Ever find yourself shaking your head at today's youth? Well, there are good kids out there, and I'd like to introduce you to one. I've never personally met Alexis, but I know her family through international adoption and blogging. Alexis is 15 years old and she has developed a heart for others... especially orphans. She has just launched a new business doing blog makeovers. What is her main motivation for earning money? She is primarily earning money for mission trips and projects to help orphans.
Could you or someone you know use a blog makeover? I actually like mine a little on the plain side, but I at least wanted to help her out by spreading the word! Please visit Blog Designs by Alexis and see what she has to offer. You can also use the sidebar button to visit her. Best wishes, Alexis, on your new business!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
prelude to spring
The thermometer at our home recorded over sixty degrees today! Although unseasonable for February, we'll gladly take it! Jen turned off the heat and opened a window for much of the afternoon. I took all four kids for a walk just before dinner... without coats! (As you can see, Ben didn't actually walk.) Ben has spent the majority of his life indoors, so it was a novelty for him to get out for a breath of fresh air. Sixty degrees won't last long, but it is a reminder that spring is on it's way... and I'm ready!
Monday, February 9, 2009
career choice
Zachary informed us, the other day, that when he grows up he wants to join the circus and be a clown! While Zachary is the one of my four children that I could see pulling that off, it's not exactly the path I would choose for him. But, then again, I don't WANT to choose for him.
What I do hope, though, is to help my children explore many career paths, and choose one that they feel well suited for, possibly even a calling toward. What matters to me is not that they choose a path of prestige, or wealth; but that they choose a path that fulfills what God created them to be. As long as they choose a reputable career that meets their family's needs, and they pursue that career with diligence and honor, I plan to be proud of them.
When Dylan was about three, he was obsessed with heavy equipment. His somewhat limited vocabulary included words like, "bulldozer, backhoe, and excavator". He would often say that he wanted to drive a bulldozer when he grew up. At some point, an individual informed this aspiring three year-old bulldozer operator that he should go to college. Having two degrees that I was not using, I defended his choice and affirmed that I would only push him to be the best bulldozer driver he could be. (I also told him he needed to find a way to let me drive the dozer once in a while.) He pondered this and decided that he would own his own "scruction company" and give me a job. His interest in construction has since waned, but the point is, that he was not concerned with wealth or fame, but knew what he loved.
This is one of the life lessons that I have learned the hard way... or, perhaps, I am still learning. I joke that I am still not sure what I want to do when I grow up, but it really is not that funny. I don't deny that my career choices have been pretty misguided, which is one of the main reasons I am currently having such a difficult time marketing myself to potential employers. I don't necessarily fault anyone for this. My parents wanted me to go to college, because they did not have that opportunity, but never pressured me. They did encourage me to explore options, even those not requiring college. I did feel pressure, though. I graduated in the top ten percent of my high school class, and many just assumed that I would go to college and do great things. It was almost as if I felt pressured, by society, that not going to college was to waste good intelligence. In fact, though, there are many professions that do not necessarily require a college education, that are not a "waste" of good intelligence. I recently visited a technical school, at which I applied for a position, and it struck me that I probably would have been much happier and much more successful if I had received a two year degree from that or a similar institute, than I have been with the six years of Bachelor's/Master's degrees that are doing little more than decorating my bedroom wall. If only I knew then what I'm realizing now...
A classic example of a good choice is my best high school friend. He, too, was, and is, very intelligent. But, he decided that he was meant to work with is hands and college was not the route he chose. After high school, he pursued an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, and has since worked his whole adult life in that profession. He is very good at what he does, takes great pride in his work, lives in a brick home that he personally built, an has made a good living from his chosen profession. Could he have been a doctor? A lawyer? Any number of other professions that we commonly think of as having great prestige? Absolutely. Did he waste his intelligence? Absolutely not!
So you want to be a clown, Zachary? While I think you're just "clowning" around, I do hope you will grow to know yourself and the God who created you, and that you will study your options fully and carefully. Then, go be the best you can be at whatever you choose to give your life to... even if it is the circus!
What I do hope, though, is to help my children explore many career paths, and choose one that they feel well suited for, possibly even a calling toward. What matters to me is not that they choose a path of prestige, or wealth; but that they choose a path that fulfills what God created them to be. As long as they choose a reputable career that meets their family's needs, and they pursue that career with diligence and honor, I plan to be proud of them.
When Dylan was about three, he was obsessed with heavy equipment. His somewhat limited vocabulary included words like, "bulldozer, backhoe, and excavator". He would often say that he wanted to drive a bulldozer when he grew up. At some point, an individual informed this aspiring three year-old bulldozer operator that he should go to college. Having two degrees that I was not using, I defended his choice and affirmed that I would only push him to be the best bulldozer driver he could be. (I also told him he needed to find a way to let me drive the dozer once in a while.) He pondered this and decided that he would own his own "scruction company" and give me a job. His interest in construction has since waned, but the point is, that he was not concerned with wealth or fame, but knew what he loved.
This is one of the life lessons that I have learned the hard way... or, perhaps, I am still learning. I joke that I am still not sure what I want to do when I grow up, but it really is not that funny. I don't deny that my career choices have been pretty misguided, which is one of the main reasons I am currently having such a difficult time marketing myself to potential employers. I don't necessarily fault anyone for this. My parents wanted me to go to college, because they did not have that opportunity, but never pressured me. They did encourage me to explore options, even those not requiring college. I did feel pressure, though. I graduated in the top ten percent of my high school class, and many just assumed that I would go to college and do great things. It was almost as if I felt pressured, by society, that not going to college was to waste good intelligence. In fact, though, there are many professions that do not necessarily require a college education, that are not a "waste" of good intelligence. I recently visited a technical school, at which I applied for a position, and it struck me that I probably would have been much happier and much more successful if I had received a two year degree from that or a similar institute, than I have been with the six years of Bachelor's/Master's degrees that are doing little more than decorating my bedroom wall. If only I knew then what I'm realizing now...
A classic example of a good choice is my best high school friend. He, too, was, and is, very intelligent. But, he decided that he was meant to work with is hands and college was not the route he chose. After high school, he pursued an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, and has since worked his whole adult life in that profession. He is very good at what he does, takes great pride in his work, lives in a brick home that he personally built, an has made a good living from his chosen profession. Could he have been a doctor? A lawyer? Any number of other professions that we commonly think of as having great prestige? Absolutely. Did he waste his intelligence? Absolutely not!
So you want to be a clown, Zachary? While I think you're just "clowning" around, I do hope you will grow to know yourself and the God who created you, and that you will study your options fully and carefully. Then, go be the best you can be at whatever you choose to give your life to... even if it is the circus!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ben's "real" bed!
If you've followed this blog a while, you know that we are in the midst of a pretty major remodeling project, and thus, not living in our entire house. We are, therefore, a bit crowded, especially after adding two more children. We seem to be constantly shuffling furniture to make the best use of any available space.
Because Ben is the smallest, and last to arrive, he has taken whatever space he can get. He started out sleeping in the bassinet, then moved up to the pack-n-play, but finally he has his own bed... not his own room, mind you, but his own bed. This week, I rearranged more furniture to get his crib in our bedroom. Jen recently read that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies "room in" with parents for the first year, so were on track with the experts, right? Well, at any rate, Ben is really enjoying his bed!
Because Ben is the smallest, and last to arrive, he has taken whatever space he can get. He started out sleeping in the bassinet, then moved up to the pack-n-play, but finally he has his own bed... not his own room, mind you, but his own bed. This week, I rearranged more furniture to get his crib in our bedroom. Jen recently read that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies "room in" with parents for the first year, so were on track with the experts, right? Well, at any rate, Ben is really enjoying his bed!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
good grades!
Yesterday marked the end of the second nine weeks grading period at the boys schools. Both came home with reports cards that made us proud. Zachary was recently awarded the title of "Star Student", and missed the "A-B" honor roll by just one "C". Dylan earned a citizenship award and made the "A-B' honor roll.
I am trying not to sound too braggartly, and I don't have a bumper sticker on the back of my mini-van touting my kids intelligence, but I am proud of them. As you might recall, both boys transitioned from public school at home to our local district following Christmas break. They have made a very smooth transition.
I'm proud of Jen, as well. She has had a lot on her plate, and while we both had to admit that we needed to make the difficult choice to switch educational gears, mid-year, it appears that they were academically pretty well prepared... and brought home the grades to prove it.
Good job, guys!
I am trying not to sound too braggartly, and I don't have a bumper sticker on the back of my mini-van touting my kids intelligence, but I am proud of them. As you might recall, both boys transitioned from public school at home to our local district following Christmas break. They have made a very smooth transition.
I'm proud of Jen, as well. She has had a lot on her plate, and while we both had to admit that we needed to make the difficult choice to switch educational gears, mid-year, it appears that they were academically pretty well prepared... and brought home the grades to prove it.
Good job, guys!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
blogger block
Ten days without posting. . . I think that is my longest "dry spell" since I began blogging. I have never really lacked for subject matter, but "blogger block" is bound to happen sooner or later. I think one of the main causes is my continued unemployment. For those of you who are, or recently have been, in my situation, you might agree with me that it is hard to stay motivated when you are supposed to be supporting your family, but have no means of doing that. It is easy to get depressed and discouraged, and there are days when I accomplish very little, even though I should have the time to accomplish much.
It also appears that we were the only Chinese adoptive family in America that did nothing to celebrate Chinese New Year. I feel like such a slacker. It's not that we didn't think about it, it's just that there is not much of a Chinese population in our area, and we didn't really have the energy to come up with a celebration plan. . . and, we already had family plans out of town for this past weekend. Hopefully, next year. . .
It also appears that we were the only Chinese adoptive family in America that did nothing to celebrate Chinese New Year. I feel like such a slacker. It's not that we didn't think about it, it's just that there is not much of a Chinese population in our area, and we didn't really have the energy to come up with a celebration plan. . . and, we already had family plans out of town for this past weekend. Hopefully, next year. . .
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