What I learn about myself...

1. I enjoy making lists! Sadly, I usually have a "to-do" list; however, I never get all of things done. I just throw the list away and try to avoid some things I supposedly need to do!
2. I am a BIG procasinator just like my dad. I always wait until the last minute. I tend to do better when I am under pressure. I remember staying awake all the night and finishing my paper or studying for exams. Sigh...I miss these college moments! : )
3. Most of people don't know that I love to look at others' feet and toes. That's why I am so excited about summertime, so I'd get to see more feet and toes. I know it is one of my "weird" habits!

Tomorrow, I am going on a family field trip with my preschool students and their families to the zoo. After our visit to the zoo, we will go to the beach and eat lunch there. : ) Hint: feet and toes in the sand!

Becoming 24!

24 hours a day...24 TV show...24 is my new age! I think 24 is neat because it's perfectly right between my "immature" days and my parents' "old" days. At least, I'm not 1/4 a century yet - which is good! I am starting to like to be 24! I hope I can stay 24 for rest of my life.

I had a fanastic, yet strange birthday! The day before my b'day, it started out that the apartment below my apartment (I live on 2nd floor) was on the fire early in the morning. Praise the Lord that the fire didn't spread to other apartments or mine...firefighters quickly came to stop it. Plus, we have firewalls. I should thank my mom for convincing me to go for renter's insurance a year ago! Then I went to my work on that day...my boss told me to leave earlier for my 4-hours trip to Birmingham. She warned me that Birmingham should have storms during late afternoon. So I did leave and arrive in B'ham right before tornadoes came through B'ham. My parents' neighborhood had several fallen trees (our neighbor's roof was badly damaged) and was out of power for 12 hours. The power came back on my birthday.

While we had no power at our house, my parents and sis took me out to my favorite Japanese steakhouse. We befriended strangers who shared the U-table with us. The couple has two younger sons. We had nice conversations with them while we enjoyed our dinner. I knew my mom or dad wouldn't ask our waitress to send in a group to sing to me or give me a cake. However, I was surprised when everyone sang "happy b'day" to me in that room and the waitress gave me a fish made out of pineapples, cherries, and oranges. Later, I found out that the family that we sat with did order one for me. What a random act of kindness! : )

Yup...I'm very spoiled by my parents! They decided to do a cookout at their house and invite my friends and family friends. Dad grilled delicious, juicy hamburgers and hotdogs..Mom got the best strawberry cake for the party. It was completely gorgeous and breezy outside, so we did eat on the patio. After lunch, we went inside and played Apples to Apples. The only reason why my guy friends wanted to come over to my parents' house is that they could play wii in our basement! They did stay at my parents' house until 10:30 PM until I kicked them out!

I had a lovely birthday! : )

Joshua 1:9b

During my freshman year at Samford, I was encouraged to considering going overseas to a mission field and staying there for 2-3 months. Not knowing where to go yet, I did apply for a summer missionary position through International Mission Board. On my application, I put down “Anywhere” on the blank that asked me where I prefer to go. Right away, I was approved and had to go through two trainings including a commission service with other Alabama college students (another excellent way to meet new friends).

About a couple of months before my proposed departure, I was offered to go to Japan and the Czech Republic because both countries matched my wants and needs. I didn’t immediately make my final decision about which mission field I wanted to go to. It took me a while because I didn’t want to miss a chance. In my mind, I would think, “God might be in Japan while I am stuck in the Czech Republic. Otherwise, I should be in the Czech Republic.”

However, I was too miserable to make a decision. I begged God to show me signs where He wanted me to go to. One day, I saw a brochure about Japan at my friend’s church. The next day, I ran into some lady whose mom was born in the Czech Republic. I did make a chart of differences and likes between the Czech Republic and Japan. I liked both countries. Plus, I already agreed to fly alone to either country and work with an unfamiliar team of long-term missionaries. I was scared! I had no peace!

One day, God clearly spoke to me when I saw a decorative pillow on my bathroom wall while I washed my hands. On the pillow, it was stitched in “The Lord will be with you anywhere you go.” Maw Maw gave me this pillow last Christmas, and I just put it on my wall and ignored it for several months until that day. When I read the first chapter of Joshua, my confusion turned into peace. I realized that if I go to the Czech Republic or Japan, God will be with me always!

After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua (Moses’ assistant) and encouraged him to get going and cross to the country with the people of Israel. He also gave the country to Joshua and the people. He said, “It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way, I was with Moses, I will be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you.” (Joshua 1, The Message) God spoke to my heart, and I knew that He will be on my side anywhere I go. I noticed that God said, “Be strong and courageous” three times in Joshua 1:1-9. Wow… God said, “Be strong and courageous, Suzanne” repeatedly. Yes, I was discouraged and terrified about traveling alone to Japan or the Czech Republic. On the day I left for a mission field, I was strong and courageous because I knew that God will never leave me nor forsake me.

God gave me two choices – Japan or the Czech Republic. I chose the latter because my roommate and I did write “Japan” and “CZ” on each paper slip, fold them up, and put them in my baseball cap. I picked out the first slip, and it said, “CZ.” Yup, The Lord my God will be with me wherever I go! I stayed in Prague, CZ, for about 9 weeks and ministered to the youth there. Awesome. Inspiring. Adventurous. Blessed.

I guess my maternal instincts do really kick in...

“For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
When I was made in the secret place (womb),
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16

I guess my maternal instincts do really kick in…

Before I graduated from college, I did not frequently “dream” about having my own kids. I would simply say, “Yeah, right…I would like to have three kids – that’s all!” My mind was already set on obtaining my degree, enjoying my adventurous life, and finding a career instead of pondering about how to raise my future kids.

I was 22 years old – a recent naïve and clueless college graduate – when I entered my own preschool classroom with rowdy kids. A lot of thanks to my wise and experienced aide (who turned 50 last month) who had so much patience with me! I bet that my aide would sometimes think, “Oh, my goodness…Suzanne has a long way to go!”

This job has tremendously taught me about kids and their complex minds! As a preschool teacher, I changed their diapers more than 200 times, disciplined them, made them cry or mad (that part is my favorite one!), received countless hugs from them, reminded them to go “potty,” called their parents to report their erratic behavior, ran wildly with them outside in the playground, cooked with them in the kitchen, cleaned up their vomit, read their favorite book to them, mopped the bathroom floor because someone accidentally urinated at the wrong target, wiped my tables with bleach/water spray, fixed their lunch, introduced them to new things such as a pinwheel and penguins, put band-aids on their boo-boos, taught them how to count and say their name (one four-year boy could spell his full name perfectly!), got bitten by my student, drank 1,000 mg of Vitamin C every morning before going to a germ-infested school, forced some food into my stubborn student’s mouth, signed, “LOOK AT ME!” repeatedly during reading time, admired their creativity by looking at their homemade crafts and arts, praised their great works, put on my “serious” face to get their attention, etc. I truly embrace the uniqueness of my students – no matter if they get in trouble! I started thinking about raising Deaf kids if God is willing.

Recently, I started regularly babysitting six kids including a baby with Down syndrome. I enjoyed every moment of being with them. We ate lasagna and salad together at a long table, and then we built wooden railroads and watched “The Enchanted.” Of course, they challenged me and tested my patience, but I loved it! I started thinking about raising kids with special needs if God is willing.

About a couple of weeks ago, I stayed at my second family’s home where they have a foster girl who is more like a little sister to me. She immediately asked me to fix her precious hair – but I was hesitant at first because I had no idea how to fix a black person’s hair! Amazingly, she wanted me to learn how to do it on her hair. I patiently combed her every tangled hair, put chemicals on her hair roots, washed them out of her hair, and put oil in her hair and comb again – it took us about 2 hours to get the beautiful result! I started thinking about raising African orphans (and fixing their hair) if God is willing!

After more than a year of teaching younger kids and working with families and their infants/toddlers (during my part-time job as a parent advisor), I started daydreaming about my own kids. Because of my jobs, I watched and heard several stories about some kids being abandoned/neglected and hurt at their homes. I noticed some kids’ downcast eyes and their cravings for affection. I started thinking about raising foster kids or orphans if God is willing!

Last September, I went to a hospital to visit my church friends and their first child. They wrapped her in a pink blanket and handed her to me. For about 45 minutes, I held her and fed her with a bottle of formula milk. I was mesmerized with her every little detail – her tiny nose, her tiny fingers, her tiny eyes, her tiny mouth, her smooth, reddish skin, etc. I was blown away by how God created this little baby and allowed her grow in her mom’s uterus for at least 8 months. I started thinking about carrying a baby inside me if God is willing.

About a couple of months ago, I attended a workshop focusing on today’s teenagers and their morality. My best friend was there, also. She stood up and wanted to share something with more than 20 people in a crowded room. I was surprised when she mentioned my family. She talked about how confused she was for not understanding why God could use a family to glorify His plan even though her family was dysfunctional until she met my family. She told that she realized how my family was “designed” to be a part of God’s plan. I was grateful for a blessed family and wanted to continue to be a part of His plan by following His will. I started thinking about passing the legacy of love and faith to my future kids, so they could not break the cycle of love for the future’s sake if God is willing!

My perspective of raising children has changed a lot since I moved to Mobile. Before that time, I thought about not wanting children at all because of selfishness. I think being a mother is one of the best jobs because she has the power to make a positive impact on her children’s lives. I really respect and admire my mom for doing everything to make the best for my sister and me. Now, I want to be like her and allow God to use me through my future kids’ lives. I cannot wait to become a mommy one day!

My Spring Break in Birmingham

I'm looking forward to...
- Sumo's Japanese Restaurant for my birthday dinner
- Edgar's strawberry cake for my birthday party!
- Harry Potter or Pirates of the Carribean movie marathon with my sis
- playing with puppies - Madison and Izzie
- Surin West lunch with Mom - Thai soup and sushi!
- sitting and reading books outside at the Summit's Barnes and Noble!
- drinking Mom's strong coffee in the morning
- Savage's sandwich in Homewood
- riding my old bicycle around in my parents' neighborhood
- spending time with family
- spending time with close friends at my parents' cookout!
- visiting my former students at schools where I did my student teaching
- sleeping in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!