“I take my children everywhere, but they always find their way back home.”
- Robert Orben

I love my kids but today’s best moment has to be the time I am spending now alone.  Ji Seon took the kids to a friend’s for a play date and now I am enjoying peace and quiet while doing work and watching on the internet the Raptors get pummeled by the Cavs.

This morning was Isaac’s Christmas performance at his preschool.  Isaac stood in the front row and just looked around while his classmates sang.  Kind of like what Dylan did at that age except Isaac didn’t even try to do the motions.  Isaac looked quite content though.

Tags: Dylan,Isaac,Ji Seon,raptors
Categories: Devotions
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Today started off with me in a dark cloud. I was not sure why though I guessed lack of sleep was the primary concern, having been woken up again at 5 AM by Isaac. I thought about those less fortunate like my friend whose brother died in a freak accident or my friends who learned their unborn baby has Trisomy 18.  But not surprisingly, thinking of other’s misfortune does not actually cheer you up.

Ji Seon, Isaac and Victoria stayed home sick while I took Dylan in my bike trailer.  At church my plan was to only make the courtesy gestures, sit alone during worship and then come home quickly.  But maybe God didn’t like that plan because he had someone sit beside me, Dan whose wife was also at home sick.

I did not really cheer up until I came home when Isaac and Victoria greeted us with hellos.  Somehow that dispelled the dark clouds.  And that would be the first thing I am grateful for today.

1. I am grateful that Isaac and Victoria cheered me up when we returned from church.
2. I am grateful that Isaac and I were able to take a nap this afternoon.
3. I am grateful that Ji Seon got a break this afternoon while I stayed with the kids and that they seemed to have a pretty good time.
4. I am grateful that Ji Seon’s parents and brother arrived home safely in Seattle.
5. I am grateful that the kids got to video chat with Ilene back in Arlington.
6. I am grateful for God’s grace, it’s always there, never runs out.

Tags: Dylan,Isaac,Ji Seon,Victoria
Categories: Devotions
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This has been the best NBA playoffs ever. Sure my Raptors got bounced right away. Sure I wanted to see Canadian Steve Nash or good guy Chris Paul in the finals, even if it would be at the expense of my old favorites, the Spurs. Sure my favorite player, Dwight Howard, lost to the Piston punks. But the level of competitiveness and play has been fantastic.

And now we get the dream finals, Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers. On one side I dislike the Lakers because Kobe Bryant is the anti-MJ. On the other side it’s hard not to cheer for the possessed Kevin Garnett, the “black Larry Bird” (my friend coined that) Paul Pierce, and the smooth shooting “Jesus Shuttlesworth” Ray Allen (“Save us Jesus! Save us!” - He Got Game). Plus who can’t like Leon Powe, he’s from my neighborhood, Oakland (okay it’s true, I’ve only been here nine months, but I’m feeling acclimated).

I have seen so many games but last night was date night so I thought I was going to miss much of the epic Game 4. It turned out, not by plan, that the restaurant we went to, Thai Basil, had the game on and I had a nice seat to watch the action while engaging in stimulating conversation with my wife.

I commented to the wife that the Lakers were building a big lead but they always do that in the first quarter. By the time we left though the lead was huge. When we got home we started putting the kids to bed. I was in charge of taking care of Victoria so I turned on the game. I watched the beginning of the third quarter and saw the Celtics chop the Lakers’ lead down to 12 but then saw it go back up to 20. I then turned off the TV, figuring the game was over and that maybe the Lakers would win the series (my prediction though obviously not my desire).

Later as I sat in Dylan’s bedroom waiting for Dylan to fall asleep I saw on Yahoo! sports that the Celtics were only four points behind! Then I saw that they were up by four points. I then said “Sorry Dylan, I’ve got to go” and ran downstairs to watch the last two minutes. With about half a minute left in the game I heard Dylan call for me and I responded “I’ll be up soon.” With a few seconds left in the game I went back upstairs, checked that Dylan was asleep, went back down and watched an hour of press conferences and highlights while working on my computer.

By the way I can’t believe during Kobe’s press conference that he said he was going to drink lots of beer, wine and twenty shots. Not only does the man have anger issues, is an alleged rapist and a horrible teammate, he’s now admitting he’s a borderline alcoholic.

Bill Simmons has a fantastic diary of The Comeback Game. It’s entertaining reading how upset he is at the beginning, elated in the middle and exhausted at the end. I can’t believe I missed the biggest comeback in NBA history.

As Bill Simmons said:

The Kobe-MJ thing … done. Over. Jordan never would have let that happen in the Finals. Ever. Under any circumstances. Nobody is ever allowed to bring this up again.

Tags: celtics,Dylan,Victoria
Categories: Basketball
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Here are some photos from the “Seattle grandparents” visit, Ji Seon’s parents. Notice someone is absent from all the photos?

Dylan’s new bike from his Seattle grandparents.

Isaac loving Victoria.

Victoria exploring her new home.

Tags: Dylan,Isaac,Victoria
Categories: Dylan, Isaac, Victoria
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At Dylan’s preschool, PELC, they did a Father’s Day celebration. Dylan’s preschool is from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM so to accomadate the working dads, the celebration was a small lunch. Last month’s Mother’s Tea for Mother’s Day was at 2:30 PM, I guess PELC thought that worked better for moms, maybe cause they need to put their kids down for naps.

Anyway it was nice. The sandwiches and brownies were made by the kids and there was watermelon and baked potato chips too. Dylan only ate brownies and watermelon, Isaac only ate potato chips and watermelon, Victoria nibbled on some bread. Afterwards the kids sang some songs but you could barely hear them, most of them were pretty shy. Dylan didn’t sing at all though when we came home Ji Seon had him sing and she videotaped it.

Then they gave us presents they made. Dylan gave me a bookmark he made and a travel mug decorated by him in a bag he decorated.

What was especially interesting about yesterday was that Dylan gave his friend, Trinity, a drawing he made. Trinity is a pretty tom boy who doesn’t look like a tom boy because her mom is always putting her in dresses but she can beat up all the boys (think Tatum O’Neal in Bad News Bears). Dylan was shy about giving it to her, he first told Ji Seon, Ji Seon told Trinity’s mom, and Trinity’s mom encouraged Dylan to give it to Trinity. When Trinity received it she didn’t know what to do. Neither her nor Dylan smiled, they didn’t even really make eye contact. Trinity kind of hung around Dylan for a little while, touched his arm, then left. Later I heard her telling I think the teacher that Dylan gave her a picture.

I asked Dylan later why he did it and he said he made a drawing, it was for him, and then he made another drawing and it was for her. The whole thing was very cute and I wanted to write it down.

Tags: Dylan,Isaac,Ji Seon,Victoria
Categories: Dylan, Frank
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