Kaohsiung daily life

Hmm, if I was in Saskatoon I wouldn't likely take note but here it seems so much more appropriate.

Up late get out of bed late.............breakfast of eggs, ham, chinese sausage, no not made out of chinese, toast and coffee. Not so unusal but when cooked over a 2 burner gas stove IT IS. It's so different than electric that I dare not ask a question or something is burned!

Then a few tasks before Melissa heads off to teach, 2-6 today, her other 6:30-8 lesson cancelled. Hang a cupboard in her bathroom that we bought at B&Q a few days ago. It didn't take long to assemble but a few days to coordinate hanging it! I WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE HER TOILETRIES....... Reorganizing the second floor common area, changing four lamps to some new lamp shades that ,of course, mount differently and the adapter is just a BIT to small, get out the knife, trim the opening bigger, ALWAYS KEEPING FINGERS, ARMS AND BELLY out of the knife's path. I didn't think it needed that much trimming, so we are meeting Melissa at SHAOU BAE to see about other adapters, a coat tree, and a toilet seat cover (I am NOT telling that story, tee hee) SHAO BAE is a 24 hour cross between Canadian Tire, Walmart and Dollarama!

We contiune to do our part to maintain IKEA profitability. A kitchen cart, 3 new stools for our last year table which will become the IFH kitchen table. IKEA sure engineers their stuff so all you have to do is follow the pictures. And BELIEVE ME it is a lot simpler to follow their flow than to take stuff apart to get the shelves in place!!! They even show a picture of the 2 lengths of screws with a BIG X across the wrong length! I don't want the pointy screw sticking up through my chair!!! or the table top either!

I have a couple IKEA pictures for Arilee that will follow another day.

Well 5 o'clock better grab a nap before meeting Melissa in an hour to get parts for the evening activty!

Alexander is our TV star!!

Jay and Julie took Alex and Gaby to Spectrum at the University and besides having a fantastic time Alex was interviewed by Global TV. It's about 3 seconds of what I'm sure was a 10 minute discussion with Alex... Oh he's the second boy since many of you won't recognize him. He was 4 in September. No camera jitters or brain freeze for that boy!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalsaskatoon.com%2Fvideo%2Findex.html%3FreleasePID%3DOFkJoqhvto_db_u9YnIakndP1rBwVHQM&h=4f6ab6514a8c9ed96543097807201a00

I'm glad I found this because it also lets me get a different view on Sasakatoon news while we are away. The SP is a bit slanted for my taste.........

On a different note, even though Melissa's visa has been approved but she's still waiting to have the REAL DEAL in her hands! red tape takes time..........

The pressure releases, VISA APPROVED

It will take a few more days to have documents in hand but Melissa got word midafternoon that her visa renewal has been approved!

The questions and delay have created major stress and strain for her. Now a few days for sighing relief and contemplating plans.

Please continue to pray for smooth processing. AND PRAY FOR OTHERS WE KNOW AT HOME WITH MAJOR ISSUES THAT DRAW ON THEIR ENERGY. Those close know details others can pray in support and caring.

We made our first Costco trip today fortunately we had the cash in hand. Costco here only accepts Costco branded credit cards and foreigners CANNOT get a credit card. Hmm I wonder what would have happened if I had a Costco branded American Express............it reminds me of the days when Canadian Tire made more profit from their credit card than the retail sales.

Hello from home even though we are far from home.

Think of that place you have been or return to that puts a pleased, satisfied smile in your heart……we are there!

We are still waiting for news about Melissa’s visa renewal and we are NOT pushing red tape, as if a person actually could. Our plans will develop beyond day by day when Melissa gets word.

The smells, odours, fragrances, noises, sounds, sights, traffic and people are strangely familiar and comforting. Not even 3 days yet and we’ve made breakfast, gone out to a few previous places and a few new places. Supper last night was $195! We each had similar meals probably 2 cups of rice with a curry vegetable and meat including a soft drink. It would have been about $6.50 CDN and that was for ALL THREE meals.

This afternoon we went for a hair wash………about a 20 minute shoulder massage and another 20 minutes head wash and massage. Ahhh the life, it was about $7 cdn each! That’s no hair cutting though, just relaxation and pleasure!

Oh right, THE TRIP. Our flight from Saskatoon to Vancouver was delayed long enough that almost all connecting flights would be missed so we were rebooked and arrived in Vancouver 2 hours after our flight left for Taipei!

Westjet was very good though and provided a meal voucher in Saskatoon (not much available after 7 pm except Tim’s). We ended up buying a can of English Toffee Cappuccino to use the voucher value. Melissa’s favourite. We had a nice room in Vancouver at a Sandman about 5 minutes from the airport and $40 meal vouchers.

We went for breakfast at the attached Moxie’s but alas they don’t serve breakfast until noon during the week. Yeah noon’s a bit late BUT HEY, WE GOT IN AT 2AM which was Saskatoon 4 am. We are settled into our new time zone. We had decided to check out of the hotel late but not so late we had extra charges which left us with 4 hours before we could check in for our China Air flight. Then there were STILL 3 hours before departure! That’s when we really appreciated the delayed flight and the night in a bed.

We left YVR on time but I think we had tired seat butts before we got off the runway. The night’s rest was good but just didn’t offset narrow, firm airplane seats. The flight was uneventful, a regular flight. God provided protection, food, lodging and safety for those 2 days of travel. What more could we ask? Oh right, being greeted by Melissa……we were eventually………….it was funny she was delayed but then we got free parking instead of her waiting a long time.

We waited maybe 10 minutes. The familiarity with our surroundings and the comfort in our knowledge of how to get to her place from either Kaohsiung or Taipei are fantastic.

Oops too it’s late for the Jr. and Sr. High program tonight, maybe next week. Tomorrow is church. Melissa sings at both services so we are there for 8:45. We will reacquaint with many friends and have lunch with Larry & Michelle and their 3 children.

It has been great to spend some unscheduled time with Melissa yet a bit frustrating to need to wait on her ARC approval before any of us make substantial plans. We all ask for your prayers over these next few days as the anxiousness and uncertainty continue.

Oh and lest any of you think we aren’t missing you……we are and especially Jay, Julie, Alex and Gaby. There are SO MANY things a Grandpa wants to buy and send back!!!!!!! I’m surrounded by all kinds of candy and noisemakers which will stay in the stores……………. Toys, games, puzzles, paints and coloured pencils abound!

January 2010 Contrasts

Well I am about 40 degrees colder than last January.

We were around about 249,993 fewer people this year that last!

We are expecting a visit from our kids and grand kids tomorrow afternoon. last year we could not see our way to form even an expectation.

In THREE days we return to Kaohsiung where we were last year.

I am connected with MANY cousins and a year ago we hardly KNEW what Facebook was......

This past year I have had at least 2 friends lose BOTH mother and father!

I am going to miss Jay, Julie, Alex and Gabriella the next 4 months................but will rejoice in time with Melissa!

This is a year of renewal: relationships, discipline, adventure, uncertainty, love, family, plans, expectancy not expectations.

Oops did it again-no Colleen images

Grandma doing her favourite thing!

Colleen and me Christmas dinner

Christmas 2009 a 4 Scene play

We have Christmas because God loved us so much He presented Himself as a baby who then as an adult died on a cross for those things we are not able to atone for. This is also a time for great celebrations, joy and family time. I am reminded of people that are in stages of life or that have lost loved ones that make this a painful time. Grief and loss are such personal experiences. My thoughts and prayers are for support, encouragement and good recollections to gradually fill the absence.

Scene 1
Now on the lighter side the extended Meeds family connection in Saskatoon gathered on the 23rd and of course there was food and singing.

Scene 2

Then on the 24th we celebrated Jay, Julie, Alexander and Gabriella. Chinese food, well Vietnamese actually, and some gifts for the kids.

Note the wheels big enough to be outdoors at their acreage. And the doll and carriage that are already making their way around their living room.

Yes we are also assembling the Lego tow truck

Scene 3

Then Colleen's Mom joined us for Christmas morning brunch and an evening turkey feast.

Scene 4

My Facebook friends will know that about 2 hours later I then spent some time ejecting my turkey dinner. IT WAS EXCELLENT ON THE WAY IN but as I kneeled there it was not enjoyable at all! Thankfully it only affected me and was short lived and doesn't seem to be the flu. Lay low today and I'll be ready for an Alex & Gaby sleepover tomorrow afternoon!

Where do I begin.......

Only 5 days to Christmas
Wow 16 days to Kaohsiung
Relishing 1 month rebuilding relationship with Jay and Julie
Enjoyed several visits with Alexander and Gabriella
Celebrated supper with J, J, A & G
Savoured 1 sleepover with Alex and Gaby
Waiting and praying for Melissa's resident visa approval
Dreaming wildly and then using the realism brush
Thankful for a person to live in our house while we are away
Delighted in countless, I love you Grandma, I love you Grandpa
Thinking of friends who have lost loved ones this year
Praying for friends whose loss is refreshed this time of year.
Warmed by friendships new, old and refreshed
Excited by opportunities with Jay
Dreaming wildly and then using the realism brush

This is COOL- no text needed

November 24, 2009

Building relationships

I have been giving relationships a LOT of thought this past week. Relationships with other volunteers, other Christians, other family members near and far, past and present and immediate and extended.

The last few years I have finally realized the relationship I have had with my son was substantially flawed. So much so that it has taken virtually 2 years of almost no contact between us for him to feel we can begin to rebuild. What did I do wrong? Did he do anything wrong? Did anybody DO anything WRONG. What I am evaluating as a conclusion is that in most relationships NOBODY intends to do wrong but still does. Since wrong is often in the perception of the offended then in reality it is very easy for each person to wrong the other person and not even know it. And to complicate it the offense is so obvious to the offended that it is almost impossible to think the offender wasn't deliberate. And thus it grows and compounds.

Okay, that is a bit deep, convoluted and perhaps even confusing.

Bottom line....be loving, be careful, be cautious, be caring, make sure you are understood as caring, be understanding, be slow to be offended.

Middle line.....if you are offended, discuss it with the offender, work with the offender, try to understand your reaction.

Top line.....Life is long for most of us, relationships make it worthwhile and enjoyable.

HALLELUJAH

The last time I started my post this way it was the day after my sister died. Well today is much happier. Jay came by for a couple hours with Alex & Gaby.
My HEART IS FULL. Thanks, Jay! Today is the first of many more joyous and happy times.

Colleen was behind the camera!

Ponderings and Expressions

Yesterday we learned of a friend's mother passing away. Colleen noted that this is the second person who has died whose spouse we saw at a funeral 2 weeks ago. [now don't get paranoid] Ron Bader died from injuries in a fall and Delia Rodine-Alexander has passed after a number of years of declining health. Both are now rejoicing in Heaven while those of us here deal with missing them yet comforted by the eternal hope.

Where is your spiritual home? I am not only thinking of Heaven but also where you feel your spiritual roots are set. Mine is the Lakeview congregation. I guess since almost ALL adult life has been here it is no surprise.

This week I was thinking about the various ups, downs, highs, lows, mountains and valleys we have seen at Lakeview over the years. I wondered which of these helped people build a spiritual root and which stunted, ripped out or killed those roots. I believe it is very easy to forget we, the church, have a spiritual responsibility to each other. It is very easy to be self focused. After all, God created us with a self preservation dimension. Now to try to display some of His selfless love..................

November Ponderings

Today I asked myself if I live on the edge just beside depression. I know from some friends and family how much of a challenge and struggle it is and I don't have THAT degree of challenge. I wonder how many people are living close to the edge fearing depression but actually are in a real tough season in life. And sure some are in a very long season................

One year ago we were days away from our Taiwan winter adventure and we have 8 more weeks of Saskatchewan winter before our planned departure. Some Birks work and some Electrical Contacting work will finish our cold days for this year.

Oh, how do I complain about my Mother-in-law's driving without getting in trouble or giving too much detail? Too late probably in trouble. Well not with some people but I am trying to reason if she is a risk to herself and others or just to our sanity!

She did manage to get drive from her apartment in Saskatoon to a friends funeral in PA! The challenge was getting back through Saskatoon to her apartment. I CANNOT figure how she gets to where she does in Saskatoon and am not patient enough to ask enough of the right questions to figure it out. She managed to get on BOTH sides of the river at least TWICE on the way home and ended up at our house! ARGH.

Well at least it takes our minds off the lack of communication with Jay & Julie. I ache for the relationship to return. or even begin to be something............I wish I could get a hint of what to do...........

What a week!!!

Please be praying for God's grace and wisdom for Lakeview Church. We are in a very challenging time. God is supreme. God is soveriegn! All we need to do is to follow.

God is good, life is good COMMENTARY

Today warmed to 16 degrees it was glorious and as much as I talked about it with Zou kids last night I realize I did not have a conscious thought toward how I could see God through the activity of the day.... How is it that some days it is easy to perceive God and others it is easy to avoid those thoughts? I guess I was relaxing more than being deliberate in my day....Except during the Riders game dueling with Lesley!

Today I reaffirmed I am a peace lover! I was part of a Facebook encounter and I wanted to run SCARED!!!!!!!!!!! The written word, emotion, humour, spirit, loyalty can work together in a beautiful way but can also be so easily misinterpreted. I am a pretty passionate person and often wear the safe mask when in public view, don't I. Oh wait, my blog is one place I don't always wear the 'safe mask'. I do try to be aware, smart, considered while being open. I try to show vulnerability without being vulnerable to abuse or attack.

My thoughts are kind of empty or racing or flowing or not connected or wandering so this is it for today.

Oh wait, a cousin's daughter and family are going to serve in Mexico for 6 months leaving winter behind with a trailer and 3 kids sounds FUN! see I am strange. A friend's father passed away, not unexpected but still sooner than expected. Her mother passed away in the last 6 months too. Melissa has a new job that will help with cash and permanent residency processes. Still no word from Jay and Julie, SIGH, silent tear, hmmmmmm. Church was good connection time, 2 missions service teams talked about Mulenga and their experience there this summer. They spoke of a family feeling that we can identify with from our time in Kaohsiung. Now to see who God has for our house this year while we are in Taiwan.

No witty retort

it's been 3 weeks since i expounded anywhere but Facebook. I need to spend more pondering time.

I've been trying to rationalize Facebook and blogging. I can pretty easily dismiss twitter and regularly use email for specific person to person communication. I even use the phone occassionally.

A good friend is now out of the hospital after repair of a broken femur. Now the hard part begins for him, PATIENCE. And it will take a while for their famuily routine to return to normal.

Life here is pretty normal...Colleen works 10-4 3 day a week, I'm doing a variety of electrical work: replacing ballasts and fluorscent tubes, wiring some basements and a garage. I think I dislocated my shoulder holding ballasts in place on tuesday! Well OK not dislocated but it sure hurts, whiney, whiney........ My chiropractor treatment tomorrow should help. Then I can do some wiring and see if it is fixed or hurt............

I grieved for a while today!

Buying a birthday card and children's gift wrap didn't bring the excitement and joy it should.

I'm not sure what I grieved more: expecting to miss another of our grandson's birthdays, missing another day of relationship with our son, missing another day of relationship with Jay's wife Julie, missing another day of relationship with our granddaughter or just being grumpy.

And then the work I was going to do didn't happen so grumble, gripe, feel sad, try to NOT feel mad! Oh well, I am not on the way to the hospital nor do I have anyone in the hospital that I know of. Unfortunately one of my dear friends/relatives' father is in the last stages of cancer that was only recently discovered. Hmmm, we identify a young child without parents as an orphan; when you are in your 30's or 60's it can seem just as real!

Well I don't feel as low as I did the last half of the morning so I can now put the thoughts into words and contemplate for a few days.

I miss my mommy!

this doesn't have the same effect when I have to repost it due to IE issues!

Yep even at 59 I miss my mommy some days. Mom died in 1988 and strangely since Colleen's mom has moved here to Saskatoon I more frequently think of and miss my mother. They are not at all similar but this isn't about similarity. I even find myself wanting to drop in and visit mom after dropping Colleen at work but often she is not up and around by then.......and later she is involved in the many activities organized by the Resident's Association at her apartment. Poor me, right!

It has been a beautiful day here.....mid 20's so I was able to do the small amount of weeding in the front bed area. Now I am giving the birch tree its Fall watering.

Tomorrow is another chapter change. The PA church is having a farewell lunch and presentation for Mom after church. She has been a member there for probably 70 years! well OK maybe not quite that long but close. This is the first time she will be returning to Prince Albert and not be staying at her own home. It sold in 2 days with 2 weeks possession! Whew, 3 months ago she had just barely seen some of the apartments here!

Have a great day and weekend and week.

Brief thoughts.......

God sustains me but I still have to put in the effort each day! I have had 32 years of responding to an employer's schedule and now am learning how to develop the responsibility and discipline for my own scheduling. I look forward to following your adventure!

Time FLIES, well at least keeps moving along

It seems like lurking on Facebook keeps me from reading blogs and then sharing more of the depth of my life. Hmmm.

There is certainly more opportunity to share in the surface dimensions of people's lives via FB but there is a personal depth that I prefer to share through Blogging. I think it might be because I want to unload and unwind to a smaller audience. Oh and also so it doesn't FORCE someone to join something to be able to access the info.

Having said all that the last few weeks seem to have been fairly full. Colleen's Mom's house was listed Sept 1 and sold Sept 3rd! Fantastic and yet PANIC with a Sept 15th possession date! It feels like I did that 90 mile trip every 3 days since them! Today finished the last things, I thought I had the last trip 3 times!!!) This is the end of an era! Mom has a great 2 bedroom apartment that overlooks the river and the city.

Other aspects of life continue much as they have. No contact with Jay & Julie due to Jay's "Please do not come here uninvited" [sigh] Melissa continues to do well but permanent resident status continues to elude her. It is exciting and a bit frustrating for her to wait to see what God unfolds.

Christmas is in 3 months and 10 days!! We will be heading back to Taiwan before New Years. Melissa might be here for Christmas.