Tiramisu

I am in the process of moving all my recipes to my food blog: Asian Family Recipes. 
The Homemade Tiramisu Receipe can be found here.

Almost 15 Months

Our sweet, determined, athletic 15 months:

He is one persistent little fella that won't stop asking untill he get what he want:

Although he can't walk yet, he can go down the stairs all by himself either by crawling backward or holding on the stair rail that Papa made.
And the skill that he master recently: *drum roll please*  We can now eat peacefully while Didi eats on his own. Yay!!!! Remember this? Max @ 15 Months
and Wes @ 14 Months:
Mommy's little helper:
Have a joyful week!
 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chips Cookies

This is basically a variation or the Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. I used 1 cup of chocolate chips instead of raisins.






How Didi eat it:

Oatmeal Chocolate Chips Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup chocolate chips

1 ts vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg/ ground cinnamon (optional - i prefer to skip this)

2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 pound), softened but still firm

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 cups rolled oats

Directions:

1.  Beat butter until creamy using the pedal. Add sugars; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time.

2. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg together, then stir them into butter-sugar mixture with wooden spoon spatula. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

3. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Form dough into about 1 1/2-inch balls, placing each dough round onto one of two parchment paper–covered, large cookie sheets. 
4. Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, about 22 minutes.  Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Let the Word of God Speak

I am using this bible reading plan for my daily quiet time. After reading, I usually write down on my journal one or more verses that stood out for me. God's Words never cease to amaze, challenge, and humble me. Below are some of the verses that I wrote down: 

"I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full. John 10:10

"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19b

Daikon Soup

I am in the process of moving all my recipes to our food blog: Asian Family Recipes.
The Daikon Soup recipe can be found here

 

Blessings Captured

For the sunny day, when we can enjoy the sun and your beautiful creation, Lord... we thank You!


For the rainy, cold, and cloudy day, when we got to enjoy the breezy air and are reminded to be thankful for the shelter your provided, Lord.... we thank You!


For Wes' sweet smiles,

Apron for E

About two months ago, my sweet friend, Joyce and her family gave me the apron below. I thought it's very pretty but I already have an apron. You see I usually only have one of most things {except for clothes and shoes of course} like: sunglasses, swimming wear, winter coat, wallet (my wallet is the same since 14 years ago), but then I put it on, it makes me feel pretty and looking forward to cook and bake. I'm reminded of this post at WomenLivingWell about living beautifully.


Anyway, a little while ago I asked my friend if she wears apron when she cook, if so I would like to sew an apron for her sweet daughter. She said, "Yes", and thought her daughter will be 'over the moon' if she got an apron.  Months passed after our conversation, 'till one day I realized little E  birthday was just around the corner so I quickly laid down the pretty apron as sample, grabbed some fabrics, and cut them up:

I put on elastic on the neckline and added ruffles at the bottom.

Piano Cover for Joy

Finally, I am able to finish this project. :) It's been more than a year since I told my gifted piano player and dear friend Fonda that I would make the cover for Joy. I couldn't find a piano cover tutorial but found this one instead. After working on it bit by bit, 5 minutes at a time here and there, it's finally done. Yay!!!! :)



I think it looks better with cute baby on it

Courageous

Chris and I watched the movie: Courageous today - available at Redbox for $1. We love it very much. So thankful for movies that promote good values and character.

It's a great reminder for us that God has trusted us with responsibilities to raise these previous kids and we only have few years with them. We've got to take it seriously.

Anyway, the movie reminds me of my man

To my dear sons, Max and Wes:
I hope you read this when you all grown up. All I could think of after seeing the movie was: how blessed we are to have your father.  Let me tell you a little bit about him:

*Your dad loves his family
You see daddy is good at any spots - okay except for skating or dancing maybe. Anyway, back in his younger years, it took him 1 month to master all the styles in swimming; he's good at playing badminton, table tennis and so on. Basketball is especially his favorite. He loves playing and watching the NBA. However, started when Max was born, he no longer spend much time playing or watching.
I told him, "Honey, why don't you go playing basketball, it's fine with me." But you know what daddy said? "Don't worry, I still can exercise at the office during lunch time besides I want to spend time with the kids and I know you like me to be home."

*He's a man who walk the talk
I don't know how many time he's being ridiculed for not wanting to participate in buying lottery ticket. I asked him. "How do you feel?" He said, "It's okay. I'm get used to it."
Over the years, I watch as he made decisions to speak the truth, and stand for what he believes in.



*He lead, he serve, he love. 
I pray that when you grow up, you'll be a man who fears and love the Lord, his family, and others just like Papa.

To my dear husband,
I love you and am so proud of you.
Thank you for choosing me; for leading, providing, and loving your family. As I said before it's easy to respect and follow your leadership because I know you fears the Lord, His Words, and His will above all else.
Thank you for playing, singing and reading books for the kids and hold them in your arms.
Although your perfectionist tendencies does annoy me from time to time, I can't imagine marrying anyone else but you and can't thank God enough for you.

Photo courtesy of Max:
Happy birthday, Papa!
We love you!!!!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

Prayer for today

Lord, give me the right perspective , godly attitude to face the day 

Grant me the wisdom and ability to ...

set my daily priorities straight: seeking You first and the rest come after it;

to speak {and write} only words that build others up and not tearing them down 

to choose joy

to practice grace: accept, appreciate, forgive and love others as You have done to me

to work joyfully, diligently, and  faithfully work with my hands as act of worship to You

Most of all remind me that the greatest of all is LOVE 

And Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

Line Drying in a Small Space

I grew up in a tropical country where line drying is a norm. When I moved to the States, everyone uses dryer so it never cross my mind to line dry. In addition, we live in a condo/ townhouse complex and doesn't have a backyard to set up the line. Things change when my mom came to visit us almost 4 years ago. She couldn't bear the thought of putting in wet clothes inside the dryer when it is 85 degree Fahrenheit outside. "We can hung them in the hanger and use drying rack," she said. Today, thanks to my mama, I line dry all of our laundry.


Why I do it:

Vanilla Ice Cream

We love vanilla ice cream. We eat it with pie, blend it with smoothies, or eat it as is. I like this homemade version because I can reduce the amount of sugar, use real vanilla bean, and organic products.

Recipe can be found here  

Why Pray?

Luke 18:1
Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

1 Peter 5:7
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jeremiah 42:3
Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

Job 42:2 
I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted

James 5:13-18
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.
Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 
Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.