Denis and Dennise
(this is a picture of them 30 years ago, aren they cute? They are my college friend Scott's parents )
During my college years, aka my years living in the Bay Area, they had been making sure I am not lonely. Whenever I visited them at Santa Cruz their hostpitality always took me by surprise. They even drove out from Santa Cruz to help me move from Berkeley to Oakland after college graduation. Christmas 2013 they invited me over to their family Christmas reunion. There were 30 people running around in the house crazy. It was my first time witnessing a big family reunion and piles of presents reached up to the ceiling. Their love language is definitely gift giving. They showered me with presents I didn't expect.
David and Mary Ann
I first met them when I was in high school and could barely speak English. I used to visit them once a week when I was in high school to paint at their home. David would show me his paintings and art technics he uses, and Mary Ann would show me the beautiful quilts she created. After moving back from the Bay Area I got back in touch with them and they took my frienship in immediately. They are like grandparents who give me great advices and talked about life expeirences, espeically I had no more grandparents alive anymore.
Fred and Evelyn
They are frist my uncle and aunt's friends. I started to get acquainted with them after my uncle and aunt moved to Sacramento and allowed me stay in Loomis by on my own until Thrive School started. During that one month Fred and Evelyn invited me over to their cabin weekly, and spoiled me with comfort food and cozy room that they called it "your room" whenever I visited. One time Fred was teaching me how to drive a quad bike and I took down a fance of a Christmas Tree farm. Since then Fred would not stop making jokes of my Aisian driving skill. Evelyn whom always make great home cook. She is a wonderful lady with a very kind heart. They have been married for 30 plus years and to this day Fred would still open the car door for Evelyn. Then when it was time for me to move to my host family, not only did they helped me move they stored my stuff at their cabin. After they dropped me off at my host family they said, "It is like dropping our daughters off to college all over again."
This is a picture of my Thrive School friends. Fred and Evelyn agreed to my shameless request of having a group of girls they had never met to stay at their cabin for a weekend.
Leo and Bernadatte and their family
They are my host parents. The family dynamic at the house is fasinating to me, especially the presence of the father. The first thing he said to me when I first walked into the room I am now staying, he said, 'the bunk bed might not seems sturdy, but it is. I had been up there with Leah(their youngest daughter who used to occupide the room)" I would never imaging having my father come to my room let a lone sitting in the same bed. Seeing the head of this house knows where everything is and actually fixing stuff and serve his family selflessly is foreign to me. Few day ago after knowing my windshield wiper need to be replaced he offered to help me put a new one on. Last year I was crying in the rain by myself struggling to put on the windshield wipers and thought that no one would ever take care of me, and here is a father who offered assistance without me even had the thought of asking for help. God works in such wonderful way.
Bryan and Janie
They are one of my close friends Rachael's parents who live across a street from church.(also knew me since I was in high school) They open their quite and cozy home to me whenever I am tired. On Halloween we marathoned classic horried movies and on New Years eve and day we marathoned Star Wars! On a usual visit I just sit in their couch either taking a nap or listen to their stories and views in life. One night I accidentally scrapped a car while I was parking so I escaped to their home. Janie and my friend Rachael took me back to the place where accident happened and taught me how to take care of a matter like that.
The other time Bryan heard my car was making a squeeking noise and took care of it by putting on the rare brakes for me. He was on his keens for at least an hour, mean while he was wearing a waist support for he had been having back pain. I would never imagine this to happen.
Joseph and Linda
They are parents of 8 children. Their daughter Bethany has become one of my close friends since I moved Loomis. They may not be the wealthiest people I know but their walk in Christ is definitely a one I admire. Going to their home is a treat for me. I grew up having everything I want as a kid, so naturally I thought rasing kids would cost a fortune. However, their family has shown me rasing kids is more than wealth. Kids don't need everything they want but they do need a lot of selfless love. When Joseph and Linda start singing worship songs in front of the piano their kids would huddle up around them and praise God. The parents' devotion and love for God is what make their house peaceful; and by setting a living example their kids follow up their foot steps in their walk with Christ.
Dana and Sandy
The few times I've talk to them are always eyes opening. They have been providing peaceful house to college students who need a place to rest and have been insperational to many. Their love for God is evident not only with words, but most importantly in actions.
In all honesty I grew up in a good family. My mother is always very loving and supportive of what I do...even discovered my talents for me, I wouldn't have gone to school for animation if she didn't suggest it to me; And my brother, though we have been living aprart for 12 years and don't always get along becuase of it, yet whenever I visit him he always spoils me gifts and food. However, having living away from mom and the culture I grew up in for 8 years had made me tired and in need of comfort. I could have simply go on a wrong path to look for comfort but God always pull me back and blessed me with families and friends that are genuinely loving.When I whine out of self-pity to God that I am "homeless" He gave me grace and provides families to comfort my whiny heart. And these families have been showing me examples of what a home can look like. In many ways they have shaped my thoughts and understandings and put new perspectives in life.
Glory to God who has been so graceful to me. I am not the most unfortnate kid yet He hears my whine. He put families together to filled up what I feel lacking in my life. And He didn't just give me one family, He gave me more abundant.
