Futbol

For the second time in almost a year, I went to a soccer game. For most of the last 11 months, I'm usually tied to either basketball or college football. Believe me, I would LOVE to get tickets for a Laker game and watch my boys in purple/gold take the rest of the NBA to school. And when time permits, throw in a college game too (especially if my Bears are playing). Even recently, I've learned to appreciate baseball (even though I still relate it to watching grass grow).

I'll admit that soccer isn't exactly a sport (yet) I would jump up and buy season passes to attend. BUT when it's your friend's favorite sport and it's his birthday (and he's paying for it), then it's nice to stretch out your legs and enjoy the sport for what it is. =P



Rick, Hannah, me, Garth (the birthday boy who bought our tickets)


Here are the highlights from that nights' game. Don't miss D.B.'s 70+ yard goal. =D

Looking Back: Academics

“It’s weird,” I tell a friend a couple years back, “the longer we’re in school, the less we seem to care about grades.”

Flashback 6 years ago: It’s senior year and I’m up until 2:30am a week for third-period AP Economics (it switched to lunch period during second semester). Why? I don’t think I could have told you either.

Third year into college and beyond: I sleep. Even if I have two homework sets due the next morning and have to submit a project progress report afterwards, I’m gonna get my sleep.

A part of it is avoidance: I just don’t tend to think very much about a letter grade. If there’s one thing that my Dad’s drilled into my head other than "don't give up" and "stay focused", it’s the fact that “all you can do is your best”. So at the end of everything, I take a look at myself and if my work was reflective of my best effort within my boundaries of well-being, I am satisfied.

Another part of it is understanding the Big Picture. I think I’m going to choose to trust in God’s control of the world rather than be driven by fear – of being lesser than my peers, of not getting that cool job, of not being accepted in both.

One last thing (mainly for the Cal folks): guys, we’re freakin’ blessed to be where we are. We have an amazing opportunity to study at the best public university in the world (ok, I'm a bit biased with that statement). 99.99% of the world will never get anything close to what we have. (That being said: what are we going to do with this gift? I hope and pray we don’t keep it to ourselves.)

Looking back, it’s been rather freeing, moving out of this paradigm of striving and academic bondage and into gratitude and security.

It's the THRILLER...

Despite only 4 hours of sleep after a long work week, I woke up yesterday feeling really good about myself. Not only was it a beautiful morning, but I got to spend it going airsofting with the guys.

Jason got me into it about two months ago. A group plays almost every month @ an airsoft playground in El Monte. I started to go mainly because, it just seemed like the man-ly thing to do with other brothers.

Ever since I started watching "24", I've always wondered to be in Jack Bauer's shoes. I would get all into it when Jack would pull out his gun and fight his way through LA to stop terrorists and save peoples' lives against all odds. Every Monday night for five months, I would enjoy being at the edge of my friends' couch watching the action unfold - all in 24 hours time.

So when I woke up Saturday, I was very excited because I get to experience a glimmer of my favorite TV show...even if it is shooting BBs. And instead of terrorists, it's with a group of guys who also thirst for that sense of adventure and thrills.

Apart from our usual team face-offs, we tried some new things. One gameplay was if we got hit, we had to act like we were actually shot (instead of raising your gun and walking out). This is where we ended up going for style points. Another gameplay was if we got hit, we returned as zombies and go hunt for anyone else alive. Last man standing had to find the exit to escape.

The rest of the shootouts can be found here, and the videos are on my Facebook. =D

It's true: boys will always be boys.

In The Storms

After reading the news and watching the images and videos of those catastrophes in Burma and China. These images of suffering and hopelessness burned right into my memory and watered my eyes.



What the heck is going on???


God, I want to praise you in this storm.
Fill my head with more understanding of their suffering.
Move my heart to care and compassion for the people.
Use my hands to do something about it.
Amen.

AOW Photoshoot 2008

Two weeks ago...after 64+ shots with the group over the Colorado Street Bridge aka. Suicide Bridge with many laughs and poses under the hot 90+ degree sun...

I present to you the cast for Acts of Worship for the 2007-2008 Season

Stay tuned for a BRAND NEW website from this fun, as well as some booking dates to come in the late summer.

Yeah, you heard right - we're going on TOUR!! =D

Unraveling

Over the weekend, I was asked to serve the youth at our church's Cantonese fellowship retreat down in Anaheim. We stayed at the Hilton Suites just down a few blocks from Disneyland, so after dinner on Saturday night, I went with my Eureka co-counselors to check out Downtown Disney and their fireworks spectacular.

I felt a sort of peace I haven't felt in a long time. That for those few hours, I didn't have to do, but just be. To stop and watch life unravel itself around me.

The colorful blinking lights.
The sounds of family laughter.
The music of Drew Tretick's violin.
The smells of fresh bread and sweet candy in the air.
The sight of fireworks exploding in the sky.

Even when the brights lights gave way to a quiet night again, I still had something good to come back to :

GOD is good...all the time.

Light in the Darkness

There's something I miss about being with my mom.

I was up a few nights ago studying for my exam in the dining room - the lone lamp in a dark sleeping house. My mom brushed past me, gently carrying Kiki to the kitchen counter to let him drink from the faucet. I put my pencil down and got up to see what was going on.

Kiki is not your normal house cat. He has an engaging personality that matched the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He's always wants to be around humans and it showed over the years - from sleeping like a human to even turning doorknobs (smart cat). Nothing truly scared him, especially mysterious hiding spots and all animals, big and small. To him, life was about having fun, exploring different places and being with those you love. It was so simple.

But one visit to the veterinarian and one phone call changed all that. And all we could do was make him comfortable for what time was left.

I stood by the edge of the counter as my mom turned on the light and opened the faucet. He wouldn't move, much unlike himself weeks ago. She stood behind him, her comforting arm around him. "Come on now," she said softly. "Drink some water."

Seconds passed. Minutes passed. Neither one moving, both just silently watching the steady stream of drops descend into the sink. Finally, my mom gently beckoned him forward. Step by step, he inched forward and slowly turned his head to sip the sparking tap. My mom motioned for me to join them, and we all stood together in the the dimly-lit kitchen.

My mom grew up caring for other living things - animals and humans alike. "Everyone deserves a healthy life," she would say, "and living it to the fullest." My sister and I grew up watching her raise us and keeping a close eye on the those who meant the most to her.

Even though we grow up and get busy, I somehow found this time spent with mom more than enough to make up for the time lost. Also more than enough to appreciate what she has done for our family, especially for me and my sister.

We may go alone, lost in our own darkness, but never straying too far from the light that show us where we are and how far we have come.

And those who leave that light on for us.

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Updated Saturday, April 12

My mom had to take Kiki to the vet this morning to finally stop his quiet suffering. It was for the best, though we will miss him.

On a related note, here is a video that somehow ties things together - for anyone, any age.











I will miss him.