Re: WM Parents Feb Potluck Announcement (Update #6)

Dear WM Parents,

Thanks to the 15 families' potluck sign up, we are expecting about 40 people (WM YAGs, WM teens and families, and Fr. O) at the party, it will be a 溫馨熱鬧的 family gathering.  Special thanks to Xiuli and Maria Tsai for designing this month's potluck menu, and for signing up multiple items.

This Chinese New Year Watermark Potluck will be on 2/12 (Saturday) at lower church, 6 PM - 7:30 PM.   Although we are not going to have a workshop, please stay after the potluck, so the parents can have a chance to fellowship and enjoy the CNY snacks together while our kids Bible study at WM.

A couple of reminder notes:

• Please make sure the food are made or cut into serving size for the potluck; large food pieces are difficult for serving.
• Please bring serving utensils suitable for the dish you bring (chopsticks, fork, or spoon).
• Please bring some Chinese new year snacks such as 瓜子, 橘子, 糖果, 花生, 蓮子, etc. to share while we fellowship after dinner.
  

兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - Anita (Curry 雞 and 白飯)
兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - Maria Tsai (醉雞)
兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - Rebecca Lei (Duck)
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - Maria Chen (菜甫蛋)
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - Wendar Chen (豆腐)
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - ChiaoLi Wang (Broccoli)
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - Amy Bau (香腸 and 叉燒肉)
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - Feiwen Deng (鴛鴦拼盤 - 牛肉，半辣，半不辣)
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - Xiuli (豬 肉餡炀白菜 - 40 pieces)
水裡游: Fish, shrimp, or seafood (8人份) - Jenny Lin (去殼鹽水蝦)
水裡游: Fish, shrimp, or seafood (8人份) - Wenching Juan
麵飯類: Rice or noodle dish (18人份) - Rosa Tsai ( Fried Rice)
麵飯類: Rice or noodle dish (18人份) - Catherine Wong (臘腸香菇糯米飯)
餃子 (元寶) (about 40粒, please also provide dipping sauce) - Xiuli (三鮮水餃)
餃子 (元寶) (about 40粒, please also provide dipping sauce) - Junfen
糖年糕 (18人份) - Sandra Hung (紅豆年糕)
糖年糕 (18人份) - Maria Tsai (紅豆年糕)

Happy Year of Rabbit,
Wendar

WM Parents February Potluck Announcement

Dear WM Parents,

There will be a Chinese New Year Watermark Potluck on 2/12 (Saturday) at lower church, 6 PM - 7:30 PM.  There will NOT be a workshop on that day due to complications, so we will try to plan a different workshop in March. 

Xiuli and Maria Tsai are our potluck menu designers this month. Each family can select an item blow to prepare 一道有地方特色的主菜 depending on the region they came from, for example, Taiwan, Shanghai, Shandong, Guangzhou, etc.  But for those who don't really cook, like myself ;-) , some Chinese style 家常菜也很好.  Please make sure the food are cut into serving size by time of potluck; large food pieces are usually difficult for serving.  Thanks.

In addition, every family can bring a package of Chinese new year snacks such as 瓜子, 橘子, 糖果, 花生, 蓮子, etc. to share while we chat after dinner.

Please reply to me via email the category you choose, and the 菜名 if you have it but not required, by 2/8 (Tuesday), thank you.

兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - Anita (Curry 雞 and 白飯)
兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - Maria Tsai (醉雞)
兩隻腳: Chicken or duck (12人份) - 1 family
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - Maria Chen (菜甫蛋)
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - Wendar Chen (豆腐)
沒有腳: Vegetables, tofu or eggs (18人份) - 1 family
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - Amy Bau (香腸 and 叉燒肉)
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - 1 family
四隻腳: Pork, beef, or lamb (12人份) - 1 family
水裡游: Fish, shrimp, or seafood (8人份) - 1 family
水裡游: Fish, shrimp, or seafood (8人份) - 1 family
麵飯類: Rice or noodle dish (18人份) - 1 family
麵飯類: Rice or noodle dish (18人份) - 1 family
餃子 (元寶) (about 40粒, please provide dipping sauce) - Xiuli (八 寶三鮮水餃)
餃子 (元寶) (about 40粒, please provide dipping sauce) - 1 family
糖年糕 (18人份) - Maria Tsai
糖年糕 (18人份) - 1 family

Happy Chinese New Year!
Wendar

Photos From 1/15 WM Potluck and Workshop

Dear WM Parents and Guests,

Hope you enjoyed a fun potluck and an informative workshop tonight ... okay, last night.  Here are some photos from the events to share with you:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=320333&id=521775578&l=e0a9176fab
Hope to see you all again at our next WM event on 2/12.

99,
Wendar

Re: WM January Potluck and Workshop (Update #5)

Thank you all for the quick and generous responses!  The list is completely signed up.  If you and your child(ren) wish to join us and still have not yet sign up, I have added a few more items below for your choice.  It will be a great new year's potluck gathering (between Western New Year and Chinese New Year), I look forward to seeing all of you.

Cheers,
Wendar

------------------------------
Dear Watermark Parents,

Happy New Year!  Please join us at the next Watermark potluck (6 PM, lower church) and workshop (7:30 PM, Room #2) on January 15th (Saturday).  Thanks to 曉雯, Anita and 雅慧's coordination, they have designed our January potluck menu, looks very yummy.  Please sign up by replying to this email no later than 1/11 (Tuesday), Thank you.

炒米粉            36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

蘿蔔糕             36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

咖哩角             36人份 ---  Anita (Jasen Lei's mom)

魯肉飯(w/白飯) 36人份 ---  俊芬

紫米八寶甜粥   36人份 ---  曉雯

熱水+茶包        36人份 ---  曉雯

炒飯  12人份 --- Amy Bau

炒飯  12人份 --- Xiuli Chu     

滷蛋  24粒切半 --- Rebecca Lei

滷肉  12人份 --- 王巧利 (Chicken)
滷肉  12人份 --- Vincent Lau (Pork)

滷肉  12人份 --- Lisa Lee(Beef)

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 --- Wendar

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 --- Maria Tsai

炒青菜      18人份 --- Maria Chen (Anthony Lee's mom)
炒青菜      18人份 --- Rosa Tsai
水果         12人份 --- June Chen (Austin Chen's mom)
水果         12人份 --- Feiwen
年糕           30人份 --- ???

The subject for this month's workshop will be "Preparing Our Teens for College".  Some of the sharing topics on this subject are:

• Finance - When to set up bank account?  When to let them have debit card or credit card?  Debit card vs. credit card?
• What amount of allowance (零用錢) and expense is sufficient but not too much?
• 注意事項 with college application, dormitories, transportation, safety, etc.
  
• How to cope with difficult roommate and privacy issues in the dorm?
• What kind of change will our teenager face when they enter college?

I have invited several past WM parents to the panel to share their experience, they are:

• James Hua 華正朔 - 1 son and 1 daughter
  
• Simon and Cecilia Liao (廖煥中, 郭武湄) - 2 daughters and 1 son
  
• Kaimin Yang (楊開敏) - 1 son
  
• Rosemary Hua will also join us if she's available.

They will also be our guests to the potluck.  Tony Fu will be the workshop facilitator.  If you have any specific questions relating to this subject, feel free to let me know before1/13, thank you.  I look forward to seeing all of you then.

Peace and Joy,
Wendar

Re: Reminder - WM January Potluck and Workshop

Dear WM Parents,

All the items on the potluck menu list are completely signed up by 18 families, thank you so much for your generosity.  We are expecting 50+ people coming to the potluck (18+ families, 6 YAGs, 6 guests), it will be a fun and joyful gathering.  If you wish to join us but have yet to sign up, please pick any one of the  items with the stars (***) to bring (please let me know what you pick as well).

Please remember to bring serving utensils with the dishes you bring!  Also, only tea will be served with the meal, so please prepare your own drinks if you and/or your children wish to have something different.

The potluck will be 6PM at lower church, and the workshop "Preparing Our Teens for College" will be 7:30PM -10PM at room #2.  Look forward to seeing all of you then.

Blessings,
Wendar

------------------------------

*** 炒米粉            36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

蘿蔔糕             36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

咖哩角             36人份 ---  Anita (Jasen Lei's mom)

魯肉飯(w/白飯) 36人份 ---  俊芬

紫米八寶甜粥   36人份 ---  曉雯

熱水+茶包        36人份 ---  曉雯

*** 炒飯  12人份 --- Amy Bau

炒飯  12人份 --- Xiuli Chu     

滷蛋  24粒切半 --- Rebecca Lei
滷蛋  24粒切半 --- Hongfei Xu

*** 滷肉  12人份 --- 王巧利 (Chicken)
滷肉  12人份 --- Vincent Lau (Pork)

*** 滷肉  12人份 --- Lisa Lee(Beef)

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 --- Wendar

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 --- Maria Tsai

炒青菜      18人份 --- Maria Chen (Anthony Lee's mom)
炒青菜      18人份 --- Rosa Tsai
水果         12人份 --- June Chen (Austin Chen's mom)
水果         12人份 --- Feiwen
年糕           30人份 --- Annie 立玫Chen

Watermark January Potluck and Workshop

Dear Watermark Parents,

Happy New Year!  Please join us at the next Watermark potluck (6 PM, lower church) and workshop (7:30 PM, Room #2) on January 15th (Saturday).  Thanks to 曉雯, Anita and 雅慧's coordination, they have designed our January potluck menu, looks very yummy.  Please sign up by replying to this email no later than 1/11 (Tuesday), Thank you.

炒米粉            36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

蘿蔔糕             36人份 ---  雅慧(Vivian's mom)

咖哩角             36人份 ---  Anita (Jasen Lei's mom)

魯肉飯(w/白飯) 36人份 ---  俊芬

紫米八寶甜粥   36人份 ---  曉雯

熱水+茶包        36人份 ---  曉雯

炒飯  12人份 --- Amy Bau

炒飯  12人份 ---          

滷蛋  24粒切半 ---

滷肉(beef/pork/chicken)  12人份 ---          

滷肉(beef/pork/chicken)  12人份 ---          

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 --- Wendar

滷豆腐干  12塊切片 ---

炒青菜      18人份 ---
炒青菜      18人份 ---

The subject for this month's workshop will be "Preparing Our Teens for College".  Some of the sharing topics on this subject are:

• Finance - When to set up bank account?  When to let them have debit card or credit card?  Debit card vs. credit card?
• What amount of allowance (零用錢) and expense is sufficient but not too much?
• 注意事項 with college application, dormitories, transportation, safety, etc.
  
• How to cope with difficult roommate and privacy issues in the dorm?
• What kind of change will our teenager face when they enter college?

I have invited several past WM parents to the panel to share their experience, they are:

• James Hua 華正朔 - 1 son and 1 daughter
  
• Simon and Cecilia Liao (廖煥中, 郭武湄) - 2 daughters and 1 son
  
• Kaimin Yang (楊開敏) - 1 son
  
• Rosemary Hua will also join us if she's available.

They will also be our guests to the potluck.  Tony Fu will be the workshop facilitator.  If you have any specific questions relating to this subject, feel free to let me know before1/13, thank you.  I look forward to seeing all of you then.

Peace and Joy,
Wendar

Drinks for WM Potluck

Dear WM Parents,

Please don't forget to pack drinks for yourself and for your teens when coming to the potluck.  We've been trying to encourage everyone to prepare their own water/drinks, and hopefully we can produce less trash by using less paper cups and water bottles in the process.

Please also feel free to bring your own reusable plates/forks too, but we will continue to provide disposable ones in the mean time for everyone's convenience.

Thank you very much and God bless.

Wendar

Re: Watermark November Potluck Information (Update #1)

Updated List:

*** Rotisserie Chicken  3 whole chickens per family  each cost $4.99@Costco
Please cut and slice.

1. Rebecca Lei
2. ?
3. ?

*** Baked yam/potatoes (18 each)     2 Families
1. Baked potatoes - 18 ?
2. Baked yam/sweet potatoes - 18 ?

*** Bread (Dinner roll, biscuits, croissants; etc.) 36 pieces or more     1 family
1. Wendar Chen

*** Cooked Mixed Vegetables (carrots/broccolli; etc.) Tray size 12.5 x 9 x 2 or larger    1 Family             
1. Amy Li

*** Green salad      Tray size  12.5 x 9 x 2 or larger    2 Family
1. Catherine Wong
2. ?

*** Fruits               Tray size 12.5 x 9 x 2 or larger     1 Family
1. Xiuli Chu

There will be no parents workshop  this month, but please come join the rest of the WM parents in room 2 after potluck around 7:30 PM for a casual chat, fellowship and support.  We can also talk about what would be the subject most of you would like to have for our next workshop in January.

God Bless,
Rebecca Lei, Maria Chen (November potluck coordinators), and Wendar

October 23rd - Watermark Potluck -- Update

Dear Parents:

Thank you so much for your participation!  The first item (pasta noodles) has been signed up by three families.  Please respond ASAP so you can reserve the food that you like to prepare before too late. God bless you and your loved ones always.

Xiuli

=====================================================

Hi Watermark parents,

Time goes so fast. Our October potluck is only two weeks away! We need your generous support to make his event a success.  Like we have discussed in our last meeting, this potluck will be Italian themed.
The items that we need are follows. We estimate to serve around 36 people (including Watermark youth, Watermark young adults, Watermark parents, and guests). Please select the one that you would like to bring in and e-mail us on or before next Sunday the 17th.

1. Pasta Noodles (plain, any kind)    12 people servings        (3 Families)
2. Pasta red sauce                               12 people servings        (2 Families)

3. Pasta white sauce                           12 people servings         (1 Family)

4. Green salad                                     12 people servings          (2 Families)

5. Meatballs                                           9 people servings         ( 2 Families)

6. Italian Sausage                                9 people servings           (2 Families) 

7. Fruits                                               12 people servings          (2 Families)
The dinner is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM. Please come eat, chat and have a relaxed time together. All the family members are welcomed, including but not limited to grandma, grandpa and siblings.

Please let us  know if you have any suggestions, concerns or questions. Junfen's e-mail address is junfen_us@yahoo.com, Amy's e-mail address is mimihli@yahoo.com.

The Parent Group discussion (座談會) will start right after the potluck dinner at 7:30PM in room 2. The topic will be "How to understand and cope with the popular culture with our teenagers".  We will invite a couple experienced parents as well as young adults to be the speakers in the discussion panel, please come join us.

Junfen & Amy
October Potluck Coordinators

P.S. We will provide utensils, but please bring your own drinks. If you wish, you may bring your own utensils to help with 環保.

9/25/10 Discussion Summary for Watermark Parents Support Group

Dear All,

During the 9/25/10 meeting, we've discussed the initial format and schedule for Watermark (WM) Parent Support Group, here's the summary:

1. Overall Schedule and Format - Once a month beginning October, generally on the 3rd Saturday of each month, but may skip or meet on a different week depending on WM and school schedules.  There will be total 7 gatherings for this school year.
   • One parent suggested to meet once every other month, but the preference of majority of  the parents is once per month, at least initially.
   • The format will be a potluck for all the WMkers, supporting young adults, and parents (detail below), follow by a parent group panel discussion on fix topics that concern most high school parents (detail below).
   • Tentative dates: 10/23, 11/18, 1/15, 2/19, 3/19, 4/16, and 5/21.
2. Potluck
   • Purpose - to provide a loving and 溫馨 family gathering atmosphere, while giving material and spiritual support to the youth, and to the young adults who have been sacrificing every single Saturday evenings for the past years to guide and mentor our children.
   • Start time - 6PM ???  (will need to check with Patrick)
   • Coordinators
   • 10/23 - JunFen, Amy Li
   • 11/18 - Rebecca, Maria Chen
   • 1/15 - Anita, Shiao-Wen, Tony
   • 2/19 - Xiuli, 許振雲 (need her confirmation)
   • Will determine coordinators for remaining months in early 2011, but please feel free volunteer if you can help with any of the unassigned dates from March to May.
   • Format
   • Everybody prepare own drinks
   • Will provide utensils, but feel free to bring your own to help with 環保.
   • Coordinators will design the menu and invite parents to sign up for specific items.  Items can be homemade or store bought.  It is recommended that parents of attending students contribute to the potluck, except for guest students and parents, as well as for families with financial difficulties, thank you for being considerate.
   • It was expressed by the youth that they are growing sick of pizzas, so please try to avoid it.  Thank you.
3. Parent Group Discussion
   • Purpose - to provide a supportive and friendly environment to parents of high school students by holding discussion panels on topics that concern many WM parents, by listening and learning from each other, as well as from the valuable experience of past Watermark parents and young adults.  We'd like to select topics that are most relevant to the WM families.
   • Time: 7:30-10 PM, while WM Bible study is in session.
   • Coordinator - Wendar Fu
   • Topics and Facilitators
     • 10/23 - Joseph Ku. How to understand and cope with the pop culture (For example, influence of sex, violence, drugs on TV and media, computer/games usage, Prop. 8, Prop 19) that our teenagers experience and face?
     • 11/18 - facilitator TBD.  How to communicate smoothly and effectively to our teenagers?
     • The facilitator will work with the coordinator to collect and organize a list of questions of concern from all WM parents on the monthly topic, invite several panel speakers from experienced parents, young adults, and sometimes experts with attention on diversity of views.  The facilitator will facilitate the flow and timing of the discussion with the collected questions.
     • Will determine discussion topics for other months as we receive more input from WM parents, but please feel free to let us know if you have any suggestion of good topics.  A good way to start thinking is to ask yourself: "Why do you bring you teens to WM?", "Why does your teen want to come to WM?", "What challenges and difficulties my children face?" , "What challenges and difficulties I have with my teens?"  We need to hear from you in order to select topics that are most relevant to the WM families.  Thx.
4. Misc.
   • Xiuli Chu has been and will be helping us with parent group email delivery.
   • Amy Li will be in charge of collecting donations and preparing Christmas gifts for the WM young adults.  Many have already contributed during the discussion meeting, $20 or more is the recommended amount per family, you can either do so now, or wait till Amy contact you in early December.
   • Please feel free to contact Wendar at wendar @ blessed-family.org for question, support and constructive suggestion.
5. Attendees - Shiao-Wen Shan, Xiuli Chu (thank you for taking notes for us), Rebecca, Maria Chen, Amy Li, Randy Bau, JunFen Ju, Anita Liao, Joseph Ku, Tony Fu, and Wendar Chen.

Thank you all for a great discussion session and your participation, we've made great progress on many major issues.  I can feel the excitement shared by many parents, and I look forward to a great year of WM!

Love, Joy and Peace,
Wendar

Watermark Parent meeting - 9/25/10

Dear Parents,

Due to email delivery failure issue, I have to sent this message one more time.  If you have received this email earlier, go ahead ignor this one.  Both emails has the same information.  Thank you so much for your understanding and support.  Looking forward to seeing you tonight.

Hi, Parents,

Thank you very much for all the food and drink you brought in last Watermark night. We have a few more young adults and new high school kids join in the group. This also means we have some new parents in the group too.

Last Saturday night after dinner, a few parents plus couple of board members had a brief and productive discussion on the activities for the Watermark parents:

(1) The young adults and kids originally planned to have dinner time together once per month.  Since the young adults sacrifice every Saturday evening to lead our teenagers, and they have been expressing hopes to see parent providing more support and presence, so we thought it might be a good idea that we can have monthly potluck to include parents, teenagers, and young adults.  We just request something simple and hopefully that won't become a burden to our parents. The first date is tentatively set on October 30th.

(2) We have also discussed about having monthly topic discussion for parents after the potlcuk. We all agreed that it is very important to communicate wisely and effectively with our teenagers, so we may know and help them better through their high school years.  Some topics have been brought up, like  "How to help our kids balance their school works and extra curriculum activities", "How to equip our kids for the college life", just to name a few.  We believe a lot of experience and knowledge can be shared by the young adults, current college student parents or applicable professionals.  And there must be be some questions or concerns that we parents care about or wish to find some solutions or suggestions.

We really wish to hear your opinion, and also have an idea on how many parents wish to support the Watermark and the young adults once a month, so we can plan the potlucks and the discussions accordingly.  Please come to the Watermark Parent Support Group meeting TONIGHT (Septembe 25th) 7:30 PM at room #2 after you drop off your teenager at Watermark.  This is a short notice, so if you cannot make it and wish to provide your suggestion, please feel free to e-mail us; every opinion is valuable.  Thank you very much and hope to see you Saturday.

May God bless us,
JunFen   junfen_us @ yahoo.com
Amy  mimihli  yahoo.com

Watermark Room Parents

Quick update of the initial WM parent meeting

Dear Patrick and all the Core parents:

We all sincerely appreciate all the effort WM provided to our kids.  We also all strongly willing to support WM.  Initially, we have 11 basic core members signed up as listed below.  And we will meet once a month on the third Sat to have Parent-Child potluck at lower church.  In October, we will have the potluck on the 30th instead of the 16th due to a wedding that most people will go. 

11 core members:

     古偉業 Joseph - Default facilitator unless otherwise announced

     祝俊芬 Junfen - Coordinator

     甯秀麗 Xiuli - Email person

     廖桂嬌 Anita

     龐蔚文 Rebecca Lei

     付典端 Tony

     陳雯達 Wendar

     李慧君 Amy Li

     勞文成 Vincent Lau

     單曉雯 Jenny 陳偉 Wei

We will meeting on the following dates for parent-child potluck and 餘興節目:

     10/30/10

     11/20//10

     12/18/10

     1/15/11

     2/19/11

     3/19/11

     4/16/11

     5/14/11

To support WM, we are gong to:

     1.  provide snack (Suggest children bring water bottle for GO GREEN reason)

     2.  provide ride and chaperon when it's needed

     3.  present during WM session, minimum once a month

Proposed topics for WM parent's gethering (not limited, and tentative to change)

     1.  how to build up close relationship between parent and child before enter college

     2.  family faith sharing/praying

     3.  list of preparation before college (DOs & DONs)

          a.  managing 零花錢, when to give kids credit card, setup bank account, balance check book, etc...

          b.  how to deal with insurance after accident

          c.  peer pressure, roomate, drunk, privacy...

     4.  YAD experience sharing

     5.

     6.

     7.

Most of the gethering will stay within our community members.  If there is appropriate speaker, we may invite.  We always invite friends invite friend to join us. 

Core parents:

Please add/delete/correct the above info.  Please let me know when and what to send to all the WM parents as announcement.  Thank you very much.

With GOD's blessing and unconditional love, I believe that is going to be relaxing, closer, fun, and faithful 7-session gethering. God bless YAD, WM and their parents.

Xiuli