c.g.Leong photo journal

2011 YEAR OF THE RABBIT

2011-02-19T21:50:00.000-08:00

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. ~C. S. Lewis

Gung Hay Fat Choy. My son, born in the Year of the Snake, hanging out with his bunnies.

Happy New Year! HAPPY NEW DECADE!

2011-01-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.

~John Burroughs

And we're off to another adventurous year. Wishing you well throughout the year as you make lasting memories and imprinting values to those around you.

Come visit my 2010 reflection here.

Year End...

2010-12-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

Wow, another year is coming to an end. Can you believe it?

Yes, I'll be hanging around here for a little while. But for the meantime, I put together a 2011 Calendar. Check it out at my other "home blog" and let me know if you'd like a copy.

ANOTHER "HOME"

2010-11-29T03:31:00.000-08:00

Hello there,
Thought I'd let you know I have another blog home. I will stay here, and will invite everyone to come visit me at {excerpts}.

In the meantime, here's a portrait (of me) my son illustrated over the long weekend.

Have a great week, and enjoy the preparation for Christmas.

Just One of Those Days in the Life of MY BOY {Trip to the Haircutter}

2010-11-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

"I want to grow my hair! Just like Lincecum (Giants' pitcher)." That was his most recent excuse for dodging the haircutter. He absolutely abhors this quarterly trip.

But his hair grows nappy due to chlorine from swimming. Does he care? Of course not.Almost always, it's such a grueling experience. For ALL of us. {Just look at how miserable he gets!}Poor May. She's been putting up with him since forever. She's been cutting our hair even before we had kids.But he always looks so handsome after every trip, I dare say.We survived the last trip. He actually didn't give her a hard time. He was a bit moody in the beginning but kept his cool for the rest of the time.

These photos where taken when he was 4. He doesn't wail like that anymore. Thankfully!

"Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important." ~Janet Lane

The COAD Family

2010-11-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

One of the joys of a photographer (of any level) is to showcase her work. In my case, families are definitely an all-time favorite. Not necessarily always the easiest to capture because of everyone's conflicting interests but I enjoy how each personality emerges during such a session.

My own children will no longer allow me to dress them up, and had always given me a hard time during shoots. It can be a stressful moment. So most of our family portraits are candid and unposed. But the Coad family was a natural and so cooperative. They were just ready. Here's just a few of those precious moments.

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

~Theodore Hesburgh

“Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl - no superior alternative has yet been found.” ~Winston Churchill

“The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman.” ~Mexican Proverb

“Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children.” ~Rosaleen Dickson

"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet." ~Vietnamese Proverb

“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” ~George Bernard Shaw

“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” ~Alex Haley

...let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

TRIBUTE TO THE GIANTS

2010-10-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

“Orange is the happiest color.”
~Frank Sinatra

I've been planning this ORANGE series for quite a while now, and the Giants were not in my agenda. But with the increasing excitement surrounding these torturous events, I can't help but be gravitated to it myself. So for all ye faithful Giants fans (esp. my hubby), this one's for YOU! Enjoy.

"It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn." ~B. C. Forbes (Trader Joe's, Fall 2009)

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus

(early morning in front of my son's school, Fall 2008)

"Seventy-five percent of our planet is water - can you swim?" ~Author Unknown

(San Jose Swim Meet, March 2010)

“When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.” ~Mark Twain
(Local Fair, Summer 2010)

"If junk food is the devil, then a sweet orange is as scripture." ~Audrey Foris (Clement Street, 2010)

"The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse."

~Edward Koch (taken by hubby, Washington, DC, July 4th, 2010)

"It was great to have the time off. It was kind of a lifesaver." ~Jake Kuresa
(Kids Camp, Emigrant Gap, 2009)

“A woman is like a tea bag, you can not tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” ~Nancy Reagan (A neighbor's front yard, Fall 2009)

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie." ~Jim Davis

(Clement Street, 2005)

"God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems... " ~Genesis 1:21 (Monterey Bay, 2003)

"Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever." ~Author Unknown (My cousin's vibrant wedding)

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." ~Samuel Ullman

(I just love seeing these elderly docents @ Academy of Sciences, Fall 2009)

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." ~Nathaniel Hawthorne (taken by one of my kids, Conservatory of Flowers, Summer 2008 • It thought I was a flower =.)

“One who sits between two chairs may easily fall down.” ~Proverb (Academy of Sciences, Fall 2009)

"If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God." ~G.K. Chesterton (Kids Camp, Emigrant Gap, Summer 2008)

Surfer Dude, Ocean Beach, Spring 2010

Coming home, 10.2010

“There are three things you can do in a baseball game. You can win, or you can lose, or it can rain.”

~Casey Stengel (Growing Up Giants, 2004)

“I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game.” ~Walt Whitman (2005)

"Baseball is a man maker.” ~Al Spalding (Serious fans here, Spring 2010)

“Awards mean a lot, but they don't say it all. The people in baseball mean more to me than statistics.”
~Ernie Banks

In My Giant Experience, you can read how we acquired this coveted Lincecum bobblehead. My husband is an earnest Giants fan and has been collecting bobbleheads since the turn of the century. Doesn't that make him sound so old? Well, he's not. *My daughter just commented it was also the turn of the millennium. Now, that's ancient =.)

This past spring his workplace held a fundraising relief effort to help the Haiti victims where he donated most of his prized collections of Giants bobbleheads. These (photographed here) are the only ones he kept. I, being a non-baseball fan, don't even know most of them except for Barry Bonds. Sad, huh? Now, I know who's Le Freak! He also re-created a vintage subway bus scroll for the fundraising event. You can go to my Craft Blog to see his beautiful handiwork.

To continue my previous post: The lesson we wanted to impart with our kids was not to set our minds on material things. Rather, seek first what is MOST important. And almost immediately, (we) he was blessed in return. It was totally unexpected but welcomed.

Now, did that make a Giants fan out of me? Perhaps. I even crafted these orange rosettes (out of fabric scraps) which I've been wearing, along with composing this blog post, to give tribute to a great baseball team.

What do you think? So easy to make. Check out this tutorial and make fun projects for the holidaze.
In the meantime, here's...

Wishing the GIANTS the best in the World Series!
¡VAMANOS GIGANTES!

Oh, by the way, they won the third game in Atlanta for our 18th anniversary on 10.10.10!
Isn't that fabulous?

DOUBLE BLESSINGS, Part Two

2010-09-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. ~Author Unknown

A year ago, I photographed two sisters, Double Blessings, Part One. Both expecting. Both blessed. Both their first. And recently, I had the privilege to revisit and photograph two of the most adorable creatures on Earth. They look like brother and sister. Babies always make me smile. Not the easiest to shoot but definitely the funniest. Enjoy!

"Babies are always more trouble than you thought -- and more wonderful." ~Charles Osgood

7x7: Clement Street

2010-08-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking. ~Elayne Boosler

One-stop bargain shopping strip. Clement Street. Full of character. Beats the Mall.

Break time

Bittermelon, eggplant, plantains were staple food when I was growing up in the Philippines. I never liked the bittermelon nor the eggplant dishes. I did like the turron (plantains). My mom always makes them. Thanks, Mom.

Ducks, anyone?

Oranges. Can't get enough.

Vegetarians should avoid this area during a certain time of the day.

My favorite! Manila mangoes!

These freshly-made sesame balls are so delish. They come in 3s for only $1.50. Perfect quick feed for very hungry swimmers.

Shrimp shiu mai. Can't have enough.

Steamed rice and chicken.

Kiwis for sale. Not the Kiwigirl, though. She's mine.

Brooms for sale. Where else can you get them for a bargain price? And assorted colors?

Keep your change in these very reasonable coin purses. A great party favor.

A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need. ~Sidney Carroll

DISCOVERY..

2010-08-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley
We first met at a music appreciation class for our girls at the Conservatory of Music when it was still located on 19th Street. That was 9 years ago.

Our hellos turn into longer conversations into playdates into birthday parties into dinners to lasting friendship. I still remember when my youngest sat in his carseat next to her newborn baby in her carseat. And now, both our firstborns are entering high school.

Her family has moved to the South Bay, and has travelled between here and Europe. My three young children kept me on my toes. The busyness of life took over. We've lost touched.

Then we found each other before the Facebook craze, and have been touch and go. We've been trying to get together since but to no avail.

Years ago, I was able to photograph her family. This will be forever etched in my mind. Of course, the girls are much bigger now. I won't recognize them when I see them. But the memories we made are kept in my heart...hoping our paths will someday cross again.

"Here's wishing YOU and your family BON VOYAGE as you embark into a new adventure.
Stay in close touch."

This is just one story. Yet so true to many of my friends who've moved away. This is a reminder for myself to cherish each moment I have with them while they are still within reach.

My GIANT Experience

2010-07-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love.

~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

Would you look at these lines? And there were more going the other way.

These crazy fans were there more than two hours prior to the game. Initially, my husband was willing to get in line that early, too. But the lines were outrageously long.

"It's just a bobblehead," ~my son exclaimed in the back of the van.
"But it's a Lincecum bobblehead!" ~my husband sadly had to forego this one for his collection.

So we went back home until it was time for the real game time.

You see, as much as my husband is an avid Giants fan from his youth (his mom's been a fan since her teenage years), I'm the complete opposite.

I'm merely going to the game on a date because I haven't seen my man for more than two weeks (he was out of town).

But my attention was not on the game but rather on the people, the vendors, the kid licking the cotton candy off his fingers, the relationships between the fans, the food people brought with them, the billboard, the signage, the trash!

Baseball does not interest me (no offense, baseball fans). I just can't get into it. David says I just need to try a little harder. He stopped telling me that. I'm a hopeless case. But when he starts talking about the personal stories of each player, I tend to be more attentive.

But I was there...wishing I had my other camera rather than my little Canon point & shoot. I even brought my knitting kit which David dared me not to take out! Okay, I didn't.

Evening fell, and the Giants won against the Mets. The fans were happy! And I enjoyed our time alone in a crowded stadium.

Lincecum bobblehead owners flaunt their goods. And when we were crossing the street, I commented to someone, "Hold on tight to your bobblehead. It might fall off." The top was opening up and the box was upside down.

David asked him if it was worth the wait. He smiled and said, "No." He then asked if we got one. We said, "No, the lines were too long." And just before we parted ways, he handed us his Lincecum bobblehead. Just like that! "Here, take it. We have an extra one."

We were beside ourselves! I had to take a photo of him but he was too shy to be recognized. But I caught a glimpse of this man whoever he is. "God bless you! Thank you!" were my parting words.

Wait! I have more to tell. There's a life lesson here especially for our kids. Go to my recent post, My Tribute to the Giants.

There is always HOPE...and David

2010-07-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Some see a hopeless end,
while others see an endless hope. ~Author Unknown

"Did someone bring the favors to the reception? Why aren't the flowers here yet? Are the inserts here for the program? Where's my purse? Where's my engagement ring? Where's my phone? Can you take a picture of me with the veil over my face? I still need to pack! What about the runner, who's doing it?"

The bride, who was supposed to remain unseen until she walked down the aisle, was roaming around the wedding premises checking on everyone/everything. She was forced back to the bridal room several times. It's the coordinator/organizer blood flowing in her. She just can't help it.

"Krissie, I'm getting married!" ~Hope exclaimed excitedly the night before, and all the nights before.

"Remember, you're the bride. You're not a bridesmaid," David had to keep reminding her.

"My family is more surprised," after being asked if his family is excited. "They never thought I'd ever get married." ~David, a high school teacher. And here's just a few of the things they both enjoy: jazz, the outdoors, photography, and they're both detail-oriented.

"I've never seen a bride SO happy," a guest commented with delight. She was beaming indeed.

"When I get married, I will take care of my man. He will be loved!" Those were words of Hope (notice it's "when," not "if".) She just knew she'll be married. It's just a matter of "when." The time has come.

"Do you believe in miracles?" were Hope's opening line for her Thank You speech. Everyone agreed with an uproar of applaud that filled the room. After their first dance and the money dance, she led/taught the guests how to do the Hustle. "Do the Hustle..." What a fun wedding. Two years later, they're still in honeymoon stage. It's truly "Worth the Wait."

Happy 2nd Anniversary, David & Hope!

KITCHENEERING 101

2010-07-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

I coordinate our church's kids camp (this is my fourth year and loving it!) This year I served in the kitchen during camp having adult conversations. If you really know me, the kitchen is not my most favored place. I would easily abandon cooking (cleaning up, I can handle) to anyone who prefers to do it. But because I'm a mom, I practically live in the kitchen.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I can't cook nor am I afraid to tackle the job. As a matter of fact, I spent one whole summer in France in the 80's helping missionaries in a French Kids Camp doing...guess what? Domestic work! From 5am till 10pm, I was in the kitchen, and other parts of the campground, with young people volunteering from all over the United States. You see, if need be, I can really whip up a very nice meal with all the trimmings. It's just that I'd rather be shooting, sewing, crafting, scrapping and blogging.

I do have a hardworking and dedicated husband with three ever-growing, always-hungry kids who need to eat. And so far, I don't think I do a bad job supplying them with just that. For my own consolation, our children's pediatrician unsolicitedly commented, "I wish all my patients are this healthy. Perfect weight for their height. They're just growing perfectly." Of course, I know I can do better with my cooking skills. David, on the other hand, is a culinary expert. I stay out of the kitchen when he's in charge. I come in when he's done to clean up the mess.

With all that jargon, I simply wanted to share images from the kitchen with our camp cooks, Loree and Jan. They were simply amazing at what they do. They're patient, kind and loving. I miss them already. I'm getting hungry as I write this! I also had the pleasure of working closely with other moms from different church groups. Needless to say, I truly enjoyed my stint as a kitcheneer where I kept my point & shoot camera in my apron to document such simple moments.

Cookery has become a noble art, a noble science; cooks are gentle(wo)men. ~Robert Burton

He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. ~Acts 14:7

With Jan (Loree's mom) and Loree (right) • Amazing cooks • Taken very early in the a.m.

Moms from all walks of life (l-r: Julie, Gina, Louise et moi) ready to serve a very hungry mob!

Hunger is the best sauce in the world. ~Cervantes

...by their fruit you will recognize them. ~Matthew 7:20

Blessed are those who...thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. ~Matthew 5:6

Tell me what you eat, I'll tell you who you are. ~Anthelme Brillat-SavarinFervet olla, vivit amicitia: While the pot boils, friendship endures. (Meaning the wo/man who gives good dinners has plenty of friends). ~Latin ProverbVegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim DavisWe have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed His people. ~2 Chronicles 31:10
Pastor Paul, from SF, helping Loree with the BBQ on a HOT day!
Here's some of the FABULOUS dishwashing crew! Young, strong and beautiful. THANK YOU for doing a fantastic job!

Pastor Paul, from Cottonwood, and the rest of us, kitcheneers, enjoy our meals after serving the children.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for Me." ~Matthew 25:40

And these women and men did just that...so glad to be a part of it!
BUT that's only from the kitchen. You should see what our camp leaders did for/with their precious campers for the entire week. They were with them 24/7. Talk about selflessness...

RED, WHITE & BLUE

2010-07-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

You...were called to be FREE. But do not use your FREEDOM to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ~Galatians 5:13

(Homeschool Co-Op, 2007)

LIBERTY, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. ~George Washington

(This little big baby is now 14 years old and celebrating our nation's birthday today, July 4th, 2010, in our country's capital. I'm jealous!)

LIBERTY means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905

(Super Hero, 2005)

This nation will remain the land of the FREE only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

(Inner Sunset, 2009)

The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on FREE men. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

(Coast Guard Homeschool Field trip with new Bay Bridge being built, 2009)

FREEDOM...it isn’t really free! ~Diego @ 7

(Cribviews, 2001)

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives FREEDOM, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. ~James 1:25

(Morning routine at the Murphy's home, O.C., 2008)

These are times that try men's souls...

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.

It is dearness only that gives everything its value.
~by Thomas Paine, read to the American Patriots by George Washington before crossing the Delaware River

(Crossing the Delaware, illustrated by my then homeschooled 10 year old, 2008)

My patriotic heart beats RED, WHITE, and BLUE. ~Author Unknown

(Kids Camp, 2008)

Live as FREE men, but do not use your FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ~I Peter 2:16

(Golden Gate Bridge, 2004)

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. ~Leviticus 25:10 (inscribed on the Liberty Bell)

(Philadelphia, PA, July 3, 2010, taken by DRLeong)

If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our armed forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself. ~John McCain

HAPPY 234th BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

DAD-DAY!

2010-06-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

It takes time to be a good father. It takes effort--trying, failing and trying again. ~Tim Hansel (Crystal Springs 2005)

"Listen to your father's instructions..." ~Proverbs 1:8 (Heart 2 Heart Talk, Camp Pendleton, 2008)

Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it. ~Harold A. Hulbert (Dealing with an Attitude, Boracay, PI 2007)

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way God is going and going that way. ~Henry Ward Beecher (Plaidman to the rescue, Halloween 2009)

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him, "father." (Smothering Daddy, Father's Day 2006)

Performance under stress is one test of effective leadership. It may also be the proof of accomplishment when it comes to evaluating the quality of a father. ~George MacDonald (Dancing with Daddy @ 3)

Making the very most of the time...buying up each opportunity...~Ephesians 5:16 (Reading time = bonding time, age 3 months)

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. ~Sigmund Freud (Cubist Batman--crafted by Batman himself, & Robin--perfect thrift shop costume)

The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him "Dad." ~Anonymous (A very cold swim...brrrr, Truckee, Summer 2009)

Our children gives us the opportunity to become the parents we always wish we had. ~Nancy Samalin (Narnians, Halloween '06)

"I'm your Father." ~Vader to Skywalker (Always a great pair; mask handmade by Vader himself)

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy (and go to the ballgames.) ~John Adams (Giants fans)

It is a wise father that knows his own child.~ William Shakespeare (grooming Giants fans)

A daughter may outgrow your lap but she will not outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown (proud Papa of an 8th grade graduate)

We love our Daddy! ~tc, sr, dsg

Have a fabulous Father's Day celebration!

MEMORIAL DAY...

2010-05-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. ~Francis A. Walker

Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act? Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism? ~Henry Ward Beecher

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.
~Benjamin Disraeli

Freedom...isn't really free. ~Diego, 7 years old

The Graduate

2010-04-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

"Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference." ~Arie Pencovici

Wow, I can't believe how much you've grown. Did you know I spoke to you when you were in the utero? I was there when your mom screamed her head off giving birth to you while she squeezed my arm off. Never give your arm to a woman in labor!

Now look, you can fit into your mother's wedding dress! (which, by the way, she intricately & laboriously created for that one special day.) Although, you're not quite ready just yet for such a huge commitment. That will come in the future.

In the meantime, go chase your dreams and make them all come true. And make your Mom and Dad proud.

But most importantly, whatever you do...

"...do not forget My teaching,
but keep My commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:1-6

Congratulations, Dezi, 2010 Graduate! Now, GO and make a difference!

BIKE 2 SCHOOL DAY

2010-04-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein

The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine. ~John Howard

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass."

"We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys" ~Harmon Killebrew

All bicycles weigh fifty pounds. A thirty-pound bicycle needs a twenty-pound lock. A forty-pound bicycle needs a ten-pound lock. A fifty-pound bicycle doesn't need a lock. ~Author Unknown

Conscience is a man's compass. ~Vincent Van Gogh

My mind tells me to give up, but my heart won't let me. ~Unknown (probably a novice uphill biker)

Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy (especially early in the morning with your Dad)

Work and Acquire, thou hast chained the wheel of Chance. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You're not tire of me yet, are you?"

"Can you really handle it?"

"Ring your bell if you're hungry."

It's about putting the pedal to the metal and not asking any questions at all and just going for it. ~Brandon Thomas

My son had a triathlon day. He biked in the morning, ran several laps for PE, and swam for 2 hours after school. You would think he'd be tired, right? For the life of me, he was even more revitalized. Just in time for me! On the contrary, if he doesn't get any physical exertion, he becomes lethargic.
So, let's go out and play more. And have loads of fun.
Happy Friday!

7x7: Ruins by the Breakers

2010-04-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

"Can ye fathom the ocean, dark and deep, where the mighty waves and the grandeur sweep?" ~Fanny Crosby

For this is what the LORD says—He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited--He says: I AM the Lord, there is no other." ~Isaiah 45:18

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” ~Rachel Carson

"Beauty can be found among the thickets,

... above the ruins,

...along the beaten road.

Beauty is everywhere. Just look around. Look in the mirror."

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Psalm 42:1-2

REST and be refreshed...

2010-04-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest." ~Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Snow White took a bite.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. ~Psalm 4:8

Seoul Airport, Korea - waiting for the tour bus

People who snore always fall asleep first. ~Author Unknown

Don't wake up Daddy!

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~Leo J. Burke

A big nice friend to lean on, Sharka

The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep. ~E. Joseph Cossman

After a long day of partying!

Fatigue is the best pillow. ~Benjamin Franklin

Flight home from Asia to America

But the important thing is to lie down and fall asleep. That little nap means you wake up fresh again and can continue. ~James Levine

Fell asleep in the laundry basket

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. ~Psalm 62:5

The pool's loud splashes as the swimmers practice can't even wake him up.

No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap. ~Carrie Snow

After long conversations, they finally fell asleep.

Rest: the sweet sauce of labor. ~Plutarch

Just one of many car rides home

...to whom He said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"... ~Isaiah 28:12

Chillaxing

Consciousness: that annoying time between naps. ~Author Unknown

BAD IDEA!

The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more. ~Wilson Mizener

My sweet angel

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1

Fell asleep after reading and arranging his books

True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. ~William Penn

"Bionicles and me"

Sometimes the most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

The house is so nice and quiet when the boys are sound asleep.

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it. ~Sidney J. Harris

Sleep: If I can go without it, I would. But I need it so I try not to fight it. I would lose anyway. Both body & mind require it to function adequately. I know--I always pay for it the next day if I don't. So rest and be refreshed.

FIRST EVER...

2010-03-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

"The smallest children are nearest to God, as the smallest planets are nearest the sun." ~Jean Paul Richter
What an awesome birthday/dedication celebration! This is just a glimpse of how that day went. The event was splashed in bright, happy colors but it felt very retro. Hence, the tone of this series. Happy Birthday, MjPQ! Mommy & Daddy, along with grandparents, families & friends, are so blessed to have you in their lives!

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ~Proverbs 22:6

Ballet

2010-03-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

Classical ballet will never die. ~Ninette de Valois

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ~I Timothy 4:8

BEING GREEN

2010-03-12T02:36:00.000-08:00

A best friend is like a four leaf clover. Hard to find and lucky to have. ~Author Unknown (Main Library's clover patch, February 2010)

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40:31 (B&N, Fall 2008)

A bland smile is like a green light at an intersection, it feels good when you get one, but you forget it the moment you're past it. ~Doug Coupland (Civic Center, February 2010)

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. ~I Peter 1:24-25 (Crystal Springs, April 2006)

No. I'm not seasick. Yes. I've always been GREEN. No. I did not eat grass as a child.

~Wicked, The Musicale (Civic Center, February 2010)

A woman is like a tea bag, you can not tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. ~Nancy Reagan (Neighbor's Front Yard, Summer 2009)

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains. ~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl (Just outside a college football field, Santa Rosa, January 2010)

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand. ~Author Unknown

(Girl Scout Cookies, March 2010)

Virtue has a veil, vice a mask. ~Victor Hugo

(Half to Have It, Half Moon Bay, November 2009)

Coffee, n. break fluid. ~Author Unknown (Laurel Heights, March 2010)

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson (Trader Joe's, November 2009)

My very least favorite thing in the world! (Oakland, Fall 2009)

Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. ~Yoda (2004)

How GREEN are you? (Round 'bout the neighborhood, just yesterday)

On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~Thomas Jefferson (Little Mermaid Collage, 1997)

As Yavanna, Queen of the Earth and Giver of Fruits, JRR Tolkien's world, The Silmarillion (Halloween 2009)

Have you had your cacti today? (Mission Market, Summer 2008)

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver. ~Martin Luther (Conservatory of Flowers, Summer 2008)

I hope you're enjoying this GREEN (my favorite color) series as much as I loved putting it together. Here I am, wearing my all-worn out Army jacket which finally retired, with Crafty Chica Diva herself, Kate Murillo, at last year's super fun Maker Faire. Plan to come to this year's crafter/maker's Disneyland.

I have more GREENS but time is limited. Stay tuned for GREEN 2.

In the meantime, Happy St. Patrick's Day. Read and learn more about the real St. Patrick.

ORDINARY THINGS THAT BRIGHTEN MY DAY

2010-03-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

"Yellow-colored objects appear to be gold." ~Aristotle

Follow the yellow stripes and the yellow socks

Homegrown sunflowers by my homeschooled girl

My yellow-brown Mango

Potassium, anyone?

There goes the big yellow bus.

Don't take the escalator. Climb.

Knitted hat by my then-10 yo

Fields of beautiful yellow weeds by the wayward

Costco's keylime cheesecake

My favorite place to shop

Don't forget to eat your yellows.

There is no blue without yellow and without orange.

~Vincent Van Gogh

Watch where you're going...

Now, look around and find treasures. They're everywhere. Sometimes they're just under your nose. And enjoy those golden MOMents!

So here I am telling everyone, "take the stairs." Yet, I'm caught taking the escalator. Well, I had a very good reason. This photo was taken just 3 days after the accident that totaled our minivan. On that day, we only had one car and 3 kids to shuttle, and it was my girls' first day of school! A milestone for my homeschooled girl of 4 years, and I was determined to be there to release her into the "wild." After transferring from one public transportation to another, we made it to the school just in time. It was one of my golden MOMents, back pains, and all.

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may rejoice in You." ~Psalm 5:11

THINKING OF BOYS

2010-02-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

Boys are bent on making messes, teasing siblings, racing through the house, challenging every decision & order that comes their way. Moms need to keep boys' minds & hands busy. "If not...you deserve what he's going to do to you." ~Dr. James Dobson, Bringing Up Boys
Having a son makes me appreciate and understand boys. I have two older wonderful girls, and I would've been content having all girls. But God knew I needed a boy to teach and humble me, and mostly keep me on my knees and cling to His precious promises. I'm telling you, every single day is an adventure. No dull moment in my life. I'm so glad I have a boy. Sometimes, I wish I have another one but like what my son said, "Mom, you're too old to have any more babies." That, I am.

But I'm never too old to enjoy and hold them even for an hour or so. That's when I volunteer in our church's nursery---to get my baby fix. Catch a glimpse of those little hands and little toes, drooling mouths and chubby cheeks! And they happen to be all boys that day!

For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb. ~Psalm 139:13

When I grow up I want to be a little boy. ~Joseph Heller

Don't wait to make your son a great man. Make him a great boy. ~Author Unknown

One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, but needs some practice to be a good one.~Charles Dudley Warner

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes. ~Author Unknown

Here's one of my favorite images with my children when they were very young, and I was VERY TIRED--still am (bandana & sunglasses are, have been, my instant photoshop tools =.) Then, 5yo, 3yo, 7mos.

Now, 13, 11, and 8. Time flies. Enjoy them. Photo taken January 2010

And here's me and my favorite son having some boba.

ROMELLE

2010-02-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

When I run, I feel His pleasure.~Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire)
I'm reposting ROMELLE. Her photographs were taken and posted last August. During our "photo session," we brought our sons along who, thankfully, not only kept each other company but truly enjoyed some bonding time. They've since had playdates and hope to get them together more when school is out.

At any rate, I finally checked out her blogs, and definitely worth checking out. I hope you visit and leave her comments. She's so inspiring. I'm a fan of Romelle's discipline & pursuit of being fit. Not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. GO! ROME, GO!
Check out her blogs:
http://romellebroas.blogspot.com/
http://www.runninggirlsblog.blogspot.com/

age: 41

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii; Pacifica, California

What I do: wife to a great guy, mother of 2 boys, dental hygienist, writer for children's magazines, marathon runner

"Mommy, you look beautiful." ~Mateo, 6

I realized I had turned into my mother when I heard my mother in my own voice.
What are you expert at: carrying 10 grocery bags to the house in one trip
The last time my children made me laugh: Today. And if you ask me tomorrow, the answer will still be the same, "today."
What advise would you give to young moms: Try not to go by the book and don't fret if things don't go your way.
When I have 30 minutes to myself: I try to fit 8 hours of housecleaning into 30 minutes, OR sit quietly and enjoy a hot mug of chai tea latte.
The last book I read to my children: The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
My favorite outdoor activity to do with my children: Biking along the Marina overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge
The most noticeable way parenting has changed me: I no longer wear dry-cleaned clothes and rarely wear white.
What surprises me the most about being a parent: I really never knew what love was until I had children.
(Previously posted 8/8/09)

RED 3: 老虎的新年好‘年

2010-02-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile; forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is commonly called "Lunar New Year," because it is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar.

I used to be able to fit in one of these beautiful dresses. After bearing three children, there goes the shape. Oh well!

The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as chú xī. It literally means "Year-Pass Eve".

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.

This fortune cookie lady requires payment to photograph her. I supposed that's her main stipend.

Red couplets and red lanterns are displayed on the door frames and light up the atmosphere. The air is filled with strong Chinese emotions.

In stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and other cities, products of traditional Chinese style have started to lead fashion trend[s]. Buy yourself a Chinese-style coat, get your kids tiger-head hats and shoes, and decorate your home with some beautiful red Chinese knots, then you will have an authentic Chinese-style Spring Festival. ~Information taken from Wikipedia

Gung Hay Fat Choy from some Chinese kids. (You'll never catch them wearing these outfits ever again!) Photos taken in Old Chinatown.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ~Ephesians 4:31

RED 2: L'AMOUR

2010-02-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

"We LOVE because

HE first loved us." ~I John 4:19

“The heart is the only broken instrument that works.”

~T.E. Kalem (Kiwi @ 5)

“For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.”

(San Benito Inn, Half Moon Bay • 2009)

Home is where the heart is...

(Harmony, California • Population: 18 • 1992)

“Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever.”

(Sutro Bath Ruins • 1988 • Photo by Hinh Luong)

“A woman's flattery may inflate a man's head a little; but her criticism goes straight to his heart, and contracts it so that it can never again hold quite as much love for her.” ~Helen Rowland

(Best seat in town • Marina Theatre showing INVICTUS • Date Night 01.10)

“Educating the mind without educating

the heart is no education at all.” ~Aristotle

(My old Odyssey dashboard • Star Wars Vday '09)

“I would rather have eyes that cannot see; ears that cannot hear; lips that cannot speak, than a heart that cannot love”

~Robert Tizon

(Mom's heart surgery, Santa Clara Kaiser • 2008)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

from the 5 of us!
Read the story of St. Valentine.

RED 1: OUCH!

2010-02-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful YOU are.

Trip to the ER for a hairline fracture on his shoulder @ 2

Fingers ran over by ice skates! @ 8

Zapped! @ 7

Fell into a ditch full of spikes @ 3! (Don't ask me how. I wasn't there!)

Slipped on steps going up a slide at a pool in Boracay! @ 5

There are more casualties having a boy around. But life wouldn't be as exciting without one. Wish I had 2 =.)

DANCE...

2010-01-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

...is the only art wherein we ourselves are the stuff in which it is made.

Great dancers aren't great because of their technique; they are

great because of their PASSION.

I can sing and draw any time, anywhere, but I can't dance any time, anywhere. ~Sydney, deciding whether to take dance or vocal

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." ~Author Unknown

You know you're dancing when tears of pain and happiness blend in with your sweat. ~Anonymous

The teacher doesn't teach, not really. The teacher offers stimulation and ways in which the person can educate himself or herself. At best, the teacher wakes up that person and makes a person hungry.

HOME SWEET HOME...

2010-01-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

"A HOME should be clean enough to be HEALTHY,
and dirty enough to be HAPPY."~Author Unknown

A glimpse of where my HEART IS.

Books and Bionicles are part of our home decor.

"All day long, you're serving Someone/Something. Whom/What are you serving? 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ~Joshua 24:15' " ~Libby Vincent

Da Girls' Room

On our dining table, a framed copy of an old crumpled Declaration of Independence reminds us of the gift of Freedom we have in this country. The Eiffel Tower lamp signifies our longing to travel. And when that time comes, I'm not going back-packing this time!

All for one! One for all!

Star Wars, one of our ultimate favorite sagas of all times! Can you tell?

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. ~Victor Hugo

We have a no-door policy (except the Master bedroom =.)

Words of encouragement are always welcome in all forms.

Chores: one of the privileges of being a Leong

"The TORCH of LOVE is LIT in the KITCHEN." ~Author Unknown

2010-01-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Love of beauty is TASTE.

The creation of beauty is ART.

Here's Anastasia, behind the Indie Cakes' beautiful cakes and pastries. Check out www.indiecakes.com and order your cake of any occasion "where each cake is designed to suit your taste and needs, baked-to-order using fresh, organic ingredients." You won't be disappointed.

TEACHING IS A PRIVILEGE

2010-01-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had forty people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job. ~Donald D. Quinn

By learning you will teach; by teaching you will understand. ~ Latin Proverb

I see the mind of a five year old as a volcano with two vents: destructiveness and creativeness. ~Sylvia Warner

Ms. Louie-Hall with little 5 year-old volcanoes ready to erupt!

All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind. ~Martin H. Fischer

Mrs. Lee igniting a second grader's curious mind (studying fruitflies).

It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Active listening by our wonderful third grade teacher, Mr. Philpot

The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." ~Maria Montessori

Spelling test in Mrs. Chin's second grade class

A teacher affects eternity: he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams

Celebrating our ultra-fun first grade teacher's 40th birthday on Chinese New Year who willingly dressed in a Chinese outfit with a queue and a party hat. Mr. Tam is now a principal at another elementary school.

The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock

Ms. G. preparing her fourth grade students for their writing assessment.

Nine-tenths of education is encouragement. ~Anatole France

A third grade class is missing student teacher, Mr. Barisonek. Wishing him all the best in his teaching career.

WORDS & SIGNAGE

2010-01-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Words should be used as tools of communication and not as a substitute for action.

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa (Be careful what you wish for.)

What's in a name? Please don't call me ChristinA. My name is ChristinE. If I was a boy, my parents would've named me Christopher. My brother now proudly holds that name.

Not "act" like kids. But to "remember" being kids. Big difference.

That's why I don't skate. I've fallen and been bruised way too many times in my life. I leave the skating to the young and invincible. Like this boy who charges through the Union Square ice rink.

Oh how I wish I could take daily naps. Sigh...

Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else? ~Betsy Cañas Garmon (Je t'agree, no?)

I'd stop drinking coffee, but I'm no quitter. ~Author Unknown

Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Do without. ~WWII rationing effort

You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ~Martin Luther

Translation: 7 years with 2 kids in 1999 (engraved inside my wedding ring in Kona, Hawaii, attending hubby's grueling outrigger canoe race)

Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you? ~Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (Cinderella)

Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
(Mother's Day letters are one of my cherished possessions.)

Need I "say" more?

Here's wishing you ALL a GLORIOUS 2010!
(image from Somerset Magazine)

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am deeply encouraged by your visits as I am enjoying this creative outlet in spite of my crazy and busy household. Here's wishing that your year would be filled with love, laughter with inner joy, sprinkled with trials and challenges to help us grow into maturity. May we always find blessings in every hurt and unpleasant situations that come our way. Let no bitterness nor resentment consume us. Let us enjoy life, and seek the One True God. He's always waiting for us.

PROMISE Found in Humble Structures...STAIRS

2009-12-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway...with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and He said, "I am the LORD...I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." ~Genesis 28:12, 13, 15

Davis Symphony Hall

Office Depot on Geary

Tanforan's Back Lot (inspired by Ann Graf)

Escape Route

Civic Center BART

BART Station

Uptown Oakland Station

I dare you, that when flights of stairs are before you, to take them. Ignore the escalator. Abandon the elevator. Savor every step reminding yourself that you will never be forsaken; that God, not just any god but the Almighty One, knows your every care and every need. I dare you. To believe.

YES, YOU CAN!

Sutro Trails Forever

FELIZ NAVIDAD...

2009-12-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas from our Family to Yours! May the TRUE meaning of Christmas dwell in your hearts not only during this time but throughout the year and beyond.

These images of the season (some recently taken, some in the past years), I share with you with the intention of sending hope in spite of whatever we are all going through. Be blessed.

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. ~Jude 1:12

Illustration by my 13 year-old - not a photograph but you can see me in the reflection with my camera taking a shot.

She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ~Luke 2:7

The Manger Ship: my 8 year-old son's version of the manger scene with Clones as guardian angels.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means, 'God with us'. ~Matthew 1:23

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ~Luke 2:16

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Decorating a gingerbread house is magical... the smell... the taste... the creativity and freedom you feel while building your own, colorful dream home! There's nothing like it for getting "visions of sugar-plums" dancing around in your head! Building and decorating a gingerbread house is a wonderful tradition for kids to grow up with. Best of all, it let us adults rekindle that magic for a little while!

Homeschool Co-Op Christmas Party

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks,
"Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

Christmasis for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is aheadache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessarydefrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts. ~Lenora Mattingly Weber

Tree-trimming at the Murphys

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away.
~Eva Logue

Candlelight Service @ Cornerstone