Getting through the hard days

I got sick last week. I wasn't too sick so I didn't ask Chris to stay home but at the end of the day I was exhausted; mentally and physically. When Chris got home from work, we had dinner then I asked to be excused. That night I came to the Lord sobbing. I told Him "Lord, I am soooo tired. This mothering, training, and dying to self thing is too hard. I am selfish. I want to rest whenever I need to, take shower whenever I feel need to, and go to the bath room alone whenever I have to; I can't give and give and give... " 

And He answered, "Kiki, you don't have to give and give and give. You have the choice to receive."

Shark Tank Inspired Towel

A few months ago I saw a great Beach Towel design on Shark Tank. Since I have plenty of towels {thanks to my mom who always brought some when she came to visit us} I decided to make two for the boys. All I did was joining by sewing together two medium size towels except the middle part that way the head can get in.  For the neckline, I use elastic for Wes' towel and cute monkey button for Max:

The Way We Learn

I attended a homeschooling conference two weeks ago thanks to Fonda who kindly babysit the boys. One important lesson I learned was about Learning Style. I read Cynthia Tobias' book: The Way They Learn on the past so I thought I am familiar with this but turned out I only knew the surface or I may have forgotten what I read. =P Each individual learns in different and unique way. We need to figure out how other people learn or process information so we can understand them better and communicate effectively. As homeschooling parents or teacher, we need to implement this knowledge on regular basis in order to see the blessing.

I wish I knew this sooner there would be less frustrating moments when I try to communicate with others. Below are my notes from the workshop the ones in *Italic is my personal notes.

Great Videos

God understands

Body Language

My Goals in 2013

Making and sharing my goals last year has been very helpful and beneficial for me so I am doing it again this year. I didn't accomplished all things on my list but it helped me focus on my priorities.

image source

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I am in the process of moving all my food related posts to our food blog: AsianFamilyRecipes.com

The Roasted Brussels Spourts' recipe can be found here.

We are what we eat

                                        

     Photo source

I heard that statement from a zoo keeper one day. He was explaining how flamingo got their pink color. Young flamingos hatch with grey reddish plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly colored and thus a more desirable mate; a white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Thus prove that we're what we we eat or in other words to be fit and healthy we need to eat good food. I didn't expect to get a lecture on nutrition that day but the zoo keeper's words got stuck in my head. 

Wesley is TWO

Green Smoothies/ Popsicle

I am in the process of moving all my food related posts to my food blog: AsianFamilyRecipes.com
The Green Smoothies/ Popsicle's recipe can be found here.

Enemies of the Heart - Podcast

I have been so blessed by listening to Andy Stanley's message: Enemies of the Heart. I was struggling with anger/ hurt at that moment and was reminded that I need to forgive and forgive and forgive again and again and again as Jesus told Peter in Matthew 18 . 

I got chance to share the lesson with my Sunday School Highschoolers a few weeks ago. Below are the note to read along if you want to listen to the message here. The underline words are those that I have the kids to fill in the blank that way they won't fall asleep while listening. 

Enemies of the Heart

By Andy Stanley

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

We are often better at monitoring our behavior than we are monitoring our heart. If  we continue to do so, we will eventually become two different people and this drove Jesus crazy.