Shannon Yee

I don’t know why this is so difficult, but planning a vacation is something that stresses me out to the max. I am starting to believe that it might have to do with a deeper issue (don’t stressors always have a trigger?), like wanting to please those I love the most and who will be in close quarters with me during this vacation. But, then again, I think it could just be my OCD/perfectionist craziness. I want my vacations to be perfect – to see all there is to see, to eat well all the time, to sleep well and most of all to have a fabulous time doing whatever I want to do. In order for the vacation to be perfect there is a lot of planning involved. I need to research every possible thing to see or do and find the best possible place to stay and dining options while considering the budget and what will work for our family. I think this is also complicated by the fact that my beloved mate doesn’t have much to say usually, but for vacations offers his opinion and so I want to take that into consideration and make his trip perfect too. I have usually have lots of opinions, so this is no exception. But, when visiting a new place, I fear making a wrong choice and screwing it up for everyone. Failure: my biggest fear! Mixing fear of failing and fear of letting others down – I’m afraid that I might be believing a lie – this is recipe for disaster. The truth is that my self-worth is not based on my performance and other’s opinions of me, but on Christ and His work on the cross. Thank God that He is God and I am NOT!

I’ve been reading about kids doing chores and wondering what age and what types of chores are good for starting out. It appears that many people (ok, maybe not many, but at least a couple of parents) start their toddlers with simple chores, like “helping” with laundry, emptying the dishwasher, setting the table and cleaning up, dusting, and even making beds.

At our house, we don’t make beds, but maybe it would be a good thing to start now – Josiah could do his bed as there isn’t much to do and Eila could pull up her blankets, I think she might even like it. For laundry, Eila already occasionally helps me transfer loads from washer to dryer and I heard that some kids really enjoy cleaning out the lint trap. Josiah seems to love the dishwasher, at least as a climbing gym, and Eila knows where the silverware go and helps when she is in the mood. I don’t trust her to help with setting the table and clearing it, but would like her to try to take care of her place at the table. So, I guess it’s time to make a chart or at least a list of chores and remember to include Eila in these activities.

I found a fabulous website for just this sort of thing and I may sign up and keep track online. I’ll probably do rewards, but not allowance at this point. I never got an allowance growing up, but it might be good for older kids in learning to budget and handle money. We’ll see as we get to that point. For now, Eila thinks that stickers are the coolest, and nothing in the world could be ice cream as a reward. One reward I might try is letting her choose books to read or videos or something like that; I don’t want food to be the only reward – something I personally struggle with.

Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?

If you count each earring and ring separately, I typically wear 5 pieces.

Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?

Pachelbel’s Canon in D

Salad
Who has a last name that you like?

Me.

Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.

Star Wars Episode 3 or Lord of the Rings (I only saw the first one & hated it.)

Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.

Nothing makes me happy like spending time with my family.

Here are some things you may or may not find funny. I find that I am starting to be able to laugh at myself – a little bit, but only because if I don’t I’ll be the only one not laughing and feel very left out.

While talking to Brian as he sat at the computer, I noticed that I couldn’t see quite right. Then, I heard something hit the ground and realized that the lens fell out of my glasses. Since, I couldn’t really see without the lens I couldn’t find it and stood there with my glasses on, but only one lens – what a nerd!

Nature was calling and as I obeyed the call, I found a small potty seat stuck to my behind. I had sat down rather firmly on Eila’s potty seat and came up with it still there, for just a second…

At Target, I was seen loudly calling to no one “Can you come out of the clothes by yourself or do you need me to help you?” This was shortly after I was seen taking clothes off of Eila while chasing her and trying to put her shoes back on her.

Everytime I see a smudge on the wall in our living room, I think it’s a bug. I jump slightly (sometimes more) and my heart races – I swear Brian does this too, but maybe that’s just me trying not to be alone in this.

Appetizer
Name a funny habit you have.

I unconsciously scrunch up my nose whenever I wear my glasses.

Soup
If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?

Tuba.

Salad
How long is your hair?

long ~7 inches to donate if I cut off a ponytail

Main Course
When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?

5 hours ago, I forgave Eila for hitting me when I said she couldn’t have more juice

Dessert
What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

I guess it’s the microwave- to warm up my cookies.

These were my resolutions for 2007: 1) Serve others by God’s grace, not my own efforts to earn their approval or praise, but as a response of love – giving a gift to God (as I would to a friend or someone that might deserve a special something). 2) Obey God and move forward in what He has already given me to do, even if it’s scary or difficult or seemingly unimportant or non-essential.

Basically, to BE NICER.
Am I being nicer?

Well, not yelling isn’t going so well.  I haven’t slammed too many doors or thrown anything large or dangerous.  That’s not really saying much.  But, I have confessed – to both God and either Eila or Brian, when my anger at the injustice of it all has flared.

As for helping others, I have helped others when it has been convenient or I’ve been asked to do so, but I haven’t gone out of my way to be nice and lend a hand.  And once, I even complained out loud, which definitely wasn’t nice.  Although, I have been faithfully praying for others and that’s the nicest thing I can think to do, and most helpful.

Finally, being nicer to the strangers I encounter every day: cashiers, wait staff, other drivers and shoppers. I have done pretty well in common courtesy towards them, even making polite conversation.  On occasion, I’ve reflectively listened and truly cared for these strangers.

In the first goal: to be nicer, I’m making some improvements, but there is still plenty of room for more.

My second goal, the catch all, is a good reminder to be to do what I tell Eila to do every day:  Listen and Obey.  I can think of a few things that I should do right now and one of them is to stop typing and start praying. So, off I go.

Appetizer
Fill in the blank: The best thing about where I live is _________________…

The best thing about where I live is that we have family nearby.

Soup
Create a new name for a deodorant (like “Flower Fresh” or “Shower Scent”).

Sweeter Sweat

Salad
What was the last piece of software you installed onto your computer?

Who Me? I don’t install things; that’s my husband’s forte.

Main Course
If you were to receive a superlative award today beginning with the words ”Most likely to…”, what would the rest of the phrase say?

Most likely to blame someone else for my mistakes.

Dessert
What two colors do you like to wear together?

Pink and Blue

I want to be a woman that people see and say: She is enjoying life.

Basically, I want to be so content and at peace with the circumstances in my life that no matter what, it shows. Not in a fake happy, everything is fine sort of way, but in a calm, confident, and trusting in a Being beyond myself sort of way. Does that make any sense?!

I love being Brian’s wife. I also love being Eila’s and Josiah’s mom. I also love being God’s daughter. I hope that I’m never caught complaining about these things, maybe sharing the trials and lessons learned to help and encourage others, but not as a comparison or badge or anything else.

How do I show that my joy of joys is fulfilling the mission and ministry that God has given me? I think I first have to accept the challenge and truly enjoy it. If I’m not 100% satisfied and content with God, then I won’t be able to show that. It seems so painfully simple and yet even as I write, I’m stumped as to how to actually live in this way.

It seems like I’m stuck in the same old struggles day in and day out.

I’m a part of several groups where we share prayer requests (and I assume these women are praying for me, as I am for them), but I always feel like I have the same request. Namely, I want to seek God first. Some days this request looks different than other days, but for the most part it’s the same root issue (Pride, Idolatry, Unbelief – call it what you may.) My request might be for better communication with my husband, for more patience with my kids, for more discipline in studying the Bible or prayer, for balance in the activities or events of each day, for time management, for wisdom, for sleep. I try to vary the requests so that I don’t feel like it’s always the same and so that I don’t bore those praying for me. But, more so because I feel like it *should* be different.

Why do I have this expectation that my prayer requests should change? I think it’s because I believe that God answers prayer and if I keep asking for the same thing over and over without any change then that means there hasn’t been an answer. If there is no answer, then everything I believe and live for comes into question. Now, I’m not about to ditch my faith because this one request – that I seek God first – isn’t answered as I think it should be, but it just shows my lack of faith in that I’m afraid to even think about the implications of this “unanswered” prayer request.

The ironic thing about this whole discussion (that I’m having with myself…) is that my request for seeking God first is something that lies within me to fix/do. I don’t need God to answer this request at all. I need to act, knowing that He chose me and sought me out, so it should be my reaction to love Him in return and seek to please Him, with gratitude for all that He has done for me. I will probably keep the same old prayer request and keep trying to phrase it differently depending on my struggle in that moment living according to the graciousness of God. And perhaps, I’ll act as if it’s already been answered, which it has.

Appetizer
What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?

Cereal

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?

In China, 8 or 9. In America, 3.

Salad
Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?

As a kid, I loved Punky Brewster; she was fun and didn’t care what other’s thought, but was kind and smart. Now, I think I’d pick Lorelei Gilmore; she was a great mom, who loved her daughter and was fun and goofy even if she had her issues.
Main Course
Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.

Amazon.com

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.

I think I should be doing something more productive.