Home Sweet California: Wedding and Family

I had a good trip back home (So. Cal.) a few weeks ago. I got to see my grandparents and other relatives and went to a beautiful wedding to watch two very beautiful people get married in a very beautiful place. Did I mention that everything was beautiful!? :) I also got the chance to catch up with some long time friends.

WE ARE FAM-I-LY!!! (left to right- Cousin Renee, Aunty Mary, Grandma, ME, and Grandpa!) Don't they look great!?

The wedding was in Rancho Capistrano. The funny story is that I actually played soccer at the exact location of the wedding. I mean they had soccer fields there. It was like revisiting my youth soccer days!!

Here comes the bride...all dressed in white!

They're married: David & Alice Hsiung!

Aren't these lil' ones cute?

The wedding party!

The reception area. Friend Danny Yao and fiance pose. :)

Wedding table photo

My life the past two weeks

 The events that have taken place in my life the past two weeks have been for lack of a better word unexpected.
At about the beginning of August, I was sent a jury summons in the mail. I reported two Monday's ago (school started that Wednesday) and what I thought was only going to take one day took two days...and then it happened...I was selected to serve on a jury for the case. I was pretty much blind-sided by this. I missed the most important days of school and have yet to report for my first day. This was my first time serving on a jury and I can't even begin to explain all that I went through with this trial. It has definitely taken a toll on my psychological  and emotional state, and again, it's something that would be hard to understand unless you go through it.

But I thought I would share it because I know that I have been out of touch with a lot of people, and I thought that this would be a good place to give an update.

Hope all is well and look forward to catching up. There's more to share, but that's all I can say right now.

Gang member to spend rest of life in prison for murder

Greg Schreier
August 31, 2007

A 19-year-old gang member will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a young mother at Island Grove Regional Park nearly a year ago.

A Weld District Court jury on Friday convicted Carlos Valenzuela on charges of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, second-degree murder, a murder conspiracy charge, menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm. He was sentenced immediately after, receiving life in prison without parole plus a consecutive 60-year sentence.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christian Schulte asked Judge Gilbert Gutierrez for consecutive sentences to deter future shootings.

"I do think it sends a message to the community that this gang violence has to stop," Schulte said. "The blood has to stop running, your honor."

Neither Valenzuela nor his attorneys chose to speak on his behalf before sentencing.

Prosecutors had argued that Valenzuela, whose street name is "Daze," fired into a crowd of people that included rival gang members at Island Grove on Sept. 2, 2006. Sylvia Santillan was killed by a single bullet to the head. She had been visiting members of her family, some of whom were gang members, in the park when she was shot, according to police accounts.

Two of Santillan's sisters, Rebecca and Claudia, read a statement in court for the judge to consider in determining the sentence.

"She lived for her kids. ... Her kids will never see their mom again," Rebecca said. "(Valenzuela's family) can still see him, talk to him." The 18-year-old Santillan was the mother of two children.

Gutierrez had little to say to Valenzuela, who appeared emotionless even as he was escorted from the courtroom.

"You know that this death was avoidable, 100 percent avoidable," Gutierrez told Valenzuela. "It seems you got what you wanted, at least from what I've seen in this trial."

Thoughts on Death

who would ever think that you could get into a deep conversation at an indoor soccer arena?

yesterday i had an interesting convo with a guy about death. we were talking about certain people in our lives that have passed away, and it was starting to get a little sad, and then he said, "you know the funny thing about death, is that no matter what you believe in, death is inevitable."  now, i don't know if he is a believer or not (i've only played soccer with him a few times), but the thing that got me thinking was this: when i'm on my death bed, what will matter most at that moment?  will it matter how much money i made or the successes and accolades i received in my life? will it matter what kind of car i drove, how many people i helped out? where does it all go to in the end? As a Christian, I know for certain that these things i cannot bring with me to heaven. it's not even going to matter.  I look forward to the day I unite with the Lord.  

But what about a non-believer? That's what really got me thinking. What will they be wondering about on their death bed? Will they finally be wondering if they have lived their life in vain? Will they be thinking about where their possessions will go to? I wonder if they start thinking about what will happen after their death? Will they start to think, "that's it!? you're born, you live, and then you die?"

For me, when I'm on my death bed, near the end of my life, whenever that is, I think/hope that I will be wondering if every person i encountered knew about Jesus and the free gift of salvation. I don't want to get stuck thinking, how have I impacted their lives for Christ, or what did I do? but just merely that through the love that the Lord has lavished upon me, I was able to lavish upon them, and through that Christ was known to them. Most people ask, How do you want to be remembered? or what is your legacy? (my coach in college asked that a lot), but right now, I'm thinkin', I just want God to be remembered. If you remember me, remember the Lord. Amen.

And so I will close with this:

C.S. Lewis had this to say about Heaven in his book: The Last Battle:
All their life in this world...had only been the cover and title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteosness that comes from God and is by faith." ~Philippians 3:7-9

and my favorite verse, the very verse I try so hard to live by daily:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's Grace." ~Acts 20:24

Tony's 30th Birthday

This past weekend we had a bunch of our friends come to Colorado to celebrate Tony's 30th Birthday (July 6th)
We had an awesome dinner birthday party and then went white water rafting. We couldn't have asked for a better time together. Here are some pictures to recap the weekend!

Tony got a PSP from Janet, Neil, Mikey, Carmen, Paul, Karen, and Ricky. In addition to that I bought him a new set of golf clubs and shoes.

One of guides! He was crazy and funny! It was great. Becca's in the background. She coordinated everything. Thanks, Becca!

Of course, Becca in the background again!

I have yet to post pictures from our two week trip to China! It will come soon!

More Conundrum Hot Springs Trip Photos

For all you "outdoorsy" people out there that haven't visited Colorado yet. Here's just a sneak peak on what you can experience!!

We met up Friday late afternoon for a pre-trip photo before making the 3 hour-so long drive to Aspen.

that night, we got to the trailhead pretty late, so we camped out at the parking lot. Here's Becca and me.

Saturday morning, we got up, had simple breakfast and got ready to start our 16 mile out and back backpacking trip through Maroon Bells Wilderness and White River National Forest!

Throughout the hike, there was never a dull site as you can see from the picture below.

Yes, I'm pretending to pick my nose.

Tony, maxin' n' relaxin'

We were lucky enough that this trail allowed dogs, so Sasha was able to enjoy this and boy did she ever! All dogs need to experience the outdoors!

Because the trail went right alongside Conundrum creek, we had to cross a lot of water. This was the biggest and scariest crossing for everyone.

Here's a picture of Conundrum Creek. It's no little creek, it's like gushing since the snow is beginning to melt!

Peter, Ray, and Andy trying to break a big tree branch so that we have wood for the fire.

Because there were areas with still a lot of snow, a few of us wore gators to prevent us from getting wet. Here's Becca modeling them for us.

Is this Andy or Moses?

Here we are at the hot springs. There was a bigger one above us just a bit, but there were a bunch of naked men in there drinking beers, (I'm serious!) so we opted out of that and went for the bottom two. It was still very nice! The Hot Springs are said to be a temp. of 98-102 degrees F. The view was also incredible! We were completely surrounded by 13ers and 14ers!

Sasha was so tired after the trip that she could barely stand up in the car. You know that she had a great time!

All in all, this trip was a reminder for me of how amazingly loving God is. He knows that this world and our lives here are temporary, yet He created all these things for us to take pleasure in and soak in how majestic He is.