November 2025 part 2 (more Manny's birthday, Thanksgiving, sports)

When Manny returned, I sent him the video I compiled with some men and couples from church,  including our pastors, just to encourage him. I can't post the video here, but if we couldn't do a party, it would still be nice to show him honor and love on his birthday. 

Thanksgiving was low-key, but nice. I invited a neighbor, but she had plans with her son's family already. It's now a holiday when Naomi comes home from school. She still makes her sweet potato casserole or candied yams. We got a frozen cajun turkey from Popeye's again. It's expensive, but the family seems to "gobble" it up. Our church also had a Thanksgiving celebration. I made some pumpkin cheesecake brownies. It was just something sort of easy and autumn-y. 

Finishing up Manny's birthday celebration, we went out for pizza and then to the mall to try our hand at some VR games. The parking lots were full, but they opened up a back wall for parking right when we got there, so we were blessed to make our appointment in time. Unfortunately, I somehow booked the wrong day. The representative said that happens because the calendar they use is nonstandard, and she really hooked us up despite being completely booked. It helped that one group was late/no-show. We ended up saving quite a bit, and we had fun. We also stopped by See's Candies right before. There was actually a shooting at the mall not long after we left, so I'm glad we missed that. But Naomi's friend who was working there was locked down. That was pretty scary. It sounded like it was a targeted attack. We had a cake I made with a marbling effect and gold flakes. Unfortunately the tweezers broke so then I had to apply the goal with chopsticks which wasn't easy. It was supposed to sort of be like kinstugi, which is the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. I feel like there's something biblical and applicable to us in it, especially with the rough times we had last year but healing from that.

Isaac practiced tennis at a wall at the park a lot in November, even when it was pouring heavily. He gets really into things when he builds that momentum. I have a photo, but he asked me not to take it so I won't post it. Also in November, I coached basketball for Lucas's recreational sports class. We have smaller groups of kids during the winter, so sometimes the parents had to step in, but the numbers kept working out, as did the court. It's first-come first-served at the park, and we managed to get at least a half court each week. As for Naomi, she took weightlifting her junior year in college!

I also went out with a young friend from church I hadn't seen in a while. I'm now getting on in my years, and while I still struggle with wisdom, I do sometimes have advice for the younger women. Time sure does fly!

Happy birthday to Manny

Golden birthday

With our headgear on, ready for party games

Angry Birds

Floor Is Lava

We had team challenges and head-to-head competitions.

Everyone did pretty well. I can't remember who scored the highest.

Pizza at a restaurant I used to frequent with coworkers. It's old now, but glad to see it still around.

Marbling was black and white fondant rolled and stretched together, and the gold flakes were edible gold. The gold came with some edible purple dust for some reason, so I sprinkled that on, too. Cake was chocolate and it was actually two layers, but sort of small.

The cats get turkey pate every Thanksgiving

Dinner is served--the usual, with some roasted rainbow carrots and butternut squash soup.

Yes, it is still light out. We usually eat at 3 pm.

Crudites/relish platter and charcuterie board. Naomi made me this board in middle school with a purple wood she got because it's my favorite color. The school no longer has a (wood) shop class now, sadly.

Thanksgiving dinner at church

Brought some pumpkin cheesecake brownies. I overswirled them, I think.

Having lunch with A.

It was a spicy noodle place that was pretty cramped and disorganized (I sat next to a stack of boxes and old stuff), mostly only spoke Mandarin, good food. Reminded me of my parents' old place.

When friends give you lemons, make lemon cookies.

Full moon. It probably had a special moon name like Strawberry Shortcake Moon, but I forget.

Jump ball. Another mom took this photo. That's Lucas with the red shoes and me next to him.

October 2025 (NAMI Walk, Coaching, Cactus Show, Dinners, Food Pantry, Small Group)

I'm finally updating again! It has been really hectic as I have had almost daily appointments for Isaac and a lot of appointments for Lucas as well. Nothing serious, just ongoing treatment appointments that I might talk more about later. 

Last October saw a disruption and upcoming freeze for SNAP benefits in several states during a government shutdown. My parents who are on the benefits saved up food for emergencies, so they were okay. Usually on Saturdays I take Lucas to his game meetup, but the family sometimes has other events like gymnastics meets to attend on Saturdays. On one such Saturday, I went to help out at my former church's food pantry. It's always nice to see them again. We anticipated great need due to the SNAP disruptions. My former church also hosts a Harvest Festival, so we also gave out leftover candy. 

On the particular day I went, a lady came to us who didn't speak much English but spoke Mandarin, so they had me talk to her. Apparently her child was taken into protective custody after she had taken him to the hospital (I don't know the story), and she was trying to find a church family who would foster the child so she could see her infant son again. It was pretty sad, and we couldn't legally help her. She also was here on a Visa, and it was increasingly likely at the time that she would be deported, and she didn't want to leave her child. I could understand her desperation, and I know we all wish we could help her. But we didn't know the story and we didn't know her or her background. Another person there who actually works for the county said she had stopped by a couple of times before, and her story had changed a few times. We don't know if the child had been abused or what reason they took the child. I just felt bad for her, but as much as we all want to say yes, we have to exercise wisdom. So we told her she would have to try to work with the county. I hope that whatever happened the child is okay.

I also did the annual NAMI Walk with my friend. My other friend was also there leading another group. We ended up missing each other this year but texted and said hello. I saw her anyway the same evening to celebrate her birthday (we didn't plan it that way). The walk is a fundraiser and a way to raise awareness and stamp out the stigma of mental illness. I feel it's something that is often avoided in the church, and sometimes people just chalk it up to bad influences or needing more faith. We can pray for healing and deliverance, but mental illness is real illness. People with clinical depression aren't just sad, and people with general anxiety disorder can't just will it away. 

I continued coaching sports for Lucas's middle and high school recreational sports class. We finished up volleyball and started softball. I was pretty scared to do softball, especially since I don't know how to pitch well (I have some slight trauma from being barked at over that in college). Thankfully one of the teens had a family friend who was between jobs and helped me coach as well as helped pitch. And one of the students also knew how to pitch. Every single week God worked it out. And the last day of softball was also the assistant's last day before he started a new job. It just worked out very well.  

I also went to a cactus show that was held at Isaac's school (he didn't want to go). My neighbor reminded me about it, though we couldn't attend at the same time. I couldn't take a photo of every cool succulent, but I was amazed by all the different types and presentations. There was a contest on the stage, so we couldn't touch or purchase those. I went home with a "pregnant onion" and an echeveria. Those are technically succulents and not cacti. 

Manny and I also went to a local restaurant that just opened for dinner. I don't know what I'd call the cuisine. Korean fusion, I guess. It was nice to be out together, and I don't think we had any special occasion, just wanted to eat some good food and go out more now that we can.

I also had small group at church on Saturday evenings, which got pretty small since different families went to different groups or took a break. Manny decided to try a different one, too. Despite a big 25th anniversary milestone that year, we had had a rough spring and summer, and I think we had to work out a lot together and individually. I guess I can't say more publicly, but sometimes I wish I could. I often feel that sharing struggles helps others. I know that it helps me when friends and I open up about what helped us through our trials. It was kind of nice that our small group shrank a bit for that reason. Even though I'm quite introverted, I do actually like people and feel a lot of empathy and pray for others. I'm just poor at expressing it. I also like to hear about people's lives. I think we all have our own stories and yet somehow we are part of one big story. I feel more motivated returning to blogging in a more personal way instead of just a record of stuff we did.

On a side note, Naomi went to a concert with her roommates as well as doing many duties as her program class president. I will be posting less and less of her as she's older now.

Prepping at the food pantry

This praying mantis just hung out at our door for a week

Out at dinner with Manny. I think this was a pork belly wrap.

Scallops are my favorite protein. The broth was okay, but scallops were good.

Lucas's class playing softball (that's not Lucas)

Isaac wanted practice tennis, and he did it out in the rain.

Brain cactus where else but in a head

A pretty cactus dragon boat

So many varieties at the cactus show

Out for O's birthday

Roses from Manny

Coaching volleyball

Setting practice in a circle

Me with A and her sister K. Her family was there as well, but I don't want to post them.

Japanese cotton cheesecake I made in the pressure cooker to bring to my church small group. It's only 6" but looks big in the photo.

Comfy Coachy

No Halloween this year, aside from Coach being a banana

June (End-of-Year Celebration at Pismo Beach, Father's Day, Naomi)

Lucas had an end-of-year event at Pismo Beach in June. It was the day after Isaac got out of school, so I took both of them for an overnight trip. We did ATV rides on the beach and then walked the boardwalk briefly before heading back to the hotel room and playing Uno. The next morning walked to get some Old West Cinnamon Rolls and went to the school event at Dinosaur Caves. It was fun. On the way home we stopped at Morro Bay. The coastal town has a rich history and a nice maritime museum. I never knew that a U.S. ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine near Morro Bay just days after Pearl Harbor! We were only there for maybe an hour and a half, but I It was more driving than I am used to, since Manny usually drives for the long trips now. I didn't sleep well, either, so I was quite tired and had to make a pit stop in Salinas at an In-n-Out. No one minded that, though. Going with just the boys was easier in some respects and more challenging in others.

About the ATVs, I went with a company my friend had used. They sent the instructional video ahead of time, and we watched it again there. You really have to get there at least an hour ahead of time. There is also some salt corrosion of the vehicles due to being next to the ocean. They test your vehicles, but test them again to make sure they work before you go too far. Also the maps aren't super useful for the kids, especially because there aren't lines or markers out there. So you have to sort of stay together which is challenging and perhaps use the bathrooms and lifeguard areas as your markers. People who bring their own vehicles go into areas that are off limits for the rental companies, so you can't just follow other ATVs, either. Once we got the hang of it and the general idea of safe spots, we were good to go. I had to get the ATVs out of sand traps a few times, so I got a real workout.

Naomi was home for the summer. She worked on a project for a national animal rescue organization my friend introduced her to and went to a rock concert and a craft fair among other things. She also did some prep work for her program. As mentioned, I will be posting her photos and activities less often but will give general updates. 

 

ATV rides, school celebration, Morro Bay

When Naomi's home, the menu changes--homemade guacamole! (Manny and the boys don't eat avocado)

Philippines trip debriefing at church

Coach sunbathing

Naomi made some crepes for us, also a perk of her being home

Getting our final instructions before starting

Splitting a banana split at the Cool Cat Cafe in Pismo Beach

Wall mosaic by the beach

View from the Boardwalk

The boys and I walked the boardwalk after dinner, but it got pretty chilly so we didn't stay all the way through sunset.

I don't remember what these experiments were about, but I think it had to do with marine sedimentation.

The boys and their experiments

Beautiful view from the event

Lucas painting shells. Isaac made some mini sandcastles.

It had been a while since they'd been at a playground.

Watching the water reach the cave below us

Picnic

Morro Rock is actually a volcanic plug

Free maritime museum

The boys trying different pulley systems

The museum had several replicas and real artifacts from the shipping and military days of Morro Bay

Barbecue hosted by our church for local Kids Club families

Brought home the bacon (cinnamon roll)

Father's Day. Manny and I went to pick an ice cream cake earlier. This was after church.

Taking a walk with Lucas to his appointment and this pretty brook was running. We had to park a little farther that day.

I think this was food for Father's Day, but I don't remember exactly. Some bulgogi, chicken strips, brussels sprouts, beef noodles, bread, and salad.

Kitten adoption pop-up at a craft fair Naomi went to