Be-Live

2009-02-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

Heading to where the heart belongs

Click here to see my new blog - We are now here, there and all over

2009-02-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

Re-living...

...journey to church

The journey to our US church and the journey to our church back home is very diferent. I have always enjoyed driving to church because the drive there is simply awesome...there is a great reluctance to leave these behind...

I believe this is a funeral home. We will sure to pass by this place on our way to church. It's always so serene

Lots of ducks migrating

Guess what are these?

They are snow geese. We managed to see them just before leaving

...food

We also went through the various food places which we have enjoyed all our meals while we were here...

The Asian Bistros was where we always go when we were in desperate need of Asian food.
They served the most original Asian dishes. Everyone we brought there to eat, have only praises for the food.
From the locals to our Singaporean friends, they all loved the food. We have also made good friends with the owners of the restaurant.
They were very sad to see us leave.

The Cracker Barrel was one of the first few restaurants we visited when we first arrived. We loved this place because
1) the food portion is just right 2) there are at least 3 sides disheswhich you can pick 3) the corn bread is simply delicious
4) the ambience is great, it kind of brings you back to the old cowboy cafe 5) it has a unique shop filled with all kinds
of vintage nick-nacks and of course the service is superb!

This Picasso place serves some of the best pizzas and pastas in town.

These are our favourites - mussels in marinara sauce and calamari in marinara sauce

...space

One final look at the beautiful and vast spaces which surrounded us all through the year which also allowed us to witness the beauty of God's creations.

And these moments..dh driving and the kids sleeping behind...will not be repeated because we have realised that public transportation is
the greatest invention of mankind for mankind

...roads

To all our friends and families, they all know that both dh and I am licenced, qualified drivers but not at all experienced simply because we are not car owners...we have always thought that having a car is a burden and not a necessity especially when we live at such a convenient location back home. This past one year in US, we were forced to drive, like it or not, car is a must and this has turned us into very experienced drivers, in fact, looking back, I kind of admire our guts especially dh's. We were constantly forced to drive in unimaginable road conditions...

When you are driving and controlling the car but the car is not responding but moving on its own, fear just grips you especially when you have your kids
with you but... He is always watching over us and guiding us

We have indeed grown spiritually, mentally and emotionally. As dh and I went through the past year, we talked about the best that have come out of this trip. On his job front, it was definitely a great opportunity for his colleagues to see how he worked and his hard work has been appreciated. Kai's and Ann's education took on a new form, they had the chance to be soaked and embraced by mother nature and they have seen what life out of Singapore is all about...I am definitely a better cook now, I have helped Kai published his first book and I have come out of my comfort zone...I will now only have one fear and that is...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding...Psalm 111:10

Where will we go from now? As the Lord leads..."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts...Isaiah 55:9

2009-02-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

the first and the last

When we first arrived and were still living out of our luggages, the Loves invited us to their home for lunch. Barb and Bob Love are retirees and since day one, they have treated us like their kids and Kai and Ann like their grandkids. I call them 'angels' sent by God.

Now that we are leaving and living out of our luggages again, the Loves invited us to their Love cottage for the last time, to have dinner.

While driving there, I was asking everyone which was the best place they have visited and most loved...dh said the Niagara Falls, Kai said the Bear Creek, for me it was the Poconos mountains in autumn and little Ann said, auntie Barb's house!

Yes, the kids love the Love's cottage, they are very comfortable there and it has since become their second US home.

Now, you can understand why they love this cottage

2009-02-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

The wonderful thing about being Christians...there is no farewell, only "see you soon"

One thing we will surely miss...our home church in the US. The little chapel on the hilltop. We wonder if we can get use to our big church back home after being so comfortable in a small church perched on a hilltop. We have made wondeful friends in this little church and the friends here will be sorely missed.

This church brought us back to the basics of Christian living, this church brought us back to the simplicity of life...practically every message that was preached was simple yet spoke volumes and easily applicable. Worship was great with simple musical instruments, sometimes, off-key singers...but all done from the heart. God isn't really interested in perfect singers or high tech instrutments...He just want to bring us back to the heart of worship.

We are the only Chinese in this church but we have never stuck out like sore thumbs because the people there made us feel so welcomed, so accepted since day one. The wonderful thing about being in Christ is that there are no strangers in the body of Christ and even if we don't meet again in this place, we know we will meet someday in the heavenly mansion!

Evangel Assembly - the little chapel on the hilltop

The wonderful people

Inside the chapel during worship. This lady plays the flute most beautifully...it's most angelic

These wonderful people have never made us felt left out. In fact, they made us felt very much loved and accepted.

'Thank you' is not sufficient to express how grateful we are towards their friendship, love and concern. We can only pray that the kindness they have showed to us will be returned to them in two folds, three folds...a hundred folds. May our paths cross again in this world without strangers.

'you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God'.... Ephesians 2: 19

9 March 2008, I wrote this in my blog. Looking back, God has kept His promise, I have indeed saw the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

2009-02-18T05:39:00.000-08:00

We also say good-bye to our crappy car

Remember our little crappy car? Crappy it might be but it sure has served us very well. Of course, we couldn't bring it with us, we sold it to neighbour who needed it. This car made us wonder why do people pay hefty sum to buy a brand new car which is used to transport us from spot A to spot B. Guess, we will never understand because we are basically not car lovers!

The kids affectionately called it 'pop's crappy car'. That's pops and his car.

...this is home for now...

We thank God that the company is very kind to provide us with temporary lodging ... we are given two joining rooms so that we would not be too cramped up

These are all we have...and one luggage is filled with nothing but books. When you have kids with huge appetite for reading...books are precious

2009-02-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

We say good-bye to this place, we have been calling home

We moved out of our US house today.

When we were house-hunting, we prayed for a good neighbourhood and we asked God to give us a sense of comfort for the house which we will call home. When we first saw this house, we felt very comfortable and decided to make it our home. And yes, it has been a good one year living here and being host to some of you who have taken the trouble to travel long distance (fly or drive) to come and visit us.

It was the biggest house we have ever lived and while we were here, we enjoyed it...but now we say good-bye to it and we prayed and thanked God for giving it to us...

Enjoy the tour of our temporal house...a glimpse into parts of the house

Main entrance

Garage entrance

Inside the garage

Main door

Steps leading to the basement where only dh went down to change the filter every month

Staircase leading to the second floor as you enter the house...

...to the left, the TV cum playroom

to the right, the hall...

...patio where we had a few cookout

...the dinning area

...the kitchen where I did my various experiements and on a few occasions, with the help from my little assistant!

Heading to the second level...

Laundry area...rain, sun, snow or sleet...we still have clean clothes to wear...thanks to this area

...to the right, guests' rooms where we housed some of our wonderful visitors

...to the left, the master bedroom

End of tour...

Part of the wonderful neighbourhood

Our final dinner at our temporal home - stuffed pasta, kale and grilled beef

Will we miss the big house...no but we will miss the wonderful neighbours...Mrs Winnifred who welcomed us on the very first day we arrived and has been looking after us for the past one year...the Weneski family who has already shifted out...Manny, Sheila and their group of siblings who have been great friends to Kai and Ann...the little bruised boy...Jeffery, Jordan and siblings....aunt Wendy and the six brothers and little Anthony who asked me why did I have to carry an umbrella during summer..."it was hot, dude!"...Joya, Mona, Raj....Joya was the first mum in the neighbourhood who came forward and started a conversation with me and we became very good friends.....

Places gave us good memories, people gave us lasting friendships and that's most important in our journey!

2009-02-12T14:18:00.000-08:00

After the snow, the wind

Strong gusty wind has been bellowing on us since last night. I really mean strong gusty wind. Things are blown away and I could hear the loud howling of the wind from inside the house. Cars vibrate as you drive and as you walk to the mail box, you could feel the wind pushing you...now, what have we not experienced yet?

Strong Winds Close Area Roads, Knock Out Power

Strong, gusty winds are taking their toll all around our region today. There are numerous trees and power lines down, leaving thousands without electricity. In Bethlehem, the wind uprooted a large tree and blew it onto a house. PennDOT reports that some roads are blocked by trees and other debris.

In Northampton County, Jacobsburg Road between State Park and Belfast roads in Bushkill Township is closed, as is Bushkill Drive/West Mountain Road between Old Grade and Clearfield roads and Route 611 between Orchard and Evergreen roads in Upper Mount Bethel Township. Parts of Route 724 in Berks County and Route 309 in Lehigh County were closed earlier. Parts of Route 724 in Berks County and Route 309 in Lehigh County were closed earlier.

The 69 News storm team says we should see sustained winds of 20-30 mph and wind gusts to 50 mph or higher today. Tonight and tomorrow will continue to be windy. (www.wfmz.com)

Later in the night....

there were a few blackouts at our neighbourhood, our house was plunged into darkness and guess what...we have no back-up. All our things have been shipped out...left with only one miserable tiny torchlight. We must pray hard that there will be no more blackout, otherwise, we will be freezing in the cold...without the heater. So my friend, thank God for Singapore!

2009-02-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love kids

Valentine's Day is coming and Ann's preschool has a Valentine's mini party

Seth, "I want to date Brie'

Jackson, "I don't have a girlfriend but I really don't mind Ann"

Peter's mummy, "Peter is completely devastated about Ann's leaving".....

Peter, "she is my Ann. Not Annie, just Ann"

All of them are just four years old....don't you just love them!

Contributed these for the mini Valentine's party...thanks to "Semi-home cooking" programme.

Valentine's brownies

Valentine's Day gifts for Ann. Looks like in the years to come, I will be a very busy mum.

2009-02-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

Semi-home cooking

In one of my favourite TV channel - The Food Network, there is a programme titled "semi-home cooking". I love it because the host of the programme teaches you how to make use of ready made food from the supermarket to create your own dishes, hence, the title.

With the house almost empty and all my tools and equipments all gone, I have to make use of what I have learned from the programme to create food for the family...

Personalised turkey pot-pies for...

Ann and...

Kai

Great ideas from the TV...TV can be good!

2009-02-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Family of nomads...

It has been one great journey, travelling into the unknown, conquering all fears and anxieties, depending completely and whole-heartedly on the one and only God who has created all things for us...at the end of it, we only have one word to describe this adventure... "Grateful"

Time flies...packing up ready for the next journey began more than three weeks ago

Whatever that we could pack first, were all stuffed into boxes provided by Crown, the rest, will wait for the movers to come...

The movers have arrived! Honestly, we are not the only productive people. Just two guys came to pack, carry and shift...

This is cool. All our clothes will arrive in Singapore nicely hung up..thanks to this clothing wardrobe. Neat isn't it.
Inside the box, there is a bar where all the clothes are neatly hung up, straight from the closet to the box.
Two thumbs up for whoever come up with this idea!

Everything packed and loaded onto the truck within three and a half hours...talk about efficiency

Empty closet, empty drawers...almost an empty house but...

the family still stays together...that's most important...and a good meal at TGIF. We now officially call ourselves...the nomad family!

2009-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

No need to please...

It was a simple message but it spoke lots of truth.

As a church, as a pastor, it was his duty to preach the word of God and to direct the people towards the direction of God. It was not his job to please everyone to ensure they come back to his church. People could choose any church they would want to worship in, he would not go all out to please them to ensure that they keep coming back.

He went on to talk about his objective was to lead the church according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and therefore, no programme or agenda should squeeze the Holy Spirit out of people's lives.

So much truth in a short and simple message. Sometimes, churches do too much to please people, so much so that their physical needs become more important than their spiritual needs. Programmes have to be strictly followed at the expense of cutting off the flow of the Spirit. Although order is important but it should not be interpreted as stifling the move of the Holy Spirit.

Don't we do that often in our lives...to gain approval, to gain acceptance, we try so hard to please others that in the process of the pleasing, we find that we end up feeling miserable ourselves.

We cannot live a self-centered life, that becomes selfishness at its worst, neither can we go through our entire lives, pleasing others so much so that we lose the purpose of living...

2009-02-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

Snow showers for the past two days

You know how it's like when in Singapore, it rains consecutively for a few days. The weather becomes really cold. Imagine, it has been raining snow showers non-stop for two days. It is really freezing cold and the moment you step out of the house, your fingers turn numb.

Finally, for the first time in the last couple of days, the sun came out. The sight is beautiful...

Befor coming here, I always dream of a snowy holiday. I always tell dh that it would really be great to have a white holiday
and I am indeed thankful that God didn't just give me a white holiday but a white lifestyle!

Dh's turn to shovel snow. It is a back-breaking job. When we are home, don't ask why we never gain weight...
we have been shovelling snow for the last couple of months

That's the amount of snow that have been accumulated...they are nothing compared to what the states up north are experiencing...

2009-02-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

Road trip - Washington DC

We have been here for close to a year and we have yet to visit the capital of USA. We decided that we should pay it a visit and thus, this road trip.

Washington DC, here we come! We might just be able to catch a glimpse of the new president!

Look at that, the old leaning on the new.

On our way to the National Air and Space Museum, we spotted a squirrel and guess what, it actually strike poses for us to take its picture!

Outside the National Air and Space Museum

Inside the museum. It was a very educational trip especially for Kai and many hands-on activities for the kids.

Inside a spaceship. This white thing that looks like a laundry basket is actually a shower tub for the astronauts

Space coke and space food

Hands-on activities for the kids

Waiting to board that spaceship. See ya, later mum and pops

Do you know that Washington does not belong to any state. It is just a district. Hence, the name Washington DC (District of Columbia)

We fell in love with this beautiful place with lots of museums, monuments and parks. Even the kids love it. The place is clean and and the people very nice. In fact, this place is many times better than NYC in my opinion.

Beautiful parks which we really enjoyed walking in there. God always gives us wonderful weather for our road trips. It was a hot but cool day!

At the far end, stood the Lincoln Memorial. The pointed monument is the Washington Monument and the pool in front is the Reflecting pool

In front of the Lincoln Memorial. Inside the Memorial. This is an inspirational place - nothing is impossible!

Lincoln's speeches

The White House

In front of the Washington Memorial and the Treasury Building

The American Red Cross Society and The Memorial Continental Hall

The Jefferson Memorial and the Cavalry Charge monument

Organization of the American States and The 2nd Division Memorial

The World War II Memorial and Ulysses S. Grant monument

Archives of the United States of America and The Donald W. Reynolds Center For American Art and Portrait

The International Spy Museum and a Shakespeare Theater Company

Madame Tussauds and the Ford's Theater

Washington Chinatown. At the far end, it is the Friendship Arch of Chinatown. A close-up.

Waiting for the Chinese New Year Parade to start...finally, some Chinese New Year mood and...

...glorious Chinese food. Enjoying them to bits!

The Union Station

A warm welcome to the new President of USA

The very street which President Obama walked on during his inauguration

The Capitol, where the inaugration took place

2009-01-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, no two snowflakes are the same

Took a closer look at the snowflakes and yes, no identical ones!

2009-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

An illustrator at work!

Kai is very intense when it comes to doing something he loves. Yes, he at his doodling but I must change that --- he is illustrating. Perhaps, my next project with him should be publishing a self-authored and self-illustrated book.

There is just something special about this boy. Isn't he good with his hands.

2009-01-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

Left-overs

At this time, where recession hits almost every country, everyone is tightening their belt, it is wise not to waste food!

Had some left-over pasta. Remember, when you make pasta of any sort, never mix the pasta with the sauce in a pot. Pour the sauce on individual plate, that way, you can always keep the left-over pasta in the fridge for future use. A mixed pasta with the sauce, when reheated, will not taste good and after soaking in the sauce over night, it will tend to be more soggy.

Here, I made use of pasta, baby cray-fish tail, baby spinach, capers, mixed with a light yogurt dressing to make a delicious cold salad.

Fabulous, even Kai gave it a try!

2009-01-28T15:05:00.000-08:00

Another cold day... another day without school

Quite a winter storm has made its way across the area, leaving behind a blanket of snow and slippery roads around the region. Snowfall totals range from 1" to 6"... www.wfmz.com

Woke up to a pure white, fluffy, serene sight. The snowfall overnight was heavy. It was snow mixed with sleet. That meant treacherous road condition and therefore, school was cancelled. If I was not wrong, this must be the heaviest snowfall we ever had. Perhaps, it was the mountains, somehow, we were shielded from the strong winter storm...I would rather believe that the angels of God were surrounding us and protecting us. We thank God we still have electricity and could still keep warm with our heater.

Beautiful sight...but that meant, work has to be done....shovelling snow

While I was hard at work, my dear son was happily snapping away!

See how cold it was, even the ducks and the birds were fleeing

2009-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year

By the time you read this, you would have finished eating your reunion dinner with your loved ones, finished visiting your relatives, resting now and waiting for day two of the Chinese New Year to come.

Here, it is just another day. DH has gone to work and the kids have gone to school. Nothing, literally nothing is happening, just another Monday after the weekends. Ann's teacher has requested some information on Chinese New Year so she could share with all the preschoolers. Ann has brought some red packets stuffed with gold coin chocolates to school to share with her little friends.

We have spent the weekends calling home, sending Chinese New Year greetings to all families and friends. Listening to the Mediacorp artiste singing Chinese New Year songs (over and over again). Yes they are CDs brought from home, at least we console ourselves, we could a least soak in some Chinese New Year mood. Time is also spent thinking about home, who will be visiting now, what delicious food mum will be cooking, her braised pigs' trotters, her longan water...to all of you who is always thinking of running away from Chinese New Year, let me tell you honestly that it is not a nice feeling...homesickness set in deep and hard when you don't have your family with you...trust me, that few Chinese families that are here, wish they could just get home.

I love Chinese New Year. When I was a child, I looked forward to every Chinese New Year. Nevermind if I have to travel one hour on a non-aircon bus to the Changi village, that was where my grands lived. Nevermind the discomfort, the heat, the sweat, just bring me there! My family and I would visit my grands on the eve of Chinese New Year and stayed there for a night. My mother would buy my sister and I new pyjamas.

All, about 15 to 20 of us (cousins, uncles and aunties) would sit around a huge round table eating my grandmother's old chicken rice. Self-bred, self-slaughtered, homecooked chicken. It was so full of fun. While we were feasting on the chicken on the table, the mosquitoes would be feasting on all our legs under the table. Remember, it was a village! After dinner, all of us would gather in front of a tiny 14" black & white TV, wating for the then Radio and Television Singapore to broadcast the Chinese New Year variety show. We would watched till past midnight. At midnight, my uncles would let off real firecrackers. (I mean real, not the battery operated ones) They would string the firecrackers together to form a really long one and hung it on a tree top. After the last cracker has exploded, my grandmother's front porch would become a red carpet. My grandmother would then start distributing red packets to all the grandkids. As I type, all these just bring me smiles...happiness is what you remember.

I am not an old-fashioned traditional lady but as I became a wife and now a mother of two, I still love Chinese New Year. I love cleaning up the house, decorating the house, buying new clothes and pyjamas for DH and the kids and of course all those marvelous goodies. I love going to the market on the eve of the eve of Chinese New Year to buy things which I may not need! The stalls would remain opened till the wee hours of the morning. On the eve of Chinese New Year, after eating our reunion dinner with our families, all four of us would wear our new pyjamas and just simply having fun at home. I still love watching the now, Mediacorp Chinese New Year variety show and waiting for the only newspapers to be delivered to my house. You see, Chinese New Year is a big thing here, most offices would be closed for two days.

I know many of you detest listening and answering those irritating questions...before you got married, it was 'so when are you getting married?' Then you got married...it would be 'when are you having babies?' Then you have a kid....it would be 'when is the second one coming?'...Argh.....neverending irritating questions from second uncle, busybody third auntie, forth great auntie....let's put it this way, you only see them once a year, listen to them once a year, answer them once a year....do you really need to get all upset over something which you never have to do it everyday? Take it as a break from the monotony of life. Don't all these add colours to our life?

Or you find taking two oranges, travelling round the whole island, making pit-stops every now and then, just to stare into the one-eye monster, watching repeated Jackie Chan movies, eating your number 100th pineapple tart, munching countless love letters and of course, adding to your ever increasing calories... My friend, I wish I could just sink my teeth into one tiny open-face pineapple tart, licking the burnt bak-kwa flavour off my fingers...all these would be heavenly...

I love Chinese New Year not just for the glorious food but also the time where I could catch up with all my once-a-year-then-see relations. Isn't it sad that within the same family, we don't even know each other. Here in the US, Christmas is equivalent to our Chinese New Year back home. It is a big occasion where family members travel for hours and even days just to be home with their families. We often want to follow the trend and the many practices of the west, why not this aspect of theirs where a festival means being home with your loved ones.

So, my friend, run not away from Chinese New Year but soak in the festivities, embrace the love of home and families and savour every minute, every second of it...while you are still in it, ENJOY!

Here's wishing you a very ox-spicious and ox-traordinary year where the Lord's abundant favour continues to rain in your lives...

2009-01-23T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sponge bob square rice

Ann's classmate celebrated his birthday in class and instead of giving out goody bags, his mum made this wonderful treat for every child. Very creative of the mum to come up with something like this. Ann was very sweet. While the rest of the kids chomp away in class, she brought it home to share with Kai and to show it to all of us.

Using crispy rice, she coated the top portion with yellow marshmellow and the bottom portion with melted chocolate.
The eyes were made of candies and the nose, ti-tac candy. So well done!

2009-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Candy store

We drove by many times and have seen it many times but we have never visited it. We finally decided to check it out.

This candy store was started in the early 1930s and it is still operating. It has its own candy kitchen inside the store.

Huge, huge selection of candies, chocolates. Both kids and adults can go wild inside the shop...don't believe? Check out their site

2009-01-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

The 44th US President Inauguration - The First US Black President

I feel privileged to be here in the US at this time. To have witnessed the election of the first US black president and to see the president inauguration. It was indeed a historical moment. It was a touching moment, a moving moment and a very emotional one too.

Full transcript as prepared for delivery of President Barack Obama's inaugural remarks on Jan. 20, 2009, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. (this part of the speech brought me to tears)

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Poet Elizabeth Alexander's poem, delivered at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

2009-01-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

Our first snowman

Now, don't laugh. Wait till you build one yourself. Those snowmen that we see on TV, magazines and storybooks, they are actually not easy to make. Well, at least we did try making one.

Helping the kids to build the snowman. Ann, building the snowman's head inside a trampoline!

Can you spot the snowman?

2009-01-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

Birthday party at bowling center

What we take for granted in Singapore is now a great joy to have and enjoy. Bowling centers are plenty back home, as long as you have the time, bowling is not a very difficult thing to do.

Ann and Kai were excited when one of Ann's classmates had his birthday party at the Emmaus Bowling Center. Needless to say, they had a great time!

Emmaus Bowling Center. They are a very child-friendly place. Special ramps are made to help the younger kids to bowl.

Kids just want to have fun...but they can be very serious and very intense too!

The birthday cake. Did you notice that half of the cake is brown and the other half is white? It's a half chocolate cake and
half vanilla cake. Very special and it will be my next food challenge!

Good old 'paste the donkey's tail' game

2009-01-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

Take pride in our children...and in everything they do

Sometime back, I was at the Love's house. There, Barb talked about her six kids. They were not the rich and famous, but each has a job and their own family and a mum who spoke so highly of them. She talked about one child who is an installer. He works for a company and installs things for all the customers. When Barb talked about him, you could sense a great pride in her.

"Shirley, he is good with what he does. Every customer that call up the company, will only ask for him. He has been good with his hands since he was a young boy."

So much joy from a mother, who takes great pride in her son and what he does. We should learn from her. I sometimes feel that we are a little myopic in our perspective. If our kids are not doctors or lawyers...we avoid talking about their jobs or what they do. I pray that as I aged and as Kai & Ann grow up, I will be like Barb, talking happily about them and whatever they will be doing. This reminded me of a book which I have read, Max Lucado's Cure for the Common Life. The book, in a nutshell, is about discovering your talents, your abilities and doing the best with your abitilties "Success is not defined by position or pay scale but by this:doing the most what you do best."

Yes, when we discover our abilities and talents, we will never need to work all our life because work is no longer work to us but an enjoyment and each piece of work done, is done with great joy and pride! When God made us, He made each one of us with a purpose and with talents to fulfill this purpose. Discover them!

2009-01-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

Self-publishing author...at 8!

Kai has always been good with his writings and since coming here, he has been given many opportunties to write. To encourage and motivate him to write more, I have actually helped him to compile some of his writings and publish them in a book.

As parents, beside giving them a good education and a safe environment, one of the most important roles of ours is to help them maximise their potentials. Both my kids do not attend many enrichment classes like most kids but they have grown up pretty well and I believe that's because dh and I try our very best to discover their giftings and work on them. We believe if they work on their interest, they will excel better.

Kai's very first published books have arrived and we were all very excited over them. The book was just 20 pages thick (I mean thin) but it was something that I told myself I must do for Kai and I have kept my promise and it was something that Kai took great pride in doing. As he flipped through the pages, looking over all that he had done, he even picked his own favourite piece.

His pride, our pride!

2009-01-13T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hibernating...

If you have been wondering what has been happening for the last couple of weeks...that's because I have been hibernating. The weather only got colder and colder....

It has been raining and the rain has turned into icicle. It was so cold that when the rain water dripped, they immediately formed into ice.

These icicles are pretty dangerous especially when they are formed on the trees, cables running across the roads.
As they fall off, they could easily hurt anybody walking below it.

Schools have been forced to close for a couple of times during these bad weather. After the freezing rain, came the snow...

Between the ice and the snow, I would prefer the snow, at least in the midst of the freezing cold, I could still enjoy the beautiful sceneries...

There was so much snow that the kids could even have some snow play outside the church.

We were also invited by the Loves to have more snow-tubing, sled-riding...Kai and Ann were all excited.

The Love's cottage in winter

The Love's grandchildren were there and that meant Kai and Ann have company!

Ann and Rachel became good friends almost immediately. In a child's world, there are only friends!

How much snow did we get? We estimated at least 4" to 6" deep of snow!

2009-01-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary

Yes, believe it, dh (dear husband) and I have been married for the 15th year!

No one is perfect, we all have our flaws and those flaws make us unique in our own ways and that make a marriage strong. He isn't the perfect husband amd neither am I the perfect wife, if we are so perfect, we wouldn't even be here, we should be living in paradise island. The differences in us make us build a strong home for the kids.

DH has been a great father to Kai and Ann and if you ask them, they will tell you that they simply adore him. Simple questions like 'when is papa coming home?', 'why is papa so late today?', 'why must papa make conference call in the room?'...speak volumes of their love for their papa.

Looking back, we have gone through some tough moments. Like buying our very first home. A simple 3-bedroom flat located just above a coffeeshop. It wasn't a mansion but it was a warm and cozy house and we bought it without any help other than a loan from the bank which we fully paid up in 5 years. I remember every visitor we had, loved our little house. We took pride in that we built every home of ours from scratch.

The next tough period was when we had our first child. Being childless for 6 years and suddenly being thrown into parenthood was made expecially tough when there was no full-time helper to help us with a very colicky son. But he has since grown into a very fine young boy. Then came our easy baby, Ann.

I would consider one of the toughest decision we have ever made was when we decided on being a single-income family. It's history now, we all know it was the right decision. Then the toughest challenge came when dh was retrenched...I need not write more about it...with each challenge, with each testing, we have only gotten better and we pray that we (including the kids) would never forget what made us who we are. In every tough situation, God kept His promise - He will never allow us to be tested beyond our means to remain firm. While, we were being tested, He never left us nor forsake us.

'for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, till death us do part...' 'whatever God has put together, let no man put asunder'.

2009-01-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

Winter storm approaching...

Received a call today, informing us that school will be dismissed 2 hours earlier. Checked on the weather site and found that a winter storm is approaching

SCHOOLS DISMISSING EARLY AS WINTER STORM APPROACHES
Many schools have chosen to send their students home early today, ahead of a winter storm that's expected to bring us snow, sleet, and freezing rain. A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect for almost all of the 69 News viewing area through tomorrow morning. Schuylkill County is under an ICE STORM WARNING.

The snow and sleet will become steadier toward evening. Accumulations of an inch or two of snow and sleet can be expected for most of the area, with perhaps up to three inches in the Poconos. We do expect a prolonged period of sleet. We may see the sleet mix with and turn to freezing rain after midnight and continue into early Wednesday before changing to plain rain mid to late morning. A significant buildup of ice is possible by Wednesday morning. Watch for slippery conditions (especially on untreated surfaces) this evening into Wednesday along with ice build-up on tree limbs and power lines.
(www.wfm.com)

Argh....not that icy, slippery road condition again. How can I not appreciate the hot sunny island of Singapore, my homeland!

2009-01-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

So much FAITH

Today is mission emphasis Sunday in Evangel, the little church on a hilltop. All of you who have visited our home church in USA will know that this church is just a small church serving the people around the area.

There were no professionally printed mission pledge cards, just a simple slip of paper printed at home. Just like Grace AOG, we were supposed to pray and decide on the amount we wanted to pledge as God guides us. It was really amazing that such a small church, they have sent out eleven missionaries. These pledges were meant only for the outside of America mission work. What struck me most was that apart from sending out mission workers, Evangel also did alot of local mission work. These local works were supported by the offerings and tithes collected every week. Some of the local works which they helped are Teen Challenge, Allentown Rescue Mission, FRIENDS Inc....these works were aimed at helping all the under privileged Americans.

I saw so much Faith in this church, they are not your mega church with tons of money, they are just a simple church (they don't even have a proper screen to flash their lyrics during worship session) who has a heart for people and God's works. Do you really need alot of money to do His works? All you need is just FAITH as small as a mustard seed, all mountains will be removed.

2009-01-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

A 'Love Breakfast'

It was Saturday morning and we had time to slowly enjoy our breakfast. I made use of this time to prepare a 'Love Breakfast'

A heart-shaped sunny-side up, honey-baked ham and bread.

I saw the heart-shaped egg ring while shopping at the outlets. It was really cute and bought them to make this wonderful breakfast.
It can also be used to make pancakes too.

While having breakfast, we looked out at our patio and realised we had visitors.

Papa was the first to spot them and he told Kai that there were birds sitting on our patio. Kai immediately identified them as robins. Like what I have always said, Kai has an eye for all the small creatures!

2009-01-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

The real thing

While the Carters were here, we were given lessons on snowboarding -- the real thing, not just playing with the snow but doing real stuff on the snow. Papa Carter, Keith was a professional snowboarder cum skier. We had lessons with him at home before going up to the ski mountains.

Snowboarding lessons by the pro. The kids, especially Kai, was very attentive

Those were huge boots for snowboarding and of course a demo by the expert

After all the lessons, we were all ready to get to the ski mountain. A ten minute drive from our house, stood the Bear Creek Ski Mountain. It is a very beautiful ski resort.

Looking out to the ski mountain from inside the lodge

It was a bright sunny day for skiing and snowboarding

The kids with their gears. Kai did snowboarding and Ann did skiing. Don't they look pro?

Papa with his gears. Like father, like son. Kai picked up the sport really fast

Kai in action

Ann in action...as you can see, after some time, she found more fun in creating angel

Sunset at Bear Creek.

The Carters stay with us was short but most fun. We are so thankful to God for sending them to stay with us over the New Year holidays. Do you know that the Carter boys speak Chinese although they are New Yorkers.

During our stay in US, we have had a number of visitors and we are grateful to them for taking time to come and spend with us. Whether they flew in or drove to visit us, it was a great effort and we really appreciated the gesture. We live in a village, so visiting us is no easy task. Thank God for friends!

2009-01-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

The Carters have arrived

The Carters hail from Long Beach,New York. They came to spend the New Year with us. It was really nice of them!

Mama with little Luke and Papa with keke-Emmanuel

They arrived on the eve of New Year and we brought them to have dinner at our favourite Asian Bistro for good Chinese food and after that, we went to church.

Our church was organizing a New Year Eve's fellowship nite. We were given a choice to dress up like in the 30s to 80s.

Kai was dressed in the Grease era! Emmanuel and Ann in their traditional Chinese costumes.

We were told that cheongsums were the costumes of China in the 30s

Everyone was really a great spot. Some came in leather jackets looking like James Dean, can-can skirts all ready for rock and roll, over-sized tees with tights preparing for some flash-dancing. There were hippies and punks and all jazzed up. Just look at all the wonderful costumes!

And the person with the best costume went to.....

Barb Love and her poodle skirt and cat-eye specs

It was also a pot-luck nite. Everyone brought something to share. There were so much food and dessert.

The dish with the cherry tomatoes was a vegetable pizza and my personal favourite. It was so good and I will definitely try making it.

My contributions - chocolate marshmellow cookies, coconut macaroons and fried wantons...the wantons were wiped out!

2008-12-30T06:19:00.000-08:00

Road condition of all sorts

On our way home from the Great Wolf Lodge, we drove straight into a fog

When you encounter with such condition, first thing to do is to turn on your headlights

Since arriving in the US, we have driven in various road conditions. Never in our wildest dreams, did we expect ourselves to be caught in all the different situations. Imagine we were not car owner back home, everywhere we went, we made use of the public transport. That made us very inexperienced drivers. But over here, we have driven through strong winds, winds so strong that even your car could vibrate, through snow, icy roads and fogs. How in the world did we ever make it...God and His legion of angles have been watching over us.

In the meantime, stay tuned...as we welcome our third batch of visitors....

An early New Year greetings to all of you....

By the time you received this, it should be the last day of the year 2008 for many of you.

What a year it has been for us, one GREAT journey for the Shias. It was the year where we ventured into the unknown. Trust me, relocation is not 'glam, glam'. Uprooting the family, moving into a brand new world is very challenging. For YL is a new working environment, for the kids, a brand new school with many friends and for me...beyond words. Really, I am having my writer's block when it comes to my experiences here.

Back in Grace, we also went through trememdous changes. In my life in Grace Assembly, for the very first time, a pastor was called home to be with the Lord while in service. On the financial front, we saw the 'downest' moments. In the midst of the 'darkness', we also saw miracles happening. A friend of ours gave birth to a miracle baby girl after YEARS of trying. Much closer to where we are, we witnessed history in the making, the very first black US president was elected.....Like what King Solomon said, "there is a season for everything"

I am not a chef but I enjoy cooking and baking. I love putting wonderful food on the table for all my loved ones and nothing satisfy me more than to hear "this is very good" from them. But imagine putting a piece of raw lamb but nicely seasoned, marinated with some of the most flavourful herbs and spices, cut it up and serve?!!! But placed it on a rack and have it roasted under a heat of 350 deg F for 2 to 3 hours...the result would be quite different. It's heavenly.

Our life is such, a little of everything, put together, placed under the intense heat of trials and testings, we emerged a better person! If you ask me is 2009 going to be tough, I said 'yes', can we managed? I said 'Yes and YES!'

Have a great blessed New Year!
Love from USA
Yang Lik, Shirley, Kai & Ann

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-12-30T06:08:00.000-08:00

Swimming in winter!

In this cold wintry weather while the kids are having their winter break, we decided to have a vacation with the 'wolves'.

We were told of this place called The Great Wolf Lodge. They have an indoor water park where the temperature was kept constant at 80 deg F (29 deg C). That's where we had our winter swim!

This wonderful place is located at the beautiful Poconos mountains.

Heading towards the mountains. That snow-covered slope is a ski mountain

Entrance to the Great Wolf Lodge. The whole resort is built to look like a log cabin. Spot the wolf

The lobby and the huge fireplace.

The giant-sized Christmas tree is real

Look at the little hut in the room. The kids were very excited to see it. It was a little room that was made to look like a camp.
Inside, there were a bunk bed and the kids' very own TV games. Kai and Ann took turn to sleep on the upper deck

This was the other side of the room. The usual one but the nice thing about the whole room was all the furnitures were made of log

...so is this a safe or not?

View from the room. Yes, it was nice and warm inside but outside, it was still freezing cold

Finally...the indoor waterpark

2008-12-29T07:53:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas eve

Christmas eve was really quiet for us. We attended the Christmas eve service and headed straight home.

We understand that Christmas over here is very much a family affair. Where family members travel long distance and college kids go home for Christmas. We think it is best not to intrude.

So, our Christmas eve was just the four of us. It was a special experience as our thoughts drifted back home, thinking about what our families and friends will be doing on this special night.

I baked these coconut macaroons to be given to hubby for his Christmas present

All nicely packed. He was most delighted as these macaroons are his favourite

Kai's present for his papa. Wonderful drawings

Guess what I got for my Christmas present?

My deam mixer - a Kitchen Aid mixer. Yipeeeeee. Have always wanted this mixer, have seen it countless times, touched it, felt it but never bought it. But now....I HAVE it! Gift from hubby

This Christmas eve, there were no turkey or ham or quiche or log cake...only nice comfort food

Wanton noodle soup

2008-12-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

Their first Christmas drama

Kai and Ann had their first experience in acting in a Christmas drama. There was no countless practices and full dress rehearsals. The bad weather forced the practice to be cancelled. So on the day of presentation, everyone just went up to perform. It was fun for everyone. The congregation had lots of fun, so did the performers. Kai and Ann enjoyed themselves very much. Barb Love called this kind of performance the 'Charlie Brown performance'. Everyone found the little shepherd most adorable!

Can you spot them?

Presenting the Christmas story really need not have elaborate costumes, sophisticated equipments and many man-hours made props. It is basically about this person call Jesus who came so that you and I may have everlasting life.

One of the elderly men preached a great message using the five-letter word.

J - Justification (Just as if I have never sinned, because Christ came)
E - Emmanuel (God is with us)
S - Salvation (He came to save people from sins)
U - Unification (In Christ, we are united)
S - Santification (Because of the birth of Christ, we are all cleansed from sins)

A very blessed Christmas to all of you and wishing you God's overwhelming abundant love for the new year and the many years to come!

2008-12-23T07:25:00.000-08:00

Winter...the danger

While you 'wow' and say 'they are so lucky'...let me tell you in the midst of all the beauty, danger lurks in winter too. Remember I told you about the snow melting and the road becoming slippery, that's where all the danger lies.

I remembered when I was still in Singapore watching the news on TV about winter in temperate countries, I often saw footage of cars sliding on the highway and banging onto cars in front of them. Those footage have come alive. Thankfully, there were no accidents but they were real and they were frightening.

These icy roads are very dangerous. I had to drive Kai out to the main road to wait for the school transport. After letting him off at the bus stop, I couldn't get my car to move. There was no control over the car at all.
Although I shift my steering wheel to the left and right, the wheels were not moving. It took four to five kind neighbours to help me pushed the car. When fetching Kai, I decided not to drive to avoid any accident. When I walked out, I fell straight
onto the icy floor! You have to wear the right kind of shoes to make sure that the sole of the shoes could grip onto the icy road.

During the winter months, it is also not unusual to hear of old people who live of their own, dying of the cold in their house. Yesterday the temperature was -2 deg F (-16 deg C). That's really cold. Then there were always the poor, who couldn't afford heater or thicker clothes...all these make winter a very miserable time for some.

I used to long for white Christmas. Looking at photographs, watching movies. A white Christmas seemed so beautiful. I used to envy people who could sit near the fireplace, with a real pine Christmas tree adorned with beautiful ornatments and presents. Families gathered at the dinner table to eat turkey and Christmas pudding. All these were movie-perfect scenes. Yes, they only happened in the movies. Winter is the most ironical season, it's beautiful but it is also very miserable.

Now that I have experienced a white Christmas, I thank God that I live in the tropics and the experience I had. While it may not be the most perfect place to have Christmas but let me tell you honestly and from the bottom of my heart....you will never wish for a white Christmas after experiencing one...oh by the way, I don't mean the guided-tour white Christmas holidays.

2008-12-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

Winter...the beauty

Winter is most beautiful when all you could see is nothing but pure white, serene landscape.
This picture was taken outside the church. It's a beauty

Take time to see and observe....the beauty in everything...both big and small

Anothing beautiful thing about winter is the Christmas lights used to decorate each home. They are really awesome!

2008-12-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

Winter...the unusual, at least for us

We have come to realise that when it snowed, everyone stayed indoor but the moment it stopped snowing, everyone carry on with their life. So, instead of staying at home, we decided to venture out to the mall and see and of course to pick up more groceries in case the weather turn really bad. Singapore is not the only place that has an efficient workforce. Here, the people worked just as hard, just as fast.

The bull-dozer type of shovel was used, the carpark was cleared of all the snow and soon, the place was packed with Christmas shoppers

Not a lot left...

...but there were plenty of snow. The snow shovelled and piled up high

Coming from a tropical country, all these are very new and unusual to us.

2008-12-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

Winter...the fun

There was quite alot of snowfall the past couple of days. The playground new our house was completely covered by the snow and it has turned into a mini snow tubing mountain. It was fun, we brought our big plastic lids and did our own style of snow tubing.

The playground

No need to pay to go to a skii mountain when you have one right at your door step

Can you see the three containers at the far left hand corner? It is part of a train that just passed. Yes, there is a railway track. That makes the whole park very special

Father pulling his kids on a sleigh

Simple pure fun. First you bring up the 'tube', when you have reached the top of the mountain, you slide down...weeeeee,
then you pick it up and go up again

That's little Ann sliding down

When you are little, your dad will help you to pick up the 'tube'...and after sometime, you have the privilege of just sitting there and watch others do the hard work

The adults are also entitled to the fun too!

2008-12-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

Dong Zhi (The arrival of winter)

Every year, on this day, my mother would go to the market to buy the pink and white glutinous rice flour to make tang yuan (glutinous rice ball). My mother believed that eating tang yuan, it signified the year coming to an end in a very auspicious and perfect way (yuan, yuan, man, man). Some Chinese also believed that the name of the dessert carried with it the meaning of reunion. Tang yuan sounded like tuan yuan which meant reunion.

In the past, family members would gather together to make the dessert to represent a family reunion. But in modern society, no one is free anymore to do such things and no one see any significance in eating this dessert.

Call me old-fashion or a traditionalist or anything you like. For me, any traditions or customs that are beneficial to the family, I think should be passed on. A reunion of family members, why not. This custom should be kept, in fact should be followed all the time.

I have always enjoyed eating tang yuan. Eating it during the cold months just brings so much warmth to the heart. Since learning to do this dessert myself, I have switched to making tang yuan from scratch, it tasted better and yes, it allowed me to passed on the tradition to my children.

Making my own glutinous rice dough. Little Ann helping me to shape into small balls

Ann was really good in shaping those balls. Almost all of them were of the same size.
After cooking, tang yuan with tau suan, my newly created combination and it tasted just great!

2008-12-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

School was closed, office was closed

This morning when I woke up, I was surprised to hear the garbage truck outside our house. It was exceptionally early and I wondered why. I went about with my chores, getting breakfast ready and the kids got ready for school. By 8am, light snow started falling and as usual Kai went out to wait for the school bus. Hubby and Kai and another family were the only few waiting for the school bus. It was strangely quiet, where were all the other kids.

I checked on the internet and the news on TV and realised school was closed as the weather was turning bad. True enough, by late morning, it started sleeting and heavy snow started falling. Hubby went to the office and by 2pm, he was back, the office was officially closed due to bad weather. So the garbage collectors came early to clear the rubbish to avoid the bad weather.

Ann was all dressed up, ready for school. She was supposed to have a Christmas presentation today but it was cancelled.

When the snowfall got lighter and it began to drizzle, I saw a few of my neighbours shoving away the snow on their driveway. I was thinking to myself why was there a need to shove, just let the snow melt by itself and 'disappear into thin air'. Suddenly, it dawn on me that with the rain falling on the snow, the snow would turn into ice in no time. When it hardened, the driveway would be covered with ice and the car was going to slide down. Not only that, ice would be tremendously difficult to shovel. Of course, I wasted no more time staring at my neighbours.

A shovelled driveway. Shovelling snow...a completely new experience

Shovelling was no easy task, it was alot of hard work and it sure burn off quite a lot of my calories. Perhaps, I should start knocking on my other neighbours' door and offer to shove their driveway for a small fee.

2008-12-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Roast leg of lamb

My mum always said that it is good to eat lamb in a cold weather.

I bought this leg of lamb from my favourite farmer's market. It was really a great piece of meat. Believe it or not, this was my first time roasting a lamb...

Modifed a recipe from this recipe book and with the help from my new toy, a meat thermometer....

I roasted a near-perfect leg of lamb....tadah....

In this cold winter, I tell you, I find so much comfort in cooking and eating.

2008-12-18T06:04:00.000-08:00

This is the real winter?

It has been rainning ice and in the afternoon, it snowed and last night there was still snow and it continued till this morning. You know what? The kid next door said that "you ain't see nothing yet!" My eyes almost pop out!

I love watching snowfall. This is how the snowflakes look like

Our front garden. In the night, snowfall is quite different. A different kind of beauty

The kids stepped out to play while their dad checked on our car

Our neighbour's Christmas lights looking really pretty in the snow

Our patio, all covered by the snow

The early morning...

At about 6am, the phone rang and it was a recorded message informing us that school will be delayed by two hours because of the heavy snowfall. Instead of starting school at 9am, school will star at 11am. A whole new experience for Kai and for all of us!

The Bear Creek mountain is almost all gone, covered by the snow and fog

Our neighbourhood in winter

2008-12-16T07:01:00.000-08:00

Is it ice?

This morning, it rained ice.

These look very much like the crushed ice we find on our dessert - ice kachang.

Actually, it did not rain ice, these are called sleet - frozen raindrops.

Since coming here, I have learned many new things about the weather. Not all white stuff that fall out from the sky are snow. Some are known as flurries.

There you have it, life in itself has many lessons and life is education.

2008-12-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

The little town of Bethlehem

We made our way to the little city of Bethlehem PA. We were there to catch 'The Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, a musical. At the same time, we wanted to visit the City of Christmas, that's what Bethlehem is famous for.

Every year, during the Christmas season, people from all over USA and the world flock to Bethlehem to witness the sight and sound of the good old Christmas spirit. No, it is not your Orchard light-up, it is more of the old traditional way of celebrating Christmas. Afterall, Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is a 30 minutes drive from home. It was snowing when we made our way there.

Old historical bridges are a common sight. The Lehigh River runs through it

This was where we watched 'The Christmas Carol'. No, not your world class Esplanade theater...

...inside the theater

They may not have the world class equipments but it was definitely a world class act put up by the Pennsylvania Youth Theater

Famous Christkindlmarkt and the old historical Hotel Bethlehem

Huge 'Christmas presents' line the streets of Bethlehem

2008-12-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

Special breakfast

I now look forward to Saturday mornings. That's the day where Kai wakes up early and prepare breakfast for the family. It a great accomplishment for a 8 year-old-boy.

He may be playful at times, tough to handle but when it comes to cooking, he means business. See his serious look

Bacon and scrambled eggs for him and papa. Sunny side up with bacon and pita bread for me. As for little Ann, he made boiled egg

I will soon hand him some of my recipes. Kai is a smart boy and I know he will pick them up very fast.

2008-12-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

That's my song

I have heard this song a couple of times on the XM radio station here in the US. I really love the song as it aptly describe what I go through everyday as a stay-at-home-mum. I think the mum who created this song is a genius. The kids love it too and I always tell Kai that when the need arise, I will just full-blast this song, let him hear....that will really help to reduce the number of my wrinkles.

Listen to it, enjoy it!

2008-12-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

A very special boy

My elder nephew, Rui, is a very special boy. He is 10 years old this year. He is special because he is very different from all other kids, he is autistic. Although autistic, he has a huge heart, sometimes much bigger than any other normal kids. He loves to share and I really mean share. Share, not in the extra things he has but even down to the very last candy.

My sister told us on one Childrens' Day, the teachers bought little bags of gummies for the class. Each tiny bag only contained seven tiny gummies. Usually, the teachers do not give out candies to the children as sugar only increase their hyper energy. But it was Childrens' Day, the teacher decided to just give them a treat.

Unfortunately, Rui was sick on that day. The teacher kept his share. When Rui returned to school the next day, the teacher gave him his share of the gummies. He was obviously very happy. There were only seven gummies in that tiny bag, instead of eating them all, he distributed among his six best friends and kept one for himself, such a generous boy. That was not it.

When he was about to eat his tiny share of the gummies, another kid came to him and asked for the last piece which was saved for himself. He looked at his gummy and looked at his friend --- he bit it into half, one half he put it into his mouth and the other, he gave to the kid.

I was so touched when I heard about the incident. He may be a child which special needs, but he is not a child who does not know how to love. He personifies generousity at its utmost best!

I told Kai about this incident. Rui may be slower than him academically but he excels in other areas which Kai can definitely learn from him.

God places each one of us in this temporal world with a purpose, we all have a role to play. Like Shakespeare said..."All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players,"

2008-12-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Tears of joy

It has been raining nonstop the past three days. Everywhere is wet, everyone is locked at home. It has been a long three miserable days. Is heaven shedding tears of joy as she welcomes her saints home?

2008-12-10T14:37:00.000-08:00

Rejoice? But in reality...

I received news from home that one of our pastors have been called home to be with our Lord.

For Christians, death means the beginning of a new life and we should rejoice because it means leaving behind this world, entering into a world of joy, streets lined with gold...but in reality, it is a difficult time. Especially the person who have passed on is still young, a great servant of God and have touched many lives. Leaving behind a young wife and a young son.

It saddened me even more knowing that I cannot be there to offer my support and encouragement. I can only grief with the family in my own little corner, in this part of the world.

How do you rejoice? Grief, close the chapter and move on...all these, easier said than done.

On the same day, a friend's mother was also called home to be with the Lord. This friend is not exactly a close friend but we share one thing in common, we all grew up from the same youth group and that made us share a common bonding. Because of this bond, most of us knew his mother since our teenage years. Many of us affectionately call her 'auntie Maggie'. She is a sweet old dane. Even at a ripe old age, she never failed to greet us in church and talked to my children. Yes, I, we will miss your sweet gentle smile, auntie Maggie.

Perhaps, these two persons deserved a much better place.

"For we know that when this tent we live in now
is taken down ~ when we die and leave these bodies ~
we will have wonderful new bodies in Heaven,
homes that will be ours forevermore...
That is why we look forward eagerly to the day
when we shall have heavenly bodies
which we shall put on like new clothes!"
(II Corinthians 5:1,2)

People said, one year is a short time but in this short time, so much have happened. Never knew that being away meant never having the chance to say 'farewell' to some of my friends.

2008-12-09T11:54:00.000-08:00

Winter....

Not sure if it was the wintry weather or he was really bored in class. I received a call from the school nurse this morning, she said Kai was sleeping in class and so his class teacher sent him down to the sick bay.

This being our very first winter, we were all adjusting to it. Weather was really cold, in fact, freezing for us. Temperature was always hovering about the minus deg C. The early sunset at 4.30pm every day made matters worst. It was dreary, dreary and more dreary. Sigh....and Ann has caught a really bad cough.

But the wonderful thing about winter were the white beautiful snow and the beautiful Christmas lights decorated outside most of the homes.

Like all things, there are the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. We just have to go through this winter and pray that it would not go any colder...

2008-12-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Snowing in Macungie

It started snowing last night...

This morning when we woke up and looked out of our window, our patio was all covered by white, fluffy snow.

Our patio. If only my nephews were still here, they would be able to shove the patio. When they were here, they kept telling me that they wanted to help me to shove my driveway.

The neighbourhood, looking quite different with all the snow

The church in winter

When there are heavier snowfall towards end of the year, the kids will be able to do snow tubing outside the church

2008-12-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

The little businessman

Kai's school organized a Crafters' and Vendors' Day. Basically, it was a time where anyone could sign up for a space in the school hall and bring their wares to sell. I thought it was a good idea for Kai to experience what doing business was all about. Kai packed some of his books and toys to sell.

The little businessman with all his wares

The market place

Kai was the youngest businessman, the rest were all adults, doing serious business.

There was not much crowd for the Crafters' and Vendors' Day because temperature dropped to -7 deg C on that day. Although it was indoor, the cold weather deterred people from stepping out of their house. However, Kai's stall attracted the most customers as they were mostly children and he did managed to clear many of his books and toys.

At the end of the day, he felt that it was not easy being a businessman but it was a great experience.

2008-12-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

Kai's second series

Remember sometime back, I blogged about Kai using the Caryola Model Magic to create his ownplayset. After his cousins have left for home, he was back to creating his toys again.

Warship, aeroplane and tanks

Little knights..with shield, sword, bow and arrow

The complete set

2008-12-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

My first...

I was pleasantly surprised. Charming, a fellow blogger gave me this award for my blog.

Thank you so much, Charming. I felt honoured and kind of shy too.

When I started this blog, I wanted to jot down my journey to the US of A. (Anyone out there know if a blog can be printed out into hardcopy?) This journey has indeed become an adventure and an avenue where I have made some great cyber friends. Never knew that blogging could open up my world. It is also a place where I seek refuge and maintain my sanity too. Once again, thanks Charming.

2008-12-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

Easton - The Crayola Factory

Every kid who visit Pennsylvania must not miss the Crayola Factory. It is one big fun place that has lots of hands-on activities for all.

Easton city center

The Crayola Factory....kids just want to have all the fun!

An end to everything

Everything has an end, even a great holiday will eventually come to an end. Two and a half weeks of holiday for my nephews have finally come to an end. I am just glad that they had fun and they got to see the snow and play with it. And of course the adults have their own fun too - outlet shopping!

Yes, that's my sister, their mother packing up all her loot!
Three large suitcases and multiple carton boxes!

It was great having them although there were days where my stress level was at 'explosion' point. With four very active kids, what could one expect. Now, they have all gone home, will be arriving at Singapore in three hours time. Here I am, at home with my two wonderful kids, in a very quiet, sunny but cold afternoon.

2008-12-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Philly...finally

We have been in Pennsylvania for so long but we have yet to visit Philadelphia. We finally got a chance to visit this great city together with our relations. Philly is a beautiful city with many histories. In my opinion, Philly is many times better than NYC.

The modern skycrapers...

the old historical buildings...

...a great mix of the old and new, tastefully done. So, do we really always need to demolish the old to make way for the new?

Inside the Liberty Bell Center

The Liberty Bell

The Independence Hall

The statue of the Signer

Statue of George Washington

Driving on the Benjamin Franklin bridge

Poconos in winter

We drove to the Poconos Mountains. The Poconos was bursting with bright colours in autumn. In winter, it is covered in a sea of pure white snow. One word to describe 'AWESOME'

The ski mountain

Sliding down the snow-covered mountain

Bringing the tube up the slope...

All ready to slide....(sorry no pixs on the way down but it was fun!)

Mummy said when she was a little girl, she ate ice ball as big as this snow ball.

Ann building her snow fortress

That was me! Climbing the snow mountain was not easy but it sure helped to shed off some calories. Finally...made it

Snow turning to ice. Do you know that no two snowflakes are the same?

Part of the lake was already frozen

The swans on the frozen lake

On such a cold day, what is the best dish to have? Hot indian curry! God is good isn't He? He knows all our needs. Believe it or not, we found an indian restaurant in the Poconos.

It has a train carriage eating area

Inside the train carriage and the scenary outside

Mutton curry with papadums. Oooo... heavenly

2008-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

All the fun things....

Since my sister's family arrived, I hardly have time to blog. They left for home yesterday and now the house is back to its normal self - peaceful and quiet and time for some blogging...

Downtown Ontario, Canada

"Fi-fai-fum-fum....who are these kids sitting on my chair"

Outside Frankenstein's castle...even he needs a burger

Ripley's believe it or not museum. Great place for all!

The wonderful thing about going on a road trip is that you will spot some beautiful and rare sight...it's now close to winter and birds are migrating to warmer places...

This rare sight of birds migrating was captured by hubby. Notice the birds flying together and forming the letter 'Y' in the far end

Ann turns 4!

Yes, while sister and gang were here, Ann turned 4!!! My little princess is now a little lady

I baked these little cookies and packed them into these colourful boxes for her to bring to school to give out to all her classmates

In the evening, we had a great Chinese dinner.

Princess Ann and her castle cake

The Disney Princess Castle cake. The sleeping beauty is Ann's favourite princess.

2008-11-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

Beauty in winter

Everyone that come to US of A must visit the Niagara Falls. This is our third visit to the Falls as we bring our family to witness this wonder and I can assure you that each visit is a different experience.

On our way there, we noticed lots of snow-covered spots but we didn't expect to see such early winter

Snow-covered street...

Snow-covered car..

Then we hit the snow-fall. The more up north we drove, the heavier was the snow fall

Driving through the snow fall

We finally had to stop when we saw a huge park...the snow fight began. The kids had a fabulous time, it was their very first and mine too.

From our house to Niagara Falls is about seven hours, a stop-over is essential.

Yes, we stayed at the Best Western Horsehead motel again but this time, it was a different sight altogether

The next day, we witnessed more beauty in winter. It was really awesome to be able to soak in the beauty of God's goodness and His masterpiece. Looking at all these, you know God is indeed a great artist. Enjoy...

The kids have more fun...

We finally arrived at Niagara Falls...in winter

We have now experienced all the four seasons. It was a mind-blowing experience. This song aptly described my feelings...

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.

2008-11-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Yes, my family came at the right time. In fact for most Singaporeans who have been living in the tropics, able to see snow is something they will really love...

... and I was so glad that my two nephews managed to see it and they were very excited!

While on our way to the Crystal Cave, it started snowing.

2008-11-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, we have company...lots of them

My sister, my brother-in-law, their two sons and my uncle are all here with us in PA. Yes, the house has come alive once more.

When they Lims were here in August, we rented a 7-seater SUV to fit everyone in. This time, we needed a much bigger vehicle, we rented a 12-seater van and hubby drove it. He drove from Macungie to Newark airport and then to JFK airport and finally headed home. He is really getting better and better with his driving skill. I told him, the next one we will rent a campervan and camp out!

That's hubby and my brother-in-law and that's the 12-seater van.

Want to know what is jet-lag? Sleeping on the dinner table!

We had dinner at New York City - Dallas B-b-q. This is called an onion loaf. Very similar to our wild, wild west onion from Black Angus.

2008-11-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

SCREAM.....the 'terrors have landed'

Yes...these four will be living together under the same roof for the next couple of weeks. Their age, 10, 8, 7 and 4!

I hope the peace and quiet in the neighbourhood will not be severely interrupted...or else we may find ourselves in the town council office. But for sure, there will be lots and lots of fun and good food and not forgetting....ROAD TRIPS!

There will be more bloggings...but they may come in slow and steady as my hands will be full...as yours truly here, the good 'yiyi' (aunt) has promised them lots of goodies...(slurp, slurp)

2008-11-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Parent - teacher conference

This whole week is the annual parent-teacher conference at Kai's school. During this conference, the class teacher will meet the parents of each child individually and discuss about the progress of the child.

I finally got to meet Kai's class teacher, face to face, one to one. The exact words coming out from her mouth, "Kai is highly intelligent!"

As a mum, I have every reason to be proud of him. I am not your typical Asian parent who often shy away from the praises of their kids with "no lah, no lah..." I accept it and I am very happy for my son. Eight years ago, hubby and I, collectively, made the decision to live on a single-income so that our kids could have the best attention and care. Not the 'perfect' but the 'best'. Looking at how Kai has progressed, we know the decision was right although it was laden with alot of challenges along the way... and still is.

However, the teacher has a problem, Kai is often restless and we both know the reason, he is not challenged enough. It is important that we arrest this problem early. He needs to move a level higher...continuing his education in US is a great choice. Some of the Ivy League Universities are here. If he can pursue his education here, it will be good but that means we have to be here for a good number of years...Will the education back home benefit someone like my son? Is the family going to give up everything for Kai to be the best he was created to be? God... help us!

2008-11-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

Like grandpa, like grandson

This is so heartwarming. Grandpa and grandson blowing the horn shofar together during worship session in church.

2008-11-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

Better to know how to fish

Our good friend whom the kids fondly call him 'Uncle Moses' is a foodie himself and a very generous one. Each time he finds some interesting books, magazines, food etc...he will never fail to tell us.

When we first arrived, we were without our cargoes for one month. Uncle Moses was the one who first send some books to the kids. It was really comforting to receive things from friends when we are all alone living out from our luggages. The kids were very happy. Subsequently, he subscribed this food magazine - SAVEUR for us...and it is one really good food magazine. I have mentioned it before when I blogged about salmon. This time round, I found a wonderful oyster soup recipe.

A great comfort soup in a cold day. Milk, heavy cream, celery, onions, garlic and of course oysters make this a very flavourful soup. The best part is, I never have to wait to be served with this delicious soup, I can do it myself and at any time of the day or when the cravings come. When I feed my family, I know that they are having a healthy soup and not drinking MSG. So... always good to know how to fish.

2008-11-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

Really? Best burger in town

Back home, I love to eat out and having a hubby who doesn't mind a food adventure, makes eating out a joy. But here, I prefer my own cooking. Why, because there are really not alot of choices. Friends who came just for one week already found the burgers and pizzas just too much to stomach. What more about us. I have told the kids many times that once we are back home, don't ever mention fastfood to me.

But...there is one fastfood restaurant here that has been voted 'the best burger in town'! Even our foodie friend back home has emailed us the review. We have passed by the restaurant many times but just refused to try it. Finally, we decided to give it a chance. And yes....it lives up to its name. The best burger I have ever tasted. All four of us gave it two thumbs up!

It's the Five Guys Burgers and Fries! They have received many awards and accolades

The little hamburger with bacon. Super juicy and succulent beef meat patties with crispy bacon

Cheese burger, see the melting cheese. Oooo...yum-mi!

The ultimate burger, beef patties, tomatoes, lettuce, relish, onions, mushrooms and cheese. What else is there to add?

Great fries! Washington russet potatoes, cut and fry.

All the burgers come with double beef patties, prepared and grilled only after you have placed your order. No microwaved patties. That made them really different. Fastfood for me? Yes, if only served by Five Guys!

2008-11-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Never knew....

The weather has been really cold. It is only autumn but kids are already wearing scarves, gloves, ear muffs, down jackets... to school. In this kind of weather, nothing beats a really nice, hot, homemade dessert.

'Tau suan' with lotus seeds (lian zi)

'Tau suan' is a Chinese dessert. It is made of mung beans cooked with rock sugar and the soup is thickened by adding corn starch to it. I have added lotus seeds to make it a healthier dessert.

Since coming to the US, I have learned to cook many local delights and I never knew that they were easy to make and most of all, they are cheap. Circumstances forced me out of the comfort shell. It is such a breeze, back home, when I feel like eating them, I just pay the money and I get to eat them. Here,when I want to eat, when I hunger for them, I am left with no choice but to do them myself. Thanks to my great cooking buddies who have helped to feed me!

True to the last bit, tough situations bring out the best in a person. This journey is indeed very worthwhile.

2008-11-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

Great adventure.....in READING

Kai's school orgainsed this special event called Reading Adventure Night!

It was something which the whole family could participate together. In each group, there were about three to four families. We were supposed to look for the classroom where the reading adventure began. Once we have finished, we moved on to the next room until we have covered all the four rooms that were given to us.

The people who read the stories to us were parent volunteers and some even involved the whole family. In one room, we found a mother as the narrator, the father and two sons were the actors!

The most exciting part for the kids was the whole school was plunged into darkness. Yes, we have to make use of the flashlights which we have brought with us to help us locate the different rooms. It was really exciting and fun especially for Kai who is a lover of books and stroies. Ann is picking up very quickly this wonderful habit of her brother.

This event reminded me so much of the movie "Dead Poet Society". A great movie starred Robin Williams, one of the finest performances ever put up by him. I have kept the VCD and story book of this movie for my Kai and Ann to enjoy.

In this case, instead of photographs, check out the videos.

After the books, it's snack attack! I baked these M&Ms cookies for refreshments at the Reading Adventure Night.

This is the marvelous part about the American education system. Yes, in terms of academic progress, they may be lacking behind us but if you talk about a holistic education for the young minds, they far exceeded us. There are treasures in books, there are wisdom in books. Our system stressed too much on the acedemic field, parents are more interested in 'brain training', 'how to score As', holidays are about chasing after endless enrichment classes...and many parents are only home after 7pm.

Parents have to be home early, get to school by 6.30pm and sit through all the four story sessions with their kids. Will such an event work out in our schools?

2008-11-06T06:47:00.000-08:00

Rainbow at dusk?

Guess the time?
I wanted to show you how early the sun sets these days in Macungie. I took out my camera and went out to the patio...

The time was about 4.45pm, just before 5pm and the sky was already dark. We were told by our neighbours that as we approach December, daylight will get much shorter. It would be like, 'you wake up in darkness, you go to bed in darkness.' We decided to brighten up our place instead of living in darkness. We bought lots of Christmas lights - for the backyard and the front driveway.

And as I was capturing the 'Christmas light-up' with my camera, I spotted the rainbow in the background. I thought that was really unusual. Wikipedia explained rainbow as "an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere". My limited knowledge in this area also tell me that rainbow only occurs when there are sun and rain.

It did drizzle but there was definitely no sun. But it was a beautiful sight to see such a rainbow, the seven colours were not obvious but rays of red were clearly seen. Perhaps it was God telling us that a new era has dawn on America or maybe, it's God telling us that He is still watching over us and will always watch over us.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13
Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. Ezekiel 1:28
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Revelation 4:3

2008-11-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

...and yes, the Americans saw it!

This was the pamphlet left at my doorstep. In a freezing night,
in pitch darkness, on the eve of the election day,
they were still working towards making a change.
Is it any wonder that they won and they won big.

This is indeed a historical day for all Americans. In my small way, I just pray that change will come and it will make this world a better place for all.

Something we can learn

Weeks leading up to the election, Kai and Ann came home everyday from school to talk about the two nominees. I think this is something we should do for our kids. Get them involved in the affairs of the country. Give them knowledge of who is in charge in their country. I find this lacking in our education back home. Too much have been placed on academic excellence so much so that our kids do not have any ideas on the leaders of our country. Here, they start them young. Little Ann is only in pre-school and she has been taught what is an election, what do you do in an election, what is voting......They even had a lesson on election. The kids have to vote for their favourite ice-cream flavour! That is what I call education.

Our education system need to change, change for the better. In the society which our kids are going to live in, it is no longer just having straight 'A's, it will go beyond that and those who are going to excel, are those whose parents see education beyond just academic excellence.

2008-11-04T08:09:00.000-08:00

4th Nov 2008, a historical day in the making

Today, Americans will make history. It is the USA Presidential Election. A very historical one indeed. I have never been so excited and so engrossed in an election until now. I think, the world is also watching...everyone wants to know who will be the next US president who will shoulder a huge financial burden that almost throw the world economy into a big chaos, who will bring changes to the millions living in America, who will make this world a better place...

Till late last night, one party was still distributing flyers in my neighbourhood. I was impressed. With the time adjustment and the day getting really short, by 8.00pm, it was pitch dark (remember, no street lights) and they were still working. It sure speaks alot about their passion...I hope the Americans see it.

2008-11-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Time adjusted...

The daylight saving has come to an end and we have to adjust our time back by 1-hour. Not sure if this was good or bad but it sure got me all so confused.

We looked at our time it's 11am on Sunday. We thought we were late for service. We dashed out of our house thinking "what happen if the church was not aware of the change, would they have started service base on the old time?" When we finally arrived at church, we were 15 minutes early. It was only 10.15am. Everyone was doing things as per normal. They all adjusted their time and life went on.

Hubby was right in saying that all these were just part and parcel of their lives. They just adjust their time as and when needed and moved on. But for me, it was quite an experience.

Now that the daylight saving has ended, the day is getting so short. By 5pm, it is all dark. A new adventure awaiting us all.

2008-11-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Wow...you are famous lah!

My email box was suddenly flooded with lots of mails from home. I realised that an interview I did with our local newspaper was published together with a portrait of me taken by little Ann and some pictures of the places we have visited.

I have joined this forum call 'Singaporean women abroad' and the local newspaper got my contact through them.

That column was about travel so you get to read all about the nice things....(just doing my part to help boost the US economy *wink*). Many have written to say how they envy me. But before you start envying, read what I have to say first.

As a "relocated" mum, I do face with lots of challenges. Do you know that bringing the trash out, picking up the mails, I have to wear 3 layers of clothes, there are no families, no relatives here, in short, no family gatherings or outings. I worry about kids going to school, will they be bullied....worry about them going back to the Singapore school, can they cope or not? I know there is no point worrying but as a mother, it is only natural.

The weather could get very cold, my lips are cracked, my hands peeled. I look five years older because of the harsh weather (It's every woman's nightmare). To keep warm, I have to turn on the heater but that gives me the headache... but I want to support my husband, I want my kids to see beyond the comforts of a Singapore life-style, experience education outside the classrooms. There are lots of challenges, I will face head-on.....do you believe, as women, we are resilient, we are survivors, we make the best out of our situations....

Famous? no lah...tomorrow when you read your new set of Straits Times, all will be forgotten. BUT...if it is in God's plan for my life, that I will be famous, then I want to be famous for a good cause!

2008-11-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Our first 'tricks or treats'....

This is our first Halloween.

We have never fully understood what Halloween was all about till today. The day started with all the kids going to school as ususal but without the ususal school activities. There were parades where kids, teachers and even the principal and his family all dressed up in their favourite costumes and walk round the residence near the school. It was fun because everyone come in all different kinds of costumes.

But the real big fun started when the sun set. Our doorbell rang non-stop as kids with their parents came asking for treats...we were so busy giving out candies and chocolates and all kinds of goodies. Kai and Ann also did the same thing, they went with the neighbour kids to do 'tricks or treats'.

Little Ann had a great time with all her friends at pre-school. She was dressed as a Chinese princess, in her little pink cheongsum.

In the evening, while we were still half-way through our dinner, we realised that we have been 'invaded' by people from all over....

Spiderman, pumpkin man, witches, aliens and even the girl (what's her name?) from Wizard of Oz

We also found Darth Vader and his team standing at our door. Even a clown appeared

Transformer and his angel....who needs a costume to receive treats...it's all about having fun!

These two girls' costumes were my favourite for that night. They said they were from Harry Potter

All the fun ended at 8.30pm. It was not very late. Kai and Ann had such fun that they couldn't sleep for that night. What really impressed me about this whole event was that the kids were not roaming on the street on their own, they were not put at risk, knocking at strangers' houses. Their parents followed them and some even did it as a family. From grandparents to parents to kids. It was just one whole big family affair.

2008-10-31T14:57:00.000-07:00

Cold, so...

The weather has been very cold and wet. Today, the temperature drops to 4 deg C and we are expecting snowfall the next two days. The kids have all been 'caged'. It is just too freezing cold (not just cold) to go out and play. And dear mum has to keep them occuppied.

The kids' uncle Moses have been mailing books to the kids since the day we arrived.

This children's cookbook is the kids' favourite. I decided to just do baking using one of the recipes.

Ann has always been asking for her own apron. We saw this in her favourite colour and bought it. Only USD1.00!

Yeap, she is a baker in training...and a very good one. We made...

Chocolate chip cookies

We made healthy ones of course, instead of the normal white flour, we replaced it with wholemeal flour. So these are wholemeal chocolate chip cookies!

2008-10-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

Buy, buy, buy....

America is indeed a buying country. People just love buying things and gosh, there are just so much to buy!

This is only a fraction of what we receive in the mailbox.

Everyday, there are some catalogues sitting in our mailbox...not forgetting the never-ending advertisements which we also receive in our email box. Also there are lots of outlet shopping malls where you can get designers' labels at 60% to 70% off. If you think Singapore is a shopping paradise, you haven't seen anything yet! If you are a shopping freak, this is THE place for you!

2008-10-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

...but fresh meat

We have frozen fish here but lots of fresh meat!

I love going to the farm to buy my farm-reared lamb. It is simply delicious. Also, the pork here is very fresh. Succulent, juicy and tender. I find the pork back home kind of hard and dry. I don't like to use meat tenderiser as I find them artificial. Most of the time, I would season my meat overnight, even then, the meat is not tender enough.

This is a grilled pork steak. I just seasoned it with teriyaki sauce and minced garlic, place it in the fridge for a few hours and grill it in the oven.
It is very succulent, juicy and tender. Fuss-free, oil-free and easy to clean up!

2008-10-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Frozen fish

For some strange reason, we just couldn't get fresh fish in our little town.

There are frozen fish, fish fingers etc... but no fresh fish. Often we complain about the fish monger in our wet market for not selling fresh fish. When you have no fresh fish to eat, you will be thankful for what you can get back home.

Here, the fishes are also of strange species for us coming from Asia. There are tilapia, mud fish, monk fish, flounder...where are the 'song yu', 'ang ko-li', 'ikan kuning'....

...when I finally saw a familiar fish, I was most glad altough it came frozen...bought it and went home to make...

...grilled garlic mackeral

2008-10-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Pastor's appreciation day

Yesterday was Pastor's appreciation day. After the service, before the congreggation was dismissed, there was a short time of appreciating what the pastor has done for the church.

Weeks before, each family was given a little card to fill in their words of appreciation and love offerings for the pastor could be attached to the little card too.

It was nothing fanciful but it was definietly a very nice gesture.

I think all churches in Singapore should have this practice too. To give up everything to serve God is really not an easy thing to do. On top of that, as a pastor, there certain level of expectations which the people often look up to. Often, the position up there is lonely.

2008-10-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

More sneaky bakes

Remember I wrote about my zucchini cupcakes? Well, I found more recipes about adding greens into my baking and cooking. We were browsing in a shop when hubby spotted this wonderful cookbook

Yes, deceptively delicious! Chicken Nuggets with spinach, chocolate findue with avocado and carrot,
brownies with carrot and spinach....the best part was the book only cost USD5 !

This time, I made baked doughnuts. The healthy part about this doughnut was that it wasn't fried but baked.

YUM...MI, healthy with greens and dark chocolate powder!

With the busy schedule of working parents, a good, healthy meal has been pushed to the lowest priority. In exchange, we go for convenient food, fast-food and often, these food, in order to prolong their shelf life, have lots of additives, preservatives added into them. Often, as parents, it is so easy to give in to our kids' wimps and fancies. We allow them to eat anything not understanding the ill-effects which can follow.

Able to add in healthy ingredients into their food will enable their body to fence off some of the germs and bacteria that invade their bodies. As parents, we are made stewards of our children, look after them well.

2008-10-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

Fire department and autumn walk

The beautiful thing about living in a huge country is that there are just so much to do. Even for school field trips, the teachers can easily bring the kids to anywhere and lessons can be conducted. Children can learn so much through all these visits.

Ann's field trip for this month was a visit to the fire department and an autumn walk. In the autumn walk, the children were introduced to various types of leaves. It was a fun outdoor lesson!

The fire captain of the Alburtis Fire Department

Explaining the various types of fire vehicles and equipments which a fireman can use

Listen and learn. Important for all kids to have all these extra knowledge. Remember the Asia Tsunami in 2004.
How an eight-year-old girl managed to save hundreds of people on the beach when she remembered what
she learned in class about the signs of a coming tsunami. Knowledge goes beyond the four walls in a classroom.
That's Ann's best friend in class, the little girl in green jacket

Climbing into a fire engine, pretending to be firemen

Snack time at the park

Autumn walk starts. Picking up the various types of leaves and stuffing them into a bag

Some kind of berry tree. Not sure if they are edible

Leaves-tracing

Project done!

2008-10-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

They were in SINGAPORE!

"Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" was on TV last night. Bourdain is a bestseller author and chef. He travels extensively to savour the various food of the world. And last night, he went to....SINGAPORE!

For a bestseller chef to praise the food of Singapore, it really means something. He said, "Singapore is a culinary nirvana."

"So it was another day in foodie paradise. And that is Singapore's singular danger. It is easy to get sucked in, to get used to the little things on your daily table, the tiny dishes of sambal or chopped red chili peppers, the soy sauce, even the moist towelettes. You begin quickly to expect them, to take them for granted. And once you get used to the sights, sounds, smells and tastes, there is no going back. Western food becomes eerily bland and flat. You find your soul kidnapped by the memory of condiments". (http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/travel/tmagazine/24singapore.html?pagewanted=3&ref=tmagazine)

Yes, sometimes, I wonder why some are willing to pay so much for an ambience where you can only whisper to each other, use the ever complicated bling, bling cutlery sets... only to eat food that are served in amounts not even enough to fill the tiny corner of my stomach. When there are so much more to enjoy out there.

In the programme, Bourdain went to various food courts, kopitiams (coffee shops), zhi cha stalls (mini restaurants that operate out from a coffee shop)...to try the different dishes. Gosh, the food sure looked exceptionally good and delicious. There were 'tulang'(stewed lamb bone marrow), mee-pok (dried noodles), chilli crabs, roasted pork, beef and mutton rendang, satay, Maxwell Road famous chicken rice...

I can list no more, I am salivating (slurp, slurp)

2008-10-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

Bak kwa (Bar-b-q pork)

Fellow relocated mum shared this recipe with me. Homemade bak kwa. Well, at least we will have one Chinese New Year goody to eat when the festival arrives in end-January

I think it desperately needs more fats!

2008-10-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

And they were ice

This morning was exceptionally cold. We looked out from our patio, the green grass look white. Was it snowing? When we went out to have a closer look, it was actually ice.

It's just autumn, I cannot imagine what winter will be like...brrrr

2008-10-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

We have been booed

It was almost 8pm and the door bell rang. Very strange, the kids don't ask Kai out to play at such late hour, no parcel will be delivered at such hour...

Kai took a peek and told us that a package has been left at our doorstep...

It was a Halloween treats by we do not know who. But it was really cute, there were lots of goodies and little toys for the kids. Without experiencing it, we have always thought that Halloween was all about all things spooky. It really need not be so. For example, the Halloween parade we saw, it was a family affair. It really boils down to how you want to do it.

2008-10-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Of kings and queens, knights and ladies

After travelling to the Charles Dickens era, we moved on to the Renaissance age.

They were having the annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Manheim, a one hour drive from our home.

Named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association, it is a rollicking recreation of a 16th Century England county fesitval filled with jousting knights and over 35 acres of Royal delights! Over 120 Tudor structures set the scene for over 90 daily performances of various enchantments including Commedia Del Arte, puppet shows, sword swallowing and more by the Faire's 100's of colorfully costumed characters. (www.padutchcountry.com/member_pages/pennsylvania_renaissance_faire.asp)

It was a very unique experience. Everyone was having a fun time and even the visitors came in their special costumes. They mingled with the staff, entertainers, so much so, it was difficult to tell who were the visitors and who were the performers.

And yes, they addressed each other by 'my lord', 'my sweet lady'....

The journey to the Renaissance age begins...

One picture with one soldier

All the king's men and all the king's women...

...and all the little children

When there are kids..there must be rides. During the Renaissance era, the rides were not run by machines, they were run by man.

It was hard work for the men but the kids had FUN!

What did the people do for a living during the Renaissance era?

The popcorn man and the knitting lady

The bird-keeper and the sculptor

The hot chocolate lady and the pickle woman

There was art & craft booth where the kids could create their own mask.

A different kind of lady, a different kind of knight

You could select plays to watch. Unfortunately, we missed the Shakespear's play

The ladies were dressed in their Sunday best to watch the play...but where art thou, my lord?

A little puppet show caught Kai's and Ann's attention

Travelling through the Renaissance era was a tedious task. Taking a break, have a cup of tea and a slice of cake would be most ideal!

Hmm...look at those pastries...Kai was more interested in finding out what to do next. We had hot chocolate and choco mint tea.
and a slice of ...

...DEATH BY CHOCOLATE! Very rich chocolatey taste but not at all sweet. A mouthful of cake and a sip of mint tea...heavenly

More characters...and who was that lying in a coffin? (Better don't show this to kongkong and popo (the grands))

Time for more food..slurp

Grilled turkey leg. YUM...MI.

Strange characters such as a lizard man and a pumpkin man were found among the kings and queens, kinghts and ladies

Two strange figures pass by us, a white one and a grey one...

...it was Gandalf from Lord of the Rings

It was a great 'travelling back in time'. Bringing oneself to a different kind or era was a whole new experience. The kids and even us thoroughly enjoyed it. While walking back to the car, Kai came to me and said, "mummy, thank you for brining us here." It was really so sweet of him. My dear son is growing up each day.
(It would really be nice if Singapore could look into organizing such events where families could participate together).

So...that brought us to the end of the Renaissance age...

2008-10-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Beyond paper and ink, keyboard and screen

Have you ever had experiences in your life that were beyond your imaginations, beyond what you could handle. I have and it made me think of how great, how creative, how magnificient our God is.

It was Columbus Day. The kids have the day off. Hubby decided to take half a day off to spend time with them. We did a mini road trip and it brought us to one of the most beautiful place we have even been in our lives. The Poconos, a very historical, natural and pure destination.

As usual, I will let the pictures do the writing...

Old buildings with a very special character of their own surround the streets

Autumn leaves were falling every where. A grand old dane still stood firm

After a hearing, you could always adjourn to a deli

After exploring the city, we thought it would be a great idea to do a train ride.

Buying the train tickets and rushing to board. We just made it. The ticketing booth and the ticket inspectors were so surreal.
It was like a page from one of the many Charles Dickens novels. How he described them. Suddenly, all these descriptions became real.

Inside the train and the ticket inspector came to check our tickets. Gosh, it seemed like I was living in Dicken's era

The train ride was simply awesome. I have been to Authur's pass in NZ, sat on the Buffing Billy in Melbourne but this one was really the greatest.

The train ride saw a burst of bright, beautiful colours - yellow, orange and red trees just breezed pass us.
There were lakes, creeks and people were boating. It was such a beautiful sight

After the train ride, we continued with our journey, not knowing that there were more beauty and surprises waiting for us.

This road led us to...

...a most beautiful and unspoilt lake. It was so serene and we just soaked in all its beauty.

This beauty, we must cherish

I was so mesmerized by all these beauty. There is now a reluctance to leave this beautiful country. I am highly incapable to write and describe about the joy I have experienced, the beauty I have beheld...because they are simply beyond words. It would be most perfect if all these can be brought home to share with you.

One of the most regretful thing in Singapore is that nature is demolished to make way for a concrete jungle. The creations of God has to give way to the creations of man, We are left with nothing natural, pure and simple to enjoy.

2008-10-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

"A dog-sitter"

The door bell rang early in the morning. We don't get visitors so early in the morning, it was kind of strange. A peek out from the side window, I saw two of our neighbour's kids standing outside in the cold morning.

They have accidentally locked themselves out of their house while bringing their little dog out for his morning walk!

They couldn't get into their house and it was almost time to catch the bus for school. Hubby went round the house to see if there were any way to get in. There was no way and they couldn't get in touch with any of their family members. No one carries a cell phone.

In the end, they decided to just go to school without their school bags and left their little dog, Sairus with me!

I have never ever looked after any dogs or cats in my whole life. Leave me with a baby, a toddler or a young child, I would have no problem but a dog? What am I supposed to do with him.

After the kids left for school, Sairus was visibly upset. He kept barking and gosh, that was deafening. I gave him a dish of water and he drank it all and went on barking again...

I 'shhhed' him and he kept quiet. Amazing how a little animal could understand me. After a while, he settled down. When he knew I meant no harm to him, he just kept quiet and stayed in the garage.

That day, time went by like a little snail.....

The time for the kids to retrn home from school finally came. I brought Ann and Sairus out to wait for the kids and yes, he was ecstatic when he saw his little masters again! For me, I was just glad that I was not a 'dog-sitter' for long.

Sairus, that little dog...

2008-10-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Halloween parade

One of our church friends invited us to his house to view their town annual halloween parade.

Halloween has never been a big event in Singapore, maybe just in pubs and clubs. We have never been creatures of the night and these are the places which you would never find us. So, to us, a Halloween parade is something new.

But over here, halloween is a big event after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some towns organised parades for their communtity. It would be something new for the kids and even for us. We have never thought that a Halloween parade could so much be a family thing.

There were no bright lights, fanciful floats, everything was homemade and very simple but the people had a great time and they really appreciated the good time spent together with neighbours, friends and most of, families.

A buffet spread of chicken, sausages with cheese, sweet potato casserole, devile eggs.
Desserts - pumpkin pie, minced pie and brownies. All solely prepared by a man!

Houses were decorated...

...even the dog was done up...

...kids had all kind of costumes on...

...what was an injured kid doing outside the house?

Let the parade begins...

There were the mayor, school band, baseball team, boy scouts...

...little girl brownies, karate kids

Dads drove trucks with kids in tow and mums followed behind

Homemade spaceship and robot

Vintage cars

Art & craft group. Fantastic art work they did for their float

Senior choir...everyone in the family was involved in one way or another

Grandpa pirate, grandma...er...flag dancer?

Farmers with their pride...their tractors

Candy, anyone? One of the highlights was the people sitting on the float would throw candies to
all the kids watching. The kids simply loved rushing for them. It was fun!

Happy faces, all over

Even santa came early for an early Christmas greetings....

The loot...and what we found among the loot...

What economic crisis? The people here led very simple lifestyle and were contented with what they have. I was reminded once again that happiness in life can be found in the very simple and the very basic.

2008-10-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

an AWESOME God

As I was typing this post, the song 'Awesome God' was playing away.

Our God is an awesome God,
He reign from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God

These couple of weeks, there were nothing but bad news. The fall and fall of the financial market have indeed created lots of fears, worries and panic among many people. Everyone was worried about their jobs, their savings, their retirement plans and the list went on...

One of my fellow mother friends had this verse in her blog. You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. Job 5:24 So assuring in this time of turmoil.

And yes, I was reminded that our God is an awesome God. He knows us and and He understands us. No matter how brave we may appear to be, what courageous front we put on, deep down inside, we are all worried...about ourselves, our families and our kids...no amount of preparations or investments or plans would shield us and our loved ones from the harshness of the real world. These are real situations, people are losing jobs, losing their savings...

How then do we keep happy in the midst of all these chaos? When we are able to tell ourselves that these material things are temporal and like what Job said Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. Job 1:21 When we all learn to live like that, we will continue to live a very happy and contented life.

So, cheers to LIFE, it is often the darkest before the sun rises!

2008-10-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

"Or-chian"

"Or-chian" is basically an egg omelette fried with sweet potato starch and topped with delicious oysters. It is my all-time favourite.

Back in Singapore, each time I stepped into a food-court, once I spotted the "or-chian" stall, it would be without a doubt, I would sure to order this dish. But it was so expensive to have it. For a $5 plate, I would be getting an ultra thin layer of omelette with lots of fried starch and probably just five small oysters.

Gina, my wonderful chef friend has provided once again, a fuss-free recipe for the dish. However, the difficult part was searching for the sweet potato flour in this American country. I searched three Asian grocers before I finally found something close to it. And with my frozen oysters, I fried up a storm. Hubby and I had a marvelous time eating them. The good thing about home-cooked "or-chian" is that you can add in more oysters. Do you know that oysters are an ideal food for inclusion in low-cholesterol diets. Making a healthier choice, use vegetable oil and topped it with plenty of coriander leaves, a bacteria-killing greens!

This is not the real sweet potato flour but the ingredients had it included

Presenting..."or chian". The right chilli sauce for dipping was missing but it really didn't matter anymore

2008-10-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

Never quitting

I have come to the end of my book "What my parents did right?" Wow, that's a long time to finish a book...well, at least I finished it inspite of a schedule of kids and household chores!

"Son, you need to learn that life is not easy and that, whatever you do in life, you will be working with people who don't agree with you. Go back to Bob Jones and learn to function in a context that is difficult for you...Besides, you quit. You ran away from a situation that was difficult. If you run away completely, you will set a pattern that will be hard to break. You may end up being a quitter all your life....life is difficult, but it is also an adventure - an an exciting one at that. I'm persuaded in my own life that God's calling demands steady, unmoved perseverance" - Dr Robert Webber

"Don't quit!" A common phrase which we have often repeated it to others and have often heard others repeating to us. It is definitely important to 'drill' it into the hearts and minds of our children.

Kai doesn't like taking Chinese as a subject but it is a second language which all Chinese kids have to take when they are in school. Not having a very interesting Chinese teacher made it even more difficult for him to enjoy it. We all know how important it is to have an interesting teacher in class. If we have a good teacher, oh how we look forward to attending his lesson, how attentive we can be during his lesson. I recalled having a great lecturer during my Open-U days. I did English and it was a dry and boring subject. But this lecturer brought so much life and soul into a dead subject and it wasn't surprising to find full attendence at all his lectures.

Coming to US would mean Kai will be having lesser time with his Chinese. A joy to him, a bane to me. I have to work two times, three times harder to get him to remember his Chinese, to enjoy his Chinese. Each time, when I sit him down for his Chinese lesson, his mind will start to drift to every parts of the world, every corner of the universe...except to the world of Chinese. His mind just shut down and he just gave up. Basically, he just QUIT! Hang out his white flag and surrender. He will make no attempt to think, to try at all.

Till one fine day, I had to have a pep talk with him. (Never think that you child is too young to understand). Kai loves soldiers, army and stories of wars and battles, very much a boy thing.

I had to illustrate to him that learning Chinese is like going to war. If the soldiers don't even put up a fight, they will surely die in the hands of their enemies but if they put up a fight, there are still chances of a victory. If he sits down and just quit trying, it is a confirmed faliure for him. The chances of him scoring any marks are nil. But if he puts in some efforts, the chances of passing are there.

We love watching the reality show - Survivor. It is about outwit, outplay, outlast your competitors. And each time when it comes to the challenges, often we find the losing team, not giving up, fighting to the end and thus, winning the race. Each time one of these team emerged winning, I would use it as an example regarding his 'fight' with his Chinese.

And I am glad that all these illustrations have sunk in. Kai is making progress. The first mock Chinese exam given to him, he really failed but yesterday, he had another mock exam and he scored 36 marks out of 50. It is not the best marks but it is the effort he has put in, trying his hardest to answer the questions and... not quitting.

2008-10-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Compromise or commitment

This week we had an invited speaker at the pulpit. He was an old man but he didn't speak like one, in fact, he spoke with much convictions and gusto! His message was from Exodus, the negotiations between Pharaoh and Moses. He asked, as Christians, do we often find ourselves committing or do we find ourselves compromising?

He gave many examples. One of them was why church attendance have been dipping? Reason being, most chose to put their kids in 'Kids' League' on a Sunday and instead of going to church, they chose to attend all the games.

On rainy days, people chose to stay home instead of going to church...BUT on rainy days, people still get to work, force their kids out of bed and put them on the school bus. Why? Basically, a commitment over compromise. Whereas for church-going, it was vice versa.

The message made me ponder...back home, when people drive to church, they not only expect a parking lot waiting for them but they also expect a good position in the carpark waiting for them. So often, we strive for convenience and not commitment. Where there is no convenience, we often compromise.

2008-10-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

Autumn Festival

Autumn is a harvest season. Many places over at where we are staying are having lots of autumn festivals. There will be all kinds of rides and wonderful farm produce for sale, pumpkins, being the most popular ones. That's because, Halloween is just round the corner and many people like to place pumpkins outside their house for decorations together with scarecrows. Drive around the neighbourhood, you will find all kinds of decorations...there are also spooky ones. (Sorry, no pics on the spooky ones)

Since we are here, how can we miss out on all these fairs and festivals.

We decided to drive up north to visit one of them. It was something different, something we all enjoyed very much at the end of the day.

It has been wet and cold for the past few days. But today, when we arrived at the festival, it was sunny and cold.

Pumpkins everywhere

Where there is sun, there will be people

A real hay ride. Although the sun was out, we were all bundled up. It was cold

The aliens have invaded the corn field

Trying to get out of the hay maze

School bus driver, Kai...Tank driver, Ann

Hey, mum and pops...

...we are bikers!

While Ann was meeting Dora...her brother was caught by a spider...

...as if that wasn't enough, Kai fell into a mouse trap!

Welcome to the land of...CORNfusion

Finally...an obstacle course and one final ride

This was a giant onion. Strangely, just before we arrived at the fair, I was telling the kids and hubby that I wished I could eat the wild, wild west onion from Black Angus. And lo and behold...when we arrived at the fair, there was a stall selling the onion. It was basically a giant onion, cut up like a flower, coated with batter and deep fried. Oh yes, it was sinfully delicious...but did you know that eating onions provides some of the best health benefits, such as preventing heart diseases and blood clot. Do a google and you will be able to read all about it.

2008-10-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

All things small and yummy

I just have a sudden urge to want to eat dim sum. Wikipedia defines dim sum as a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea.

Of course, with the limited amount of ingredients available, it is impossible to have the full range. Instead I made just two types. The radish cake or 'lor-bak-ko' which has been Kai's favourite dim sum dish since he was a toddler.

I remember when he was just two years old, we were at NZ for holiday. We went into a dim-sum restaurant for lunch. By the time we were there, it was almost closing and they have ran out of the radish cake, Kai burst out crying and and the boss found him so cute, in that such a young child, would have such hunger for a simple dish. Guess what, the boss actually went into the kitchen and specially made some for him. Great service! Going that extra mile for his little customer.

This is a simple radish cake recipe shared by my culinary master, Gina

The other dish is 'mua chee'. This dish usually does not appear in the dim sum menu but it is a light snack enjoyed by many Singaporeans. Gina also has a great recipe for it. (Gina, what am I going to do without all your fabulous recipes :))

It's made of glutinous rice with grounded peanuts and sugar sprinkled on it. The nuts should be much finer than this but I don't have a food blender so using a rolling pin and my hands, I 'grinded' them. Great work-out!

2008-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

An icon of Singapore...

We were shocked to receive the news on the passing away of Singapore's most iconic opposition leader, Mr Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam (5 January 1926 - 30 September 2008). Many fondly remembered him as JBJ. My father is one of his fans. Although, he doesn't read alot of English, he bought his book when Mr JBJ was selling them outside Centerpoint. My father loves him for his 'never-say-die' fighting attitude.

I have always have great respect and admiration for anyone, whether they are just commoners or some great leaders, who stood and fought hard for their beliefs, their ideals, their values. Outsiders may not think well of them but it is personal and it is what they believe in and it is what they want to do in their lifetime. Many go through life just sitting on the fence and watch, being an armchair critic...before they know it, it's time to say good-bye and realise their life just passed on without doing much. It is not how much they have accomplished in their lifetime, it is not about counting the number of awards that they have recieved...it is about how fulfilled they have led their lives.

I have always remember a plague which I once saw. "If you don't stand for anything, you will fall for everything."

2008-10-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

The mountain is gone?

This morning we woke up and found the mountain in front of our house was gone? The neighours' houses were also not visible....It was a fog. First time since we arrived. A check on the weather site, visibility was down to just 0.40km. Driving the kids to school would be a challenge, all these were just very new but it would be a great test on our driving skills.

Again, I say, aren't you thankful for Singapore?

2008-09-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

Stewed lamb for a cold day

My mother often referred to lamb as a "heaty" meat. So when the weather turned cold, she would roast her leg of lamb, a favoruite in our family. Eat it with mint sauce, it not only warmed the body, it warmed the soul too. Mum is very good with her roasted leg of lamb. I have yet to master that skill but for her, everyone praised her for roasting the perfect lamb!

Most mothers would discouraged their daughters from taking lamb during their pregnancy. This is because they fear that when the baby is born, he will have epilepsy. You see, in Chinese, the term 'epilepsy' has the word 'lamb' in it. It is more superstitious than scientific. My mother, on the other hand, would encouraged me to eat more. I remembered just before heading to the hospital to give birth to Kai, mum made me the famous Hainanese lamb soup. She told me that it would be advisable to keep the womb warm for the baby. Mother's explanation made more sense...but to me, it just another wonderful dish to eat and enjoy!

As the weather turned cold over here, I made stewed lamb to keep everyone warm. This wasn't the ususal lamb stew. It was just lamb stewed till tender and cover with the gravy left over during stewing.

With lamb bought from the farm, rosemary from my garden and some gloves of garlic and I have a dish of stewed leg of lamb.

It was stewed till the meat just slipped off from the bone of the leg of the lamb. Yum...mi!

2008-09-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

Church was vandalised

This morning we went to church and found out that between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the church was vandalised. Someone had thrown golf balls at the church windows and there were two gapping holes.

Some church members were very quick to get into action. There were glasses splattered all over the chapel and Noah, one of the elderly men went down to the church to sweep away every piece of glass on each pew and on the carpet. He made sure that no one would be hurt.

Some young men, put up cardboards and plastics and pasted up the broken windows as the weather has been bad.

First thing in the service, we prayed for whoever vandalised the church and service went on as usual.

Truly, the church is only a building, it is the people of the church that give it life.

Those four-letter words

We put behind the vandalism incident and Pastor Winters preached on more important issue such as the financial situation in US. It was a good message.

We all know that in our current economic situation, it would never be possible to live a debt-free life. Example, even buying a HDB flat, we would already plunge ourselves into debt. However, the wise would made sure that his debt should be kept below his income level. His credit card bills would be cleared at the end of each month and not rolled over till it snow-balled into an unbelievable and unpayable amount.

The Bible talked about such issues. Proverbs 21: 20 "Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it" A wise man would ensure that his family has the good things but a foolish man empties his house. We don't need to have all of it. Romans 13:8 "Owe no one anything..."The verse speaks clearly for itself. God has never intended us to owe anything to anyone. The borrower is a salve to the lender and we have seen and read about it many times in the papers.

Debt is basically a bad thing, a dangerous thing and it is something which God doesn't want us to have.

Recently, hubby and I were about to buy a big ticket item (before the financial crisis happened). It was a really good buy. The seller requested that we give him a deposit first but more time for him to consider. We were surprised as to why we need to pay a deposit and yet still give him time to sort out his issues. God has always given us wisdom to make informed decisions and we have always believed in the guidance of God. We decided to give him more time but without paying the deposit. During the waiting time, the financial market went into turmoil. We were so thankful that God was on our side. In the end, we decided we should not go ahead with the purchase, we would just wait.

So there goes the four-letter words....WAIT is WISE

All ready for winter?

Past few days have been really cold and friends have given plenty of advice as to what to buy, where to buy cheap but good winter clothings. So, we spent our Saturday, shopping for winter clothes and found more places selling good and cheap winter clothes.

I hope these are enough to keep all of us warm.

When you are at the right place at the right time and they have the right stuff,
you know you've got a good bargain. This pair of flats cost me only US$2.98!