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weckybong
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Name: Becky
Country: United States
State: Illinois
Birthday: 9/22/1975
Gender: Female
Interests: Playing board games, cards and taking care of Jasmine.
Expertise: limbo :)
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message me
Member Since:
8/17/2003
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| Hi Everyone,
It has been SO long since I have wrote down my thoughts. I'm all caught up into facebook and emailing that I don't take time to write things down anymore. 2008 is almost over. I know that the 2007-2008 school year ended awhile ago. I'm on summer break and loving it.
Summer activities:
- Jasmine joined Gymboree play/music. She really loves music and dance. When she is older, I'm going to be quite concerned.
- Many lunches/dinners with my parents.
- Hunting for 1 cent deals and the different office supply stores on a weekly basis. So far, the composition books that I require for my students are only 30 cents at Office Depot and that expires this Saturday.
- Exercising at LA Fitness.
- Taking 2 courses at the University of Chicago. Thank you Ms. Joann Ruan for driving.
- Took 4 students to Great America along with Jasmine. Oh, she loves slides.
- Taking some of my high school girls out driving. They need practice before traffic. I must admit, it gets scary sometimes.
- Getting ready for an exciting 2008-2009 school year at Haines.
Well, I don't blog as much now. More updated stuff/pictures are on facebook. However, I usually just spend my time playing games with others.
A few pictures of Jasmine...
eating at the signature room at the john hancock
copying daddy with a funny face
jasmine posing for a picture
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| SUMMER?
I can't believe that the year is half over! Actually, I can't wait until it is over. I am so looking forward to the summer. I was thinking about trying to find a job over the summer but then decided not to. I will be spending a lot of quality time with Jasmine by taking her to different places in Chicago, including the museums and kiddy play areas. Want to come? Give me a call in the summer.
Work at Haines
Well, let me tell you about my 7th grade homeroom class this year... I mentioned before that they have personality. Well, some students that were once so quiet in my class are now breaking out of their shell or something. Some can be loud, goofy, outspoken, too playful and just crazy! :) I do get loads of smiles from them but sometimes it is really not funny when I'm sleepy or tired or hungry. I hope that they can tell when I'm just not in the mood.
Since I am able to do many things that my students can do and showing them that I can, I feel that sometimes the line of teacher and student is blurred. I wonder if my students feel that now they can goof off more because I'm not just "teacher" to them. I hope not because then I would be very sad and go back to being just "teacher."
I have a couple of students in my class that often get bored in class when I give them study hall time. They always ask for things to do. They are willing to help me with whatever and I am so grateful. I also want to thank some of my former students: Li Yu, Hui Mei, Qi Li and Ying Chun. I could not have survived without all your help in grading those countless notebooks! One day I will find a way where I can do it myself
Family
We are doing well in general. Jasmine is getting smarter, opinionated, and taller each day. I look forward to her being more independent. She is a hilarious girl if you have had the chance to interact with her. She loves to eat snacks and jumping/dancing around. Just last weekend, we went to Granite Peak in Wisconsin. It was the first time that Jasmine played with snow and saw fireworks. Albert went snowboarding while I spent time with Jasmine. It was a fun but tiring from so much time in the car.
I've been busy with grading papers and going to school myself. I passed Algebra I and am taking Algebra II now. I'm so dead. The course is very hard. I have never learned this stuff like that. The teacher is teaching is mathematical induction now. He says that math teachers don't even teach it until close to pre-cal. I only press on to learn something and pass. :)
well....I'll update more later. see you
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| Wow, I can't believe that the new school year has already started. Why am I feeling so drained so soon? I guess that I'm not used to working.  Well, I have a new 7th grade homeroom this year that is full of personality. There is not one day where my students don't make me laugh for one reason or another. Believe me, when they do something that deserves a laugh, I do laugh. I just hope that they know that I mean well and kidding around and not that I'm not laughing "at" them or purposely trying to make them feel bad.
Now, my 8th grade students seem like they have matured a lot. I don't feel like I need to hold them by the hand to get assignments completed. I actually really like that. Even though a year has passed from 7th to 8th, I feel like my 8th grade students have changed so much. so grown now.
Hmm...well, I'm back in school again. I am currently taking a math course at the U of C. Boy, it will be so difficult seeing that I don't like math. It is free for me and I can work on my recertification for the next 5 years. I figured that it was worth it. I hope that I can do well. I am taking algebra.
What else is new? Jasmine is a ball of energy and laughs. She has her own mind now and tantrums are starting. I am nipping it at the bud now so that it does not escalate later on. She doesn't enjoy time outs since she is so active so that is working for me now.
Until later....bye
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| THESE ARE POSTS TAKEN FROM MY HUSBAND'S XANGA. He speaks for me as well. For previous posts about Kaden, view it at Albert's xanga site. (mugen76)
God's Grace Truly Shines Thru....
It is only by God's grace that I'm able to sit here, with the little strength I have left, and share with you all of this. First of all, I want to thank all of you who prayed for us and for baby Kaden. Your comments, voicemails, text messages and support really drove us during this process. Prayers were hailing in from New York to Korea and everywhere in between. We couldn't believe that old friends and strangers were posting about their entire church praying for us. Let this be a testament of God's people loving and caring for each other in times of need. You guys really pulled through.
This morning, (June 7, 2007) Kaden went to be with the Lord. His tiny little body gave way to the massive infection in his bloodstream which caused failure in the organs and in his brain. He passed away peacefully in my arms at the last moment. There were so many emotions to process during that time - from extreme pain in our hearts, to confusion and an overwhelming sense of loss. It was just too surreal as it unfolded before our eyes b/c I was holding in my arms.. my son. I thought to myself, this is probably how God, the Father, felt when he offered his Son as a sacrifice for the world. And you know what? Knowing what that's like and experiencing it was just a mindblowing thing... something that I'll never wish on any of you to experience.
However, all of these emotions were met by God's reassurance that he had a plan for us and an even greater plan for Kaden. God blessed us with Kaden for only 10 days and even within these past 10 days, he was able to show us some amazing things. For example... the fact that you are even reading this shows how much you care for becky and I. As I posted on my xanga, you guys faithfully came back for more updates and shared your support.
Many of you, as christians, showed your support by praying. If God's purpose for Kaden was to bring some of you to your knees to help intercede for us, then to God be the glory! I know he brought Becky and I to our knees to pray. And even moreso for the non-christians who showed support by praying...Glory!! Let this be a lesson that we should pray for each other more. That we need to support each other as one body and be intentional about it.
You're probably thinking... "oh, is that all you experienced?" Oh no my brutha. Last week, Becky and I left the hospital one of the nights and decided to head home to rest. Kaden was stable at that time and we felt that it was wise to go home and sleep. God said... oh no my brutha.... (well... in a thunderous kinda way). We arrive home and find cops everywhere and police caution tape draped across the entire driveway to our townhome association. Upon further investigation, we found out that one of the neighbors injured herself in an accident in front of another neighbor's house. the owner of that house came outside and discovered the horror before her eyes and was frightened by the site of all the blood from the injury. After the cops and ambulance left, a couple of us decided to clean up the blood for our neighbor as a favor so she wouldn't be further traumatized by the site (btw, oxi-clean really works). During that time, becky was chatting with the other neighbors and shared with them why I was being so helpful why I wasn't afraid of blood. After they found out we just came from the hospital and giving birth to a preemie baby on life-support two days prior, they thought we were completely INSANE. To make a long story short, we shared Christ with not only those neighbors, but we also invited the traumatized neighbor to stay with us for the night and she did. We shared with her about who we were and why we do things the way we do...needless to say, in the end, it's all about God.
I'm sure there's more blessings to share from this overall experience...like our families drawing together, or our non-christian coworkers sharing about how much courage we had. But Becky and I want you all to know that we have been very BLESSED by everything that has gone on these past 6 months. Some of you knew that there were a lot of complications during the first two trimesters... and this emotional roller coaster ride with Kaden really broke us. However, we are very much at peace b/c we KNOW for a fact that God is holding Kaden and that he's also guarding our hearts. Becky has been an inspiration to me and carried me through some dark times b/c her faith has been ROCK-solid. We often remind each other to stay strong but she showed it to me when she sat at Kaden's bedside, in the middle of the night, reading nearly the entire book of Psalms to him. I don't know how that girl does it.... but that's why I'm married to her.
So please... keep your heads up... and your heart's sharp! There's no need to bombard us with condolences. Rejoice in the fact that Kaden is in heaven with our Father. Becky and I will grieve properly with time and we know that it is only by God's grace that we can even share this... this soon.
Lord, you give and take away, but my heart will choose to say, "blessed be Your Name!!!"
Kaden, mommy, daddy and jasmine love you so much. we will miss you. thank you for the 10 days that you fought to stay alive. you are truly a fighter. we know you're in a better place where there's no more pain, no more suffering. we'll see you soon!
al
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| Well, I've been in the hospital for the past week and counting. I, in my own wants, thought that I could just go back to work and have things become like "normal." After many months of trials and learning so far, I missed the point again. I am so weak. God has been teaching to me so much of who he is through my circumstances as I am still before him. God brought back passion in my walk with him. How can you truly have a relationship when it lacks passion? Then in a matter of weeks, when things seem to be getting better for me, which is a praise... I forget again. I wanted to get things done and be on my feet. I did too much and God once again reminded of his sovereignty as I am back in the hospital.
The hospital stay is also a journey. It is a place where God can be glorified through my speech and actions. Even in this confined place, God is revealing to me so much about how my life needs to be truly broken before him all the time. Not just to know, but to put to actions and be disciplined with it.
I think that I will be here in this place for a long time for the sake of my baby. I have come to the attitude that it's okay if that is what it takes. No more complaining and wanting to go home. But instead, to embrace it and make the best of it. God works anywhere.
So for all that have been praying for me and visiting me in the hospital, thanks for all your love and support. Let me know how I can pray for you as well.
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