Good and Perfect

As many of you know, the Lord has opened up a wonderful door of opportunity for Shaun to accept a job in Houston with a different company yet still related off shore drilling. Our plans are to move some where around the 16-19 of November so that he can start work on the 23rd. Initially our plans were to eventually move to Houston after a year or two of living down here in Brownsville so that we could be near family. We then decided to bypass Houston and stay here until it was time for us to move to Singapore. Well, once again the Lord has reminded us that He is in charge and in control. Seeking no opportunity what so ever to relocate to Houston, the Lord so kindly and gently placed one before us. In the beginning we didn't take it too serious since we had already agreed on staying in Brownsville. But even so we were both encouraged for Shaun to submit his resume considering he had nothing to lose. They flew Shaun up for his interview on October 6 and the job was offered Oct 26 (what agony!?)Surprisingly I have been both encouraged and excited about the possibility of our move to Houston. I'm sure 8 months ago or so I'd be a bit resistant against our move mainly because we had agreed to stay here in Brownsville a couple of years so that we could have a baby and be surrounded by those most important to me during this incredibly amazing and new season in our lives. Yet again, our God was faithful. He has enable my heart to turn towards His. Though I am sad, I am more encouraged because I know this move for us is so necessary for us to progress in the will of God for our lives. The other day one of my greatest/bestest friends asked me, "what do you love most about your Mr. Tan?". I replied how I loved that my Mr. Tan always has a plan for us. Whether it's in the grocery store, on vacation, or in the car. With my Mr. Tan there is almost usually an objective. My heart safely trusts him. He makes me feel safe and secure no matter where we are or what the circumstances are. But how much more my Father in Heaven. I have always been so humbled by how the Lord ushers me into new season with new challenges. I have never once felt like the Lord pushed into a helicopter and forced me to parachute out in the middle of no where. I have always felt the Lord's grace and mercy enable me to handle what is to come. I know whatever is to come, no matter how difficult, uncomfortable or sad is to come it will be good and perfect and from above. I also know it will not always be difficult, uncomfortable, or sad, but it will be full of joy, laughter, and sweetness!

awaiting what is to come,

me

Sweet Treasure

There's no place like home! =) We returned from

Arizona about mid-night last night. We were so exhausted and so glad to be back home! This weekend trip was such a sweet gift from above. Shaun and I accompanied my dear dear friend Theresa, more than just a friend really to AZ to visit with her fiance. During this trip we were able to stay with another dear and sweet friend of mine, Ruth. Both these girls I've known since the 6th grade..that would be about 17 years now. Wow time sure does pass us by quickly! What a sweet time I had with these two girls, from reminiscing about old times to sharing our struggles about marriage and relationships to encouraging each other about how to be better wives. Sigh..so sweet and so appropriately timed. With Theresa marrying soon along with the busyness of life not to mention a wedding to plan (for Theresa that is) I was afraid that I would not have the opportunity to sit and share with my friend/sister about my experiences as a newly wed wife. But this trip gave me the oppurtunity to do just that. From care rides, to plane rides to lay overs we were able to share and talk about our experiences, thoughts, fears and much more. Shaun was so loving and patient in giving me this time to talk and visit with my dear friend. He would read his magazine or update himself on the latest sports headlines while we talked and talked and talked. =) Such a wonderful wonder he is. And so as I have returned from this trip feeling such a sweet closure to our friendship in being young girls and a new beginning to a friendship in being women. That might sound a bit too dramatic to some of you but makes complete sense to me. :)

Visiting with my friend Ruth was also a sweet moment in time. I knew that with our short and long term plans that Shaun and I have felt the Lord is leading towards this might be the last time I see Ruth for a very long time, so I knew this trip was to was special. Visiting with her reminded me of the endless mercies of God in our lives. God has brought us such a long way in such a short time. We talked about how we are totally undeserving of these great men who God delivered us to. It was wonderful for the both of us to share how the maturity that comes with growth in the Lord has transformed us into becoming more and more like Jesus and less and less of ourselves. So sweet a time and so sweet a treasure.

So so sweet,

me

Perfect Timing

Sigh...I love Friday nights...after a long crazy week Shaun and I can set aside time for each other with no real agenda, no place we need to be or people to meet with..just him and me..yay!!! We typically pop in our Netflix movie of the week..consume some a delicous and yet unhealthy meal and enjoy the simplicity of love.

As for the "oppurtunity" I have talked about..we are still waiting. My poor husband...I have tried my best not to annoy him with my constant questions on a hourly basis (love you bebe)..but I can't help it! This is driving me nuts! That fact that our lives could change dramatically in such a short time and the uncertainity of it all..blah?! But in the end..I know all will be sweet! Like I told some dear friends of mine...the answer will come at the perfect time..not to mention the answer itself will be perfect :)

ML

The American and his foreign wife

Today was our INS interview in order for Shaun to obtain his GREEN CARD :) All went well! Our application was approved and Shaun should be receiving his Green Card in the mail in approximately 2 weeks! Yay! Although, I was a bit humored by something-as we approached the entrance of the building happily and nicely dressed (thank you love for wearing what I suggested) we were asked to turn off our cell phones and Shaun was asked to place his keys in a little bowl so that we could walk through the metal detector,etc. So as I'm turning gadgets off and nervously making sure I have no sharp items in my purse that could be perceive as a weapon, the security guard turns to my CHINESE husband and ask, "Sir does she speak English or Spanish?" I quickly looked up from my purse and politely said, "I know English..I can speak English...I speak English". I was baffled and somewhat humored at how he thought that my Mr. Tan was the "American" and that I was the "foreigner" aka "Mexican" applying for her green card on behalf of her husband!? He didn't even ask ME personally if I spoke English or Spanish, he asked my husband O_o Why didn't he think of asking me "Excuse me Ma'am, does your husband speak Chinese or English? Needless to say I was a bit humored by the scenario. =) Sigh...

louie

Stove Top Probation

Sigh...so glad today is over :) We are now better informed and excited about what may possibly become of this. Sorry I hope to be able to share this soon :)

On a whole other note: I arrived home from work today and smelled something funny O_o
What I thought was yesterday's trash smell lingering in the trash can was the stove leaking gas!? I called my dad and asked him to come check it out. I accidentally left the stove top burner/thing on low last night as I was re-heating chicken curry..and it eventually gave out and was leaking gas =Z My parents had been smelling gas during the morning time and afternoon but couldn't figure where it was coming from..and even Shaun had noticed it before he left for work....sigh..so needless to say I am on stove top probation. =(

exhausted & anxious,
louie

My "Huh??" Moment

As I sit here typing my Mr. Tan is sitting on the couch across from me literally counting the cost of this oppurtunity that we've been presented with. After being provided with some important information today my husband and I have been discussing our thoughts about how what we thought the circumstances were, no longer are and how this affects the direction we were intending to take. We went from this "Wow!" to this "Huh??" moment. Tomorrow will be a major turning point for us (sorry I have to be so discret, but I can't say too much until things are finalized). Tomorrow my husband will inform himself to a much more serious extent re: possible circumstances then return to me and discuss and share his thoughts with me and I with him. More than our own I hope to hear the thoughts of the Lord far louder. Over dinner tonight I was reminded of how recently Shaun and I had been sharing with one another our personal preferences/conditions regarding this oppurtunity, so positively we would say, "If....then NO....,...only if....then YES...,unless...then NO". Well, that has changed. Now we are weighing options, and like I said literally counting the cost instead of our gain. This is not to say that our circumstances have taken a turn for the worse, but just now what we were expecting. Not bad, but not fantastic, and yet it could still very well be the Lord.

How easily I can reach down and pick up my pallet of paints and brush all over God's portrait with my own colors when the colors on His pallet are much more more amazing, more beautiful and magnificant.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55.8-9

louie

We will see...

Okay, so I think I've officially decided to start my blog. I think it's for real this time =) Shaun and I have been presented with an opportunity in which we were not expecting. It is something that we had hoped for some time back...but had decided not to seek it out. Well, it sought us out... In the past just thinking about this possibility would bring me very little joy as well as a knot to my throat. It was more like a "step" I knew we would have to pass through in order to progress to where we knew the Lord was going to eventually lead us. I knew it would require much sacrifice on our behalves, especially on mine. But today by God's grace and goodness alone I am embracing the possibility of us stepping forward into this opportunity. We continue to pray and seek His direction and perfect will. Though, our decision has not been made, I can see the sweet hand of Jesus preparing my husband and I as well as those around us for the direction that we my take.

we will see...

louie