All in a Day's Work

The Lego-looking boxes on this ship are containers. A huge portion of my job is spent in the world of containers. I track what’s in the boxes, where are they coming from, who shipped them, and where they are going (if we can figure that). I analyze why we are up, or why we are down. And it’s a lot of fun. All in a day’s work.

Sunny Day Working on the Waterfront

Love our manmade rocky beach

Slippery

The Working Waterfront: T91 and T86

Random Pictures from My Day

I love lilacs. I am waiting for them to bloom. They have such a great smell.

This bicycle basket caught my eye.

I love the purple and blue.

Birthday Twiplets

I share the same birthday with these ladies. I love them. I met them at the port. We all used to do the same job. Anh and Clara were born in the same Chinese New Year and have driven the same car once or twice. They give me a lot of advice.

We finally asked for help. LOL

Take 1

Take 2

Public Speaking 101 - The Proof

“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” Jerry Seinfeld

Exhibit 1.A

Exhibit 1.B

Public Speaking 101

     “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” Jerry Seinfeld

This quote from Jerry Seinfeld has always made me laugh.

I have done all I can do to avoid public speaking. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the day, my days of avoiding it are behind me.

At my job I'm being allowed (or forced, again depending on the day) to give a monthly report to my division on our monthly volumes.

Since my number was called up, I decided that taking a public speaking course was a good idea. I took a six-week course, which culminated in the class attendees giving a presentation to people who were invited to attend our last class.

It went okay, and I didn't die. I plan on adding a picture of myself up there to post as evidence I did it. LOL

Random Pictures

Here are some random pictures I've taken of things I have noticed. Taking a photography class is high on my bucket list, but finding the timing for a quarter class has proven difficult.

I love these trees that peel. So poetic!

The Busy Life of Ants.

This was actually taken last year. I love clock towers. It's one of these things that I didn't notice until I started traveling and looking back at the things that caught my eyes on my trips. There are always clock towers.

This was from last spring too, and I can't wait for them to bloom this year. Lilacs are one of my favorite fragrances.

Birthday

My birthday was last month. Another year has come and gone. I turned 39 so next year is the big 4-0! 40 is the new 30 right? Why is it that college kids look like they should be elementary school? I used to be the youngest kid on campus, (my job) but I am certainly not the youngest anymore.

I can remember when I was a child, and I couldn't wait to be an adult. When I was 12, 14, 16, etc. it seemed so long away. Each year seemed to drag by as I longed for the time when I was on my own. Recently, I dreamt that I was attending a lecture by Albert Einstein. During the lecture, he told the audience that humans act without caution and thought during their youth and during their old age. In the middle of life, we are too aware of our responsibilities. And maybe this dream happened  because I keep thinking that being an adult is so overrated.

College years were good. I was poor, and  I couldn't wait to get a real job so I could have some money and not struggle.

Now that I am in the workforce, time just moves too fast. And don't get me started on the kids who were born yesterday who are now 16 or 23. How is that possible? And why does it seem like I am working just to afford my mini empire. I make money, but I don't have time to enjoy the money I make. Always going, going, going.

Could I quit my job, sale everything, and wander this world? Probably not. I'm too practical for that. Each  year, it sounds nicer and nicer.

Another 25 years of working. Get. Out. Of. Here!

Calgon take me away!

Vacation

I got a jump on my vacation plans this year! My dear friend Yamini visited from India. It had been three years since I last saw her.

I will be going back to India in the fall! I also hope to go back to Hong Kong and also visit Taipei for the first time. So very exciting.

My coworker just got back from three weeks in Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Talk of travel just makes my feet restless.

Plus, my old intern is now working in Hong Kong for his company. It would be great to see him as well!

Again, if only time and money were not an issue. There would be no stopping me!

Me, Des, and Yamini

Me, Shoeb, and Yamini

More Scroll

Here is more. Due to scheduling, I was not able to meet with the other editors so wrote the Word of Quarter on my own.

The theme for this quarter’s PCC Scroll is Hope in Action.

The Vine’s Dictionary defines hope as, “favorable and confident expectation.” According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, hope is, “trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises.” The opposite of hope is discouragement, hopelessness, and dismay. An online dictionary defines action as, “the act or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.” The opposite of action is inaction.

In the NIV, Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In the NIV, Job 13:15 says, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.” Romans 8:24 says, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” For more scriptures on hope, read Romans 5:2-5, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:4, and Romans 15:13.

Hope is one of the three virtues along with faith and love. One of the symbols used to symbolize hope is an anchor. It is easy to imagine having our hope anchored in the Lord. When we hope, we place our trust in the promises of God despite what we see or don’t see. We rely on the power of the Holy Ghost, not our own strength, intelligence, or sight.

Our hope is what keeps us from discouragement, hopelessness, and dismay. When times get rough, our hope that God will take care of our needs sustains us. And, more importantly, God will keep His promises to us.

Two great examples of men who held on to their hope in God are Abraham and Job. Abraham looked for God to fulfill His promise of a son even though the circumstances did not look promising. Job hoped in God even though his life was falling apart around him. Job’s testimony of, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him,” is a powerful example to believers.

In Psalm 130:7, the writer encourages Israel to hope in the Lord. Our hope is in the promises given to us by God. From the verse in Jeremiah, we know that God promises that His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. His plan is to give us hope.

God’s Word is filled with promises to the believers. Take these promises to heart and have hope. If God promised it, it will come to pass. But our hope takes action on our part. We have to prepare for the promises of God that we are expecting.

What are you hoping for? We invite you to practice Hope in Action by naturally preparing for spiritual promises God has made you.

Volume XXII Issue II

Here is the latest's editors corner from my church newsletter. This issue was Issue 46! A year away from 50!

I was recently given a compliment that made me pause and think. The compliment was, “LaTonja, there is something about you that portrays such joy.”

The comment stuck with me throughout the day, and I began thinking about the source of my joy. It also caused me to reflect on the past. There was a time when I know that I was very unhappy. Although I had periods of happiness, I did not have real joy.

There are many scriptures that talk about joy in the Bible. Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” In the NIV, Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” John 15:11 says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Even with help from the scripture, I struggle to adequately put in writing the source of my joy. Simply put, it’s God, but it runs deeper than I can find the words to express.

God has given us the fruit of the spirit, which gives us love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

God has also given us the assurance that all things will work for our good. Life will sometimes bring low times and rough patches, but we still have the faith and hope that things will work themselves out. I will call this hope in action.

I know for myself that there is always a life lesson to be learned in the storm. And, when the storm is over, I will emerge tougher and stronger. I might not be “happy” during those times, but the joy and peace of God is still there. And, when that test, trial, or struggle is over, I can move on to the next fight stronger and more confident. If God saw me through this storm, He will see me through the next. And perhaps that is the point. God’s joy has nothing to do with a feeling of happiness, but it has everything to do with having an internal joy and peace that only our hope in God can provide.

Unfortunately, not everyone has this in their lives. There are people hurting all over the world that need to be introduced to the hope and joy that comes from a relationship with God. In a world that wants to take, we can offer a God who wants to give. In a world of hate, we can offer a God who loves. In a world of chaos, we can offer a God of peace.

Perhaps this old song sums it best:

“This Joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
This Joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
This Joy that I have the world didn’t give to me
The world didn't give it the world can’t take it away”