Tsai Family of the Parklands

Happy Holidays from the Tsai family, 2014!  Dear family and friends, Another wonderful year has just passed. In February, our daughter's family pleasantly surprised Li-Fang by flying into town on her birthday. In March, Melinda departed to begin her full-time missionary service in Australia, while Joshua arrived home from Australia in June. During the summer we took a quick trip to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. In August, we enjoyed a really fun trip out West, featuring special tours of San Diego and Las Vegas. We were able to visit some really good friends from our past in Taiwan and Missouri and enjoy a fun reunion with our Chinese Branch friends. But most of the time, we relaxed with our families in California and Utah. We actually managed to hold a couple of Family Tree gatherings. Once we recorded the answers from Grandpa and Grandma in response to questions posed to them about their past. Another time, we learned how Li-Fang's brother traveled to China

One of the greatest joys in life is being with family.  This Christmas, all of our children came back, except for Sister Tsai.  But we were able to Skype with her on Christmas Day for an hour.  During these three weeks, life was busy but fun.  Our little grandson, Blake, filled our lives with energy and laughter and smiles all the way.  Right after Christmas, we performed baptisms in the temple as a family. That was a special experience.  We also went through Amish land and the Hershey Sweet Lights.  We invited some missionaries to our home for dinner: Elder and Sister Fillmore who knew Jessica from Colorado, and Sister Crosbie who knew Joshua from Sydney.  Most important, we were able to find a lot of quality family time.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year, we witnessed the turning on of lights at the Washington DC Temple Festival of Lights.  We attended the lighting ceremony, wherein we heard a seventy speak.  The Mormon Choir of Greater Washington sang, along with Alexi Walker.  Alexi took a photo with us and signed a letter for Sister Tsai in Australia.  Outside the Visitor Center, we were surprised and honored to have our family photo taken by our own Brother Johnson.  What a great way to start the season.

Thanksgiving was a blast again in the Tsai home.  We hosted six missionaries, Brothers Cheng, Nian, and Cunningham, the Huang's, the Jeng's, and the Ye's.  We enjoyed the turkey meal with all the fixings and dessert.

Taking advantage of a surprise visit from the Cannon's from Utah, we arranged a dinner for the Cannon's, our previous bishop in Schenectady, and the Fillerup's who also lived in Schenectady.  My mother was the most surprised to see them in our home.  It was a fun reunion.

For Megan's science project, she had to take apart a mechanical device, in this case a hair dryer donated by a friend.  The parts of the hair dryer were physically attached to a large poster, showing the functions of each part the process of hair drying.  Thanks to friends and family who assisted in small ways.

We had a really fun trip out West this year.  We accomplished missions, experienced surprises, and enjoyed the hot but arid weather of the West. It all started by a very early personal limousine ride (thanks, Da) to the bus stop, followed by an hour bus ride a 5-hour plane ride. In Los Angeles, we rented a minivan at the rental place, where these two patient siblings keep an eye on each other. It took over an hour in the afternoon LA rush hour traffic to reach the resort home in Corona.  We were fortunate to have the Huang family join us for a couple of days.  Here the two youngest folks enjoy the iPad activities in one of the three very comfortable living rooms. The very next day, we journeyed to the church Mormon Battalion Historic Site and ... rode on the wagon and ... posed with the soldiers and ... of course, panned for gold and ... were inducted as honorary members of the battalion.  You have got to see this visitor center.  It is cool. The majestic uniq