Surely you don't want to miss these cherry blossoms

Spring has arrived in Vancouver! It's the season of cherry blossom. We've been checking out different places in our neighborhood for these wonders. Just wanna share with you some beautiful scenes here. You may want to plan for a trip to Vancouver next Easter to check out the cherry blossoms. Next year will be our last year here...so treasure the opportunity to visit us while we're still around! ^_^

Check out the photo album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=155511&id=516726454&l=2eb1fdf408

The Cheng's Recent Updates (Jan-Feb)

關心我們的大家：

轉眼已從香港回來兩個月了！這次香港之旅我們很開心！感謝天父！

自一月從香港回來以後，我們一家都更體會健康的重要。原來大朋友會因小朋友適應時差的問題而失去正常的規律，晚上不能有好的休息，我們竟要花兩星期適應回溫哥華的時差！Philip便是在此時加上忙於新學期的適應而患上感冒了（儘管他已在較早前打了流感針）。這次感冒對我們一家來說影響頗大，Philip未能在幾天內康復，反而一直病了兩星期。其實Philip很久也沒有病得那麼嚴重，病患的期間他經常發冷又感到疲憊；每天只能勉強上課，其餘的時間都在睡覺，一睡便十多小時，連看書及做功課做不來；平日好吃的他胃口也大減，但慶幸此時得嚐Connie第一次煲的愛心白粥，令他在軟弱中仍覺窩心；而Connie、Abby及Elly都要搬床鋪到書房，以免受到感染。幸好她們到最後也沒有受到感染，整個一月真是很難熬呢！

Philip這次的大病確實影響了他學習的進度，但感激老師的體諒，讓他可以延遲交功課。Philip大病初癒後一直還經歷天父的恩典，二月初時他在學校的講道課堂裡嘗試了第一次的講道。Philip雖然一直至站到台前仍感到戰戰兢兢，但他很感激天父在這次的講道中體會了在課堂裡教授常教導的信念：就是認定當人忠心宣講上主的說話時，其實是參與主祂自己向眾人說話。Philip在三月尾時會再次有講道的機會，他期待可以繼續享受學習、領受、以及分享和宣告上主好信息的機會！請記念他，為他整個準備的過程禱告。

最近已有半歲的Elly BB可以坐得穩定，亦開始了吃固體食物了！Connie花了不少心思參考育嬰書裡的建議，逐一讓Elly嚐嚐不同的食材，例如香蕉、梨、蘋果，甚至魚！Elly BB最愛吃的是香甜的牛油果及蕃薯。Elly很愛吃，甚至看見家姐吃東西時也會「呀呀」叫地爭取，她吃時亦會露出一副滿足甜美的笑容，很窩心呢！真的想Abby家姐也可以有這種開心的態度進食呢！

近日我們發現Abby時常會感到沒有安全感，她害怕被遺棄的感覺，往往會令她大發脾氣，她的一些說話令我們相信這種感覺多少是來自她被領養的經歷。面對這些挑戰，縱是為人師表的Philip也未懂開解自己的女兒，還不時因小小的事端便貿然喝罵她；幸而Connie可以耐心地引導她說出心裡的不安而加以安撫她的情緒。從領養Abby開始，我們便知道往後要與Abby在她不同的人生階段不斷面對過去留下的影響，我們真要求天父賜恩惠教我們如何做父母，讓她感到愛，以至她能勇敢地面對自己的過去！

相信大家都或有機會從電視裡收看到在溫哥華剛舉行完畢的冬季奧運會，雖然我們一家平日都不是怎麼熱衷運動，但今次我們很欣賞主辦單位及贊助商的心思，在溫哥華市中心幾處的地方安排了與奧運有關的遊樂場館及攤位─例如有在鬧市半空中滑行的吊索，好剌激！（不過要排隊至少四小時！我們當然沒有等）又有親切的吉祥物在露天冰場上的精彩表演；我們還有機會在可口可樂場館裡手持奧運火炬拍照留念，離開時又得到別出心裁的發光可樂樽作記念品。這次盛事令整個城市大部份人都雀躍地投入，我們一家亦趁著Philip學校因配合奧運而停課兩星期的空檔期間遊玩了幾天，享受家庭樂。我們除了有為加拿大國家隊打氣外，還能真正地與民同樂，熱鬧一番！

現在溫哥華到處可以看見美麗的櫻花在樹上綻放，很快其他的樹亦會跟著長起綠葉來迎接春天的到來，美麗的景象令我們想起造物主的恩情，我們一家也是每天領受著天父的愛眷、保守。Philip這個學期還有兩個月才完成，現在他記掛的是下一個學年（即九月開始）為期八個月的實習，為了配合寫畢業論文的方向（兒童事工），我們一家或許要到另一間英語教會聚會及參與事奉，跟那裡的兒童及家庭事工統籌學習。Philip已和那兒的部門主管見過一次面，亦很想跟她好好學習，但大家仍未知日後的安排會是如何，請記念我們，為我們未知的前路禱告。

願你也因著天父的信實、恩典，在主耶穌裡有平安！

Philip, Connie, Abby, Elly

My Recent Parenting Experiences = Mad Mad Mad x Bad Bad Bad

I feel very much challenged and defeated in parenting recently. I am struggling with bad temper and poor attitudes towards Abby all the time recently. Just a little matter would fire me up and have me bring down my “judgment call” upon her. I must admit that I am reacting too quickly without much thoughts and considerations, instead of a wise way of responding. I feel regret every time after I was angry and being rude like a mad dog. I wonder what’s behind all these. Would this reflect a deeper issue of me (self-image / past wounds / character)? Is it stemming from my longing to have things/people be put under “my” control? How to deal with the conflicts when Abby wants her own set of rules out of “my” expectations?

I don’t know the answers yet. Meanwhile, I just hope there’ll be more love and patience (or better ways of disciplining) to show Abby (and Elly, Connie as well) ~_~ I am grateful that Connie is more patient and kind. She has been handling Abby well. I really hope my weaknesses would impact Abby less negatively in her personhood formation.

Note: This photo isn't a 'real' scene of conflict, but it kind of portrays the emtions well(though I'm usually much angrier and meaner). It's fun to check out the expression on each of us, especially Elly's. ^_^

陳年舊事—跟這Sci-Fi 的情意結

請你猜一猜這套科幻電視劇“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”是哪個年代的作品？ （tips: 從下文內容應可猜到）

這套電視劇對我很有意義，甚至可以說我是因它而被影響了一生！我沒有誇大，的確是源自一段往事……

在我三至五歲時，我爸因修讀碩士課程而舉家到了美國兩年。當時的電視劇繼電影“Star Wars” 後掀起了一陣科幻太空歷險熱，我最深刻的電視劇有“Battlestar Galactica” ，繼而便是這套“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” ，那些戰機的外形特別令我著迷。

在我們一家從美國回港後不久的一個晚上，爸媽照常在我和弟弟睡了時在客廳看電視，早已臥在床上的我卻未有入睡，反而被外面客廳電視劇的聲音吸引著，那些激光鎗戰的聲音彷佛似曾相識。我定意下床出去看個究竟，發現原來三色台播映這套劇，當我還以為可以重溫這套「我最喜愛的電視劇」時，卻被爸媽阻止，要我立即回睡房睡覺。儘管無奈，一向聽話的我當然照他們的意思做，奇怪的是，我回到床上後不久竟不知為何腦子裡想著的不是這套電視劇的情節，卻是自己很多「唔聽話」的片段，而心裡激盪著一種後悔的情緒：為何我會這麼多「唔聽話」的時候？為何我會這麼壞？淚水隨著內心的悔過流下，繼而飲泣。在客廳的爸媽聽到孩子的哭泣聲便一起進來看個究竟，見到我飲泣，以為是因為他們不讓我看電視的緣故，我卻告訴他們我覺得自己很壞，很「唔聽話」！（現在想起自己竟會這樣想，很驚奇！不知道我這反應會否令爸媽驚訝呢？）結果，爸媽安慰我，指出人有罪性，亦教我向主耶穌求赦免，還帶我作了一個禱告，我便釋然了…到最後是我立即睡了，還是出去和他們一同看完劇集呢？我就記不起了…或者爸媽會有印象吧！弟弟…還是熟睡中zzz

這套劇引起的這個遭遇，在我長大後回顧我信仰歷程中重新回想起來，而且片段還印象深刻。這樣的經歷仿佛像一粒種子，種下了主的恩情在我心中，讓我自小明白悔過被接納的感覺。所以我最近動動腦筋找到這劇原來的英文名稱（因我一直只記得這套劇的中文名稱，現在身處異邦有時都不知怎去告訴我的外國朋友），最終都給我找到了這“Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”！ YEAH!! （在搜尋時，有趣地發現原來這劇取材自三十年代的一部漫畫小說，而這小說將會在明年拍成電影版！從宣傳資料所見，原著的造型風格跟電視版的很不同呢！）

最後考一考大家，知不知道這劇的中文名稱呢？其實它的英文名稱多少都給了點蛛絲馬跡的！開始及結尾共有兩條問題，看看有沒有人猜到啦！ ^_^

Love expression

I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and creativity of Connie for her beautiful Valentine gift to me this year. ^_^ This gift is so unique as there are fingerprints from all of us, featuring Elly's first Valentine...and also my fingerprints: It's funny that Connie asked for my fingerprints while she was preparing the present. As the years go by, she is getting better and better in expressing love through handmade presents. I really need to catch up a bit! ^_^ Thank you again, my dear.

A terrible January

What a crazy January!! After a merry trip from Hong Kong, we suffered 2 weeks of jet lag. Not only Connie and I rested so little, but it was the kids who kept waking up early in the mornings (e.g. 3 am, being very energetic) Now we know the 'pain' of taking kids on a trip is not during the flight, but to endure the jet lag afterwards.

I fell sick probably due to the restlessness of this new rhythm of life. It was most likely a fiercesome flu which struck me down for more than 10 days!! Those days were really dark: Sleep...get up for classes...eat little...sleep again. School work came to an halt. Connie, Abby and Elly moved to the study room. I was 'quarintined'.

I really feel bad for not bing able to take care of the family. I haven't been so sick for a long time, which made me really treasure a healthy body. Now I'm still feeling weak...keep wearing 4 layers of clothes all the time. May this dark time be gone soon.

Dear God, you are the giver of life. May your light shine upon me. Cast away the darkness in me.

The Cheng's Recent Updates (Nov-Dec)

Greetings to our dear friends,

As we enter the month of December, we know that Christmas is near! This year has been really exciting and blessed for us -- our second daughter, Eliana, was born in August! In the past 4 months, we have been adjusting to our new roles and developing new family dynamics. Thanks to our beloved parents who have helped a great deal physically and emotionally throughout these months. We shall continue to work hard to be good parents of Abby and Elly.

Elly is a contented and cheerful little girl, and has brought us lots of joy and heartwarming moments. She seems to be a sociable kind of girl like her big sister, who loves to coo and smile back to others! Whenever she has company and attention, she can be very satisfied and happy. We all love her more and more day by day!

Abby has been a great big sister to Elly! She loves to talk to her, entertain her when Elly seems bored, and comfort her when Elly cries. Abby herself has reached a lot of milestones in the past year and has been speaking much more clearly. As she started going to preschool in September, her comprehension of English has been coming along well! We are so amazed at the fact that she is such a big girl now.

Philip has almost finished the first term of his second year at Regent College. During this past year, he has gone through a period of searching for God's will in his future vocation, which is extremely important in this journey with God. With prayers and signs from God, he decided to switch from MDiv to MCS program, which means we shall be staying for 1.5 years more in Vancouver, instead of 2.5 years more. It was revealed to him that children ministry would be something that he will spend much of his time to engage in. We thank God for this transformational process in helping us to know His plans with us.

This Christmas will be an exciting time for us, as we will be back to Hong Kong for 2.5 weeks! The main purpose is attending the Baby Dedication of Elly in our home church. We are so excited to be able to dedicate our daughter with 6 other kids from our same cell-group members! We are also excited about being able to meet with some of you in Hong Kong!

The Christmas story is a visitation story of God. He came not to judge us but bring us life!
May you be blessed by our God's love and wish your Christmas will be a warm and cheerful one!

Love from Connie, Philip, Abby and Elly