Speaking from the Heart

May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are apart from each other.Genesis 39:49

It's retro week on FB. I've  been posting pictures of me when I was much younger. It has been so much fun, especially when a friend  posts a picture of me that I've have long forgotten.


In the picture,I was waiting at the Tuscaloosa Airport. My family and I were waiting for mom's childhood friend Kim Hai (Hi) and family to arrive. She had not  seen her best friend for more than 10 years. They kept in touch, but after the fall of Vietnam, the communications came to a halt.

Along with many people, Kim Hai and her family escaped from Vietnam via boat. Like the pilgrims, they  stayed on a crowded boat for many days, even weeks. Many were scared that they would not make it to land. However, the dream of freedom and being in the land of opportunities kept many alive.

For those who survived the sea, they were put in a camp. They waited at the camp until either one their American relatives or a church sponsored them.  Kim Hai and her family didn't pack many things when they began their journey. Knowing that  her childhood friend wasn't going to abandon her, Kim Hai hid Mom's address in a safe and dry place.

When Mom received Kim Hai's letter, she was glad that Kim Hai and her family were alive. Mom began working on sponsorship paper. She went to local churches asking for help. Tuscaloosa News did a story on her. People called and asked how they could help. Churches donated clothes, dishes, furniture, and many things we daily take for granted.

Kim Hai and her family lived in Tuscaloosa for a couple of years, but eventually moved to California. They have been there for about 30 years and are doing well. Kim Hai owns a nail salon..Unfortunately, her husband passed away a couple of years ago. Her 3 children are doing well. The oldest son is a professor. The other son is an engineer, and the daughter is in Iraq fighting for our freedom.

March Theme: I Remember my Wedding Day

Our honeymoon cottage was our first home. We lived there for 11 years. In lieu of a honeymoon, we used the money as a down-payment on our first home. We found our first home two days after our wedding. We based the price of the house on one income. Three days into our search, we found an "as-is" house on five acres . When we walked inside, we noticed holes on the doors and walls, broken windows, and trash everywhere. Prince Charming fell in love with it instantly. I, on the other hand, was trying to find reasons why we shouldn't buy the house. Being close to his office, which is five miles down the road, was the only positive thing I could think of. Noticing the frown on my face, Prince Charming knew I wasn't happy. He finally convinced me that the house had "potential". We signed the contract on the house, and moved in November. Thru out the ten years we lived there, we were constantly renovating. As a matter of fact, the last base board was put in two days before we moved to Sarasota in October 2002.

Did you go on a honeymoon? Where? On the other hand, Are you like me, Mrs. Practical? Did you use your money for something else, besides a honeymoon? Do you own a home ? How did you find your first home? Are you still living in the same house? Tell us about it on your blog. Come back and link it to Mr. Linky.

The purpose of "I Remember When" Meme is to document your life story , while the memory is still fresh and to leave something behind for future generations.

I finally finished college (August 1989) . It took me 6 years, but I did it ! Although I had an electrical engineering degree and engineers were in demand, I was unemployed for several months. Looking back, I was probably delaying my transition into adulthood. LOL, I was 25, I have never lived on my own, and what I had at Mom's and Dad's house was pretty good. Why did I want to get a job and become a responsible adult?

By Christmas, I couldn't delay my adulthood any longer. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)offered me a job in Springcity. With an incoming fixed salary, I bought a 1990 Toyota Corolla and braved myself to start a new chapter of my life. However, there was a minor problem. I didn't have a place to live.

After Christmas, Mom and I searched for a rental home/apartment in Springcity. When we didn't have any luck, we went to a nearby town called Sweetwater. In Sweetwater, we found Barbara, a beautician who rented rooms to TVA employees. Mom didn't think it was safe for me to live with bunch of strangers, let alone share a bathroom. After explaining to Barbara that it was my first time away from home, she offered me her basement, which had no windows and one exit. The basement had 2 bedrooms, a bath, a kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a den. The rent was only $400.00 per month plus utility. I could have had a phone line added to the contract. Since I talked to my dear husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, every night for hours, I convinced Barbara to add an extra phone line. It's sad to admit it, but my phone bills were often higher than my rent.

Mom and I returned to Alabama to pack my belongings. When we returned to Sweetwater a couple days later, Mom helped me unload, made curtains for the front French doors, and made sure I had plenty of food to eat.

It was hard saying good-bye to Mom on that Sunday morning. Now that The Inquisitor is 4 years away from college and I have already started to feel the affect of an empty nest. I can imagine the emptiness Mom must have felt leaving me, her first born. I am sure her sadness deepened, as her mind wandered back 18 years, when she said good-bye to my grandma before venturing to America .

Mom cried on and off all the way home. For a woman who " shops until she drops", she must have been very sad, because she drove pass the Birmingham Galleria. For those who knows my mom, you know mom never passes up an outlet or a mall.

When did you move out of your parents' home? Were you ready for the world? Did you have a job? Were you scared to be on your own? How did your parents handle you moving away? Post it on your blog, come back and link it to Mr. Linky.

We spent Thanksgiving 2005 with Mom, my sister, and brother- in-law in Alabama. After a big meal, we drove to the hospital to visit dad. He had his left leg amputated a couple of days before, and was waiting for a room at the VA hospital. His diabetes and health has gotten worse, and Mom could no longer take care of him .

When we arrived at the hospital, we gathered around his bed. Although he was weak, he worked up enough energy to play with The Inqusitor and Minnie. Seeing how weak he was, I sensed that this could be the last time I see him.

When we returned home that night, I decided to tell The Inqisitor, who was five years old at the time, about Grandpa's sacrificial love, marrying grandma, and raising her two daughters. I wanted The Inquisitor to have the opportunity to say, "thank you, grandpa for loving grandma and my mom."

Prince Charming also was raised by a stepdad. For many years, he chose not to tell our kids about their paternal grandpa. They were too young or there was never the right time. I, on they other hand, wanted him to tell them ASAP. I remember how hurt The Inquisitor was, when he found out about my dad. I didn't want the same episode.

Over the years, I expressed (maybe nag is a better word)to Prince Charming that he should tell The Inquisitor and Minnie about his stepdad . When he gave me an excuse, I prayed about it. I tried to put the situation in God's hands; however, I often tried to hurry God. I wanted Him to do it according to my time, not His. I have improved over the years, but I still have a long way to go.

As I was cleaning the school room (May 2oo7), I overheard The Inquisitor reading "Ask Marilyn". The question was " If you found out that the man, whom you know all of your life, is not your dad, would you love him any less?"

Prince Charming took this opportunity to ask the kids the same question. The kids said that their love for the man will not change. Prince Charming paused for a minute, looked at both kids, and told them about his stepdad, who is still alive and is loved by his grandkids.

Before your husband, or your first boy friend, who was that special man in your life? For those who still have their biological parents living under the same roof, Praise God. What do you remember about him? Post it on your blog. come back and link it to Mr. Linky.

Some of you might have had a stepdad who raised you. What did you call him? What makes him special? How did he show you his loves? Post it, return and leave me a comment. I would love to read your "I Remember When..." Mr. Linky is down today. However, once he is up and running, I will link your story to it.

Happy Birthday, my Prince Charming. It is hard to believe that you were 28 when we met. My, how time flies. It has been a blissful 21.5 years. I am looking for many more birthdays together.

Do you remember our first date? We went to Pizza Hut during our study break. Even though you didn't have any food in the fridge, you insisted that I take the remainder of the pizza home.

What about the time you met my parents? We had been going out for a month, and I had not introduced you to Mom and Dad. Dad sensed we were getting serious, and he was concerned about my future with you. Now that you have a daughter, do you understand why it was important for Dad to meet you?

You finally agreed to come over for dinner. After eating Mom's Mongolian Beef, Beef and Broccoli, and fried rice, you realized that no Chinese restaurant will ever come close to Mom's cooking. One more thing, Dad liked you from the start.

My most memorable date with you was when you were 3 hours late. You had been up all night cramming for a test. You went home to take a short nap after the exam. When you woke up, you realized that it was 9:00 P.M. You called to apologized and drove 30 minutes to Mom and Dad's house for a short visit.

It seems like summer of 1987, when we met, was yesterday. You and I have come a long way. However one thing has not change is my love for you. I love you more today than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.

I must have fallen asleep. Before I knew it, Mom and Dad were standing next to my bed, wishing me a happy birthday. They led me to the backyard, where a 2-ft. swimming pool awaits for me.

Sister and I had a ball swimming in the pool all day long. The only thing that topped the swimming pool was Mom serving us crab for lunch.

What was your memoriable birthday? What do you remember about your younger years?

I finally received a reimbursement check from State Farm. About a year ago, a truck backed into my car in the Wal-mart parking lot. The police showed up to write up the report. It wasn't an official accident report, because it happened on a private property. The other party was very cooperative when the policeman was present. When he told what had happened, it coincided with my story. However, he completely changed his story after I contacted his insurance company.

Frustrated with the whole thing, I took it upon myself to tell his insurance company that he was lieing. When his insurance company refused to believe me, I screamed and yelled at her. After she told me that she was just doing her job, and that I had no reason to scream, I hung up.

As I tried to calm myself down, I stared at the beautiful blue sky, and Romans 12:9 ( Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord.) rattled in my head. A feeling of calmness suddenly overcame me, as I told God that it was in His hands and not in mine.

I am thankful it is not my job to take revenge on people who had hurt me.

For more Thankful Thursday, click on the clip art.

I am a Vietnamese descendent. I have been in the United States for 37 years. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I do not know the history of the Vietnam War. Not until New Year’s Eve 2008, I didn’t know anything about the Tet Massacre (January 31, 1968). My son, a historian buff, probably knows about it. Remembering the fall of Vietnam is too painful for me. Although grandmother has passed away for more than 20 years, the guilt of leaving her behind still lingers.

The Tet Massacre was the turning point of the war, but it also had an impact on my family. Mom was adjusting to mothering a 3 year old and a 6 week old infant. She pled with my biological dad not to go off to war. However, he felt it was his duty to serve his country.

While there was chaos surrounding us, Mom kept a normal routine at home, and patiently waited for dad’s return. After 45 days and he never came home, she went searching for him. According to his commander, he never made it to the base.

Did a member of your family serve in the military? How did it affect you? If it’s not a war story, what is your story? What do you remember about your childhood? Post it on your blog, return and link it to Mr. Linky.

Dad and me (1989)

Dad and I met with Dean Rey one afternoon. Dean Rey allowed me to stay in school and to enroll as a part-time student for the following semester. With determination, I completed the program in seven years. I am so thankful that Dad believed in me and encouraged me not to quit.

Now that I am a parent, I understand. Like dad, I don't want to raise quitters. The habits that I am instilling in The Inquisitor and Minnie will be their habits of tomorrow.