Year End Newsletter

I've been working on my year end newsletter for a few weeks,
on and off, whenever I have time. Being in this business,
I treat counseling/therapy client confidentiality as top priority.
However, I also give a lot of workshops and seminars to
educate couples and parents who are NOT counseling clients.

How much should I let them know about me?

Awhile back, I decided I am only helpful if I have learned
something in my life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister,
co-worker, etc. And that's why I tell people about my husband
and family although I was careful not to give out personal
inforamtion of my relatives and friends without their agreements.

After more soul searching, and with approval from
the people involved, I wrote the following. May YOU
have a wonderful New Year!

Greetings! Thank you once again for subscribing to my [Parenting
ABC] newsletter. I appreciate your support and would like to share
a very personal year end letter with you.

James has been serving as minister at San Ramon Valley Gospel
Church since July 2004. This year 12 people were baptized
and we moved to morning worship in November. Winnis continues her
private practice as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in
Fremont and San Ramon. As founder and director of Parenting ABC,
she enjoys giving workshops and seminars, and publishing
newsletters with tips on relationships with self, others and God.

Some other highlights:

* From December 25th 2007 to January 8th 2008, we traveled to
Europe to train Chinese Christians with For All Saints Team
Ministry. This is amazing because we got onto the plane exactly six
weeks after James had a vitrectomy surgery on his left eye in 2007.
His left eye has very good vision now.

* Winnis taught six workshops at BASS convention in March. She has
given many other workshops and seminars around the Bay Area through
out the year whenever time permitted.

* Winnis completed further extensive training as a couples
therapist from September 2007 to May 2008.

* James had vitrectomy on his right eye on June 10th, July 29th,
and Nov. 18th, with many in-clinic procedures in between due to
complications such as retina detachment. His right eye is in
recovery.

* We attended fellowships, Bible studies, trainings, retreats and
visiting homes together or separately.

* We celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in July and became
grandparents in September!

Together we rejoice and give thanks for:

* Our son Scott who loves God and graduated from Western Seminary
with M.Div. in June.

* Scott and his wife Beth who love and serve God as a couple, daddy
and mommy.

* Ella who is the cutest baby in the world.

* Lily who became Great-Grandmother and continues to worship God
and teach Chinese brush painting at age 87.

To see this letter with a photo of all of us on Christmas Eve,
2008, click here.

Our lives have gone through many changes this year. Like you, we
have been affected by the big events and happenings in the United
States, China, and around the world. In spite of ups and downs, we
know the Chinese words for crisis = danger + opportunity. We
believe these tougher times are blessings in disguise and chances
to grow! We trust that our Lord is faithful, His grace is
sufficient, and His love will see us through.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

copyright © 2005-2009 Winnis Chiang, Parenting ABC, all rights
reserved.