I am imposing some rules regarding the Wii and they are not for my son… they’re for me. The last few weeks I’ve been staying up far past my bedtime to play the Wii. What ever happened to the sense of self-discipline instilled in me by my parents? Too much of a good thing has turned my brain to mush. I feel a brain cavity coming on. There have been several posts forgotten, housework neglected, maybe even husband neglected. (No, don’t worry. The children have not been neglected.)

And so, I’ve turned off the Wii… for now.

I was just reminiscing this morning about the eight hour all-nighter I pulled to read The Deathly Hallows last year, after it’s release. I literally read from 12:45 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Matt has always been so good to go out at midnight and purchase the books for me. When HBP came out I was eight months pregnant with baby #2. When DH came out, I was almost eight months pregnant with baby #3. It has been immensely enjoyable to read (ok, devour) the Harry Potter series and I look forward to sharing them with my children some day. But first, the films!!!

Tonight I witnessed “evil” to a whole new level. Matt and I were watching some program about China titled, “Getting Rich.” During a discussion about the crackdown on the counterfeit culture, the commentator mentioned infants dying because they were fed “counterfeited” formula. There was no nutrition in the powders and they died. Their poor mothers thought they were feeding their babies milk. It made me want to VOMIT. I considered for a second to ban products “Made in China,” which is ironic since I am Chinese. However, it’d be impossible to do since everything is made in China. Even the stuff made in Mexico, those “Made in Mexico” stickers are made in China.

• Incessant worrying
• Really great cooking
• Lots of smiles
• Sometimes frowns
• Respectful/deferential
• Courteous and dutiful
• Hopefully wise.

Matt can attest to this… and my type A personality. I should’ve been a lawyer…

His story is life altering, giving us perspective on what’s actually important in this life. At times it’s quite difficult to get through, knowing that this is a man who will die within a few months, still attempting to leave a legacy for his children, to find a way to teach them, to be with them and love them, when he’s no longer with them. He’s defied death so far, but according to his blog, his cancer has metastasized.

He is a complete stranger, and yet I feel such compassion, sorrow, joy, hope and love for him and his family. What a courageous example to us all. Tomorrow I am going to paint one of his mottoes on my wall: Don’t complain; just work harder.

Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day. As I thought about our founding forefathers, I knew, without a doubt, the greatness of these men and their strong moral compass. It is incredibly apparent to me when I read the preamble to the Declaration of Indepence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

It is my hope and prayer that we will strive as a nation to be worthy of the work and sacrifice these great men endured, to provide our freedoms and give us rights as a people and a nation. Let us not forget their greatness, nor their goodness.

I’m a little tired, but I have to say it’s nice to feel like I have a moment to myself, no requests from friends, family members, kids or husband. Just Mii and the Wii.

1. Go to New Zealand (my dream!!) for our 11th wedding anniversary.
2. See the Sistine Chapel in Italy, 4 times.
3. Walk along the Great Wall of China, 2 times.
4. Take the kids to Hawaii, 3 times.
5. Take the family on an Alaskan cruise, 4 times.
6. Pay for more than half the cost of a new minivan, to haul the kids around town in luxury.
7. Take the kids to Disney World for a week or two, 3 times.
8. Buy a couple of extra large flat panel LCD TVs.
9. Install travertine floors, new vanities and redo the kitchen cabinetry.
10. Pay for 3/4 of the cost of finishing our basement.
11. Set aside partial college tuition for my children.
12. Buy the diamond ring I promised my mother, when I was 5.

Three months ago I wrote the following:

“As I read this list, I see that I’ve sacrificed my dreams (New Zealand,) and the worst is knowing that there is still debt to pay. It makes me want to vomit. We are paying dearly for the foolish mistakes and impulse buys we made over the last ten years. Yes, hindsight is 20/20 and the shoulda-coulda-woulda monster is not helpful in moving forward. But I mention this experience in the hopes that if my children read this someday, I want to teach them that there is absolutely nothing, NOTHING, worth purchasing on credit. You want some airline mileage, or some rewards incentives? Save your money and buy it with cash. Nothing is free in this world. Even if you’re disciplined enough to actually pay off your credit card (I only know 3 people who are disciplined enough to do it; my mom, my sister, and my friend Michelle,) think of the time you’ve spent budgeting to make sure it all comes out even. My sister and I determined long ago that our time is worth too much to sacrifice.”

As I read this, I sense the anger, frustration and despair in my tone. However, after following Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover plan, we are no longer slaves to credit card bondage. It has taken great courage at times, to stand resolutely in a crowd of neighbors who say, “Looks like it’s time for you to get a minivan; you should get one like ours…blah blah blah.” and I unashamedly respond, “yes, when it’s within my budget.” (Although on the inside I think, that’s really none of your damn business, you jackass who put your van on a home equity loan.) And it has taken a tremendous amount of discipline. Discipline to say no when friends urge me to go out, to not buy when I really want to, to pay off debt instead of spending it on something. But ten months ago we set a goal and we accomplished it. I’m proud of our commitment, discipline, and strength of character.

Now on to the next monkey… that horrible clutter…