Valentine Dedications: Hubby

This is my hubby. He likes to indulge the children. They sure do a lot together. My children used to tell me to go work so daddy can come to stay with them. Daddy is more fun. Daddy takes them places. Mommy just stays home.

He loves football-to watch, of course. In fact, that used to be the problem between us. I hated football seasons: I couldn't get him to do anything.

He also likes to fish-both man and fish. He's collected enough Bibles and leadership books to have a library (I wish I had a camera to take pictures of his bookshelves).

He pastored a church for two years before we were married. He decided he needed a sidekick for this job. He brought me to a cozy one bedroom apartment. He gave my piano away-that was a red flag. Of course, he won, but I held on to the grudge. He gave me the check book-no complain there. Actually, I wish he would have kept that.

I don't think we're romantic as a couple. All his relatives think we are a romantic couple. I think they're all out of wack. He doesn't buy me flowers, presents or gifts of any kind. He doesn't take me out to eat unless I pay for it (remember I keep the checkbook). We don't have anything in common except our love for Jesus: He likes to collect books, I like to read them. He likes to fish, I actually catch them (fish, not man). He likes to watch tv, I like to keep busy. He likes to go out, I like to stay home. He likes football, I like gardening. He plays soccor, soccor plays me. He likes nice pressed clothes, I like to dress in t-shirts and jeans. His socks actually match the outfits he wears. my socks are always white no matter what I wear.

But, we've been married for 14 years. Yep! He's a patient man. That's why he is my Valentine. God has been very good to us. There were times when I thought it would be the last time I put up with him. Then, there were times when he packed up to leave, but decided to stay. We're not a perfect couple or family. We have a lot of flaws. But, under God's grace and mercy, we are one. We stand together with the Lord as our strength.

******"None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8).******

Yes, we don't understand how we last. We couldn't be any more different and yet God kept us together for His glory, His purpose in which He designed for us, yet to be revealed. I am thankful for my husband. His patience has taught me a great deal about God's love. He is my Valentine through and through. God bless you, Honey.

Valentine Dedications: Oldest-my right hand

This is my oldest. I am so glad God gave me a girl first. She's very handy. She's the most expensive child I have: She helps more, but uses more, spends more, and shares more than anyone in this house. She also works more too.

Just like a normal 13 year-old, she wants a lot of what her friends have. She likes to shop only as long as she has the money to buy. When we go shopping, she's usually the one to shoot me out of the store-she's very focus especially if I let her know just how much money we have on hand. However, she does not keep her money on her long-figures.

She helps me to stay focus on my task. She's a momma's girl. I pray the Lord will send her a good Christian girl friend soon. Although I enjoy hanging around her, I want her to experience that good girl friends ways of doing things.

When she was little, she threw all her dolls behind her. She didn't play with dolls or girl toys for that matter. It's funny, but now she likes girl stuff.

I used to sing when I was young, so my mother wanted her to take after me, only to go much further. She prayed that God would give her musical talents. Now, she takes after her dad and her aunts. They sing! They have talents. Most of her cousins sing and play some kind of musical instruments. She plays the trumpet and sings in the choir. I think my mom's going to get her wish-if she doesn't change her mind first. I just had a conference with her counselor and she's going to major in band for her freshman year. She just told me that she was placed in the Sympo-something. Hey, I can't spell. I'v never been to kindergarten-hahaha. Can't blame me. Anyhow, she's got the music stuff.

Yes, she loves electronic gadgets. This was Christmas 2005 (?). She has more electronic gadgets than I've had all my life, except a computer. She asked for this little thing here for over a year. I finally bought it for her, then she played with-oh I think twice. Right now she has no clue where it is-I told you she is expensive.

But, I don't know what I would do without her. She's everywhere with me. She even goes to the writers group meeting with me. She read her poem for the first time. I was biting my lips: honestly, I was afraid that it would sound bad and she would get discouraged, but you know? It turned out that I just did not know how to read poems. She did a good job. In fact, one of the lady thinks she should enter it in some kid publications. She's an awesome kid. That's why she's my Valentine.

Valentine Dedications: Gaosoua & Elishua

I am sorry for taking a couple of days off. Weekends are just filled for me and I just couldn't get back on my keyboard. But, I will have to keep it short today as well-I have loads of laundry to do and a few errons to run, and my quilt order is pressing deadline. But, my children are important to me and I cannot forget them. So, I hope Gaosoua and Elishua are not feeling bad for being on the same day.

That's funny, because they happen to be rivals. They seem to be at each other's throat all the time. One of them always start something. If one or both of them are not home, my home is quiet and peaceful. But, when both of them are home, it's "Mom!..." in constant shingles. I've learned to be calm and teach them what they should know. We're getting somewhere.


Here's Gaosoua. At nine years old, she's pretty smart: needs a little help here and there, but all around smart. She's very determined to make sure her voice is heard. Her name means "beautiful voice." She definitely has a voice-loudest in the family. She loves to sing and keep her brother (Jamin) and sisters (Tabitha and Elizabeth) occupied.

She's my bookkeeper. She acts as though she doesn't pay attention, but when one of the family members is not present, she's the first to notice. Because of her, Tabitha is alive today-we've forgotten that Tabitha was in the car on one hot July Sunday afternoon-she kept on asking where the baby was and she didn't give up when I told her to go away so I could cook. She finally got our attention and we realized that Tabitha was still in the car. Without Gaosoua's love for her sister, we would have lost Tabitha, gone to jail and leave the four of them parentless.


I always teased her that she's a Mexican girl, got switched at birth, because she's very pretty and has a high nose bridge. But, she knows that she's mine-forever will be. She's very loving and kind. She likes to dance and do gymnastics; she's got the body.

When she was a year and a half, I sent her on a long trip to see my mother for her birthday. Ever since then, she's been very attached to me, constantly on the look-out for me, making sure I don't leave her. But, then again, she is the family bookkeeper. When everyone is around, she competes for the attention, but when she's alone with me, she's very quiet.



This is Elishua, means, "God is sovereign." He is a born leader. He loves to take charge of things and situations. Little kids love him. Even infants like him. Here, he managed to quiet Elizabeth down. They slept here on the couch while their big sister stole a picture. He was pretty proud about it.


He smiles all the time. In fact, when he was in first grade, or was it kindergarten, one of the parents called me and asked if I would allow him to go over and play with her son because he made her son happy with his smiles. They still send him Christmas presents after 5 years of being apart. And, he loves to make his big sister laugh, especially when she's mad. He is a silly kid.

See if you can spot him here. When he was small, he was so cute. I wished to keep him that way, but I was not thinking of the consequences I would make him pay. Now, he's so small, I can't even spot my own son in the crowd. That's why there's a saying, "be careful, what you wish for."

Although, he's small physically, mentally he's very smart. He corrects me with my English. He opens locks that I can't open. He's electronically advanced; He fixed my VCR/DVD player. He's very good with his hands. He likes to draw. He's already selling his artwork at school. I wish I have his permission to put his video clip up for you to see. That would definitely put a smile on your face, but since I don't have his permission and he's pretty particular about it, you'll just have to believe me.

For the unspeakable qualities as well as the ones mentioned above, they are definitely my Valentine. And, I love them. Happy Valentine's Day, Elishua & Gaosoua!

Valentine's Day Dedication: Jamin

This is Jamin, my prince. When he was born, he actually had hair and so tiny, but cute, so I called him "handsome". Along the way, he gained "Handsome Prince." He's very clean. If he gets one wet spot, he'll change to a new outfit. When I do his laundry, I usually do it in two or three loads because he throws everything together; dirty and clean clothes. Yes, I'm trying to teach him to put clothes, that he has taken out but decided not to wear, back in their rightful places. He has not gotten it right yet, but he's working on it.

The other day, he was washing dishes, part of his chores. He got a little wet, looked down on his shirt and looked at me, then he said with a smile, "I got a little wet, what shall I do?" I knew he was feeling uncomfortable, but instead of telling him he could change, I told him it would dry later on. He looked at me like I was a mad woman and said, "uh". Then walked away.

When I asked him what this means. He said, "X-out of this house." I'm not sure about this boy, but he sure knows a lot of moves I don't have a clue about.

One of the moves he made was when he was in 4-year kindergarten. Towards the middle of the school year, I noticed that he was saying the "f" word a lot. I asked him who taught him that, he said, "myself." I kept on telling him and asking him to stop using the word, but he couldn't. I washed his mouth with detergent soap (of course, I used a clean sponge). Then, when visitation day came, his teacher came over to our house and I shared with her. She said he may have picked it up from his classmate who exploded in the middle of lunch-time. Thank goodness, it was just a phase.

This is a shirt he will not let me get rid of. He can barely put it on his head, it is so small, it will probably fit his little sister. But he sure loves it a lot.

Jamin has a special talent: he loves to tell stories and act them out. He's very active and can hardly sit still. He's always doing something. Last October, his cousins came over to spend a week with us and we had devotion and prayer for one of the night, but there were eight kids, so he was getting restless. He got up and started to do his Power Ranger moves. I thought he was not listening, but each time I asked questions related to the passages we read, he gave the answers correctly. We were all amazed how well he was listening while those who were sitting still couldn't answer the questions.

Jamin is special to us: he was our last child (as we planned anyway). So, we wanted him to bare an unusual name out of the Bible. Every name that we've planned to name him had been given to my husband's relatives. So, we chose Jamin. It was short, cute and meaningful. Jamin is the son of Simeon and through him the Jaminite clan was formed. Jamin, a different one was one of the first Israelite to return to Jerusalem after their captivity by Babylon. And, I had just recently learned from one of the Bible Students at Columbia International University that his name means, "right hand man". Isn't that something? He is an awesome kid.

Several months ago, he saw me copying some Bible verses down and he said, "mom, you're not supposed to copy books."

I was taken by his seriousness, so I asked, "Why not?"

"Because, God wouldn't like that," he said.

"Actually, God loves it when we spend time reading and writing His words down, because that shows that we listen to Him."

"Uh. Can I do that, too?" he asked.

"Yes, what story would you like to read first?"

"Daniel and the lion," he replied.

And for the next several weeks we spend time going from one story to another. But, it was music to my ears to know that he loves to read the Bible.

Well, here are my prince and princess. Sleepy heads-long trip. Just like all siblings, they fight and play together, and when they are tired, they learn to lean on one another for support. If only we can be as forgiving as they are: Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10:15). Children don't hold grudges the way we do. They don't remind us everyday of the things we do wrong. Instead, they show us love, bring us flowers, give us hugs, and thank us for loving them back. That's why we should imitate our children's actions and behaviors when it comes to learning and accepting the Word of God.

Jamin has demonstrated countless times of love and forgiveness for me. He's joyful and kind, thoughful and compassionate. That's why he's my Valentine.

Valentine's Day Dedication: Tabitha

Tabitha is 6 years old. She's smart and pretty. She likes to be called Princess.

We talked about being God's children; therefore, we are princes and princesses and Tabitha took that to heart. So, she's my princess as well as God's true princess.

Her prayer request each night is always, "to have a good dream."

She likes the attention we give her. She loves to play house and tell fairy tail stories. In fact, she has her own jungle princess story with lots of animals, including cats and dogs. She also enjoys reading her Bible. She's working on Daniel and the lion. And, she always brings me flowers. In fact, she brought me a dandelion today.

Tabitha is found in the Bible. Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek) means gazelle which means graceful. She was "always doing good and helping the poor." But, she got sick and died. She was terribly missed by the ones she helped. Acts 9:39b: "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them."

Can you imagine that? She was remembered for the little deeds that she did. And, so I wanted my little girl to be a caring and compassionate person. And, that's why I named her Tabitha. I had to remind my husband of the goods about Tabitha to convince him that Tabitha is a good name and person. I did go in the Bible and pulled out the story to give him. He relunctantly agreed. And, now I have my princess Tabitha.

I wish that was all true. But, there's anoher tail to the story. You see, while I was growing up, I loved watching "Bewitched." The little girl is half witch and half mortal, because the mother, Samantha, is a witch while her father is mortal. I can still remember her twinkling her nose to play tricks on her parents. So, as a little girl, I told myself that someday when I'm old enough to change my name, I would change it to Samantha and when I have a little girl, I would name her Tabitha. Another goal accomplished. However, had she not been found in the Bible, I may have a hard time convincing my husband.

Here's a picture of her trying to get in front of the camera. Yes, she likes swords and guns (I don't buy them-not willingly anyway). Thank goodness, just about every sword and gun are gone.

She's a very carefree person. She likes to dress as anything goes. She used to wear different socks all the time and trying to change that was a challenging task. I got all worked up about it, but her Sunday School teacher said that I should relax, let her create her own fashion and style. She'll stop when she realize other's don't dress like her. She's doing so much better now, thank God.

Oh, I cannot forget this: She's a true chocolate girl. She can never get tired of chocolate. She'll eat chocolate until she drops. She likes everything chocolate-cocoa, cookies, candies, etc. That's why she's my Valentine.

Valentine's Day Dedications: Elizabeth

Here's my baby. Isn't she a bald doll? I'll just let a few of these pictures tell you the story why she's my Valentine. These pictures are all before she turned one.

Yeah, finally going out.

Look what I can do.
Stop telling me sad stories.
I can finally sit with my blanket's support.

This is so good, I can eat it side ways, hah.

Okay my blog friends, I do not know how to move pictures or do anything much with them. But, this is my baby at her best and worst.

Valentine Dedications: My Mother

I have 10 days, including today, until Valentine’s Day. And, each day leading to Valentine's Day, I want to dedicate a blog day to each one of my family members because they are the love of my life.

Disclaimer: I do not have a father. I mean my father died two weeks before I was born and never knew him. So, I will not be sending him a Valentine dedication. And, my mother does not read English or use the computer so she will never be able to read this, but I’m writing it because I want you to know how wonderful she is.

My Mother

She’s serious, sarcastic, practical, slim, loud, energetic, and prideful. She’s 82 years old, looks more like she’s in her late 60’s (I hope I have more of her genes). She’s pessimistic as far as social status, but very positive as far as life goes: She doesn’t believe in talking about death (I call this denial), hence, she does not have a will (I don’t have one either, but for a very different reason: procrastination). But, hey, she’s as healthy as a goat. She’s very active. She watches my nieces and nephews, all six of them, now five. She drives my sister-in-law to and from work everyday. She picks the children up from schools. She cooks and cleans the house like a maid. She hates to leave unclean dishes in the sink. And she grows her own garden.

She’s an early riser. She showers in the morning. She drinks coffee and tea and eat rice soup for breakfast.

She’s very independent-had to be since she was a child: Her father was brutally murdered for political reasons. Her mother was a hard worker; very active; but slow in her speech ability; unable to stand up for her children’s safety and wellbeing. She married my dad in her early twenties. He died early in their marriage. She was left with five children to care for. Shortly after my father’s death, she was forced into another marriage as a second wife-polygamy was legal in Laos-leaving her children behind to her in-laws (it was the cultural practice). She gave birth to another son, who died of malnutrition. Then, she lost her oldest son to illness. She lost her second husband in the Vietnam War. She fought her way back for custody of her children. Then, she was physically separated from my two brothers and sister-for the second time because our village was invaded: She was left to surrender her life to the Vietnam soldiers because I was too young to travel.

In 1980, she came to the United States with her two girls, leaving her sons behind in Laos. In the mid 80’s, she managed to sponsor her older son, after two years of battle with Immigration Services. A couple years after that, she sponsored her second son. Finally, the whole family was together again. But, a few months after he arrived, she lost him in a fatal car accident. She was devastated. But, she managed to hold herself up again for more of life’s surprises. She was indeed a very strong woman-still is.

She believes that life has too much to offer for one to contemplate death-after all that she’s been through. She makes herself stay strong and independent in fear of having to stay at a nursing home or being a burden to her children.

And, in all my life with her, I’ve never seen her put herself before her children: I remember staying in a Thai refugee camp: she had no money so she would take me around to Thai authorities begging for money to quench my cravings for candies and little things that required money. But, if she needed anything, she did not ask, beg or do anything that would cause her discomfort. She rarely cried in front of me, even when we were separated from my brothers and sister. She always stayed strong. She built her life around integrity. She was always giving and sharing, even in her lack. She was very frugal-still is. She was a great hostess for all her guests, including strangers. And, she remained single after the death of her second husband (there were many men who proposed to her) out of love for her children.

So for all of the above and more, she deserves to be my Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom.