Photo by Na- Tsang Cheng
Here we are, about a month and a half away from the delivery of another child, which means it's nearly been been 9 months since our last blog entry. Time stops for no one! During those months Dominic led his team to a championship in the Qatar Basketball League, Jincy found out she is going to have a little brother named Jett, we started our family skincare business with Rodan + Fields, traveled back home to America, spoke at a couple of youth basketball camps and churches, took a group of expat models and actors to NYC for the most prestigious talent showcase in the world, and most recently went on a family trip to Virginia Tech for the 10 year coaching reunion of my Dominic's beloved college coach, Buzz Williams. Oh, and last but not least my dad, brother, and husband have been building a retaining wall at my parent's house that would make President 45 wail with envy.
Maybe all of the above sounds exciting or just tiresome to you. For us it has been both! We are constantly amazed at the life that God is leading us through. But we aren't just thrilled during the highlight moments such as hoisting championship trophies and walking red carpets. We are growing more and more thankful for the simple days and nights spent with family around the dinner table, bouncing up and down on the trampoline with Jincy, taking care of our humble abode, dripping sweat on my childhood basketball court during our daily workouts together, eating snacks in bed while trying to find another documentary or Dateline to watch, and most importantly, learning that we are still learning.
There was once a time when I thought being in your 30's meant you were all grown up and had life figured out. Ha! Lesson by lesson we are figuring out that we are still as wet behind the ears as new born babies. Sometime this realization makes us laugh, while at other times makes us cry, but usually it just leaves us shaking our heads because there is beauty in it all. Whether we are schooled through our triumphs or defeats, we find it remarkable that we get to do all of it together.
There was once a time when I thought being in your 30's meant you were all grown up and had life figured out. Ha! Lesson by lesson we are figuring out that we are still as wet behind the ears as new born babies. Sometime this realization makes us laugh, while at other times makes us cry, but usually it just leaves us shaking our heads because there is beauty in it all. Whether we are schooled through our triumphs or defeats, we find it remarkable that we get to do all of it together.
I'm convinced that some aspects of life would be easier without a spouse or children. For example, when we ventured to NYC this summer as a family for my models and actors to compete at IMTA, I couldn't believe how much different it was to tackle this city as a mother. I had spent a great amount of time in the Big Apple during my modeling days and it became one of my favorite cities but it didn't take me long before I realized that carrying a 2 year old through Times Square, making sure a 10 year old got to hit all the tourist spots, trying to keep a husband fed without breaking the bank, and being 6 months pregnant made for a completely different experience in the city that never sleeps. Let's just say I left there saying "All I want is sleep." Sound pretty rough?
Go back and read the first sentence of this paragraph. I said some aspects of life would be easier without a spouse and children, I did NOT, however, say it would be better. There is no way in h-e double hockey sticks you could convince me that my life would be better without my precious family!!! This trip to NY was so much more meaningful than trips in my past life. It wasn't easy but it was the best. I did little to no shopping for myself, went wherever they wanted to go, ate whatever they wanted to eat, and made the entire trip about my models and actors...and my family. It was my first trip in NY that wasn't about ME and that, my friends, was the glorious lesson learned there. Pouring yourself into others isn't always easy, but it IS always worth it. Maybe the NY trip was for the purpose of me learning that valuable lesson. It could be that "the wall" project has been my husband's vehicle for learning this same thing. He has helped my dad shovel over 60 tons of rocks, dug dirt for days, and placed hundreds of 85 pound blocks on top of each other over the past 2 months. He has lost enough sweat to fill a large swimming pool and this isn't even for our house, it's for my parents. He has impressed me in many situations but seeing him work so hard with and for my dad might just take the cake. The life lessons never stop and we are learning to love that!
Go back and read the first sentence of this paragraph. I said some aspects of life would be easier without a spouse and children, I did NOT, however, say it would be better. There is no way in h-e double hockey sticks you could convince me that my life would be better without my precious family!!! This trip to NY was so much more meaningful than trips in my past life. It wasn't easy but it was the best. I did little to no shopping for myself, went wherever they wanted to go, ate whatever they wanted to eat, and made the entire trip about my models and actors...and my family. It was my first trip in NY that wasn't about ME and that, my friends, was the glorious lesson learned there. Pouring yourself into others isn't always easy, but it IS always worth it. Maybe the NY trip was for the purpose of me learning that valuable lesson. It could be that "the wall" project has been my husband's vehicle for learning this same thing. He has helped my dad shovel over 60 tons of rocks, dug dirt for days, and placed hundreds of 85 pound blocks on top of each other over the past 2 months. He has lost enough sweat to fill a large swimming pool and this isn't even for our house, it's for my parents. He has impressed me in many situations but seeing him work so hard with and for my dad might just take the cake. The life lessons never stop and we are learning to love that!
Have you ever noticed that when you think you know where your life is headed it suddenly takes a slight right or maybe even whips around a sharp curve? Usually this is a bit scary. We tend to get in our comfort zones and want to park there but it's true that the most growth takes place when we are outside our comfort zone. We are hesitant now when people ask "How many more years will you play overseas?" or "How many more kids will you all have?" Day by day we see that we can plan and prepare all we want but when you let God take the lead you will be taken in some unforeseen directions. Insisting on our own plans and being so sure of our future plans has constantly proven to us to be the wrong way. Through trial and error, we now see that we when follow Jesus we will never be disappointed where He takes us. We may be scared to take these leaps of faith, and the road may not always be smooth or predicable. I can testify to this because as of right now we don't even know which country our son will be born in but we find peace in knowing that God knows, and He has never steered us wrong. We love the excitement of following Jesus, and doing so as a married couple is life's greatest adventure and as good as it gets. So far He has taken us to over 10 countries and given us the most remarkable experiences we could imagine. Boring ol' Christians right?
Photo by Nai Tsang Cheng
If I could go back and tell our 18 year old selves one thing, I would say, "Angela and Dominic, don't be so wise in your own eyes. Humble yourselves. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight."
I know we don't have it all figured out yet and (never will), and that many more lessons are on the way. I do hope these teachings are gentle ones but if not, we will make it through because we belong to The Maker of it all!
Your prayers for us are always appreciated! As we continue to pray for you all.
Angela
Photos above by Shanya Stephens in Doha, Qatar
Doha, Qatar
Real life on the Red Carpet with a 2 year old! NYC
Our models and actors, Talent Society of Doha, walking the runway in front of over 1000 people at IMTA NY 17'
On top of the Empire State Building, NY
We partnered with the doctors at Rodan + Fields to have our own family ran skin care business and we appreciate all of our lovely customer and team members so much! Ask me how to get involved!
My results from one of our favorite products in our skin care line, Lash Boost
Little Ponderosa Rescue Zoo, TN
What an honor to be a part of Coach Buzz William's 10 year coaching reunion!
"The Wall" Every Block placed by my husband, brother, and father.
Special thanks to Nai-Tsang Cheng for capturing the first moments Dominic and I spent together, the moments of us sharing that we were having baby girl, Jincy Rose, and now this unique underwater shoot to celebrate bringing our son Jett into the world very soon. Lord willing.
