St. Paul, Minnesota's NY

For our date last night, Paul and I went to St. Paul to see what's it like outside the RNC. Well, the city was turned into some NY-type place. It was surprisingly packed with people of different purposes and ideologies. It's usually filled with cars and not with people. All kinds of mad and slightly-mad protesters, excited spectators of the RNC broadcasted live on the LCD screens around, preachers preaching the Gospel of repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ, ordinary Democratic Party supporters who booed John McCain's speech, beautiful Republican Party supporters (Paul and I and others :) who were unafraid to cheer McCain in public in this general liberal city/state), people who are in the middle ground, vendors, media both for internet and TV, yes, Hollywood actors, police and etc.. The city was heavily guarded. Problems of riots were present but solved. I was just happy to see streets busy with people and not with cars and the fact that it's only 20 minutes drive from us.

St. Paul is a beautiful city. There are world-class restaurants around. Paul and I went to Meritage for dinner. The food is so so good! I had Shrimp and Crab Rissoto, yum yum yum! If ever you come to St. Paul, you can stay at St. Paul Hotel. It's beautiful. McCain and other important Republican figures stayed there.

Trivia...
Name the Hollywood actor in the picture with Paul and I.

Rachael Lampa

I was ironing our clothes in the laundry room when I heard Rachael Lampa's name called to come on stage for her rendition at the opening night of the RNC (Republican National Convention). I couldn't believe it! Rachael Lampa was in St. Paul! I had our TV downstairs on but I ran upstairs to watch her performance with Paul and Izzy. She sang "When I fall" and "I am Blessed". Our little girl was trying to mimic Rachael. It was so cute. I was so happy I called my best friend, Lisa, in New York to tell her that our favorite singer was on TV. Unfortunately, she was in the train on her way home. It was Lisa who introduced Rachael Lampa to me 5 years. Since then, I've always listened to her songs. For the video of her performance, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Lisa and I

On Her Own

Before our Valley Fair trip last Sunday, I always accompanied our little Izzy on the rides at the Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America. Paul and I felt a very strange loneliness when finally she left us at the kid's train station at Valley Fair to go for a 7-minute "toot-toot" ride, by herself! The train went somewhere, we could not even see her. That's the worse part of it. We had no idea whether she remained seated or got frantic looking for us. But when her train arrived, she looked very calm and happy. Oh, how we missed her! We felt so relieved to see her again after 7 minutes, which felt like 7 years, of solid anxiety. How I wish time crawls slowly and not flies so we can enjoy every long second with her by our side. But maybe I'll have to learn to accept and say "kids grow up so fast". I'm just so thankful that I get to be with her almost every hour since she was born.

Sarah Palin's Fighting Spirit

We hurried home from our Bible study at church tonight to watch Sarah Palin deliver her first major speech at the GOP Convention. I imposed so much resistance on myself so that my super excited emotions won't go out of whack! That way I could listen and understand her words well. As she made her way to the podium, she was a picture of a confident, calm, happy and beautiful person. When she started her speech, womanly confidence, articulation, strength and wisdom were emitted into the air inside the Excel Energy Center and have definitely spread throughout America and to the whole world. Her stage presence and persuasive words were an evidence that she is not some weakling duckling but a lovely swan with a fighting spirit like that of a roaring lion. One of my favorite lines in her speech was, "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick." Oh, I love that a lot! I love the fact that she wasn't only defending herself from all the issues that her opponents pounded on her but she had some offensive bullets for them as well. One TV broadcaster put it this way, "Palin hit a homerun on the first inning!" She surely did! I am looking forward to her debates with Biden. I am a hundred and five percent sure that she will shine and dominate, for where the light shines the darkness flees!

Talkers Vs. Doers

Having watched the convention of the Democratic Party last week and the commencement of the GOP (Grand Old Party) Convention last night made me think that this presidential election is a race between talkers and doers. The convention last week had showcased good bloviating speakers and celebrity splendor. On the other hand, the Republican convention displayed people, so far, with tremendous experience in good governance and patriotic heroism. Speeches were more on clear vision for a better yet America and less opponent attacks. The casts look happy and optimistic contrasted with angry, bitter and boastful faces and talkers in the other group. November 4th Election is a pure race of talking Democrats and doing Republicans. Of OJT Democrats vs. Experienced Republicans. Of Democrats who want to rule the world vs. Republicans whose main vision is to protect the American people. Of Democrats who are bitter of this country until the Election time vs. Republicans who know how to suffer and die for this country. Of Democrats who associate with the country's enemies vs. Republicans who protect this nation from them. Of Democrats who like to call themselves agents of change (e.g. they voted for iraq war but have been dreadfully against it? They should rather call themselves "changeable" for they change their minds easily) vs. Republicans of steadfast principles and unswerving decisions. The list can go on and on but maybe I should stop here before I attract big crowd.

Her Church Friends

Over the past 8 months, our little Belle has made cute friends at our new church. Some of them are the ones saying "cheese" with her on that picture above. It is so encouraging to hear very positive comments on our daughter from the ladies who are in charge of the kids at church. Most of them praised her to us saying that she is a very kind toddler. I do volunteer to watch them at the nursery from time to time. I got to see how she shows love and kindness to her little fellas. I've never seen her grab others' toys and she so willingly shares her toys to others. When using the slide set, she waits for her turn patiently. When someone is crying she shows concern and try to comfort her or him by her gentle touch. Her mild personality is pleasant to watch. She is not the jumpy, bouncy, super busy and hyper toddler. She is active- loves to run, climb, bounce on her bouncy big ball and dance, but she stays away from hyper kids. Her personality is just right!

A Very Special Weekend

I never realized how much I missed Tegshee until I actually talked to her live on the phone two nights before she flew to Minneapolis to visit us. Tegshee was one of my first ESL students in Mongolia who came to my apartment in UB, Mongolia for Bible study 7 years ago. I remember how she maintained her agnostic principles on the first year of her regular visits to our Bible study meetings. God must have done a spiritual surgery in her heart when one day she asked me if she could have a water baptism. I was absolutely caught by surprise when she made that decision that I even asked her if she knew what she was talking about. She insisted that she had become a Christian as that she decided to give her life to the Lord Jesus. Since then she has lived a wonderful Christian life together with other students who made that very important decision to follow Christ and "no turning back!" Like Orgil, Tegshee, came to almost every gathering at my apartment, including the in-depth discipleship study once a week. I'm pretty sure she has a "faithfulness" medal prepared for her in heaven. And like Orgil and a few others in the group, she has traveled to many countries not because she is wealthy and so could afford the trips but because she possesses brains (and beauty of course!) The government of Japan is funding her 5-year undergraduate studies in Osaka, Japan. She is also given a monthly salary and all they want her to do is study. That's why she could come visit us. The solid three years of being together had created in me and Tegshee a deep sisterly relationship. I am so proud to be her "egch" (big sister in Mongolian language)! Paul, Isabelle and I love her so much. It was so sad to see her off at the airport yesterday. Our little Belle cried when she gave her a big hug and a bye bye kiss. We want to see her again soon, hopefully, by January 09 when we fly to Japan on the way to the Philippines.

In front of the MOA (Mall of America)

We missed our goofiness so much that we wanted to revisit it.

At our new church with the Pastor and his wife.