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a secure channel

I’ve been reflecting a lot on The Screwtape Letters since I started reading it. It’s such a fascinating book that I’m savoring it by taking my time and reading it slowly. It amazes me how close our spiritual enemy is to us, they know us better than we know ourselves.

December 21, 2024

Enjoy being a light

I ordered a personalized nameplate for one of my favorite clients, an older gentleman I deeply respect. He has always kept our relationship simple and professional, which reflects his personality. While I enjoy being warm and personal, this gift felt like a very “Zoey” way to appreciate him, and he

December 20, 2024

spiritually disengaged

Today, I got completely caught up in daily chores, partly because of my organizing OCD. I’ve been trying to sort through everything I brought back from Phoenix. At first, organizing felt exciting, but that feeling quickly faded, replaced by a sense of exhaustion and heaviness. In the midst of it,

December 19, 2024

Unpack Day

Unpacked all the boxes we brought back from Phoenix today. It feels so good to finally feel settled in. I moved the twin bed into my office, another instance of God’s perfect timing. My father-in-law and brother-in-law will be visiting for Christmas, and we desperately needed that bed to set

December 18, 2024

even when I can’t see it

Open Old Gifts After getting home yesterday, I slept for 14 hours straight and woke up feeling refreshed. Looking back on all the challenges we faced and how fearlessly we pushed forward, I feel so proud of us. The trip was scary at times, and we both lost our tempers

December 17, 2024

Long Journey Home

12/15-12/16 Two Days on the Road We started driving back to Washington this morning, planning to stop at Twin Falls for the night. However, we both felt strong enough to push forward, so we began taking turns driving and sleeping. This trip has been particularly challenging for me because I’m

December 16, 2024

ready for the road

We cleaned the truck, changed all the filters and oil, and installed a trailer plug. We also rented a box trailer from U-Haul and loaded everything we had stored with friends. Everything is ready for the road, and I’m so happy with the progress we made today. During lunch, we

December 14, 2024

determined to surrender all

While talking with our friend in Phoenix, he shared about his son, a brilliant tax attorney in New York, making impressive money. While he’s proud of his son’s achievements, what stood out was the sadness in his voice. He spoke about their strained relationship and how much his daughter-in-law dislikes

December 13, 2024

open sky with bright sunshine

Patricia kindly drove us to the bus station, where we caught a bus to Sea-Tac Airport. By 9 pm, we landed in Phoenix after a long day of travel. Despite the exhaustion, we were filled with joy to reunite with our friend. He’s so generous to host us and care

December 12, 2024

perfect provision

Spent three hours at Patrick’s today, meeting with her friend Gale. Had such good conversations with both of them, it was time well spent. And I found out she loves to swim and we might be teaming up to swim in the future which is very exciting for me. Tomorrow,

December 11, 2024

meaningful friendships

Had coffee with Anna in the afternoon, she is one of the bravest young women I know. Despite all the uncertainty and hardship she’s facing, she carries herself with such grace, never letting on how much she’s truly bearing. She speaks as if it’s no big deal, but I know

December 10, 2024

Immanuel

““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”” – Matthew 1:23 NLT The holiday season is often centered around family, but our earthly family isn’t always what draws us closer to God,

December 9, 2024

Feng Shui

Since leaving China, I’ve developed a strong appetite for traditional Chinese culture. My graduate school thesis was about Taoism, and later I fell in love with the I Ching. For some time now, I’ve been exploring Bazi as a hobby. This week, a teacher I admire asked if I would

December 8, 2024

the joy you bring

Hosted a small group this morning and shared about how walking with God has transformed my focus, from striving to change the world around me to seeking inner transformation through Him. Instead of trying to change others through my communication, I now turn to God in prayer, allowing Him to

December 7, 2024

how much I need Him

I read something truly worth pondering in today’s devotional: How do we grasp the depth and significance of love? We can know the depth of someone’s love by what it costs them. How much does their love expressed cost them? We can know the depth of someone’s love by how

December 6, 2024

caring for my body

I got up early and exercised for an hour, my body really needed this. For some reason, it’s so much harder to stay motivated to work out in the winter. But today, I got a good sweat, and it feels amazing. As I get older, I’m becoming more aware of

December 5, 2024

lovely afternoon with a grandma

Dream I dreamt of my primary school friends, Liping and Ziqin. We were at an outdoor camp, enjoying ourselves in the wilderness. Suddenly, the mountains around us began to erupt, and rivers of lava cascaded down. The fiery flow quickly reached us, and tragically, everyone I knew perished, everyone except

December 4, 2024

Serving her

The holiday rhythm is starting to settle in, tight but exciting! After some intense recent travels and with an upcoming trip to PHX, we’ve decided to spend a simple, restful Christmas at home. I’m really looking forward to it. This morning, I got up early to host my small group

December 3, 2024

fun and joy

The first day back to work after Thanksgiving. Everything feels slow, but it gave me the chance to create a better budget sheet for 2005, a much-needed upgrade from the old one Riley and I have been using. Managing finances is such a big part of adult life. I used

December 2, 2024

all come from You

I slept in very late today, catching up on the sleep I missed yesterday. Waking up refreshed felt wonderful. We finally received our Nexus passes and were excited to put them to use. So, we drove to Canada, and the journey was breathtaking. The visibility was amazing, we could see

December 1, 2024

small moments

Today was such a joyful day! I celebrated Riley’s birthday in the morning, since friends were coming over for Friendsgiving in the afternoon. Seeing how much he liked the gift I picked out made me so happy. At first, part of me almost gave in to laziness, thinking that after

November 30, 2024

hospitality

Today has been such a lazy holiday! We slept in, cleaned the kitchen, and played some video games. Just a simple, relaxing day, and I love it. I really enjoy the smaller gatherings during the holidays. They give more time for deeper conversations with people. I’m so grateful for those

November 29, 2024

Thanksgiving Dinner

I invited my neighbor over for Thanksgiving. Patricia arrived around 1 pm to teach me how to cook the turkey. I made stuffing and green bean casserole, while she baked a pie and prepared snacks. Later, we watched one of her favorite movies together. It was a very simple holiday,

November 28, 2024

Guard your thoughts

When I think, You come. When I move, You come. You whisper, every moment is holy. “Guard your thoughts, My child, For each one shapes the path of your heart.” I see it now—The highs and lows dissolve, Reflections of what I once believed was true. When I feared I

November 27, 2024

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