Aaron's College Experience So Far

 

Aaron is about to finish his freshman year at Kansas State University, and we're pleased to report it has been a good first year away from home. Middle school and high school had its ups and downs for Aaron, and launching out into his own space so far away from us has afforded him many opportunities to mature and explore. 

We're particularly thankful he's found a group of good Christian men to grow together spiritually and have fun socially. He's even thinking intentionally with them about where he can live and serve for his sophomore year. A very mature and thoughtful thing to do!

He's done reasonably well academically as well. We're especially proud he's learning his own self-discipline around getting to class, remembering assignments, and studying for exams. I suspect that as he gets through his core requirements and chooses his electives, he'll be even more locked in.

We've missed having him at home and are glad he's choosing to come home this summer to work a lifeguard job, catch up with local friends, and be with family. Well done, young man!

Celebrating Mothers and Motherhood

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and mother figures out there, starting with my queen and our family superstar Amy! What you do is literally life-giving and life-affirming!

Jada's Excellent Asia Adventures

 

Today is the first of a two-parter on how the older Huang kids are doing. We'll start with Jada, who is now several weeks into a 6-month internship with a law firm in Singapore through her Drexel cooperative learning program. 

Suffice to say that this aspiring world traveler is making the most of the opportunities her university and this work gig have afforded. Having spent a quarter in Taiwan for study abroad last fall, she is now getting an extended experience living and working in one of the truly great cities in Asia.

As she may choose to be a lawyer in the future, working for a small law firm is a fantastic platform to determine whether this is something she can do as a career and to gain skills and contacts if she goes that route. And, being in Singapore allows her to navigate yet another world-class city as a solo young woman, with all that goes into that, like finding a place to live, riding public transit, buying groceries, and yes every once in a while going out and having fun.

It's also been a great jumping off point for still more travel. When I visit her in July, we'll do a quick weekend jaunt to Kuching in Malaysia. She's already done a weekender to see friends in Hong Kong. And I'm told work will take her to Vietnam.

Our Jerds, lying in that orphanage for so many months, and now trotting the globe as a confident young woman. We're immensely proud of her accomplishments, and happy that she is living her best life. 

The Roast is On

 

A reminder that tonight I'll be celebrating my departure from my firm after 20 years at a roast to take place at The Enterprise Center. Doors open at 5pm and program starts at 6pm. To RSVP (to attend or to watch remotely), please go here. Should be a fun time...at my expense! 

Which I am more than game for, since I am a fan of the format and also want to normalize laughter and jokes and ribbing. Plus when else do you get to bring together all your favorite people, enjoy refreshments, and raise a bunch of money for organizations you adore. Hope you can come along!

Travel Log: Washington DC, April 2026 + Baltimore MD, April 2026

 

Destination: Washington DC 

Date: April 7, 2026

Party: 1

Itinerary:

Drive to DC, work out at Anthony Bowen Y, play a round of golf at East Potomac Golf Links

Drive to National Arboretum, Mt Olivet Cemetery, Stanton Park, Lincoln Park, Congressional Cemetery, Go-Go Museum and Cafe, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Spending:

Transportation $229

Accommodations $0 (day trip)

Food $0

Entertainment $50

Total $279

Destination: Baltimore MD 

Date: April 28, 2026

Party: 1

Itinerary:

Drive to Baltimore, play a round of golf at Pine Ridge Golf Course

Drive to Ivy Bookshop, Miss Shirley's Cafe, Sherwood Gardens, Greedy Reads, Patterson Park

Bike to Waterfront Promenade, Inner Harbor, Peabody Library, Northeast Market, Patterson Park

Coffee w/friend at Culture Cup

Spending:

Transportation $167

Accommodations $0 (day trip)

Food $33

Entertainment $92

Total $292

Keeping Asher Safe

 

Without going into too much detail about Asher’s special needs, I want to express worries Amy and I have about his well-being. Unfortunately, in this country young Black men are not often afforded the benefit of the doubt that the rest of us are privileged to have. And so as Asher gets older and bigger, ways in which he behaves due to his neurodivergence create potential exposure points that cause us his parents to hold our breath for his safety. 

We are profoundly thankful for our village of professionals and friends who help Asher daily and provide us with much-needed emotional support. I want to express particular gratitude to my circle of colleagues who have also raised into adulthood their own young Black men with mental health challenges, for the practical advice and compassionate empathy they are able to give – you know who you are and I see and appreciate you. Thanks!

Happy 11th Birthday to Asher

 

Today Asher turns 11! We celebrate his life daily but today will be extra!