My cousin

[L]: As you know, my extended family is HUGE! My mother is one of 8 children in her family growing up. And my father is one of 5. My parents older siblings have followed the mandate to be fruitful and multiply, and that they have! One of my mom's older sisters has 9 kids. And that's just one aunt, not to mention the others. And my father's oldest sister has 8 kids. So to say the least, I have lots and lots and lots of cousins.

And so, as we grow older... there are weddings, graduations, cousins moves away, some move back... and in the process, many babies being born. Being away this past 2 years, I have learn to appreciate family more and more. I have had to miss weddings. And births of babies. And not only so, lots of family events in between. And since being married, I gained a whole new set of family from Edwin as well! =) Keeping in touch with everyone and with all the changes with extended families has not been the easiest... (My parents usually gives me sporadic updates!)

So imagine my excitement when I found my cousin's website and we were able to connect! It suddenly allowed me a window into her life, that I would never get to know about, since I rarely ever get to see her. She and her husband (who is Romanian) were extremely successful in their careers and lived in San Diego for a time. Then, this past year, they moved to Romania! They live in a little village and even own a chicken farm. How cool is that?!!! And the coolest news is that they are adopting 2 precious little children from Romania!!

I am so excited to hear that there are 2 new children added to our extended family. There is something so special about adoption -- merging people who look very different, but to come together as ONE family through the bonds of love. A choice to embrace someone else unconditionally, as your own flesh and blood.

I wonder why adoption brings about so much emotion in me. Perhaps it's a great resemblence of what God did for us. Though we are separated from Him in our sins, He totally pursues us, loves us unconditionally, wants to adopt us into His family through Christ, and calls us His very own!! And all the while, we didn't have to do a thing! All we have to do is to agree in faith whether or not we want to be part of this Family.

Congratulations to you guys, Chi Tram and Adrian. Welcome to the family, Paulina and Nicolae! (Aren't they a CUTE family!)

the tremors of the earthquake...

[L]: So even though we couldn't feel the tremors of the earthquake, my teacher did. She lives on the 19th floor. Monday afternoon, she felt her entire room shake. She freaked out, didn't know what happened, ran all the way downstairs and asked what was going on. No one on the lower levels felt it, and they all didn't know what she was talking about -- until they heard the news on the radio and tv. Apparently, most people on high-rises were able to feel the earthquake. As for the rest of us who live on the lower floors, we felt nothing.

So, though we live far away from where the earthquake hits... many people here could feel the earth tremble.

News surrounding the earthquake continues to be devastating... and all of us here are having talks about what we can do to help...

lunch today

[L]: Today I had lunch with 3 local friends. One of my friend's hometown is in the Himalayas, which is so far away that she only gets to see her family once a year. Her little sister, though only in high school, also got sent to a school far away from home. And today I found out that her sister's high school is located in the city near the massive earthquake. Fortunately, her sister survived and is okay.

However, their dorms and classrooms are in utter ruin. Last night they slept on the playground area. Tonight, they will sleep in tents.

It just seems surreal that only on Monday morning, life was all as it should be. And later at 2:28pm that afternoon, the lives of thousands got changed in a devastating way.

Nothing in life is certain. There are no guarantees that we will all live to a certain age, or if we will live to see tomorrow.

It's time like these that I am thankful that we can have hope in JC that transcends what we can see on earth.

Today, I was thankful that I got a chance to ask my friends what they thought about life and together reflect on what is meaningful...

we are safe!

Hello friends! Many of you have heard of the devastating earthquake. We just want to let you know that we are safe and okay! Thanks for e-mailing and checking on us! We feel so loved.