On Monday, September 21st, Terry and I got our work out in and then I stopped at the grocery store. We came back to see Ezra and Porky watching Ezra's math video. I thought it was so adorable that Ezra very intentionally set a chair out for Porky...and that Porky sat in it. Porky loves his "brothers."
Terry went to staff meeting and then stayed out to work on his sermon for the upcoming weekend. He preaches on Sunday. The boys had their classes and Evie ran to another store again for me since the first one had no potatoes for meatloaf that night. Missing ingredients happens a lot!
Back home Noah sent us this photo of him studying with Trixie for companionship. He had sent an application for an internship that night.
My mom also sent this photo from her birthday visit from my brother's family. I called her that morning to wish her a happy birthday too.
For Tuesday, September 22nd, I stayed home from the work out b/c I felt a bit sick and didn't want to aggravate it. I took some Mucinex (that Noah brought - yay!) and that took away my symptoms. I took it all week... But it was a significant milestone for Terry to work out without me for the first time.
Terry worked on his sermon all week. Samuel had a Vida debrief at lunch. He came home briefly, only to return for Cross Country later. However, we all drove there to watch Ezra's first soccer game! He was on the bench most of the game, since he is brand new and knows very little about soccer, but he did get some play time. They won 2-0.
There was a lot of rush hour traffic on the way home, so Terry and Evie, who had planned to go to Taipei that evening, had to rush off as soon as we parked the van. They made it in time and had dinner with the EC Talk team. Here is Terry's table.
Evie decided to come along since she has been feeling a little adrift without school work to keep her "busy." She doesn't feel like she's doing enough. I'll tell you what, she is so much like her daddy - they both love to be busy. It's not a bad thing, it's just different from me. But truly, she fills her time just fine. She's been writing 1,000 - 2,000 words every day to practice for her Young Writer's Workshop workshop in October. She does want to be an author and her dream is the do the three year certificate from Author's Conservatory. Anyway, she enjoyed EC Talk that night but was surprised by how silly the friend group at her table was. Ha!
On Wednesday, September 23rd, we woke up to a tired Noah text. He studied that morning for a Calculus 3 test, worked at his internship, and then worked at Bass Pro! Dude, this boy might be too busy this semester.
The best study buddy.
He sells shoes for Bass Pro.
My mom sent this photo of my dad while they were out for her birthday to showcase his incoming beard, but I was shocked at how young my dad looks. He's 76!!! He looks 56. He credits his oily skin...which I also have. So maybe oily skin is the fountain of youth!
Terry and I went back to the gym together. It's nice to walk home and cool off. He got ready quickly and then went to Chang Gung University for the Cru meeting and evangelism afterwards.
Samuel went to his Computer Science class and took a test. He didn't think it went very well. 😕 Evie went out to the outlet mall with her friend Chloe.
Terry talked to a group of three guys who weren't very interested and then had another, better, conversation with a single guy.
Debriefing with Abraham, Sarah, and George afterwards.
Meanwhile I met Flora at the nearby wet market to shop for a pork roast. I've been meaning to go for ages but I genuinely need the Chinese help. Flora had offered to help previously so I hit her up. I should go more often. I also got super fresh sweet corn and cabbage that were delicious. It was so hot in there, though - oh my goodness.
Arabelle came along.
While walking home I admired this favorite tree.
Terry came home and saw me prepping the pork for the instant pot. He went back to sermon prep.
And Evie was sending fun photos of her and Chloe.
The pulled pork was amazing and so was everything else. I made homemade rolls too!
Thursday, September 24th, was total body and we tried the hip thrust machine for the first time. 😂
Meanwhile there was an incredible sunset back home as Noah was leaving campus.
I had online BSF when we got home.
Evie and Anna met up to hang out before she leaves for a special trip. They talked about Anna's favorite book that Evie had just finished called Middlemarch.
I helped Ezra with school.
Samuel went to the school early to get some help on Computer Science from his friend Patrick. Then the rest of us biked to the school to watch Ezra's second soccer game. They lost this one 3-10 since it was the best team her,e but Ezra played more this time. Evie, however, ran with the cross country team. Coach Smith asked if she would be willing to help him and she wants to be more busy so she will add that into her Tuesdays and Thursdays every week.
It was so beautiful biking home. Terry went across to the First Sports Park to take a photo for his sermon.
Evie caught up with us and then the two of us left Terry to his pictures.
It's a very large park.
And such a gorgeous night.
On Friday, September 25th, Lillian and I met for brunch and coffee a week late for my birthday. I took her to Swell and we enjoyed ourselves. She made me laugh so much b/c she was trying to cover her swollen eye.
While I was gone Terry worked and the kids talked to Noah while watching a favorite YouTube channel together. Then Terry and I suited up for leg day. Terry needed some love from Porky before we left.
We got it done!
At home we helped Evie figure out which bus to take to Taipei to visit her friend Moriah. We changed our plans last minute since Terry's folks moved their trip up. We realized that the boys have a nine day break from school and we could do a lot more if Terry's folks came then. So we moved everything around, including Evie's sleepover. There she goes to flag down the bus.
She made it.
...and promptly sent us a selfie, hehe.
Next Terry went to the mall to get Rex a Star Wars Lego set for his birthday. He also got him a Mister Donut donut. Terry was like, "I think Rex is my friend...?" Yes Terry, Rex is your friend.
On Friday the kids were out of school for the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the harvest festival for Asian cultures. In Taiwan specifically there was an old commercial about barbecuing on the festival that everyone embraced and now it's traditional. It always takes place on the full moon and they give and eat "moon cakes." Our neighbor Amy gave us some weeks ago and Wesley and Summer gave us some more on Saturday. For the first time, our church held a barbecue for the festival. It was a smashing success. Here we are walking towards it - it's right behind our gym. Terry's holding the Costco Bavarian sausages I brought.
Here's me with a mouth full of food talking to Gary, who goes to LKIC and is also Samuel's Computer Science teacher.
Joseph, Anna, and Cora.
Ezra ate with some guys whose names I don't entirely know.
Nanson also took this group photo of all of us. Where's the Biers?
And of course the selfie. I love that Asian culture takes so many photos. I fit right in.
Ezra, however, couldn't wait to leave. He's a homebody.
There's the full moon!
We sang a song together in Chinese and English.
It was a lot of fun! That evening, as I was sending the day's photos and summary to Noah like I always do, I was feeling so happy and content. I'm happy being here.
Forced Porky snuggles at home.
Meanwhile Evie and Moriah's family celebrated the moon festival on the roof of the house with a big barbecue, s'mores, and pomelos. The pomelo peel on the head is a thing too. 😅
On Saturday, September 26th, Noah had the day off of school for M day. He and Jared hiked up M Hill together and watched the seniors whitewash the M with their butts.
At home the roommates spent a fun afternoon and evening together. It makes me happy that Luna has someone to love her.
Tim made them all dinner. How fun! Then they played Bang and Risk.
Evie spent the day in Taipei with Moriah.
We had a lovely chill Saturday morning, Samuel's first for three weeks. The last two he had spent in Taichung, first for Vida and then for the swim meet. He was so ready to relax at home. I snuggled Porky during The Price is Right. He looks super pleased about it.
Evie and the family went to the Jade Flower Market while Moriah was in a violin lesson.
Wesley and Summer stopped by to give us some special moon cakes. They're so very kind.
Evie with Moriah's siblings during Moriah's violin lesson.
Then Evie and Moriah walked around and got shwarma...
...and our favorite mango shaved ice. I am so jealous.
Moriah's mom helped Evie to find the correct bus and she was home by 3:30!
I sent the boys downstairs to our own swimming pool by themselves for the first time.
They were down there nearly two hours and had a great time.
Meanwhile I made banana chocolate chip muffins.
We watched a BBC Sherlock episode and enjoyed a quiet evening with popcorn...and Porky.
On Sunday, September 27th, Noah was at home making and eating delicious freshly milled pizza! I was also making pizza, but it wasn't nearly as good as his.
Terry worked so hard all week getting ready for this morning of preaching.
Last time he "threw Ezra under the bus" with a couple funny stories about him. This time he started with a question to remember a time when you were desperately thirsty. His illustration was the time on sabbatical in 2017 when we hiked in Bryce Canyon and Evie was so tired and hot. This was where she earned her "Wilted Flower" nickname.
He preached from John 4 about the Samaritan woman and closed by giving us, the church, the challenge to come to the park the following week for a church outreach to the community.
The kids had youth group and lunch afterwards, so Terry and I enjoyed chilling at home alone. Meanwhile, Noah was snuggling with a grooming Trouncer. 😍
Evie came home and I taught her how to make pizza dough. We enjoyed our pizza with a movie that night.
