• 01.29.2009 Shells and Pearls
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    My dearest friend from my very first year of college celebrated her 33rd birthday this past week. She lives a few states away, and with seven children between us, we’ve not seen one another in two years. I enjoyed sewing aprons for her and her three girls last year for her birthday. This year, I turned to beading, knowing that if I had three daughters, I would find it sweet to have matching necklaces. A combination of shells and freshwater pearls were the beads of choice for my beach-loving friend.

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  • 01.26.2009 Our Chinese New Year
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    Yesterday marked my first attempt at celebrating the Chinese New Year as an adult with my own family. As all the members of my immediate and extended family reside everywhere but here, I rarely feel enthusiastic about carrying on Chinese traditions on my own with the help of a local Chinese restaurant. But I went for it this year. I knew I couldn’t pull off a lion dance, festive decorations, or the character of a multi-generational familial ensemble. I knew my children would fail to understand the big fuss over receiving a red envelope, as theirs would contain maybe one dollar, or two tops. What could I do, then, to introduce my children to Chinese New Year when energy spent on celebrating anything currently feels like a luxury? I started by making simple lanterns with the boys. Amazing what a little construction paper can do! As with all Chinese celebrations–it’s […]

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  • 01.24.2009 Molten Spiced Chocolate Cabernet Cakes
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    I keep trying to come up with an adequate description for this recipe I came upon a few weeks back. Words fail me…it’s that good. These little molten lava cakes are so exquisite in texture and flavor, you might feel sheepish when you discover how incredibly simple and quick they are to make. You may find you have all the ingredients in your pantry already..in which case, you’ll need no occasion at all to make these little babies. Well, I guess I always manage to find something to say…but, it’s still that good. Molten Spiced Chocolate Cabernet Cakes (makes 4 servings) 4 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate 1/2 cup butter 1 tbsp. Cabernet Sauvignon, or red wine 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 eggs 1 egg yolk 6 tbsp. flour 1/4 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground ginger Butter 4 (6 oz.) ramekins (custard or souffle cups). Place on baking […]

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  • 01.21.2009 caucamongols
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    We had a seminary professor who used the terms caucasoid and mongoloid in class. Once we had children, we came up with caucamongols, and used it lovingly to describe our tikes.  We thought ourselves brilliant, and anthropologically correct.  Well, here are some pictures recently taken of these little caucasian-asian mixed kiddos. Caucamongols are quite an extraordinary species, wouldn’t you agree?

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  • 01.19.2009 The Purest Place
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    I’m returning to a familiar song this morning.  This is my prayer today.  Listen here. The Purest Place by Watermark Paint me with Your purity That I’d attract Your majesty When others boast in fame and gold The purest place is where I’ll go (chorus) The purest place I will draw near Do what it takes to keep me here In the center of Your heart The purest place is where You are It’s not with masses, not with kings Not in these songs or offerings Not in this life or what it brings The purest place is You my King (chorus) If there’s such thing as too beautiful If there’s such thing as too wonderful If there’s such thing as too marvelous Jesus it’s You, Jesus it’s You (chorus) It’s You my King, It’s You my King The purest place, is You my King…

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  • 01.13.2009 Something for Kate
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    Our friends, Peter and Katy, will welcome their first baby boy in February.  As is the case with many of our other friends, it is an honor and joy to have been a part of their friendship, their courtship, their wedding, and now their journey into parenting.  They have, in turn, been with us through the majority of our childrearing thus far, and have been our traveling partners in the States and abroad. This new baby will be breastfeeding and diapering in style, as a little nursing cover-up and diaper & wipes pouch set is what I made for Kate last weekend for her baby shower.  *BTW…this was the first project sewn with my Christmas gift from my husband and his parents–a Bernina Active 240.  This machine is so smooth and quiet, I sewed with the bedroom door open while little ones slept down the hall.  It was a treat […]

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  • 01.10.2009 The One Thing That Is Needful
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    My husband’s been getting up at 5:30 in the morning again…to pray.  That’s about when I head back to bed after another groggy feeding that usually results in one spit-up, one blow-out, and one half-hour of trying to get back to sleep.  Lest you think this comes naturally to my sweet husband, you are mistaken.  Every morning he struggles with the same fog that rolls through my head, and yet, when I suggest that he won’t make it if he doesn’t get more sleep, this is his reply:  “Babe, I won’t make it if I don’t pray…the Lord will provide.” This is a busy season of life in our household.  Between a full house of children, a church plant, a school start-up, and various other relationships and commitments, we keep a steady pace around here.  There is a joy in working hard and being productive…that is, until the joy is […]

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  • 01.04.2009 To My Love On His 36th
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    #36 He always has his pulse on how short life is… …and how to make each moment count. Read the other 35 reasons why I love my husband. Happy Birthday to you, babe.

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