Joyful Journey

Brianna's favorite words: "Da da" & "Oh-o"

2011-01-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

Almost everything is "Da-da" and "Oh-o" in Brianna's world right now.
Kayla is growing so fast. She's 4 months old and is going around the house with the walker.

Nothing Like Sisters

2010-12-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

As you can see Brianna enjoys having Kayla around. There is nothing like having a sister!

Brianna is busy... esp with her new sister

2010-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Brianna's "Chut Dol"

2010-06-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Brianna is one year's old today!!! Praise the Lord for that~
She officially walks without any support (she began walking with no support one week before her birthday). Of course, when she starts to giggle, she can walk no more. She just goes down and sit.

She has 10 teeth (6 on the top 4 on the bottom); she eats brown rice and "kim" (seaweed paper) and avocado for breakfast. (She loves avocado and tomatoes) She is very busy as any toddlers are in discovering new things in life. She loves to ride her car-like airplane toy every morning. Either she pushes it or mounts on it and motions me to push.

Brianna can sit in the Play Pan and do "peek-a-boo" by herself with the towel/blanket in there. She often plays with a racquet ball and giggles by herself. She certainly can amuse herself and laugh for nothing. :)

God is so good and we are ever grateful for this miracle child that we received one year ago. She is absolutely a blessing~ !

Brianna

2010-05-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Brianna is going to be a big sister on Sept. 4, 2010. She doesn't know what this means, but she is sitting on her sister, bouncing on her, and kicking her sometimes. Poor Sister (we don't have her name yet)...

Brianna is very busy these days, trying to walk and talk, and touch and taste everything, especially the things above or beyond her reach. She is 11 months old now. She has 8 teeth and working on her 9th one. She especially likes electronic things such as cell phones, computer, TV, CD player, cars (she gets fascinated by the wheels) or any vehicles, ...

Oh, yes, she loves "dirt!" Here are some snapshots.

Busy Body Brianna

2010-05-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

More pictures of Friends & Brianna

2009-12-05T21:21:00.001-08:00

Friends with Bri

2009-10-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

Brianna's Happy Days

2009-10-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

Brianna reached and celebrated her 100th day on Sept. 30, 2009!

(The 100th day is a significant day in Korean Culture and we celebrate the child's longevity to this point with friends and family.)

We had friends over for a dinner and shared the joy of her "Baek il" (the "100th day") that day. She slept the longest hours that night - 7 hours!!! Couldn't believe how well her mom got to sleep in a long time. Praise God for that sweet sleep~ :)

Two weeks prior to that, Brianna has turned herself over from her tummy to her back (Sept. 17th). It was just absolute joy to watch her! Amazing work of God... How this little tiny arms and legs can work together to do things...

Brianna's First Ocean Experience

2009-09-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

Brianna was 11 weeks and 4 days old when she flew to Oahu and then to Big Island. She mostly slept and ate and repeated that all 5+ hours. She loves being out door, period! She did well in Hawi, Big Island. We went to the beaches and a few other tourist places in 6 days of our stay. Then, she got to hang out at Daryl and my favorite place in all the islands!

It was really fun introducing Pacific ocean to her. She slept half the time we were by the ocean, but she did get to dip in and swam (wet herself pretending to swim with her daddy's help). She did well.

Thank God, we made it back home safely~

Wanna be a 2 months old baby?

2009-09-07T17:18:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wonder what's like to be a 10 weeks old baby girl?

"Life is a beach!" This logan is definitely for this one. Here's why.

You cry when you want to eat and the food will be served to your mouth. When you are done with the meal, you just spit out what you have in your mouth. You don't get scolding; you don't make anyone mad. Just a friendly smile and acceptance. Everyone says "how cute" even if you didn't bath for a while, dirty, or have a messy hair due.

If you don't feel good, just cry; someone will run to attend to your needs. Everyone kisses you and adores you no matter what. You don't have to be all pretty or clean to be kissed. Some even kiss your feet that has been in the dirty poo diaper in which your dad changed for you. Mom and Dad clean you often; you don't have to make trips to the bathroom because you've got a personal Cleaner who is on 24/7 to change and clean your bottom.

When you are bored, just cry. When you are sleepy, just fall a sleep. Life is beach, indeed. No one is cross with you for doing anything wrong. Any gestures, faces you make is a bonus for those who watch you. Whatever you do entertains them. They love it and they just encourage you to do more of what you are doing. Oh, get this. When you fart or make a big #2 sound, they are not upset with you for the unpleasant sound or smell. They come right away and take care of your business.

Brianna smiles right after she makes a big poo noise. The smell will fill the room, but she sees her mom smiling back and picks her up and kisses her. "Good job," she would say to Brianna.

So, this is the life of a 10 weeks old baby. Life is good!

Brianna's fast growth

2009-08-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

It is simply amazing to watch this miracle~ Every drop of milk, each breath, and all the naps make the skin to stretch, cells to grow, and those small tiny hands, feet, ... every part of the body is now plummy. We're enjoying this precious gift from God! Check this cutie out:

Brianna

2009-07-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

She is here now!
8 lbs 3 oz
19 inches long
on June 23, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.

One week check up:
7 lbs 8 oz
20 1/2 inches long
37 1/2 cm (head)

three weeks check up:
8 lbs 14 oz
21 3/4 inches long
39 cm (head circumference)

She is growing so fast! With many sucking sessions & diaper changing, it is amazing to watch this little miracle changing and growing bigger every day~

Brianna went to church for the first time last weekend! She was 18 days old : )

Almost there...

2009-06-15T18:05:00.001-07:00

"At the Baby Shower, we celebrate Brianna's arrival (May 17th)."

"I started doing some laundry and got ready for Brianna to try her newest cloth..." : )

A look of 36th week"

"She's still kicking" - 38th week"

[For previous pictures of pregnancy, scroll down & see below]

Friends - blessings from Heaven

2009-06-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Friends are like the "flowers" on the path of life. They are beautiful and have wonderful smell. They totally enlighten you the moment you look at them. You forget everything and can't help but to smile.

Nothing like your favorite group of friends come all together for a visit! These are my favorite people from Glendale! What a refreshing, renewing, special weekend it was... They are truly a blessing from Heaven!!!

More pictures of My pregnancy

2009-05-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

34 weeks at our house
"Hope she's almost ready... and wants to come out early..."

31 weeks
"Getting some vitamin D in Kailua, HI."

My journey of Pregnancy

2009-04-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

God is so Good! I don't know what I would have done or would do without Him.

He's been there every step of the way and I am simply honored to experience the amazing work of His. A miracle, I call it. A blessing I see it and a joy I feel from just watching my tummy stretches out and grow... Wow~

Mom & Dad Proctor's house in Sonora (10 weeks)
"Look at my little tummy; it's about to grow..."

New Year's Day in Hawaii (14 weeks)
"I'm beginning to show especially when I wear tight clothing."

At Jenkinson Lake near our house (18 weeks)
"Daryl is so supportive~"

Wearing "I love my bump" tee shirt (23 weeks)
"Our little girl is very active now, kicking, stretching, and... doing a summersault(?) now and then."

Sabbath Day (28 weeks)

"Spring is here! As the flowers finally start to blossom and grow, so is our little girl who is busy growing everyday. (I gained 20+ lbs)"

Ultrasound Technicians before A.D.

2009-02-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

Did you know that there were ultrasound technicians in the Bible time?

Yap, there were a few parents who knew exactly what they were having before the birth of their baby! The equipments back then were even more high-tech than ours in 21st century. They were so accurate that they didn't even need moms-to-be to lay down on the padded board and use the monitor screen and etc. They just came to the mothers or parents -to-be and told the gender of the baby.

Remember when three angels came to Abraham telling him that Sarah will have a son? (Genesis18:10) How about the angel of the Lord appearing to Mary? (Luke1:28) And to Zacharias (Luke1:13), telling him about his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son?

It certainly is an amazing science that we have today. To be able to watch the miraculous creation of God through that monitor screen is just hard to put into words! We had a privilege to watch our little girl in my womb at my 20th week of pregnancy. It was simply speechless moment... We were at awe.

What a God we are found by! He is amazingly great, awesome, and totally God of all creation!!! How can He make a baby for nine months is a mistery. I was just day-dreaming the other day and thought of His first creation in the garden of Eden. If one day is a year (as the prophecies in the Bible are interpreted as a day equals to a year), then one year is a day. The nine months is three quarter of a year; thus it didn't take a full day for Him to create a man. However, it took almost all day - three quarter of a day - to create a man. Remember that all the other creatures were created and came into existence by words only? Except for the human beings. God took extra time for this creation. Why?

I don't really know for sure. I do know that what we witnessed in my womb was far too beautiful, far so sophisticated, and incredibly divine. No one can make what God makes! No one can perform miracles as God can!

I am simply humbled by His majestic power and His wisdom in depth. This is the God who had everything and can have everything, but voluntarily sacrafice Himself to make things right from the mess the man made. Because He loves us too far deep, very far wide, and so high beyond the clouds... He died so that we may have the life -precious life eternally...

God is good! He is amazing! He is our God! And we, His people!

Living in Miracles

2009-02-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

What can a man do to live? Living itself is a miracle. How can a man breathe in and out and/or when the cells grow and every part of body grows & function??? What is it that makes a person to feel, speak, think, eat and move? Isn't it God, the Creator, who simply is an expert at creating miracles?

What we prayed for since we got married was a miracle! We wanted to start a family right away, but it was not in our hand to create a life. For we know that it is not us who create, but God who is the Creator! Well, we tried. We tried again and again and waited. We even considered the "alternative" way (faster way: medical help). But at the end, we decided to wait upon the Lord and for His time.

God's timing and His will is what we wanted and prayed for. God heard our prayers and fulfilled our desire. Ten months into the marriage, it suddenly came. I was beyond Cloud Nine. It was so amazing to feel the miracle, but more than that, it is so amazing and humbling to know that God is there to tend my need & want. He was there! He was near and He answered our prayers!

I wasn't so discouraged or let down when we lost the baby in 6 weeks. I was still glowing with the fact that God can create a being in my old body! I was hopeful and I started to pray again. And He picked the best time of all to have me conceive again. Right after a mission trip to Bangladesh where I was blessed to teach the VBS program for a week. It was just a Perfect Time... just how He got us together in marriage. God just knows the perfect time~

So, here I am on my 20th week. God is still keeping this miracle in me! How the skin of my tummy stretches, I don't know. How I hear two different rhythm of heart beats at night when I lay on my side, ears down on my bed, I don't know. What I do know is that Our Creator, God Almighty, has performed a wonderful miracle in me and I believe Him! Like Sarah in the Bible, I can't stop smiling, praising the Lord for this beautiful miracle!!!

The baby finally kicked me about four times this morning around 5 a.m. God is alive and He is so real... just like our baby in me. Living in miracles and knowing that He loves ALL His children, including me, is so wonderful to fathom! Like His miracles, His love truly is something that I can't never understand fully, but I am so glad and so grateful for it!

Trusting God - Part 2

2008-11-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

God is amazing!
I know that this is a fact, and it is not redundant or a cliche to say this over and over again!

He is so loving and so gracious. Here's why:

I went in to the doctor's office for a follow up. My pregnancy check-up appointment is not until next week. However, my OB told me that she will do an ultrasound shortly after looking at my chart. I was nervous to find out the truth after my last week's conditions (spotting, sickness, etc.). I plead to the Lord that I would not lose this child... Not this one...

Well, God has shorten my waiting time to find out my pregnancy today. My doctor was prompt and quick. She and I watched the screen and saw two-peanut size baby with heart beats. A white stick-like icon kept on moving forward repeatly from that tiny peanut size body. That is the heart beating!

It was amazing! Our baby is alive and not only that, s/he is doing really well. The doctor explained to me the baby's condition from her observation and assured me that s/he is looking great. What a relief and hope this was!!! I can only praise God for this!

There I was fearing the miscarriage and was nervous, then God calmed my soul and answered my prayers. Many people's prayers. God is so good! He is so loving and so gracious to grant us the precious little life to go on in my womb. Wow~ I walked out of the doctor's office in amazement and such a light weight that my feet must not touched the ground. :)

I immediately called my husband. Then my mom. From there on, the news of God's wonderful miracle spread. I felt the deep love of God today... It is such a comfort to know the trustworthy God who is so loving and caring for His children... and His children's children...

Trusting God - Part 1

2008-11-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine recently sent me an email with the following content:

"GOD IS GOOD
...ALL THE TIME
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! 'The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close. If you need God to open some doors for you... [believe it and send a prayer.] ..."
[ ] is mine

I like the analogy of Him teaching and leading us to 'trust' Him - believe in His ability that He will do the impossible for us in our lives and that He will empower us to do the unthinkable! Secondly, it is clearly directing our mind/heart to 'depend' on Him for any fear. After all, it is the hardest thing to do, isn't it?

Perhaps we think that we can do that "trusting God" part. But "trusting" requires us to "let go" of our doubts and continually, moment by moment. It demands us to rely on what and whom we believe. Recently (and somewhat still now), I'm going through "the edge of the cliff"experience. I can not even begin to describe my heart's fear and sorrow on a possible loss. I cried and prayed that it will not happen to me again. I feared and grieved for an "what if."

So, I open my blurry eyes to see what God is going to do. My heart searched for the "door(s)" to open, some light of hope to shine in, and to understand the unknown truth & blessings. God is good. He is still good to me. Yea, even though this loss is not an easy one to "let go"...

All I can do is to wait. Wait on the Lord. He will help me, I know. He will get me through...

Precious Life

2008-10-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

It was about five thirty on Tuesday evening. I'm getting the dinner ready when my husband said, "Oh- look! A bird hit our french glass door and is lying here." "Oh.. he must have broken his neck,... He's dying" he added as he stepped in from our porch.

I instantly felt the sadness of a life at the death's door. I didn't know what to do, but I just didn't like the fact that a life is dying on our porch. I told him to do something. He thinks that he won't live. I wanted to ease his pain if it truly is the case where he broke his neck.

One can easily thinks the worst because the way he was lying there was so awkward even to look at him. His head was positioned in a way that his neck was crooked in a "L" shape... He was lying on his back and couldn't get himself to move much. His body barely moved from heavy breathing for a few seconds and then stopped. Then it would vibrate a bit more and then it stopped.

I couldn't just watch or wait for this bird to slowly reach death. I got the rubber gloves out and was going to do 'something,' not knowing what that something was. I gently touched the bird on the side and this somehow gave the bird enough of a push that he rolled to the side and propped up and sat on his feet. This gave me hope!

However, he sat there and just sat for a long while. No blink of an eye. No movement. He just sat still. Slowly, I was starting to doubt if this bird is going to make it. It was dark out on the porch and I didn't want the bird to sit there all night long. He sure would get eaten by a bobcat or some other animals around our house. It was getting cold too and I began to worry more.

I called up a friend who was a vet and asked her what I should do. She gave me some pointers and suggested a few things. She said that the bird might be going through a shock if he indeed hit the window hard. I got my honey water ready and a box with shredded papers on the bottom. Whether the bird makes it to live or not, I determined, that it will be in our garage and not in the cold with many dangerous animals around.

I knocked her beak with my spoon and that little body just jerked up and down, back and forth. I thought to myself that this bird was dying slowly... motionlessly. Hoping and wishing I tried again, knocking her beak. I didn't know how to make her beak open, so I finally gave up trying and poured the honey water (from my spoon) on top of her beak. Then, I tried to crack her beak open from the side way. It finally moved! He opened his beak and tasted the honey water. I gave him a bit more.

Now, I got my box out next to him, ready to put him away for the night. I took a deep breath and carefully and gently, I attempted to grab him with my two hands. (This was my first time doing such as this so I wasn't fast or confident) As my hands got tighter around his small body, he resisted. Instantly, he took off flying to a place nearby... Wow...

What a surprise! It was a relief when he opened his mouth for the honey water, but it was a real thrill when he flew away! It was such a joy to see him flying away, knowing that he is alive. If then how much more God would desire us to be healed, healthy, and live vibrantly!! He is a good God indeed!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

God's Timing

2008-10-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever given God a time limit? "Oh, God, please help me to find the one to get married." I am XX years old. I want/need to get married! People around me are pressuring and keep bugging me about it... Please send him/her to me soon..."

I've done that. And when the XXth year passed me by, I sighed and started asking again. I know that His timing is the best. But my faith was challenged when that "best" is not happening to me. Not realizing that it is my time table, that I put God into and want Him to act when I "think" I need. I just couldn't understand why it takes so long to hear my prayers answer.

From my Bangladesh mission trip, I am once again reminded that His timing is the best time! Waiting on the Lord is not easy or fun somtimes, but the Bible is clear and direct on this matter: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Phil 4:6)

So, here is a story on how God's timing is simply amazing!

There was a young man named Z who helped me in my Vacation Bible School all week long in Jalchatra village, 5 hours bus drive from the Capital city, Dhaka. Almost all the volunteers who came to me to help with the VBS were teachers or education-major students from our SDA college in Dhaka. Z was neither of them. On Friday afternoon, I was busy distributing all the left-over materials to the teachers from different regions including the dean, the education dept chair of our SDA college. With a little uneasiness, I told Z that I had nothing to give him. He understood and shyly smiled and said that it was okay.

A few minutes later, I was just about to pack up my belongings and was ready to leave the VBS room. Z came over to my side and whispered to me, "Ma'am when you come next year, would you bring me an English Bible?"

It was a sweet melody in my ears! I was so happy. You see, I had many Bibles at home. Amongst them is an American Standard Version pocket size Bible (with Jesus' words in Red). This Bible was sentimental to me, but I never used it at home. It just collects dust on the shelf. So, I decided to give it away, not knowing who and how. I simply packed the Bible in my suitcase and forgot about it till now.

It was so special to see Z beaming with a big happy smile. When Z went to his friends , they all wanted to have a copy too. They all turned and begged me if I can bring them English Bibles next year. (By the way, Z told me that he was scheduled to work with some evangelists in the upcoming evangelical meetings next few weeks! What a timing God has in mind!!!)

I don't think that Z expected me to grant his request at that moment! I know now what it feels like to give a good gift just at the right time. This must be how our Father in Heaven feels. He knows all our needs and wants. He just gives the perfect gift at the right time!

Yes, I am married now for little over a year. I look back and see how God brought my husband to me and I to him. It couldn't be any perfect timing than this! His timing may seem long at times, but when you receive His blessing, you will know... His timing IS perfect and amazing! :)

Bangladesh VBS 2008

2008-10-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

The unforgettable experience in the life time~

Mission Trip Flashback

2008-10-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

I called my sister-in-law the day before her birthday and sang her a happy b-day song. That was embarrassing. I was up in the middle of the night and slept in the day time that I thought it was a new day by the evening time same day... I hope this disorientation and jet lag wears out very soon.

I have just noticed something as I reminisced the experience when I returned to US. This is my delayed realization of the children's action on Sabbath program at Jalchatra, Bangladesh.
I asked the children to raise their hands if they were Christians (right before I had them say the memory verses) on purpose. I had many non-Christian or Muslim children who came to our VBS during that week. So, I wanted the audience/ church members to see these dear children.
However, to my surprise, the majority of children's hands went up. There were only 8 - 10 kids who did not raise their hands. You see, on Sunday (9/21/08), I registered 26 kids from the Adventist Boarding school compound in which I assumed them to be Christians. On last Sabbath, 61 kids showed up at church at 9:00a.m. I was guessing that at least half of them are non-Christians. But no. Because the majority of children all raised their hands.

COULD it be possible that they did not understand their translator in their own - Bangla - language?

Or is it that they all WANT TO BECOME Christians? (I'm hoping that this is true.)

Only God knows and we will too when we get to Heaven. For the mean time, I wondered if there is any way to do a follow up with those kids. I addressed this concern and a wish of mine to Dr. M (the missionary there) for a pastor, or a Bible worker, or someone who can do the follow up and lead them to a baptism. Can you imagine that.!! Kids spreading the good news to other kids in the neighborhood... Would this be wonderful?!

In addition, I volunteered to bring English or Bangla Bible for kids next year. And here is what he responded: "Your observation about Christian number of children is right. Some children was so impressed that they made decision to become Christian, too. It is difficult to say which children present on Sabbath was there before and who of them made decision for Jesus this week. But I believe that all children was very powerfully touched by the way how you managed them and inspired for following our loving Savior."

"I will call to local pastor to take care for this children and to guide them to Jesus, to do follow up program. There is our SDA school it is one option how these children can accept Jesus into their hearts. It is possible to buy Bible here in Dhaka. There is Bible society in Mogbazar where you can buy Bibles in Bangla language. You can buy them here directly in Bangladesh."

Lastly, I found his other comment on the email to be a humble call - a calling to do something for God's glory.

“Tomorrow morning we'll go for another mission trip to Dinaspur, a very poor area with many tribal people. Thank you so much for your great financial help. It will give me more blankets, and gifts for children, bananas, and rickshaw and sewing machines which are saving families from starvation and from miserable life for better prosperity and it guides them to Jesus our Savior. One Muslim mother with two kids is already baptized after receiving a sewing machine and several others after receiving rickshaws. Let our Lord be glorified in us and also through us now and for ever. Thank you for great and powerful cooperation.”

Little goes a far way, indeed. And as for me, just like how Jesus fed 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, more I break and share His blessings, more I feel full and satisfied.