Ice Breaker Contest Results

They asked for votes, we asked for your votes, and the results are in.

Mr. Woo's entry was one of the winners! WOOHOO! :)

Here's the e-mail that he forwarded to me:

Congratulations!
Congratulations! The votes from our Ice Breaker Contest have now been tallied and you're one of the lucky winners!

Dear Member:

We really appreciate your involvement in this contest. What a blessing to receive so many responses, and to see the interest in voting. Our goal was to create some excitement over the act of giving away Gospels of John and your entry helped accomplish that. People liked yours enough that it placed in the top 3 of category votes!

We'll be posting a web page shortly with all the details so you can see how your entry compared to others. But we wanted to let you know right now that you're one of the winners, with no further delay. We'll also be sending out a broadcast message to our members next week with additional information and listing the first names of the winners and their hometowns.

I'd like to know if your involvement in this contest helped to encourage you to share more boldly or more effectively. Just reply back to me with any thoughts you might have. I'd like to include some of these responses in our message to members, so please understand that these responses might be used in our member communication.

Also, we need to know what version you prefer for your Bible. You can choose from NIV, KJV or ESV. Just reply with your choice and provide a physical address for us to send to, and your phone number (in case you don't have one on file or it's out of date).

May God bless your sharing efforts, and thanks again for being involved.

"For I know your eagerness to help...

and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action."

- 2 Corinthians 9:2

The e-mail even came with an attachment to make it seem official:

Cute.


FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED

You are receiving this e-mail because you have voted in the Ice Breaker Contest!

Mr. Woo has chosen to receive a copy of the ESV Bible. As a token of appreciation to the participants, we would like to present to you your very own buttery new copy of the ESV Bible filled with weighty content. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your prize. The holiday season is quite the busy one for this newlywed couple.

Thank you.

Won by a tad

In honor of Tadamus' birthday, I find it a very appropriate time to announce our winner of Poker Night #5!

Remember the contest I was going to hold? Here was the challenge: Crack open 3 pistachios that barely have a sliver of an opening. It all happened so fast that all I got was a picture of the end result:

Thanks to Tad, I could finally(!) eat those long-awaited 3 pistachios. Now, you might think I had an ulterior motive to the challenge, but I like to think of it as a win-win situation.

Here's what our friend won:

After a cornbread chili casserole, we started the game. (Note to self: Maybe we'll save the ultra lean meat for burgers instead of the chili...)

And again, Tad won. Here's his second prize, the wrapping courtesy of Mr. Woo:

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

 

Still waiting for it...

 

 "What is this???" (insert Mr. Woo's hysterical laughter)

Maybe it's the fact that our dear brother had played pranks on others in college, but it's just so funny to pull one on him. Too bad secretly putting bugs in his food is not going to phase him... Go ahead, ask him why not. :P

Moving on, here's his real prize:

 

Check out that dimple. It's a crater because he's so happy!

Okay, the night was not all about Tad, and I'm done embarrassing him. Let's introduce the other contestants who get an 'A' for effort. (Who made up that line because it's Effort, not Affort. Wait a minute... Is it "You get an 'A' for trying so hard" and not a trying-to-be-clever saying???)

Community turkey leg, community sunglasses - same difference. Come to think of it, JRitzi - why dost thou not join the passing of the shades?

So there it is folks. Another player in the Hall of Fame. Oh, and to keep y'all informed, there is talk about extending one more player into the Championship game.

The Woo Society's Hall of Fame:

1. Mrs. Woo
2. (J)onny/Mrs. Woo
3. Freddy
4. Mr. Woo
5. Tadamus
6. ???

(7. ???)
Champion: ???

Until next time,

Help Mr. Woo win a Bible!

From now until Nov. 5, YOU can make a difference!

Let me explain... The words captivated Mr. Woo - "win a beautiful Bible!" (and who doesn't want one??) So he entered the Ice Breaker Contest. Lo and behold, his 3 entries in various categories made it to the Top 10. We understand that someone else might have entered the same line, but Mr. Woo sent in his entry 3 minutes into the game, so we're hopeful.

Now I'll let them explain...

You're invited to vote!
The Ice Breaker contest was designed to help members learn creative new ways to share using the Gospel of John. League staff sorted through the nearly 500 entries and selected the 10 best ice breakers in each of 4 categories. Now it's your turn to vote for your favorites! The top 3 in each category will win a beautiful Bible in their choice of ESV, NIV or KJV translation.
Vote as often as you like. Voting closes at midnight November 5, 2009. We'll announce the winners after we've tabulated the results. Vote using our online ballot form here.
Vote for your favorite Ice Breaker now!

Vote for "Can I share with you the best news you will ever hear?" Yes, he sent this line in for 3 out of the 4 categories. Laugh if you will (as I also did), but it was chosen among all the submissions - every time.

In return, I'm asking that Mr. Woo post something encouraging for all of us with this new, "beautiful Bible" should we win in one of the categories. (Mr. Woo, is this alright with you? I could just ask you since you're on your computer right next to me, but then it would ruin the element of surprise...) I believe he would liked the ESV. All voters who leave a comment that they have voted will receive a complimentary "gift." Look for an e-mail early/mid-November! :)

This all reminds me of Mr. Woo's very first time preaching! It happened to be at one of the middle school Chapels (and I felt like a "Soccer Mom" trying to snap pictures from various angles, on top of chairs and on the floor, after I sent my kids out to Recess).

Here it is - Mr. Woo preaching his sermon titled Dying To Live:
Friends, let's get this man that Bible.

True love's kiss

This past weekend we witnessed a marriage of two of our friends Tim & Tiffo. I enjoyed watching Enchanted back when it came out on DVD (while Mr. Woo fell asleep next to me), and was excited to hear True Love's Kiss as Tiffo walked down the aisle. Congrats TNT! By the way, that was so HSM2 that I heard at the reception.

Speaking of reception, we guests were greeted with a photoboof before entering the hall. Of course(!) I had my fair share of fun with pictures. Here we are... true love's kiss:

*sigh* dreamy, isn't it? ;)

It was pleasant to see Mr. Woo pick up on my excitement for the photobooth. He even talked Freddy into it. As you can see, not true love's kiss:

(click to enlarge)

Breaking up is hard to do...

That's why we're resuming our Poker Night! This one makes #5.

Oh, how I have missed witnessing the triumphs and defeats, humor and delirious effect (Dan here is new to the game yet embraces it all) of the game. (Instead we've been bogged down and consumed with work... We covet your prayers.)

The Woo's request your presence to our monthly Poker Night,
to be held at our residence
on Tuesday, October 20th
at 6 o'clock in the evening.

A non-vegetarian dinner will be provided
along with a contest + prize to make up our absence of PN in the month of September.
We apologize that rides will not be provided.
Feel free to bring your face along.

As usual, the first 5 to respond are guaranteed their place in the tourney! :)


We are soon approaching our limit of 7 in the first Championship Tournament! Have a look:

The Woo Society's Hall of Fame:

1. Mrs. Woo
2. (J)onny/Mrs. Woo
3. Freddy
4. Mr. Woo (finally)
5. ???
6. ???
Champion: ???

Chummy bunny

As announced at our wedding by my MOH, I sought to graduate with my M.R.S. degree upon completing enough units of the "requirements." This desire of mine came at a young age.

I prayed for my future husband (though initially it was for items such as: tall, athletic, Korean, sweet, ... you get the idea; very superficial), made donations for two individuals - on behalf of myself and my future husband - whenever possible (yes, I really did call in to the radio station for the Thanksgiving food drive and paid for two people), and did other ridiculously "wow" deeds.

One more that I'm willing to share tonight is a purchase that I made. No, I didn't buy a dress thinking 'When I get a boyfriend I can totally wear this on our first date," nor 'Ohh this tie would be so nice for my [non-existent] fiance,' (though the two have cross my mind...). It's a smaller scale to represent my marriage-happyness.

These pellet-filled bunnies were ordered through a Scholastic Book Order in elementary school:

I thought the pair was really cute and decided that I would buy it and give one to my future husband. After the long wait, with triumphant fists in the air, I finally have been able to cross the finishing line.

I keep mine next to a picture of hubby on my desk (along with the picture holder he made me during VBS):Mr. Woo placed his among (mostly) framed pictures of us on his desk in the study/guest bedroom:

Was it worth it to be able to tell him that I prayed for him (for more substantial things later), made dinner purchases in his name, and show husband the gift I had bought for him so many years ago? You bet. Vintage is definitely "in."

The first time...

...to an "official" concert!!

(I'm not sure if Shane & Shane at First Pres counts, so I'll say that this was my first official concert with barcoded ticket stubs and all.)

Driving passed the super long lanes was a bit frightening, but we soon found close (and free - yes!) parking before joining the well-behaving crowd. I knew it'd be a long wait, but I wanted to go through the entire concert experience (try most things at least once!) - so we did. Here the line has actually moved:

This made us (and the people behind us, if you can spot them) very happy:

Once we were in and seated, the overpriced stand food was tantalizing our nostrils. It got to Mr. Woo more than me. The girl in front of us was eating a hot dog, and he kept eying it:
But what really got him was the two servings of french fries that was not being touched by the people diagonally in front of us. Later we saw them sprawled on the ground, not a single spared. Good thing we had music to redirect our attention.

Though the tickets say "No cameras or recording devices," security didn't check for them nor take away. Everyone used this to their advantage. Yup, all those firefly-looking-like things:

Roses to:

• Jason's friend Bushwalla hosting
• Greek Theatre acoustics
• Smack in the middle seats (right above the floor)
• A woman bringing and throwing out glow sticks
  
• Being able to see despite there being so many people
• Brett Dennen opening
• Jason teaching the crowd a dance to "Dynamo of Volition"
  
• The bassist proposing to his (now) fiance
• Jason and his crew running out to the section between us and the bleachers to do so
  
• Then sing "Lucky" :)
  
• Jason Mraz. Seriously, wow.

Raspberries to:

• Paying that much for a concert (albeit it was my first ...and probably last)
  
• Long line outside of Greek Theatre
• Not being close in proximity to the woman with the glow sticks (didn't get one)
  
• First performance of the night by Robert Francis. Let's put it this way: he was asking someone on the side of the stage if he had time for one more and some in the crowd shouted "Noooo!" Poor guy... but he was really awkward with limited phrases used ("You're the best / Thank you / You guys are amazing")
• Long line for bathroom, women only (out of the bathroom and up the stairs, all the way up the stairs)
• A man bumping me and yelling, "Hey!" (Quick check to self: Did I accidently hit him? Speak to him? Or even look at him? No...) "Is that my heart?" Confused, "What?" He points to my shirt. "Ohhh," and walk away.
  
• The smell of marijuana from behind
• Memory card full in the middle of "Lucky." After deleting a different video, battery died. :(
• He didn't play "Mr. Curiosity"
  
• Leaving Jason at the concert
  

Ephiphany: I sang from the same stage as Jason Mraz!!!

Oh boy, y'all aren't kidding when you say this is the best concert. His showmanship is incredible, his witty spontaneity with a dynamic musical performance. After one of the songs, the guy behind me said, "Now that's a beautiful man."

Final thought: I want to be his friend.

And now that's one concert in my pocket.