This is a song you might catch me humming /singing for the next year or so . . . .
. . . When You’re Having Fun!
It’s hard to believe that it was FORTY YEARS AGO today when my girlfriend & I ran away and got married. I don’t think either one of us really understood the ramifications of what we were doing or even thought very far into the future; but – we were & still are very much in love.
Happy Anniversary, Fran. I’m praying that we have many more anniversaries yet to come.

This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of my mother’s death. I wish I could say I understood grief, but honestly, the older I get, I conclude, grief still has it’s way of surprising me.
Yesterday I was putting up clothing that I had packed in our crate from the US. I unpacked one of my mom’s blouses, and one of her hats. It dawned on me that this time last year, Oct 30, 2010 when I went home to TX for my mother’s funeral, that I snatched these two articles from her home and packed them in my suitcase for when I return to Taiwan. Then in April 2011, when we left Taiwan to go stateside for 4 months, I had packed the same two articles in my check in luggage, taking them to TX with me. In August 2011 we packed a crate of things to send to Taiwan. Yes, Mom’s blouse and hat tucked among the things, which I rediscovered yesterday!
I haven’t worn them, I just like to pack and keep them and take them back and forth from one side of the world to the other. I recognize the Lord’s comfort here.
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him. NAS
When Jesus went to the cross – he even bore our griefs.
How do you know you if have really surrendered your grief to the Lord?
Could it be when you recognize his comfort? Like I said, grief still has a way of surprising me, but better yet, the Lord’s comfort is even greater.

Do you like My Mom’s Hat?
My daughter, Paige, planned a “Surprise Momma’s Day Brunch” to honor me and the many mommas that influence and care for her while I live overseas. Most of these women I know, and a few I have heard about over the years. I am so thankful for the many women that influence her in a variety of ways, pointing her towards Christ – to shine for him. The table setting was beautiful and the food was fantastic! Her husband, Chris, took her daddy and dad-in- law fishing while we did the girl thing. It was a very fun day, full of surprises.







Man, it’s been a while since the last post. We’ve been really busy . . . and still are.
We’re getting ready to take a break from our 2nd home and reconnect with folks back in the US. We’ve also been planning a special week for this summer when we will visit here

This photo of Moraine Lake Lodge is courtesy of TripAdvisor
and here

This photo of Jasper National Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Hoping to see you soon,
J and F