Making the Most of Mondays

Sometimes I wonder if sermons are like horoscopes. Do we try to fit our lives into the sermon like we do with horoscopes. Yesterday’s sermon was about renewal/beginning. It seemed apt to my situation because I was at a point where I felt life needed a reset.

Not relevant to the topic today (Baxter does look like he’s thinking about life), but a cute picture. Back to the topic, it’s okay to start anew. Sometimes you have to change direction to get where you’re going. Just glad I’m going with Em. ATEN!!

Sweetest Days

Dearest Love,

There's a song by Vanessa Williams called Sweetest Days. I thought about that song because it was only a year ago that we spent our last days together in Europe, but it's felt like so long ago. I don't often think about my future anymore. I attribute that to the fact that I have you now so I don't worry too much. It's not that I take you for granted, but rather it's because I know that as long as I have you, the future will be okay.

You make the future okay. For that I'm thankful and grateful and blessed. I know the current times leave a lot to be desired, but as long as we have each other, we're going to be okay. So do not sad that we can't travel. Appreciate the time we share together and know that there will be sweetest days to come. Anh thuong Em nhat. 

A Little Normalcy

In these trying times, a little normalcy is an understated welcomed sight. It was freezing this morning, but any day golfing is a day better than not golfign

Got to get back to enjoying time with friends. Time with family. Always blessed to have access to and be able to enjoy good food. Stay humble, be blessed. ATEN.

Black Friday

Friday wasn’t so black and I didn’t do any real shopping today so I guess it’s a win-Uyen. Things are getting back to normal. Golfing tomorrow.

As long as you keep moving forward, you’ll be okay. Thanks Em for coming closer to Team Uyen-D. It means a lot to me that you sacrifice some of your independence to be part of the team. If not, it’s not a team, it’s just Me. TTQD!!

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

On this day I have plenty to be thankful for. Sometimes we get caught up in the covid that we forget all the things we should still be thankful for.

Food is the one thing I’ve been very fortunate to have. Friends/Family are another. Combined, I have never gone hungry and never been lonely. Thanks everyone for feeding my body and soul. Without you, food and life would not taste as good. ATEN!!

Wild Wednesday

Life comes at you fast. If you're not ready, it doesn't matter. Life keeps on going. "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson. I guess what I've learned (probably again) is that you can't really rely on other people or expect others to be responsible. You have to take it upon yourself to be responsible for your own well being. That's not to say that people aren't reliable or dependable, but rather to say that you need to take control of your own life and not leave things to chance.

It's amazing that Ally can stay still, but Bac kept moving. Luckily I got one good shot. We don't know how much time we have, so it's important to make the best of what we have. Sorry for wasting time fighting, when we should be spending time loving. Sorry that you were sad today and I was unable to be there for you. We had a plan, then life punched us in the mouth, but I'm confident we'll be able to get back up and move forward. Anh Thuong Em Nhat!!!

Tumultuous Tuesday

Another shoutout to the Em’s siblings. Good food and good fun is always welcomed and appreciated.

Can’t understate the positive impact you have on the day to day. TTQD!!

It's A Case of the Mondays

Mondays are a mixed blessing. It's the beginning of the work week. It's a busy day because I have phone coverage for work as well. But it's also an opportunity to restart (insert the thing you want to restart). Today was no different. Anyhow, what I really wanted to talk about today was a shoutout and thanks to the my Em's siblings:

You guys have made the last few months a bright spot in a dark and dull time. Not only do you guys bring a smile to my Em's face that I cannot bring. You also bring company, compassion, and food to our lives. Although I'm having trouble keeping the weight that I've lost since quarantine, it's a small price to pay for the joy you guys bring. Thank you brother for the thoughtfulness and taking care of things around the house. #dishwasher. Thank you sister for food and comedy. #itwasthechair. ATEN!!!

Sunday Golf, Booyah!!!

It’s a special occasion if I golf other than Saturday. Golf is often a good analogy for life and so I apologize for talking about golf again. In golf you can plan all you want, but you still have to execute the plan and things always happen you don’t plan for. So like life, it’s a journey in managing and reacting.

This was an eagle attempt on the 17th hole. Spoiler alert, I did not make it. I did however make the tough birdie putt. It’s easy to get caught up on missing an eagle that you fail to appreciate the birdie. Same goes for life. With that, I want to say that I really appreciate Em. Every day isn’t perfect, but I cherish the imperfections that make up our life together. TTQD!!!

Bad Isn't Always That Bad

Everyday isn’t going to be amazing. Everyday isn’t going to be horrible. If you survive the day that’s an accomplishment in itself. The same can be said about golf 😂  I had a horrible round of golf today, but at least I was still golfing. 

I still got to enjoy good company and have good food. It’s important to find the positive in life even among the overwhelming negativity. If you allow yourself to drown, you won’t survive. You may have bad days, but try to remember, you don’t have a bad life. I got Em ☺️ ATEN!!

Love Is Blind

They say love is blind. I think it’s only true in some cases. Fortunately, it is in mine. I’m just an average looking guy, but my Em thinks I’m handsome 😍

I’m just worried someday she’ll get her vision corrected. That’s why I’m gonna enjoy the time while I can 😂 Thanks for the love. TLG!

Throwing It Back To 2019

Today was busy with work, but it was a good day. I got toilet paper and paper towels in case the world shuts down. I got to enjoy dinner and homemade banana bread with the family. I also got to see my mom and dad and they're doing good. Nothing exciting in the traditional sense, but in these times, excitement is overrated.

It's crazy to believe that this was a year ago to the hour local time (08:19PM):

While it's definitely hard to not be able to travel, I still get to spend time with you. For that, I'm thankful and grateful. I'm sorry your tooth hurts and my kisses don't lessen your pain. I hope you feel better. Kisses😙 ATEN!!!

Hump Day 🐪

A great dinner led to a great lunch the next day. Thanks fam. #leftovers

Covid has really wrecked travel, but it’ll be so much sweeter and appreciated when we can travel again. In the meantime, we need to enjoy what we have, while we have it.

Life isn’t what happens to us, but how we respond. And it’s not always about the destinations, it’s often about the journey. 

Thanks Em for joining me on the journey. Looking forward to our future adventures. ATEN!!

Fine Dining Tuesday

I’ve been very fortunate to be able to have so many opportunities to enjoy great food and great company. Today was another one of those:

Thanks Dos for another great evening. Even in these uncertain times it’s nice to have a sense of normalcy.  🍻  Stay well everyone. Love you lots. ATEN!!

Anh Thuong Em Nhat

Hey boo, just wanted you to know that I love you. I won't get to see you tonight so I didn't want you to forget 😀 I'm sorry you didn't get overtime, but there are so many other things in life to be grateful and thankful for. I'm thankful and grateful for you. It's easy to get caught up in the bad moments, but all in all I recognize and appreciate the total package:

Smile Em. I thuong you very nhat. hehehe. ATEN!! 💗

Sundays, the Day Before Mondays

Every cloud has a silver lining. When God closes a door, she opens a window. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. There are countless idioms about how to deal with the cards life deals you. In the Age of Covid, as the days all blur together and monotony combines with seclusion to make us stir crazy, it's really important to take time to appreciate what we have and recognize all the blessings life gives us:

A year ago this week, I was beginning another memorable trip with the love of my life. I would get to visit Europe for the first time and be able to share the experience with THE special someone. Our trips have been canceled for this year (as was our wedding) as have been the trips (and plans) of many people. However, Em and I still have our health (physical, emotional, financial). For that, I'm eternally thankful. Bac will always be a silver lining, open window, lemonade for me. Thanks be to God. ATEN!!!

Super Saturday

It’s been a great Saturday. All would agree. Golf. Great food. Great company. Good conversation. Just trying to cherish the moments as they come because they fade quickly.

Now it’s mah jong time 🥳 thanks fam. Love ya. TTQD!!!

The Little Things

Sometimes you got to appreciate the little things. Uyen’s brother got me blue light glasses to protect my eyes from staring at screens. Her sister got us in n our burger. Now we’re all playing mah jong:

Bac wasn’t too mad about getting a mah jong table. So it’s all in all been a Good Friday. Thanks everyone. Love you all. But I love Em the most. TTQD.

L-O-V-E

If you google what percentage of songs are about love, it’s about 60% or more. If you ask me what percentage of songs I listen to are about, I’d say 80% or more are about love. What I’ve always been missing out on until I met Bac, is to be able to feel the kind of love I hear about in music:

It’s gonna be hard to pick a song for our wedding, if we have a reception, but here’s a song that immediately makes me think of Em. It also puts into words how I feel. Love you boo 😍 TTQD!!!

Wonderful Wednesday

Often times we get caught in situations where there is sensory or information overload. When it happens, it can be difficult to make good decisions or to fully grasps and examine the moment.

Can you find what's hidden in this? Wait for it... Did you find it? If you did, good job. If not, thanks for trying. There's an elf hiding below the left part of the TV. Classic Elf on a Shelf. My nieces were very excited to show me where the elf has been going. Their genuine joy, is very similar to the feeling I get when I stop to grasps the presence of Em. Thanks for being my Elf everyday. I'm always excited to see where your joyfulness in my life will show up. I love you. TTQD.

Terrible Tuesday

“Terrible” is probably an extreme adjective, but it’s good for alliteration (and today wasn’t a good day). I measured my TV stand and read reviews to get measurements for a new 65” 📺 . It said 54” width. It was 57” and did not fit. So I wasted time cleaning and organizing and trying to make room for it. I wasted money on a larger TV (I initially was gonna get a smaller one). And I strained by back moving the TV my parents because I didn’t want to keep looking at my failure:

But this situation is a great opportunity to follow up on yesterday’s lesson. Life threw me a lemon (side note: you get what you pay for with earbuds), so I made lemonade. I gave the TV to my parents so they get a brand new larger TV. And at the end of the day I still have my Em. She’s a great equalizer. So a terrible Tuesday is turning into a Wonderful Wednesday 🤞. TLG!!! 

Mixed Up Monday

Sometimes you just gotta make due with what life throws at you. You don't always get to choose what happens to you, but you do get to choose how you respond. 

This was made with less bananas than necessary. They were not as ripe as they could have been. We didn’t have the right pans, but look how amazing it turned out. A little soft in the middle, but delicious nonetheless. On a similar note, here's a throwback to a year ago today:

Someone stepped on her hand and broke her pinky, but she didn’t let it slow her down. She's a champ. It’s okay to get knocked down, as long as you get back up. Be like her 👧! ATENN!!

Sunday Funday

I probably mentioned it before and will like mention it again. A Sunday felt wasted and unproductive is probably a Sunday spent right, but it doesn’t feel that way. I didn’t do any work this weekend that I planned, but I still had a great weekend. Hopefully I’ll be more productive during the week.

A couple zeroes fell off, but it’s still a good day. Thanks Em. ATEN!!

Great Day!!!

That’s all I can say 😂

Great food, fun, and fam. TTQD!!

Thankful It’s Friday 😂

I found this cool picture today and I’m sorry my baby already saw it, but it’s worth sharing:

We often find ourselves distracted in our search for happiness. We look all around and fail to realize the happiness right in front of our faces. We believe the happiness comes from external sources, but we are the true creators of our own happiness. Rich people can be unhappy, poor people can be happy. It’s ultimately what you decide to make for yourself. I’m thankful to be happy. I hope that everyone can “find” their own happiness as well. It’s a good feeling. ATEN!!

Throwback Thursdays

I used to play a lot of games when I was younger. Like card, board, video, etc. As the times changed, it’s nice to know that some games are always gonna be fun. Lately I’ve been playing Catan with the fambam, but yesterday and today I was able to share Mahjong with a new generation:

Here’s to many more game nights and many more games. I think I should probably start letting them win so they don’t get discouraged and quit. I think one of them is already 😡 I keep jacking her roads. 😉 ATEN!!

Wishful Wednesday

I woke up to a pleasant surprise today that the election may not be over after all. I’m not getting my hopes up, but there’s definitely more hope than this time last night. Sadly the election weighed heavily on the evening, but this morning gave me some time to reflect. Dinner was great last night. Thanks Uyen’s brother:

It reminded me of the wonderful time Em and I had in Paris (Prague and Poland too). Per usual, the past is often viewed in rose tinted glasses. But nonetheless, it’s nice to have those memories in our current time. Thanks Em. Look forward to many more memories of us. ATENN!!!

Election Night In America.

I voted. I lost (likely), but in the end I think the world lost. Barring a miracle, it’ll be (4) more years, but without accountability for re-election. I’m praying for the best, planning for the worst:

I hope this will be the last depressing picture and thought. God bless everyone. God bless America! Be safe everyone.

Motivational Mondays

Why not start the work week with some good tips?

1. Emotions are like explosives, use with caution

2. Don’t act if it won’t help

3. It is what it is or it’s not that serious

4. Breathe 🧘 

Love you 😍. Be Happy!

All Saints Yah

Saints aren't perfect, but they strive to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, they are often not recognized until it's too late. I've been blessed to come across many saints in training, so today I want to thank them all for the impact they've had on my life. But today I also wanted to recognize a special saint:

Thanks for being in my life. I know we're not perfect, but I think we're perfect together. We make each other better. I look forward to our future together. Sorry I have the longest road :) ATEN!!