on being a Ho

Ai Tee just wrote about a Ho reunion...
and i was thinking..
i used to be SO PROUD about our family. i looked at my friends... and their families don't laugh as often, talk together, laze around like sun-tanning crocs...survive nasty relatives, explore new experiences..and most of all, have an incredible mother who never ceases to amaze (and even sometimes amuse) us!
i was so proud of being a Ho i had a hard time becoming a Huan!!
then things get rough
we grow up and apart
we see darkness
and our fabric of unity nearly tore ...
BECAUSE
we are forced by our choices
and our circumstances
to grow up, mature, decide again...to cherish being a Ho.

They say it's no big deal being happy with what you are handed
it's a big deal when you choose to cherish what you are handed when you have seen it for all it is

By God's amazing Grace
i cherish being a Ho even more
not because we made it up the rungs of society though we had a rough start
not because we never fight, disagree or despair

but because we have all chosen again and again
to be a Ho

a family that lives by values
treasures and nurtures bonds
experiences and seeks to offer love

a family that will make a difference in this world.

GOD has his eye on us all --
Mother nearly gave it all up
But she stepped back down and came back home to us
Mother positioned us for success by living according to her few clear values

Father never achieved any of his secret ambitions
but somehow he had a sense of responsibility
always there is rice, sugar and his favourite coffee
his simple offerings of being a dad
reining in his smoking
gambling
exploring who God is for himself finally...

and then us ..
{write your own story of grace}

and then our children...
{whose story we get to script a bit of}

HO SAY AH!

a few photos from memorial service

i have an entire CD with all photos still in numbers so i randomly picked a few...thought those who are overseas may want to see this...