“The memories we make with our family is everything.” ~ Candace Cameron Bure
“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” ~ Og Mandino
Though I hold many fond memories of our family, I wish to share three that are especially dear to my heart: our family devotion times, our shared vacations, and our gatherings with extended family. These moments have woven the fabric of our family’s identity, grounding us in faith and love.
Family Devotion Time: Anchored in Faith
The cross, a central symbol of Christianity, features a vertical bar representing our relationship with God and a horizontal bar symbolizing our connections with others. Our daily family devotions before dinner epitomized this balance. We sang hymns, read passages from devotional books, and prayed together, often extending our discussions into mealtimes. These moments reinforced our acknowledgement of God as the head of our family and our love for one another.
Dad and I believed in setting an example by loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). We utilized both formal and spontaneous moments to teach you God’s laws (Deuteronomy 6:1, 7-9). Even during times when you might stray from our faith, we trust that God’s Words instilled in your hearts would guide you back, as God leads us with cords of kindness and love (Hosea 11:4).
We have used various devotional materials, including the treasured twenty-four volumes of Daily Bread for Boys and Girls by the Child Evangelism Fellowship. These books, once given by us to your cousins, were returned to us after they had outgrown the material. These devotional books became a staple in our devotions when you were in lower elementary school. I hope one day you will share them with your children. Additionally, we kept notebooks where each of us recorded our appreciation for one another and God. May these serve as enduring reminders of our family’s faith and love.
Family Outings and Vacations: Creating Lasting Bonds
Our weekends were often filled with commitments, but vacations provided precious opportunities to connect and explore together. Having lived in several states allowed us to visit numerous attractions, creating a tapestry of shared experiences.
Shortly after we arrived in Michigan, we explored Holland City, Frankenmuth, and Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. You were fascinated by the ornamental Christmas decorations at Frankenmuth and awed by the towering Sand Dunes. Unfortunately, because of illness, we had to cut that trip short. Our proximity to Canada led to frequent visits to Windsor for authentic Cantonese cuisine and Chinese groceries.
San Diego offered numerous opportunities for local adventures. With annual passes, we frequented SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the San Diego Zoo. We enjoyed the shimmering beaches of Coronado Island and marveled at the cultural richness of Balboa Park. La Jolla Cove with its Children’s Pool was our family’s all-time favorite. We enjoyed its vibrant marine life. You children never got tired of watching seals and sea lions, diving into shallow water to see the bustling underwater marine life and gathering seashells and broken pieces of colorful corals. Our excursions extended to Mexico, including walks across the border to Tijuana and stays in Baja’s small towns.
Trips to Los Angeles allowed us not only to visit relatives of the Chow’s and the Kwok’s families, but also attractions like Disneyland, Catalina Island, Hollywood Studio, and Ripley’s Believe it Or Not. You were always thrilled by the magic that Disney Land offers and especially fascinated by the festive and spectacular fireworks. As for Dad and me, we always loved to stroll around Catalina Island without being harassed by traffic while you were enthralled by the glass-bottom boat rides.
Our time in O’ahu was filled with natural beauty and cultural experiences. We visited many gorgeous beaches and waterfalls during our three-year stay in O’ahu. During CC’s college breaks, we explored neighboring islands such as Maui, Kauai, and the island of Hawaii. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a wonderful place to visit and learn about the various Polynesian cultures. We never missed the Lu’au and the “HA: Breath if Life” show. We enjoyed local delicacies like shaved ice, mochi, malasada, haupia cream pie, poke, and Kalua pork. These exotic experiences bound us together to create beautiful memories. Even right now, because of your deep appreciation for Hawaii, it leads you to return to Hawaii often with your own families and friends. I appreciate Melanie’s invitation to me to revisit O’ahu with her during her sophomore college year. I treasured this mother-daughter time during which we reminisced about the one bittersweet year we spent in this tropical paradise alone after Dad and the two brothers left for the mainland.
Other memorable trips include a joint vacation to Bryce National Park and Las Vegas with another church family, and a tour of Washington, D.C., and Ivy League schools on the East Coast. We toured the White House, the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian National Museum, etc. Your eldest Uncle and Auntie, who lived in Maryland at that time, were so kind to give us a tour of some of the Ivy League schools. At that time, little did we know that our children would, in just a few short years, attend these universities. This was an eye-opening trip and foreshadowed your future academic pursuits.
In 1996, Dad’s participation in the CCCOWE Conference and my data collection for a research project took us to Hong Kong, your first visit to our homeland. We thought it would be important for you to know your roots and experience Chinese culture first-hand. We explored the city, connected with relatives, and ventured to Guilin, China, known for its stunning karst landscapes. We had tours of the limestone caves and cruises on the lakes. Though budget constraints limited our travels, I hope you will one day explore more of China’s rich history and culture with your own families.
Family Gatherings: Strengthening Extended Bonds
Visits with the Chow and Kwok families were treasured, though infrequent due to distance. From Michigan, we flew to California twice for reunions, including trips to Disneyland and San Jose. Our years in San Diego allowed for more regular visits with Dad’s parents and siblings, as well as my uncle’s family.
We made several trips to Canada because my side of the family was residing in Toronto and Calgary. We celebrated my parents’ Golden Wedding Anniversary and my father’s 80th birthday in Calgary. The Kwok grandchildren formed an ad hoc band for the occasion of my parents’ Golden Wedding Anniversary. Post-celebration, we toured the breathtaking Banff, Lake Louise, and the Icefields in the Canadian Rockies.
These gatherings were vital for you to connect with extended family members. Though time was limited, I hope these interactions laid the foundation for lasting relationships. I pray that these cherished memories become your favorites, binding us together as a family forever.