It was a full flight and we were assigned the two most middle seats with stranger passengers on our left and right. You can imagine how inconvenient it was to get up to go to the bathroom. I guess it all boils down to the fact that we have been so spoilt by Singapore Airlines that flying any other (especially American airlines!) is tortuous. From the hot towels they hand you upon boarding to the movies they screen - it is just not the same. A friend aptly remarked that flying Singapore Airlines makes one an air-travel snob - and I think she's right as I already detect one in Brian! "Where's my Singapore Girl???" he kept asking!!! Well, one gets for what one pays for!

We were quite glad when we finally landed in LAX. When we finally arrived in Los Cabos after another 2-hour flight from LA, we were so exhausted and so ready for the reputed Hilton mattresses. We checked into our luxurious room, ordered a simple room-service meal and immediately hit the sack.

The next day, after breakfast, I could not help but go back to sleep as my cold finally arrived in full force. I slept the whole of the first day we were here in this beautiful beach resort - can you imagine that???!!! Brian, fortunately, got to explore the area and would come back to report to me his discoveries during the few moments when I got out of bed for water or food. I feel better now but still have a bad cough. Pray for me, will you?

Oh, I also received news from my office that my laptop is alright. It was merely attacked by virus - it has been revived - so I am thankful that I have not lost my all data!

The RZIM conference we are here for officially started yesterday (Friday) and ends on Sunday afternoon when we will head to visit LA for a week. It's going good so far - catching up with colleagues and all... I just wished that we're not here for work so that we can really enjoy the beach and resort. Well, we do have a long break in the program this afternoon and maybe we'll go down to the pool. The weather here is glorious - warm and sunny but dry - so it's very comfortable. The food of course is great since it's Mexican. We're lapping up all that we missed in the last year!

Meanwhile, we will keep you all posted on our trip... Adios!


View from our room - seriously!