Today is my 29th birthday….and also my 10th anniversary of getting baptized back in 1997. I can’t believe it’s already 10 years. Hope to write this to reflect how much the gospel has changed my life and how blessed I am in the past 10 years.
I was graduating from post-graduate classes getting ready to go to university in Hong Kong. I got a blood lump on the head and was scared to death that I would die. I wondered the purpose of life and as Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. I found the Church and the gospel.
I started to go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and knocked on the Missionaries’ door to take the discussion. The Spirit of God hits me hard and I know the Church is true, and Book of Mormon is true. My mom later found out I was going to the “Mormon” Church and she was afraid that I would leave my own family behind. Getting a lot of “misconceptions” from her friends who do not know anything or associate with LDS, my mother was scared. After a lot of prayers and fasting, Heavenly Father soften their hearts and let me got baptized.
So I got baptized on my 19th years old birthday. I would not forget the burning feeling from within after I got baptized. I then applied to stay in Brigham Young University. I was so eager to learn more about the Church and about the restored gospel. Never in my life had I thought I would study oversea, neither did my parents. The decision was last minute but I knew it was right. I got an acceptance phone call from BYU Hawaii two days before the tuition deadline for my placement in Chinese University in Hong Kong.
I then attended Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus for a year and then transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. My parents did not want to admit that I went to US because I joined the Church and wanted to know more about the gospel. Heavenly Father knows better. I later attended the Marriott School of Business and declared Accounting as my major. The program is ranked Third in the nation and so my Dad was happy to tell all his friends I studied in US because BYU is a good school.
The three and half year at BYU, I learn not only academically but also spiritually. All the religion classes, devotions, and fireside had helped me to focus on what is important in my life. I was accepted in the Master Program in Taxation and finished both degree in 4 ½ years.
Dad and Mom were really proud of my education achievement. However, I made one of the biggest decisions in my life right before I graduated. I had my internship in NY before my last year of school. I met Da, the man that I am now sealed in the temple for time and eternity. Da is a returned missionary who served his mission in Sydney, Australia speaking Cantonese. He decided to chase after a crazy serious nerd as his prospective companion. He was not measured up to my parents’ expectations as he had not finished his degree, no job, no car, no nothing….which was considered “a liability”. It took a long time to explain to my parents that he is the right one or he “will be” the right one in the future. We have “eternal” prospective. We want to go through life together, build our family together, and earn everything together. Parents thought it was too risky, which was completely understandable. After a lot of fasting and prayers, again, I got the answer I should marry this man. So we did in Sept 28, 2002. Heavenly Father helped soften my parents’ heart and they did come to our small wedding. I still remembered how our Chinese Branch prepared everything for our reception. Sisters prepared all the food, Youth were the waiters and waitresses. We only paid for the wedding dress and flowers. It was simple but wonderful. We sealed as husband and wife for time and eternality in the Washington D.C. Temple.
After working couple years as tax accountant and married for a year, we were blessed with our first son Brennan. We managed to save enough for down payment for our little townhouse. I remembered the day when we signed the offer for our townhouse, Da got his first job offer and I got a positive test of pregnancy. Heavenly Father is always there with us as we move along in our lives.
Being a wife and a mom truly require a lot of hard work and patience. I used to work 90-100 hr weeks during tax season, but being a mother is definitely more difficult than working full time. My parents still question my decision as staying home with the kids. The world just does not seem to value the hard work of staying home mothers these days. They believe women should be enjoying things, traveling, having their own careers. But I can ensure you, nothing is more important and worthwhile that being home with the kids. I still joke with my parents that I will still work about 15 years later when all my kids go to school and do not need me taking them around anymore. By then I still needs to work another 15-20 years before I can retired. Thus, do not worry that I will not work and use my expertise in the future.
Another two years passed by, Da changed his job several times and Clayton, another baby boy joined our family. I was blessed with friends that allowed me to work part time during tax season to keep my skill current. We surely do not earn a lot of money but we spend a lot of family time together. Heavenly Father blesses our family with happiness. Brennan and Clayton are happy boys. We focus on what Heavenly Father want us to do. Da does not work far to earn the extra income, but spend more time at home playing with the boys. We do not go out to eat often, but do cook pancake, waffles on Saturday mornings together. Brennan and Clayton do not get new clothes every season, but do enjoy all the “hand me down” clothes from friends and family.
Ten years passed and more will pass before we realize. I just want to bear my testimony that I know Heavenly Father is always here for us. He has blessed me with so many blessings that I cannot count them all. This is just my first 10 years. I am really grateful. When I was 19, I knew there is a purpose in this life. I just didn’t know. I was glad that I found the purpose and the gospel when I was 19. I know what I need to do to go back to Heavenly Father. I know what I need to focus in life that matters. I know the Church is true that through our Savior Jesus Christ. If we do what we ask to do and keep faithful, we will be with our Heavenly Father someday. This life is our probation; it’s a test to see whether we will do what Heavenly Father asks us to do. Thanks for being wonderful friends and family member. I love you all. =)
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I was graduating from post-graduate classes getting ready to go to university in Hong Kong. I got a blood lump on the head and was scared to death that I would die. I wondered the purpose of life and as Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. I found the Church and the gospel.
I started to go to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and knocked on the Missionaries’ door to take the discussion. The Spirit of God hits me hard and I know the Church is true, and Book of Mormon is true. My mom later found out I was going to the “Mormon” Church and she was afraid that I would leave my own family behind. Getting a lot of “misconceptions” from her friends who do not know anything or associate with LDS, my mother was scared. After a lot of prayers and fasting, Heavenly Father soften their hearts and let me got baptized.
So I got baptized on my 19th years old birthday. I would not forget the burning feeling from within after I got baptized. I then applied to stay in Brigham Young University. I was so eager to learn more about the Church and about the restored gospel. Never in my life had I thought I would study oversea, neither did my parents. The decision was last minute but I knew it was right. I got an acceptance phone call from BYU Hawaii two days before the tuition deadline for my placement in Chinese University in Hong Kong.
I then attended Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus for a year and then transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. My parents did not want to admit that I went to US because I joined the Church and wanted to know more about the gospel. Heavenly Father knows better. I later attended the Marriott School of Business and declared Accounting as my major. The program is ranked Third in the nation and so my Dad was happy to tell all his friends I studied in US because BYU is a good school.
The three and half year at BYU, I learn not only academically but also spiritually. All the religion classes, devotions, and fireside had helped me to focus on what is important in my life. I was accepted in the Master Program in Taxation and finished both degree in 4 ½ years.
Dad and Mom were really proud of my education achievement. However, I made one of the biggest decisions in my life right before I graduated. I had my internship in NY before my last year of school. I met Da, the man that I am now sealed in the temple for time and eternity. Da is a returned missionary who served his mission in Sydney, Australia speaking Cantonese. He decided to chase after a crazy serious nerd as his prospective companion. He was not measured up to my parents’ expectations as he had not finished his degree, no job, no car, no nothing….which was considered “a liability”. It took a long time to explain to my parents that he is the right one or he “will be” the right one in the future. We have “eternal” prospective. We want to go through life together, build our family together, and earn everything together. Parents thought it was too risky, which was completely understandable. After a lot of fasting and prayers, again, I got the answer I should marry this man. So we did in Sept 28, 2002. Heavenly Father helped soften my parents’ heart and they did come to our small wedding. I still remembered how our Chinese Branch prepared everything for our reception. Sisters prepared all the food, Youth were the waiters and waitresses. We only paid for the wedding dress and flowers. It was simple but wonderful. We sealed as husband and wife for time and eternality in the Washington D.C. Temple.
After working couple years as tax accountant and married for a year, we were blessed with our first son Brennan. We managed to save enough for down payment for our little townhouse. I remembered the day when we signed the offer for our townhouse, Da got his first job offer and I got a positive test of pregnancy. Heavenly Father is always there with us as we move along in our lives.
Being a wife and a mom truly require a lot of hard work and patience. I used to work 90-100 hr weeks during tax season, but being a mother is definitely more difficult than working full time. My parents still question my decision as staying home with the kids. The world just does not seem to value the hard work of staying home mothers these days. They believe women should be enjoying things, traveling, having their own careers. But I can ensure you, nothing is more important and worthwhile that being home with the kids. I still joke with my parents that I will still work about 15 years later when all my kids go to school and do not need me taking them around anymore. By then I still needs to work another 15-20 years before I can retired. Thus, do not worry that I will not work and use my expertise in the future.
Another two years passed by, Da changed his job several times and Clayton, another baby boy joined our family. I was blessed with friends that allowed me to work part time during tax season to keep my skill current. We surely do not earn a lot of money but we spend a lot of family time together. Heavenly Father blesses our family with happiness. Brennan and Clayton are happy boys. We focus on what Heavenly Father want us to do. Da does not work far to earn the extra income, but spend more time at home playing with the boys. We do not go out to eat often, but do cook pancake, waffles on Saturday mornings together. Brennan and Clayton do not get new clothes every season, but do enjoy all the “hand me down” clothes from friends and family.
Ten years passed and more will pass before we realize. I just want to bear my testimony that I know Heavenly Father is always here for us. He has blessed me with so many blessings that I cannot count them all. This is just my first 10 years. I am really grateful. When I was 19, I knew there is a purpose in this life. I just didn’t know. I was glad that I found the purpose and the gospel when I was 19. I know what I need to do to go back to Heavenly Father. I know what I need to focus in life that matters. I know the Church is true that through our Savior Jesus Christ. If we do what we ask to do and keep faithful, we will be with our Heavenly Father someday. This life is our probation; it’s a test to see whether we will do what Heavenly Father asks us to do. Thanks for being wonderful friends and family member. I love you all. =)
