Christian author Gary Chapman wrote a book entitled, The Five Love Languages in which he outlines five communication styles by which people give and receive love: Quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch, gifts, and acts of service. If he had known my brother-in-law, he would have added one more...
FOOD!
FOOD!
In Jim's world, bigger is better and more is more. One does not simply encounter Jim, one experiences Jim. He is a "life of the party", dynamic, hard working, hard playing, fun machine.
He grew up in China at a time when food was in short supply. After years of struggle, he overcame significant obstacles to come to the United States where he attended college, became a Pharmacist and married my sister. In keeping with the role of the eldest son, he has been instrumental in the lives of his original family members who also came to reside in the United States. His family became our family, and we have been blessed to share many events with them.
He grew up in China at a time when food was in short supply. After years of struggle, he overcame significant obstacles to come to the United States where he attended college, became a Pharmacist and married my sister. In keeping with the role of the eldest son, he has been instrumental in the lives of his original family members who also came to reside in the United States. His family became our family, and we have been blessed to share many events with them.
From the beginning of his courtship with my sister, Jim has been generous to me and to my parents. He employed me one summer during college in his drug store, he employed my mother later, and he has shared his home with my children and me when my husband was away on military assignments. As my parents aged, he was there to help assist them in any way he was able, and since my father's passing in 2001, he has shown invaluable service to my mother. He has been a faithful Christian husband and father to his family, a delightful friend and a Superhost.
Why does he do it? Because Big Food is Big Love!!!
He has figured out that his love for others is expressed very well in hospitality, and food is the universal language of hospitality. So, he loves by feeding and by...
taking pictures.
taking pictures.
We have never been short on adventure, and our varied excursions have included visits to the lake, the zoo, the campground and Disneyland. Our latest adventure was last weekend when we had a party to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday! (Post to follow.) As always we left with full bellies and a disc-full of photos.
What never varies: Family gatherings, food and photography.
Jim, Mom, and Pam
Thanks Jim, for all you do!