Home Alone & thoughts on life

It has been 10 days since I am back from the trip, and life seems going back to normal slowly. Ever since back, I have being thinking really hard about my future plans and what I really want to do next. It seems there are something missing in my life, or I wasn't feel completely happy (I could not say what cause it yet). Between work, church and family, life seems a bit boring or no clear direction. First I thought a trip to Europe and taking a break from all the ordain life will spice up my life a bit, but after a week back from the trip, life just goes back the way it was before. Yeah, it was good to see all the family and friends but I am still not completely happy. On Friday's fellowship we are finishing up the last day of the 40 days Purpose Driven Life (it is funny that 40 days appears a lot lately.....). So we had discussion and sharing about " what is your life purpose statement ?" I thought after reading the book I will somewhat have better sense about my life purpose, but it seems like I were more confused and clueless. During the discussion, I shared that my friend once told me that I seemed real unhappy and unlike before ever since I have become a Christian. I think it was true in some aspect and I am not sure why. I felt it is part of growing up, and when you know more about life, it is not always happy and simple as it used to be. It kind bring me down a bit. I know bible taught us that we should give our wearies to God and learn to rely on him, but I guess it is a bit easy to say than done. I used to say things and do things the way I want to, and the way I felt like it. All my friends loved me. But now I think twice before I do any thing....I think about if it is the right thing to do? And if it is what God want me to do? And Man it was hard......(pain in the butt). Then people tell you if you have hard time in your life is because you are not close to God. Well duh.........You think I don't know that? But how close is close to God? I want to be like David or Joseph (by the way, Joseph is my new favorite character in Bible now) who can understand God and God loves them. Although Dave screwed up the big time in the end, he is still cool in my book, hahahaahhaha. It seems like I spend a lot time, money and thoughts to become a good Christian. Try to ask the right question, try to do the good things, try to love one another and be loved by others. But all for what? Eternity and salvation? Sometimes I wish the results can be more short term and concrete ( I am just complaining).......On the other hand, I really enjoy worship and reading God's word. I think I had grow a lot spiritually and mentally. I am also real glad that God gave me such a wonderful and lovely wife. It is funny that people only realize how much you appreciate a person when the person is gone. Janice is gone for a week since she is spending some time with her family in L.A. and it is Dad's birthday. I am on my golden bachelor week. The funny thing is it is only the second day, and I already missed my honey a lot................Fortunately, only 4 more days to go...........Yeah......

Amazing Race 4

I can not believe how much icecream I had eaten during the 40 day trip. I am used to never eat any icecream or sweet until I met Janice 10 years ago. And gradually she has convert me into a icecream eating machine. So who says guys will never change?

May God's love be as sweet as icecream in Janice and my life every single day ! : )


( ICECREAM SHOTS ).

Amazing Race 3

Venice, Italy -— the most romantic place I ever been in my entire life. I have read and hear from people that how nice Venice is, but I have my doubt until I was there myself. The entry to the Venice train station is quite dramatic too, it was 2 hours train ride from Florence. For 2 hours it was just ordinary ride with ordinary country scene outside the window until 5 minutes before arrive Venice. The horizon just seems to disappear all the sudden, and there is nothing else but the sea outside the window. The train was riding in the middle of the sea as it was floating on top of water. I once heard that you will fall in love with any person you went to Venice with, and it was noexaggerationn (for the brothers and sisters who is praying for their second half, praying and bring the person to Venice will be your best bet, trust me!!!). The water way instead of street, the boat instead of cars, and the moon light above all the ancient buildings. It was just perfect environment for love, and I am so glad that Janice was right next to me when we were there. We also saw a newly-wed couple on the gondola as we are crossing the bridge, and it was sooooooo lovely and romantic that made me want to get marry in Venice again (to the same girl of course).

Amazing Race 2

Remembering wathing the TV series Amazing Race, and see the couples argue and fight during the race appear silly to me. I always thought to myself how can a small mistake like making a wrong turn in the parking lot could ever become a vicious fight between any couple. Guess what! I totally understand it now after spending every single 40 days with Janice on the trip, and now I understand why it is called the Amazing Race. I think it is more about relationships between teammates more than any of the amazing place or game ever shown on the TV.
I had known Janice for over 10 years now, and I thought I know Janice pretty well up til the middle of the trip. I was amazed how different our opinions are on things, and our though process are totally opposite. Like trying to find the way to get to the museum on our metro map. It usually takes couple turns of arguing on how come our way of transferring metro lines are better than each others (but it is what make the trip interesting.....I guess........). So we end up taking turns of looking at the map, and decide how to go where, it kind of work better since only one chief is in the kitchen.....hehehe. But we still got lost all the time since the Europe map does not reflect the exact Europe street, and not all the street have names.......or we could not find the sign of the street name. Man, I have no idea how European find their way to any places.
I also find out Janice and I are noticing different things even when we are looking at the same thing. Janice would notice all the weird sculpture sticking out on the facade of the church, but I would notice the dog shit laying all over the sidewalk and telling Janice to watch out, I ended up the one who step into one after giving warning to Janice : ( and it stinks........However, noticing different things is a good thing since there were couple times I was so lost with the map, and Janice would notice the small sign off the street that direct us to the right place, and I would be like " where is the sign you saw ?" because I still could not see the sign.
One of the valuable thing I gain is that I understand Janice more, and her thought process. Our communication skills are getting better.....I think. I also appreciate Janice more as a companion and travel partner. Maybe one day we can do the Amazing Race on TV, or not, hahahahaha.


Pont du Gard, Roussillon. One of the place we did not get lost : ), thanks to our tour bus driver!!!hahahaha

Amazing Race 1

Oh mine, can not belive i am actually back in San Francisco tonite. On the way back to the apartment realizing i can actually understand what people next to Janice and I are talking about again (we are not foreigner anymore), it put me back to reality.......my 40 day amazing race has ended. Praise the Lord for all our health and safty during the 40 days, also thank you for all the prayers from all the love ones and friends which has kept janice and I safe and sound. I am also very thankful for Heike and Eric whom are so generous to invite us to be part of their beauitful wedding. Without their kindly invitation, this trip can never be realized so soon. I am also very greatful for the generous couple in Barcelona whom took Janice and me in to their apartment for 4 days, even though we don't know each other for very long (2 weeks to be exact). Pablo and Petra has shown us so much hospitality for those few days in Spain (mucha grazias). Janice and I are really blessed for every single things, events and people we met along each steps we made on this trip. 40 days seems so long yet, went by really fast, and amount of information and ideas i had aquired are so rich and beautiful. Special thanks for Pastor Hsiao and Sydney for their financial contribution to make all this possible ( Syd, i will pay it back one day........)