Tsai Family of the Parklands

The trip began with a two-hour flight to Miami, a metro rail ride to downtown Miami, and a ride on the trolley to the port of Miami. The trolley brought us right to the ship across the street. We checked in and found Room 7310, a small room with a full size bed and 2 bunk beds. With the help of the steward, we were able to set up the bunk beds. With a quick tour around the boat, we discovered lots of small eateries and shops around the ship. All of the food was paid for, except for alcohol and seafood. We ate informally at any time at the eateries, but every meeting we went to the dining room for a formal dinner. We found out that the 1000 plus employees on the ship were mostly on contracts and came from many different countries. Besides eating, they offered various classes, such as the Flattening Stomach class. On the ship, there was a gym, a casino, and many shops. We also were able to enjoy a couple of outdoor movies. Many times on the trip, we had the opportunity to e...

We flew out with Megan to Utah in July.  On the day we arrived, Jessica took us to see Aladdin.  The very next day, we drove down to St. George to see the show at the Tuacahn outdoor amphitheater.  We stayed at an Airbnb with Jessica's friends.  One morning, Josh and I and Mom went for a little hike in the Snow Canyon State Park.  On the way back to Provo, we took a tour of the St. George Temple.  We said goodbye to Megan, but she was able to stay with Jessica for a few weeks.

We took Megan and her two friends and their families to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant this year.  We drove up on a Saturday, visited the Whitmer Farm and the Grandin Bookstore and the Smith family home and the Sacred Grove, and saw the Pageant after dusk.  The next day, we came home, stopping by the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration site.

Megan attended her last year of Girls Camp and served as a YCL (Youth Camp Leader).

On a sunny June day, we decided to drive up to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to visit the Amish farms with a couple of Megan's high school friends, Coco and Kevin. There, we browsed a country store, jam tasting shop, and rode on a horse and buggy tour of Amish country. Our guide was very nice.

Megan's last harp recital took place on Sunday, June 16, at the Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Frederick, Maryland.  She poses with 3 fellow harpists and their teacher, Astrid, with whom Megan has studied for the last 5 years.

Our last Seminary graduation took place on June 9 at the Washington DC Stake Center. For her last year of Seminary,Megan decided to attend both Early Morning Seminary with the Kentlands Ward and Home Study Seminary in the Montgomery Branch. In this photo, Megan with her fellow graduates proudly display their Seminary graduation certificates. Congratulations, Megan, on 4 years of Seminary.

It was a big deal with Megan graduating from high school. She is the last in a long line of excelling high school graduates in our family. So, we took occasion to make the event into a family reunion. We were so thrilled to reunite with all of our children and their families. Jonathan flew in on Thursday evening, May 30. Joshua, Jessica, Henry, and Blake flew in on Friday afternoon, May 31. The actual graduation ceremony was held on Friday afternoon at 2:30pm at Constitution Hall in Washington DC. We witnessed the 2019 class of Quince Orchard High School walk in their commencement ceremony. After the graduation, we had a great big reunion and enjoyed hotpot together. Then we drove out to Damascus to eat at Jimmie Cone. On Saturday, at about 10:30 AM, I gave Megan a written fathers blessing and presented her the laminated blessing with her name etymology in English and Chinese. It was cool to have my sons, Jonathan, Joshua, Henry, and Javi, helping me in giving her a blessi...

On Memorial Day, we visited 4 memorials with Javi and Melinda and Sofia.  We walked around to the World Ward II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.

Megan received several awards at the Quince Orchard High School Senior Awards Night.

Megan received awards at the Thomas Edison High School of Technology Awards Ceremony.

On April 27, the Washington DC Temple Choir had an unusual opportunity to sing an Easter concert with Clay Christiansen at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.  The Basilica was a cavernous chapel with many satellite chapels.  Echos resonate through the chapel.  Clay Christiansen, former organist for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, was invited to play the Basilica's famous pipe organ.  He invited our choir to sing with him on two songs.  Can you see me behind Clay in the group photo?  Everything was incredible!

During Spring Break, we drove up to Jonathan's place in Connecticut just for fun.  During our whirlwind tour of New England, we managed to squeeze in a quick superficial tour of Cliff Walks in Rhode Island, Boston, and Cape Cod.  The clam chowder was delicious.  The beach at Cape Cod, or the part we saw, was windy.  And finally, Cliff Walks was the windiest.  It was dark by the time we arrived, by we snapped a photo with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

As part of Li-Fang's art class requirements, she attended a special tour of the National Gallery.  She observed artworks by Giotto, di Buoninsegna, Angelico, Lippi, Carnevale, del Castagno, da Vinci, Giorgine, da Carpi, Bassano, Titian, Strigel, van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Heda.  Here Li-Fang is standing by The Alba Madonna by Raphael.

Dear family and friends, 2018 has been a most exciting year.  Below we share our thoughts about this past year and our wishes for the new year. I am grateful for my expanding family. They have truly taught me a lot, especially my two grandchildren, Blake and Sara Sofia. Children are a great blessing! I am thankful to my beloved wife, for helping me cope with my father's death and for accompanying me to Taiwan to resolve my father's business. I am grateful for the blessings of health, freedom, love, and peace. I am grateful for all the learning opportunities in school and in real life. I am grateful for the gospel to lead and guide me. When I am home, I have all the support from my family members; I didn’t know that was the greatest strength to push me through difficulties easily. I thought it was all me who can do that all by myself. As I am here alone at night in Taiwan, I started to re-evaluate my strength. I don’t know what is ahead...