Tsai Family of the Parklands

In July, our family was treated to a delightful visit from Felipe & Petra Chou and their 4 children. As part of their whirlwind cross-country US history and Church history tour, they honored us by staying at our home for a few days. As such, they shared with us the celebration of the birthday of their daughter, Jesse. We shared with them the call letter for Jonathan. On Saturday, July 4, our families went to the National Zoo together in the morning. Since it was their anniversary, we took their kids to NIST to watch the Gaithersburg fireworks, while they went to the National Mall to watch the fireworks. On Monday evening before they left, we shared a memorable Family Home Evening together. Thanks, Chou family, for leaving us great memories of your visit. Come again! Tsai family.

Having travailed through an extra week of lab tests and physician affidavits, his mission papers were submitted one week later than his sister's. Nevertheless, the official white envelope did arrive in our mailbox yesterday. After work, Jonathan took a somber walk to our mailbox. When he started to scream, we knew it came. Nevertheless, out of respect and consideration for her sisters and mom, he exercised patience in waiting until today to open the envelope. After the caravan returned from Girls Camp, Jonathan pulled out the envelope. Again, the cameras converged upon the prospective missionary. He opened the envelope and read, "Elder Tsai, you are hereby called to labor in the Australia Melbourne West Mission for a period of 24 months. You are to enter the Missionary Training Center on September 30, 2009." Again our hearts are swelled with gratitude for these mission calls for Jessica and Jonathan, for the opportunity they have to serve, and for the preparation ...

When we came home from work today, we were pleasantly surprised by the receipt of a distinct white envelope from Salt Lake City. Although we were exhausted from the day, we could not wait to hear the news. We gathered in our living room, freshly filled with new sunlight from an additional bay window. Two cameras converged on the family, especially upon the reader of the letter. She opens it carefully and reads slowly but distinctly. Jessica reads, "Sister Tsai, you are hereby called to labor in the Colorado Denver South Mission for a period of 18 months. You are to enter the Missionary Training Center on September 2, 2009." We all cheered in excitement. Deep down in our hearts, we are so grateful that Jessica can have this opportunity to serve full-time as a missionary when the Lord wants her to serve.

How great and bountiful are the concerts our family has participated in or attended in the last two weeks! Let us count the ways (concerts). May 2 - ASCYO (Academy of St. Cecilia Youth Orchestra) performance at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD. What a beautiful traditional theater. Joshua and Melinda participated in this ASCYO concert and in the next 2 ASCYO concerts. May 3 - Melinda's ballet recital was held at the Cedarbrook Community Church in Clarksburg, MD. This is a picture of her with her teacher. May 7 - Poolesville Middle School. At the last moment, Melinda was asked by her flute teacher, Mr. Fogleman, to substitute as the flute player for the 2nd annual Spring Concert in the Poolesville Youth Symphony Orchestra. Jessica, navigated by Jonathan, drove Melinda to the school at 4pm to start rehearsal. Luckily, food was provided. May 8 - ASCYO performance at the Olney Theater Center in Olney, MD. This was a more modern theater. Joshua was first clarine...

My cousin Larry came to visit with his wife and daughter from New York on April 25. Larry's parents, my aunt & uncle, came with them as part of their visit to the United States. They were attending Larry's graduation. Here is a group photo.

Last night, after long moments of anticipation, Mom and Jessica welcomed Jonathan back from BYU. Megan was too tired and did not make it to the airport, but she was up early the next day, excited and pumped up. After a handsome haircut, Jonathan came with Jessica, Megan, and Mommy to join Dad and Joshua and Melinda for lunch in the NIST Cafeteria. Besides being lots of fun, it marked a historic first time for all members of the Tsai clan to be at NIST at the same time. Well, the house is now full again, but we can handle the load and the happiness. Just like the good old times! Welcome back, Jonathan!

On Tuesday, the long awaited day came for our family. On Tuesday at midnight, we sent an entourrage of three highly qualified personnel to pick up and carefully chauffeur the extremely jet-lagged BYU Study Abroad student from the BWI Airport back home. Technically it was Wednesday morning when Mom, Joshua, and Melinda welcomed Jessica home at the airport. The rest of us were slumbering in a deep sleep. Jessica probably did not have much time when she arrived home to enjoy and appreciate the creative welcome home banner made by Megan. Each of us wrote on the banner which now hangs from our second floor stair railing in the front foyer. Being the thoughtful daughter and sister that she is, Jessica spoiled us with gifts from The Land of the Long White Cloud, most noticeably delectable of which is the highly nutritious drink called Milo. She also showered us with things Aotearoa, such as kiwis (the bird, not the fruit) and, of course, tee shirts. We are grateful that Jessica is bac...

Yesterday morning after Melinda's flute lesson, our family picked up Grandma to go to the Rio. We gathered at the designated dining destination. Joshua chose Guapo's, a Mexican restaurant. We enjoyed our delectable meals of chimichangas, huevos rancheros, steak, chicken, and nachos. As an added surprise, the restaurant staff came out with glass of ice cream and a maraschino cherry on top. They gave Joshua a sombrero and sang Happy Birthday and clapped. Then they took a nice photo of him in a sombrero and the lighted candle on top of the ice cream and gave a printed copy for him. Last night, Megan gave Joshua a puppet show that featured rhyming words with the "oo" sound. Here is the poem she made up: Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Joshua! Happy birthday to you! Say oo! "oo!" Switcharoo, kangaroo, peek a boo, lulluroo, Kalamazoo, aaaawwwwwwooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Hhhhhhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!...

This is Jessica reporting from Auckland, New Zealand. It is currently 73 degrees Fahrenheit on March 17, 2009- Happy St. Patrick's Day! Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be such a big deal around here, at least not at the school I'm teaching at (Ranui Primary School). But Amy and I (Amy is my roommate, also from BYU) dressed in green for fun because Americans just like to dress up for fun. Anyway, looking back on this semester, I feel like I've accomplished and learned so much about life and teaching. The first month here we squeezed all of our BYU courses and we were taught by New Zealand professors, as well as our director who came with us from BYU (Dr. Jacobs, we call him Papa J). So from these courses, we got more of an idea of how to teach in the primary schools (that's what they call elementary schools here). After taking the BYU courses, we took a 2 week holiday to the South Island (Queenstown and Christchurch) and then to Rotorua. For a more detailed a...

It finally happened. The event Megan and her family have been waiting for over a year and have been preparing for the last month. Megan was baptized and confirmed today after church by her dad. In attendance were many of her friends in the Chinese Branch plus school friends and other special friends. About 50 people attended the baptism. Megan invited people to give talks, play the piano, conduct the music, and conduct the program. Afterwards, we enjoyed a dinner of curry and noodles. It is a sense of accomplishment and joy to know that all of your children have been baptized.

Josh has been taking much time... on his clarinet! This weekend was the All-County Senior Honors Band concert where Josh performed, and he says it was amazing, but regrets that it was not a recorded concert. The pieces were extraordinary, difficult, and expressive, but the band nailed it all. In addition to the extensive rehearsing for the concert, Josh is has frequent rehearsals for pit orchestra for 'Annie', Academy of St. Cecila Youth Orchestra, and studies repertoire in private lessons with Mr. Fogleman to prepare for this year's county (and hopefully state) solo and ensemble festival. Melinda also participates in many of these, and in school they both play in the Symphonic Band, practicing for the upcoming concert.

This week we had two snow days. It was aggravating when dad went to work and there was no school. But outside there was ice. It wasn't nice because people get sick, people have to take care of the sick people and not leave their sight, those people get sick too, those people get angry and the previous people who were already get angry too. And sicknesses only get worse. Tomorrow is already scheduled a two hour delay. That's okay, but how could it have been worse. question mark ommitted.

It's finally the end of the first semester for Josh, Melinda, and Megan! Now with exams all over and schedule changes, it's time to be ready for the fresh new year. Unless of course you've already done that. Then just go with it.

WE had an early start to our Winter Break because there was a water main break. All schools in Montgomery County got out two and a half hours late. I was sad, though, because we (Josh and I) didn't get to perform our marching band tour at Megan's elementary school. We were all very excited to go to Uncle Joe's in Swansea near St Louis on Christmas Eve. We woke up at 6 am, and left at 7 am. We drove all the way to Joe's house with two or three breaks for brunch, and linner. When we finally got to his house around 8pm, we all enjoyed a meal of Neoguri and Shin noodles. Uncle Tim's family arrived not long after, and we all met Cousin Ashley for the first time (except for Jessica and Uncle Joe)! On Christmas day, we all woke up and ate cereal together. We played the Wii and watched many movies. At around 4 or 5, Tsui Fang came and we all had a nice Boston Market dinner prepared by Aunt Joyce and Mom. After dinner, we gathered around the Christmas tree, set up by Joshua...

Last weekend, Josh and I went to the ASCYO (Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra) concerts to perform. We performed at Asbury Methodist Village, Damascus High School, and Clarksburg High School. Here is an excerpt from The Nutcracker that we played: The Dance of the Mirlitons. We had a lot of fun doing these concerts, and we can't wait to do them next semester.