How many times did I use this to begin a post - "time really flies"?
It's been a year since Mom last came back from Hong Kong - her last goodbye to her home land. The doctors gave her the green light sending her back to Canada after almost two years of treatments and battles with a few close calls. They arrived September 26, 2012. Everyone was so excited for her and I'm sure she was also super excited to come back to her second home, for her grandchildren, her family and friends, especially for whoever prayed for her nonstop from church. Oh, of course, she was the most excited to see me and Gloria, hahaha.
The flight wasn't too pleasant according to her facial expression when I first saw her at Uncle Ed's place. It was my first time seeing her since I left HK with Jake a few months before. She did look a bit more pale and weaker but it's quite normal for a Leukemia patient. I was worried but at the same time, I was happy to see her back. She complained that her legs were not feeling well. Poor Daddy needed to keep massaging nonstop the whole flight. However, her super strong spirit once again overcame all her physical pain and she got back to her active routines in no time.
It's been a year since Mom last came back from Hong Kong - her last goodbye to her home land. The doctors gave her the green light sending her back to Canada after almost two years of treatments and battles with a few close calls. They arrived September 26, 2012. Everyone was so excited for her and I'm sure she was also super excited to come back to her second home, for her grandchildren, her family and friends, especially for whoever prayed for her nonstop from church. Oh, of course, she was the most excited to see me and Gloria, hahaha.
The flight wasn't too pleasant according to her facial expression when I first saw her at Uncle Ed's place. It was my first time seeing her since I left HK with Jake a few months before. She did look a bit more pale and weaker but it's quite normal for a Leukemia patient. I was worried but at the same time, I was happy to see her back. She complained that her legs were not feeling well. Poor Daddy needed to keep massaging nonstop the whole flight. However, her super strong spirit once again overcame all her physical pain and she got back to her active routines in no time.
She wasted no time to have lots of fun with the boys. I know she missed the boys so much especially Jonah cuz' the last time she saw him was when she left Canada end of 2011 (before she found out about her sickness) when Jonah was not even one year old. Thinking back, she never got to celebrate Jonah's birthday. I'm sure I have mentioned about how impatient I was holding the phone with her on the other side at Jonah's birthday. If I only knew, Mom - sorry.
Other than FaceTime, Jonah and Mom didn't really get to see each other a lot. And too bad I could only handle Jake the time when we visited HK in 2012 April. But thank God for our sweetest Jonah. He made Mom really really happy always. Sometimes I do wish that God allowed more time for them, but of course I know He has His plan. Thanks to the technology, Jonah will have lots of pictures and videos of Mah Mah. Jonah, Daddy really hope that you remember Mah Mah. She loves you so very much, just that God took her a little bit sooner than us. She loves buying books and toys for you and your brother. She also loves making lots of yummy food for us. Your Daddy misses her a lot a lot!!!
Other than FaceTime, Jonah and Mom didn't really get to see each other a lot. And too bad I could only handle Jake the time when we visited HK in 2012 April. But thank God for our sweetest Jonah. He made Mom really really happy always. Sometimes I do wish that God allowed more time for them, but of course I know He has His plan. Thanks to the technology, Jonah will have lots of pictures and videos of Mah Mah. Jonah, Daddy really hope that you remember Mah Mah. She loves you so very much, just that God took her a little bit sooner than us. She loves buying books and toys for you and your brother. She also loves making lots of yummy food for us. Your Daddy misses her a lot a lot!!!
She got to meet up with her friends and a lot of seniors for dim sum at restaurants, churches, in houses, shops, etc. She was one of those who couldn't sit still for more than one minute, other than when she's sleeping, hahaha. Once she's up, she won't stop. Even if she's sitting down, her head was spinning and thinking what's next (or what to ask Dad to do next, haha). Fian also came back with them and the two of us were kinda worried and wanted her to slow down, especially when she's still so weak and "recovering". It made us more like her parents, asking her not to do this and that, not to go here and there, not to see too too many ppl, etc. But as per my sharing in the "Caring Retreat", since I'm so "useless" on healing her and I'm so not in control, I would want to let other ppl to love her for me. I trust that God will take care of her and have the best plan for her. Plus, I know her too too well as she would be jumping off her chair like there are bugs biting her butt anyways, haha. So yeah, she got invited to do a lot of sharing talking about her battle in the past one and half year and how she fought with God holding her hands.
I'm so proud to be the son of such faithful lady. She never cried, not even a drop of tear when Daddy and I were balling like little babies. To me, crying doesn't mean I'm not faithful but it only means that I am weak and I need Him big time and of course, I don't want to say goodbye to my one and only Mom who raised me, who hit me the most with anything she could reach (chopsticks, hangers, chicken feather brush, bamboo stick, brooms, rulers, her bare hand, etc.), who spent great amount of time on me with not my academic but only my attitude and my emotional quality. Mom, I have to admit that I'm not doing a very good job still when it comes to things that it's not fair to my eyes. Thankfully, Gloria is my wife who's always cool dealing with these things. No worries though, with Jake and Jonah around, their presence will hopefully slow me down a bit, haha. Just to give you a very real example when shopping at TNT two weeks back.
The four of us were grocery shopping after church. As usual, I'm pushing the boys in the cart while Gloria was trying to get some fishes. She was trying to get help from those fish market workers behind. The guy asked what she wants when it's her turn. Everything looked normal until all of a sudden a well dressed lady with make up and a sunglasses stepped in from no where saying that she was in the line. She actually said that Gloria bud the line. Gloria calmly explained that she wasn't aware about it and would be willing to let her go first if she wanted to - what a perfect way to learn but of course it's not the end of my story. There's another lady there also said that that lady WAS waiting in the line but even the worker was not aware. Honestly, I didn't really hear the whole thing but my "protective" big man character somehow just kept over floating and got myself stepped forward from the cart a few steps behind to right in front of that lady. I said, "If you walked away, you are NOT lining up. I don't think lining up outside of TNT will count. So, my wife did NOT bud the line." (All in Chinese btw, in my super "firm" tone of voice of course, haha). Yes, a very good example of standing up for what I think is right without thinking twice and without bother if I'm living an example of God. According to Dr. Denise Ngien, I was being "reactive" not "responsive". Sure I have my points: if you walked away, you are not lining up, period and if you really were in a hurry, you can always explained and ask if you can go first nicely. Wrongly blaming someone line budding then said you didn't mind letting us go first just wasn't very nice. But I couldn't have done it in a nicer way and I could've showed more love not showing too much emotions (now I think of Rev. Lou, haha). So yeah, what a great example to remind myself that I still have lots to learn. Jake asked right away what's going on. My first reaction was really "speechless" but it's a good reminder from God that I need to keep my cool. I only said, "Daddy just want to stand up for what's right." Good thing we bumped into Joyce and Wilson and Jake got distracted, hahaha. I'm sure if Mom was around, she would give me that "look" again, haha. Not sure if I have scared that lady or if she really understands my point, Gloria and that lady actually were being nice to each other and tried to let one another go first, haha.
Back to Mom, her plan last year was to stay for two weeks before going back to Hong Kong to continue her treatment. However, that wasn't God's plan. He made her stay here in Canada and let her friends and family here to take care of her and to love her. She got admitted back to the hospital at the end of the trip and she actually got discharged for another two weeks before going back in again. Everything was noted down in blog when she first started going back to the hospital and yes, it's been almost a year. Once again, I really want to thank you for reading. Thanks for all the prayers, greeting cards, visits, soups, and all your love and care. Mom lived her life fully, actually maybe a bit more than full. The whole coming back to Canada, going to the hospital and battle with her chemo, being discharged and getting readmitted and passing away, etc. reminded me of Joseph - Jocob's little son. From how he was Jacob's favorite to being sold by his brothers, from he was a slave to become a trust worthy servant, from being wrongly blamed by his master's wife to getting into jail, and from interpreting dreams for King Pharaoh to forgiving his brothers, etc. all these ups and downs but yet, both Joseph and Mom were still faithful and courageous, being a living example of His at all times.
We finished our last trip of this summer going to Muskoka for our first Englsih Retreat. It was fruitful studying on discernment. According to Pastor Steve, option A and option B may both be good options. God still loves us even if we live a life with not as good choices made. We are really thankful for joining. Thanks to the Houser family for taking care of Jake and Jonah for us while we can fully focus on the speaker. Thanks especially to Shawn who gave us a room at the end of the hallway where no one is staying across, beside and above us, haha. Thank God that Jakie and Jonah were very well behaved, with not much crazy moments. Even though it was rainy and a bit chillly, we had a very fun time. Maybe I'll share a bit more next time.
Mom, happy mid-autumn festival. I'm still eating the moon cake you bought me from last year. Yeah, I know we had a lot last year and I was too busy to finish them. But they are still very good (from freezer of course). And sadly, I'm on the last one but for sure everything will be in my hearts forever. Miss you alawys!!! I'll keep staying strong and faithful, muah.
Genesis 37-50 - Joseph
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
"你 們 務 要 儆 醒 ， 在 真 道 上 站 立 得 穩 ， 要 作 大 丈 夫 ， 要 剛 強 。" (歌 林 多 前 書 16:13)
Back to Mom, her plan last year was to stay for two weeks before going back to Hong Kong to continue her treatment. However, that wasn't God's plan. He made her stay here in Canada and let her friends and family here to take care of her and to love her. She got admitted back to the hospital at the end of the trip and she actually got discharged for another two weeks before going back in again. Everything was noted down in blog when she first started going back to the hospital and yes, it's been almost a year. Once again, I really want to thank you for reading. Thanks for all the prayers, greeting cards, visits, soups, and all your love and care. Mom lived her life fully, actually maybe a bit more than full. The whole coming back to Canada, going to the hospital and battle with her chemo, being discharged and getting readmitted and passing away, etc. reminded me of Joseph - Jocob's little son. From how he was Jacob's favorite to being sold by his brothers, from he was a slave to become a trust worthy servant, from being wrongly blamed by his master's wife to getting into jail, and from interpreting dreams for King Pharaoh to forgiving his brothers, etc. all these ups and downs but yet, both Joseph and Mom were still faithful and courageous, being a living example of His at all times.
We finished our last trip of this summer going to Muskoka for our first Englsih Retreat. It was fruitful studying on discernment. According to Pastor Steve, option A and option B may both be good options. God still loves us even if we live a life with not as good choices made. We are really thankful for joining. Thanks to the Houser family for taking care of Jake and Jonah for us while we can fully focus on the speaker. Thanks especially to Shawn who gave us a room at the end of the hallway where no one is staying across, beside and above us, haha. Thank God that Jakie and Jonah were very well behaved, with not much crazy moments. Even though it was rainy and a bit chillly, we had a very fun time. Maybe I'll share a bit more next time.
Mom, happy mid-autumn festival. I'm still eating the moon cake you bought me from last year. Yeah, I know we had a lot last year and I was too busy to finish them. But they are still very good (from freezer of course). And sadly, I'm on the last one but for sure everything will be in my hearts forever. Miss you alawys!!! I'll keep staying strong and faithful, muah.
Genesis 37-50 - Joseph
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
"你 們 務 要 儆 醒 ， 在 真 道 上 站 立 得 穩 ， 要 作 大 丈 夫 ， 要 剛 強 。" (歌 林 多 前 書 16:13)
No comments:
Post a Comment