I was rebuked tonight in a way that I could have never imagined.


"This however is just one side of the story, and now I have opened my eyes and my heart to the truth, and because I have now done this I must now admit as well as acknowledge that despite all of these negative things, I am a very blessed man." -Kevin Cooper, "I Now Acknowledge."


How easily and willingly we forget...

"What? You don't think Andy's cute? Good-looking? Pretty? Handsome?"

"Umm, I think he looks like he's... aging."

"What a wonderful thing when you are so caught up in a moment when you are so lost in an experience that you forget to straighten your tie or to comb your hair. Why esteem yourself? Forget yourself. You'll have a lot more fun."
-Rich Mullins

Even though I can't change the world, I can always change my world.

Sometimes it's too difficult to encapsulate everything that you feel about a particular moment and to try to articulate that feeling into words. And during those times, I believe that it's better to just feel and bask in the sheer existence of the moment.


"The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it." -Carl Jung.

10 things to be happy about:

1. A walk at twilight.
2. Happy, rumbling furnaces.
3. Watching a heated card game.
4. Starting a brand-new book.
5. Hiking a steep trail.
6. Warm pockets for cold hands.
7. Appreciating music.
8. Cheering yourself up.
9. Comfortable new boots.
10. Postcards from foreign lands.

After much deliberation, I finally found the perfect location for my fat guy picture.

Where else would be more appropriate than on the refrigerator door?


Small group leader's retreat. Learning to use my strengths and to do all that I can with what I have control over.

A passport today for the first time ever. Never having so much stuff in the car before. A quick ride with some good company. =]

Gene Kelly is amazing. How can one movie make you feel so happy inside?

A delicious brunch. A family event. Coffee Lovers' from Coldstones. A burst of laughter from the mother at the "Good, God" comment.

I guess I was proven wrong tonight. =]

"and why is your typing so unlike the way you talk? its like you're an englishperson writing in your journals in the 1800s about your experience with the native peoples."

Hahaha.

...

I believe that karma has led me to make my decision in pursuing my long-neglected interest in basketball. Here are my notes from tonight's game:

The Lakers always lose whenever I watch one of their games. I like Derek Fisher and his hairband. Luke Walton looks like a curly-haired Ben Affleck and although he tries very hard, he can't shoot very well. Mike Bibby looks like Dr. Evil's Mini-me. The Sacramento Kings, and not the Lakers, are #1 in the Pacific chunk of the national conference.

I also cannot wait to finally get my long-awaited foam hands. =]

Quality time spent with the mother over Dae Jang Kum. Maruki 98 cents store. Tuxie sprawling his body over ours. =]

Being called "Butterball" without the implication of being a fat piece of lard. "Bbah dah ball". A monkey-face, covered by go-goo-mah ash.

The male Jang Kum who cooks dinner for his family. =D I love my dad's throwing together all the leftovers and dousing it with cham gee rum and calling it delicious cuisine.

Some old faces at OMC: Arem, James, William, Paul. Beloved Thai BBQ: L2, Chicken pad see-ew, Pad Thai. The hunt for ice cream near the Burbank AMC theaters. In America. Eli's sexy 'do.


"Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee."
-Hymn, Jars of Clay.

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." -William Arthur Ward.

There were only a couple of things that I wished for while I was here in New York, and both of them came true.


Here's one of them:

Esther and I were coming out of Century 21 when we got caught in a little snow flurry. =D

Finding out that I can do Legal Studies 195. Wasting two hours talking with Karen about Roy. Praying that I will never be as susceptible to the affections of a guy. Buying two sweaters for $25. Ugly thermal underwear.

Young Nak EM service on who we are. Roly-poly Byung-chan. Nancy and her sister not wanting to attend service. Carnitas. 1 bite rice, 1 bite meat. Sewon and I's uselessness. Hannah and Scott. Crepes at Farmer's Market. Dispelling ideals about New York. Scott's horrible asking to take a picture. Whipped cream. Forgettting Scott's sn: spped? scoot? Sweating when arriving to LA. Chilling at Crate and Barrel. Andre's Restaurant. Free drinks and free garlic bread. Spaghetti and veggie lasagna. Cafeteria style. Cranky irritable girls from traffic and the cold. "Can we get out of here? There's so many f*n weird people here!"-Jeniffer. 8 girls in Linda's Civic. Hannah's gum. Missing the 5 N and going back home. Driving back around and going to Burbank. Odd reactions. Guy thongs. Andy and Roy rolling around in bed. Calvin and Hobbes!!! Getting smacked in the face repeatedly by Roy. Halcyon.

Drive through Downey on Firestone Blvd. Unexpected conversation at Costco. Weird smiles. House-cleaning.

LA and old friends. ��� turned into Sool-dogg. Spending half an hour deciding what to eat, only to return to Curry Factory. Hamburger steak and chicken �. Little ����. Cafe Home and the ����. Paying $10 for ���� to sing 2 songs. New York and Chicago talk and of all the good food there. Plans to meet again tomorrow. Sticker and camera touristy pictures. R. Kelly on the way home.

Thankfulness for some great times.

Grand Lux Cafe. Jo's generous attempt. Karen's unwanted open-faced curry chicken salad sandwich. Cafe Home and ���� ���, Ŀ�� �Ϻ��, and �v���. Old memories. Connect Four. Chinese checkers with Kristy, the advanced player. Linda and my preoccupation with the food. Friendly chat with Mona. Finding the perfect card. Playing with the family.