American Dreaming

I believe in America.

Mario Puzo once wrote these words in praise of this wonderful country we live in. Others beg to differ, but that's because they don't live here.

Aside from the jingoistic fancies, I've heard many stories of immigrants coming to the home of the free with a few dollars in their pockets hoping to make it big and to live the Dream. In turn, American history is full of people who have had nothing to their names make ridonkolous fortunes in their lifetimes from honest hard work, all sorts of hustlin', or just dumb luck. Sometimes all three.

This very notion of the American Dream has been ingrained in the very essence of my being for as long as I can remember. Having grown up in a household with immigrant parents and with other families and friends of more immigrants, I was almost constantly reminded of this Dream.

Everybody in the land of the brave has had some kind of chutzpah in fulfilling theirs. Due props to them for it is on their backs that the foundation was laid and that the miracle of America was built upon.

What then and how does this Dream come into fruition for me? Is it through the newly placed white picket fence surrounding the McMansion? Is it through acquiring Sparky the golden retriever? Maybe it's a yacht. Hopefully playing Powerball can get me all this.

I believe dreams make the world go round, not money. Yes, dreams come true. Yes, living the dream is a GREAT achievement. BUT, what good is the Dream if I gain the whole world yet forfeit my soul?

Matthew 6:19-21.

Read it and not weep.

Rejoice.

mooncakes and the such

中秋節.

This is the first time in a long time that I've actually celebrated it with a proper 月餅. So syked to eat one, it's been ages. 蓮蓉 ones, hands down, are the best. Don't argue with me on this, it'll be a lost cause.

After eating such wonderful things, as by custom, an observance of the full moon was in order. I remember once again why so many poets write about the moon, it truly is beautiful. He definitely knew what He was doing when creating all that celestial stuff.

It just so happens that this Mid-Autumn Festival also coincided with the first day of autumn. Go figure. I hear people talking about this super harvest moon thing we're supposed to be experiencing with this full moon. This brouhaha sounds like werewolves are expected to come out of the woodwork.

Come whatever, I'm gonna get me some more of that mooncake. MMM. 中秋節快樂!

praying, writing, fighting, listening, waiting

This is an overdue post.

Back in April, my dear CCF planned for a retreat. This was in our talks and prayers for months and finally came together after getting all the details worked out. MH graciously offered her family mountain home in Wintergreen for us to use for this weekend getaway, the usual folks took care of rides, PT folks did their thing, and VH and me in charge of food. Wooo!

Honestly, I've only been on a few retreats but this would be the first one that I would play a big role. The speaking role.

Of course, the 2 weeks before the whole getaway was spent praying and writing as to what would be suitable to talk about. How He listens and delivers! It ended up as a mixture of conversations I've had with Him and others I've had over the last 3 years. Writing this piece was of great joy and emotion.

We all definitely needed this break. After being slammed with papers, mid-terms, projects, and the usual spring semester pandemonium...I think it was well deserved.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed themselves there that weekend because I tried and succeeded...to some extent. That weekend has forever been etched into my mind as one of the most intense weekends spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. etc. All across the board, hands down.

The drive up was very scenic. Never have I seen so much rolling green hills and countryside. At the same time, never have I ever gone up and down land so steep. Pauvre Renée.

Everybody turned in rather soon after a long afternoon of driving and hearty dinner. I couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind. I awoke TOO early and began breakfast. Cooking brings me peace. But only for a moment. Saturday was the day that His words would be flowing through my mouth. I hope and pray His words from my mouth still resonate in our ears.

I think every emotion, thought, and action possible crossed my mind that weekend. Joy. Hate. Peace. Jealousy. Love. Despair. Kindness. Bitterness. Truth. Lies. Happiness. Sorrow. Fear. Hope.

Sleep didn't happen that weekend. I'm used to it. There's always the following weekend to sleep.

Conversations and thoughts which brought tears to my eyes and joy to heart that weekend still resonate with me.

Finding a quiet room in house with 11 other people is hard but doable. I needed His peace. So grateful He always provides the littlest of things.

Sunday was the drive back. So long mountain house, back to the war that is school in April.

Despite the overtaxing of every sense of my being, in retrospect, I'm glad and grateful it happened. I remember a conversation I had with CM's dad about welcoming and embracing adversity. We both agreed on this one prevalent notion, we are better for it after embracing it.

He pushes us to the edge in times of adversity in hopes that we fight with Him for Him. Or run back to Him. In both situations, we have to no less depend on Him. 是我們所倚靠的!

On the same note, listening to Him is a learned process. The whole weekend I continued trying fine tuning my being to hear Him. We're always talking to Him, He most definitely is responding. Just gotta listen.

I anticipate another retreat. Full of praying. Full of writing. Full of fighting. Full of listening. Full of waiting.

耶和華 ─ 我的神啊，祢所行的奇事!

COOKIES?!? (ii)

Cookies galore.

Two weeks ago, VR surprised me with a box of cookies in the mail.

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

EPIC. WIN.

I've never received a package like this before and it certainly didn't disappoint. The packaging was simple yet amusing. Inside the simple brown box was a Rubbermaid box of cookies which was then surrounded by crumpled up pages from a back issue of People magazine. Interesting reading material as I munched on these treasures.

Not too soft yet not too hard. And chocolate. Who can forget the chocolate in the cookies?

Why do my former students keep sending me cookie stuff? They must have figured out my cookie obsession. They are too wonderful. HC with her cookie recipe and VR with her box.

Thanks VR, this shout out is for you.