Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wow, here it is the last day of 2008, how did time fly so fast?
I have so much to be thankful for this year. Starting with the most significant change this year, I started law school in August. Not only did the Lord open the door for me to be able to work during the day and go to law school in the evening, He provided a study partner as well. Chuck and I took turn driving each week and while commuting, we discussed the materials we read, the things we heard in classes, almost everything law school related, and of course, politics as well. We are both committed born again Christians, both Republicans, and both starting law school mid-career in the IT industry, couldn't ask for a better like minded study partner.
The second most significant thing I must give thanks is that the Lord had provided and I have been to Israel (check my May entries). I've made it to Jerusalem. I stood on the temple mound. I stood looking toward Syria from the Golan Heights. I stood at the most northern point of Israel, looking toward Lebanon. I've been baptized in the Jordan river. I was on a boat cruising the sea of Galilee. I've prayed at the Western wall. I visited the tunnel under the Western wall, prayed at the point in the tunnel that is closest to the Holy of Holies. I walked and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. I've walked the Via Dolorosa. I've walked through the old city and all its gates. I've visited the Knesset. I've been to the Israeli Supreme Court, even sat listening in on a case of prosecution of Hamas member. I've had my rental car towed in Tel Aviv, an experience not many first time visitors to Israel had.
Got to see my uncle who lived in Frankfurt, Germany, whom I have not seen since 1987 when he left Vietnam for Czechslovakia. Got to meet his wife and kids for the very first time.
And it goes without saying that I am tremendously thankful for my family, parents and brother. I am thankful that my dad has been doing well, no trip to the emergency room. Except for my dad who retired at the end of last year, everyone in the family has a job and doing well financially. I love my job, love what I am doing, and on top of that great boss and great colleagues.
Thank God I've been healthy. My allergy went away too, thanks to my mom for all her fervent prayers on my behalf. I ran the Dallas YMCA 8-mile Turkey Trot in 82 minutes. If it were not for the cramp in both of my legs, it would have been better results. I am taking magnesium supplement and hope that will help ease the cramp if not eliminating it. I should be able to post much better result for the half marathon this coming February.
The balance in my 401(k) dropped about 29% but that's expected. Anything that goes up has to eventually come down. This is the time to buy and I've scraped together as much cash as I can afford to buy, and buy, and buy some more of the stocks that folks are dumping. I am thankful that I still have plenty of time ahead of me for my retirement account value to go up before I need to withdraw.
My new year resolution for 2009:
1. Continue to focus and do well in law school.
2. Get back on the band wagon every time I fall off in memorizing Scriptures.
3. Train for and run the Cowtown half marathon in February and then go for a marathon either in 2010 or 2011.
4. Run the 2009 Dallas YMCA 8-mile Turkey Trot at faster pace, hopefully under 9 min/mile.
5. Saving up for the next car, which in all likelihood will be the X5.
Long term things I want to do here before going home to my Lord, Savior and Creator:
1. Speak Spanish fluently.
2. Get my private pilot license, first single engine VFR, and eventually multi-engine IFR.
3. Continue to practice my guitar, and hopefully I'll be able to play some classical pieces eventually.
4. Learn how to play the piano.
5. Read and write at least another language: French, German, Chinese or Russian.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. Starting with the most significant change this year, I started law school in August. Not only did the Lord open the door for me to be able to work during the day and go to law school in the evening, He provided a study partner as well. Chuck and I took turn driving each week and while commuting, we discussed the materials we read, the things we heard in classes, almost everything law school related, and of course, politics as well. We are both committed born again Christians, both Republicans, and both starting law school mid-career in the IT industry, couldn't ask for a better like minded study partner.
The second most significant thing I must give thanks is that the Lord had provided and I have been to Israel (check my May entries). I've made it to Jerusalem. I stood on the temple mound. I stood looking toward Syria from the Golan Heights. I stood at the most northern point of Israel, looking toward Lebanon. I've been baptized in the Jordan river. I was on a boat cruising the sea of Galilee. I've prayed at the Western wall. I visited the tunnel under the Western wall, prayed at the point in the tunnel that is closest to the Holy of Holies. I walked and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. I've walked the Via Dolorosa. I've walked through the old city and all its gates. I've visited the Knesset. I've been to the Israeli Supreme Court, even sat listening in on a case of prosecution of Hamas member. I've had my rental car towed in Tel Aviv, an experience not many first time visitors to Israel had.
Got to see my uncle who lived in Frankfurt, Germany, whom I have not seen since 1987 when he left Vietnam for Czechslovakia. Got to meet his wife and kids for the very first time.
And it goes without saying that I am tremendously thankful for my family, parents and brother. I am thankful that my dad has been doing well, no trip to the emergency room. Except for my dad who retired at the end of last year, everyone in the family has a job and doing well financially. I love my job, love what I am doing, and on top of that great boss and great colleagues.
Thank God I've been healthy. My allergy went away too, thanks to my mom for all her fervent prayers on my behalf. I ran the Dallas YMCA 8-mile Turkey Trot in 82 minutes. If it were not for the cramp in both of my legs, it would have been better results. I am taking magnesium supplement and hope that will help ease the cramp if not eliminating it. I should be able to post much better result for the half marathon this coming February.
The balance in my 401(k) dropped about 29% but that's expected. Anything that goes up has to eventually come down. This is the time to buy and I've scraped together as much cash as I can afford to buy, and buy, and buy some more of the stocks that folks are dumping. I am thankful that I still have plenty of time ahead of me for my retirement account value to go up before I need to withdraw.
My new year resolution for 2009:
1. Continue to focus and do well in law school.
2. Get back on the band wagon every time I fall off in memorizing Scriptures.
3. Train for and run the Cowtown half marathon in February and then go for a marathon either in 2010 or 2011.
4. Run the 2009 Dallas YMCA 8-mile Turkey Trot at faster pace, hopefully under 9 min/mile.
5. Saving up for the next car, which in all likelihood will be the X5.
Long term things I want to do here before going home to my Lord, Savior and Creator:
1. Speak Spanish fluently.
2. Get my private pilot license, first single engine VFR, and eventually multi-engine IFR.
3. Continue to practice my guitar, and hopefully I'll be able to play some classical pieces eventually.
4. Learn how to play the piano.
5. Read and write at least another language: French, German, Chinese or Russian.
