How weird!  So I decided to give Xanga another try to keep in touch with two small group girls that are away at missions.  I use to be a major xanga fanatic in college that when xanga's site was down I would write my entry on Word to be later posted. haha.. ANYWAYS....  What's weird is that we (Jenni and Maling & I ) have the same color scheme!!!  I created this page back in the beginning of this year, Jan 05.  But just never updated after a few entries.  Jenni your page is exactly like mine! and Maling, your's is close enough.  haha..  okay, enough of that.  On with my entry....

So I also wanted to start Xanga to say a few words to my small group:  Upper Room.  On August 20th we had our Upper Room Paarrrtay Celebration! at Simon's house.  And we were given time to share our thoughts and experiences from the past quarter or whatever.  Man, I'm just a chicken (plus Simon was getting people to move their cars so that they won't be towed away....okay that's no excuse!).  But I had stuff to say but just didn't want to say it.  So here it goes in writing.  When I first heard about Grx and how it was mostly a post college asian church I wanted to check it out.  It was one of my new year resolutions to find a small group, its been over a year since having a close community.  My home church wasn't working out.  Thanks to my old roommate Vanessa for telling me about GrX!  Thanks girl!!!  So I started my journey by e-mailing a handful of small group leaders off of the website.  Anyways to make a long story short I checked out 4 groups, still attended 3, but Upper Room was the main one that I was consistent with.  I thank all of you guys for just being apart of my community!  Sol and Rooted too!  At first it was kinda overwhelming, I felt like a recorded message when I repeated myself over over on questions like 1) how did you hear about Grx, 2) where are you from? & 3) what do you do?  And just meeting so many people, forgetting people's names.  I use to just come home from work and veg, watch tv, or workout.  But now I hardly watch anything and I'm busy with Grx events, which is so much better!  I didn't know what to expect starting this search for a community, but I got so much more.  Didn't expect to meet so many genuinely, nice, friendly people.  Thus is was hard for me not to go to other groups to visit.  I'm glad to be apart of a community where people really reach out and support one another.  You guys are keeping me accountable and helping me grow in my faith.  Thank you! 

UR core.

Here are a few shout outs:

Ji Young- We were both new to UR and after finding out we were in similar health careers, we made a connection.  Thx for being a spiritual light to me and to everyone.  You shared one time that you were once shy, but now you can just say whatever you feel.  I need to talk to you more about that. =)  I'm sad, were not in the same small groups, but I know I can call you and share anytime.  Thanks for being our Missions person.

Maling- Fellow Fremont/Sol person. =)  Who would of thought we were practically neighbors for quite some time and only until GrX we found out!  Can't believe you're in Thailand right now, glad that you have peace going.  I enjoyed our talks when carpooling to small group, we miss you!

Juliana - Hey girl!  You were only with UR for a short time but you totally stood out!  I hope you are doing well in school, can't wait to catch up with you when you come back. We need to discuss some horticulture.. =) 

Lina!- Boba, In N Out remember?  You are like an older sister to me (haha you're like geeeee...thxs!)  Thank you for our talks and advice, I enjoyed being in your small breakout groups. And uh, yeah how 'bout them trees?? haha.  You're such a cool sista who has visions. 

Stacy - You are so poised, I really enjoyed hearing you when you lead small groups.  Thank you for being so welcoming to me even tho I would just poke in and out at times.  Good luck with Sol's multiplication. =)

KW-You're probably tired of me mentioning this, but thank you so much for going out of your way to find my cell phone.  I was just in awe that you did that, that I didn't care that my screen was jacked up!  I heard that you jumped Ji's car too.  You're like my older OLDER bro in Christ. (hehe)

Janet- Hi hi, still getting to know you, but thought your wedding was so nice and personal.  Thank you for sharing it with all of us.  It was fun talking to you in line at SFO and getting to know you better.  Hope to see you at events!

Mark-What can I say?  I didn't think I could finish a 1/2 let alone finish in under 2 hours when we first started training.  And we ran our goal time!  Thanks for all our runs and for being a considerate bro in Christ to us all.

Lise - Hi!  Hope you can come out more often to small groups!  So weird how you know MSJ people. hehe.. Cool how you can speak French.

Monique - I remember first meeting you at the soup kitchen!  That was a long time ago!, glad we're in the same small group.

Kevin- Mafia King!  You are the mind behind UR.  Thank you for bringing me out and challenging me to think about serving on core.  I admire your dedication and commitment to UR, its been a lot of fun.  And its not the end!

Theresa- I remember getting to know you in the begining when I first came, thank you for always being so welcoming and open.  Too bad we're in different groups, but I'll see you when we have get togethers!

D.P. - Ex- bio teacher, future MD.  Good luck with that!  Thx for being so nice and cool.  BLOKUS!!

Michiko- Surprise!  Fellow AACF'er!  We meet again.  Although you weren't at many small group meetings....=(  I'm glad you're in Real Lives! 

John - Think you're a great facilitator, rafting was fun wasn't it?  Too bad you lost your glasses tho. =(  Good luck with Sol's multiplication!  See you around church and events.

Sue- You also were so welcoming to me when I was first checking out the group.  Thank you for sharing during prayer and now letting Real Lives use your appt for meetings. Yeah! 

Hsin - Hey dude!  Cool how you know my cousin Vanessa too!  I'll be sure to ask you for realtor advice in the future.  =)  And questions on how my cousin is doing. haha.. You and Kristy are cute.  Nice Lotus.

Jackie- Fellow Sol'er!  Yeah You're in Real Lives!  It was funny how during our GTKY groups we thought it was just going to be us and we were just GTK each other.  I'm looking forward to hanging out more when we start out new group.

Alex- Funny guy.  Glad that God has called you to serve on core with Real Lives.  Look forward to starting the group with you and the others.

Julia - Hey Googlian. =0  It was fun coming to your small group and just having little girl talks with you and Amy, thx for being so nice, even tho we just drop in every so often.  Congrats on your engagment again!  You have a nice bling bling there! ehhehe..

Dean - I remember going out to lunch with you and other Rooted peeps way back, thx for being so friendly.  Congrats on your engagment, nice job on the proposal!

Norman - You were at Saddlerack that one time Sol had an event, and at the time I only knew you as Mark's friend.  And now we're serving on core together, how things change!  You're funny.

Tami - Horse girl! =)  No wonder you can ride that bull at Saddlerack!  Nice to see your cherrie face.

Kit - Chef for Rooted!  Thx!  Was so surprised to see pics of you and my cousin when I was in HK.  Small world!!

Ken - One of the many nice guys of SOL.  Sorry that traffic sucked that day for rafting. 

Rob - Thanks for the informative e-mail that was so friendly and inviting!  It lead me to UR.  Congratulations on your wedding and Harvard!

Sherry - Fellow MSJ alummni!  Tho didn't know you that well then, you go girl--marathon after marathon, how do you do it!  Thanks for always being so full of energy and encouraging regarding core.  run run run! 

Renee - Future ER doctor!  Hope you can come out more often when you're not so busy.  Yosemite was fun. 

Salina- Ex-jr high v-ball teammate!  Its been years!  Good to see you again and catch up, you're all grown up and a drug maker now....nice. = ) Thx for leading worship.

Esther- I like your voice and everytime you're on stage for worship I say to myself, "I know her!" hehe..  It was fun when we were in the same discussion groups, hope to see you at events. KenYA!

Dave - You and Sherry, Sol's running ministry and marathon leaders!  Good luck on future races!  Thx for coordinating Bay to Breakers, that was a good event!

Lily/Ruth - You sisters are so cute, you're whole family is cool, funny, and have vocal chords! 

Yisu - Also met you at the soup kitchen long time ago, then you went to school and now your back.  =)

Gordan - Hey Brit!  It was cool coordinating the rafting trip with you.  Next summer let's plan a trip on a Class 3 river trip.  With bigger rapids and bigger water fights!! yeah!

Hui - Hey fellow Upper Roomer, and now you're apart of Real Lives! Looking forward to building our group.

Thanh- Fremonter! ehhe...Glad to have gotten to know you.  Hope to see you around at church and events!

Brandon - You are a growing number of peeps from Dublin.  Glad you and your friends were able to come out for the rafting trip.

Theresa - Other Texan.  It was nice getting to know you!  Hope to see you around church. 

Nate -  Hey Texan.  Thx for being so cool and friendly! Won't forget your Leprachuan (sp?) outfit.

Andrew- Hey you dont fight nice n the river.  haha... 

Karen - Other MSJ alummni, but I dont think I ever saw you there. =P  Thx you also for being encouraging regarding core.  And rafting with your was really fun!  Small world, how were neighbors!

Matthew W.  - Thx for being one of the first to welcome me at Sol, and for leading worship.  Your GTKY groups was a great idea!

Chris - Yahoo man, thx for the shirt!  And opening your place for small group, when's the next games nite?

Simon - CONGRATULATIONS!  for accepting Christ nearly a week ago!  With KW being your discipler.  We need to celebrate!  Thank you so much for opening your house for our celebration.

Sam - Thanks for being so welcoming when I first checked out SOL, cool how you know Nessa.  Water balloons, will remember for next summer.  Great idea for Sol's guys gifts!

Matthew Y. - Always so friendly and happy. haha...  Thx!  Ohlone days seemed so long ago, huh?

Jon- Thanks for leading worship at times and leading studies!  And for being one of the first people to mention Grx to me.  keep running!

Eugene - Pay Pal guy! You got voice.  Karioke is fun with you and your duets.  The name 4th Soil is growing on me.  haha...  (sorry Ji)

Albert- Buffalo man, swing dancer. Next time if we ever play Blokus, game on! No mercy! haha.. 

Cari -Hey girl!  Who also has a Fremont connection.  I didn't know you that well until we started being on core together.  I'm excited to be on this Real Lives journey with you and to be apart of it.  Thank you too for bringing me out and helping me to consider joining core.

Brett - The other white guy in Sol.  Hope you had fun in Peru.  Weird how your sister- in-law works with my friend.  Good luck with the school year. 

Chris L- Congrats on your engagment!  Thanks for leading worship!  And for the picture cds...that you're working on...right?  =)

Jenni- Fellow small group hopper, err...searcher. hehe..It wasn't until rafting that I really got to know you.  I LUV your tom tom GPS, gotta get me one of those!  haha..  You are such a go getter, passionate, smart gal!  You'll be in Taiwan soon, but I hope you'll keep in touch with us all!  And come back soon.

Alright that turned out to be more than just a "few" shout-outs.  Tried not to leave anyone out.  =/

Ji Young:  It was nice of your friends to come out and support you.

70:  Yes very nice!  (thanks G and A! and big Al)