Like what is there to celebrate, right? Considering the economy is in recession and so many people have lost their jobs and homes. Well, I say there’s a lot to celebrate—take the low gas prices for one.   Okay seriously now—not that the low gas prices hasn’t been a reason to celebrate—it’s just that I’d rather be optimistic than sit here and get distressed about all the negativity, because that’ll do nothing but compel me to jump off a bridge (hypothetically speaking). Therefore, it’s best to prohibit myself from reading/watching the copious news/reports and instead put my faith and trust in God that He’ll pull us through. Certainly, even I’ve been impacted by all of this (like you wouldn’t believe). However, when times were tough, I reminded myself of all the wonderful things that I have in life to give me strength (e.g., a job, a roof over my head, an immediate family that’s all here, the best in-laws a girl can ask for, three handsome, healthy, and happy boys, and a marriage that’s still intact to name a few).  So yes, there is a reason to celebrate. Anyway, instead of going into a tedious and lame update, here are some random pictures that we took over the month of December as promised. Enjoy! At the Women on Boards event, I felt so minute in a room filled with Executive Directors, C-level Officers, VPs, CEOs, etc.—all women too.
 All evening I was addressed as “Julia Chang” because they messed up on my name. 
 Making sure to grab pens from every vendor is an idiosyncrasy when attending these events (or any event for that matter). =D
![1203082251[1]](http://x9a.xanga.com/3b4f144217333223718074/m175717546.jpg) Noah climbing the stairs at nine months.
 Jay taught Noah how to stand by saying, “Hands Up! Hands Up! Yay!!”
 HOPE, the Christmas show at Living Word was spectacular.
 The Christmas décor in the garden of Living Word was beautiful.
 My baby niece, Rosalee, is the cutest little baby model ever, but don’t be fooled, she’s a bully. More will be posted at http://www.flickr.com/julieyang76.
 Kenji coming out of his new 4/5/K Kinder Church class at Living Word after graduating from the 3½-years-old Little Church class.
 Barely had teeth but learned how to brush already. LOL.
 Customer in Training - Every person that strolled by Kenji and Raj was like AWWWW...
![1216082252[1]small](http://xcd.xanga.com/22ef2b1510c34226709539/m178354778.jpg) As part of the Operation Outreach team, Jay and I are volunteers with the Angel Food Ministry, which is a food program dedicated to providing monthly food assistance to 500,000 families in 35 states across America. You get great quality food for a good deal, even I bought a box. Contact me for more info.
 The annual Target Holidazzle in DT Minneapolis—a parade filled with enchanting fairytales and lights—was stunning.
 Unfortunately, we left early because it was too C-O-L-D. On the ground, non-perishables that we brought for the food train.
 With three little ones running around, keeping a spruce tree was next to impossible especially with Noah walking now.
 Raj likes green beans. Yay!
![1222082045[1]re](http://x97.xanga.com/386f132766330228095201/m179577415.jpg) Christmas eve candle light service at Living Word.
 Christmas this year was AWESOME. We hosted our first family Christmas dinner at my parents’ house, my dear mother cried again, we sang happy birthday to Jesus, stuffed ourselves with delicious cuisine, made a massive mess from opening gifts, watched Kookie go on a treasure hunt to find her present from Steven, and then came home and spent 2 hours taking presents out, putting them together, and cleaning up. Ahh… it’s great to have such a wonderful (and huge) family.
 
![1225082123[1]small](http://xe8.xanga.com/103f53f071034226795887/m178432052.jpg)
Steven’s gift to my parents—an all inclusive all paid cruise—and the boy isn’t even married to my sister yet! More than half of the family is going except for those of us that are too poor and can’t get away from work/school. *weep-weep*
 On my desk, sits a frame displaying my three handsome boys. Kenji came out of Kinder Church wearing that golden wreath on his head, so I kept it and put it on the frame. =) Every time I look at this frame, I smile.
![1216081412[1]small](http://x5e.xanga.com/069f111a64533226709502/m178354742.jpg) Before I tumbled, LOL.
 Jay and I took a nice drive through the Holiday Lights in the Park at Phalen Lake. The array of holiday lights and animated displays were delightful to see.
 
The boys came home one evening to find that Santa dropped off 20 MORE presents, so they got a SECOND Christmas. =D Truth be told, the second round of gifts were from the in-laws and from us (because the presents I ordered online arrived late!).
 Toys… toys… and more TOYS (plus clothes, books, movies, etc). Another two hours of taking them out, putting them together, and cleaning up. What can I say? For at the end of the day, they are still kids, therefore, whatever makes them HAPPY is a-okay with me.
 Kenji and Raj say grace at every meal. It is just the cutest thing!
 Our family and friends were calling us from left to right; everybody was at some venue getting inebriated and having a great time except for Jay and me, we decided to stay home and ring in the new year with our boys. *kiss-kiss*
 That’s all for now folks. Today’s the first day of the new year and I’ll be spending my entire day completing a 12-hr online course. Blah! Other than that, I’m excited about a lot of things that are in the works this year. *BIG grin* Anyway, I have to go wake up the family now. So, until the next blog, have a happy, healthy, and blessed New Year.  | 
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I'd give you a review but I have to go now so maybe another time (or not). Guess what today is? Oh, I'll just blog about it another time. Have blessed day. 
