The Lehigh Valley Zoo

The zoo here wasn't as big as the one back home, but it sure was an interesting place to visit.



Air Products -- one of their partners


Stroller big enough for 2


Learning about the different types of skull


The snowy owl


Feeding the rainbow lorikeet


Look, the birds even pecked a hole in the cup


Can you blame me for being proud when I have such beautiful feathers to show off


This wasn't part of the zoo, it was only one of the many little creatures which Kai had found on the ground

The road less travelled...


often led us to beautiful places where we could experience the wonders of God's creation

We were supposed to be at the strawberry farm but were told that the strawberries were not ready. We decided to just drive and perhaps visit the zoo here. This unplanned trip turned out to be the best trip so far, as Ann had described it.


We saw and visited this farm that was selling lots of potted flowers and fresh herbs and spices. The Suyundalla Farm. It has always been my dream to cook with fresh herbs and spices. We met this Italian man working on the farm, another nice and friendly person added to our new-friend list


So, now I have rosemary, thyme, Italian basil, English basil, mint and parsely on my window ledge

Space, space and more space

Kai and Ann just simply loved and adored the huge amout of space. It was great for them to simply busk under the sun and enjoy the huge amount of space for them to run around. I told them, to just soak it in

17 May

The church roof repair should be completed by today. We decided to bring some food for those guys who were working on the roof. We knew nothing about roof repair. Instead of messing it up, we thought we could do our little part by feeding the sevants of God. When we arrived at about 10am, the guys were already up on the roof.



Young, middle-aged, old...age was not a barrier, just a heart willing to do their part


This young boy was only 12 years old

God was indeed very good. According to the weather forecast, it was supposed to rain on Saturday. (For your information, the forecast here is pretty accurate) But God was mightier than anything else. There was sunshine and cool breeze instead. A nice weather to work on the roof-top. The whole job was completed by 3pm and the rain only came on Sunday morning after the roof was fully repaired. Thank you for your prayers and monetary support. This roof would last them for another 50 years!

15 May

Today is Ann's last day of school. Summer vacation is here. Over here, this vacation is a HUGE one. Equivalent to end of the year school holiday back home.

Back home, end of a school year, we usually have year-end concert, where teachers would be stressed out months before the concert, trying to think of a better performance than last year's. On the actual day, they would be stressed out again, running around getting the kids ready for the great performance. Parents paying unnecessary money for costumes which the kids would only wear once and kids getting agitated with having to wear hot, itchy expensive costumes. Helpers would also be roped in to help doll up the kids....the girls would love it, the boys....getting frustrated with all the colours on their faces...all these for just a 3-minute performance.

Here, everything would be SIMPLE. I really have learn to appreciate the small, simple things in life.

On the last day of school, a potluck picnic was organised! One week before, a list of food was made out and parents could choose what they would like to contribute for the picnic. That's it! On the day itself, everyone just come and relax and enjoy. Parents took time off, grandparents came, the kids and everyone had a great fun day!

I think that should be the way. Having worked all year round both for the teachers and children, at the end of a school term, they should be enjoying themselves. Maybe, Singapore is too hot to have picnic at the park but a day by the beach would be great too!


Venue for the picnic - Lower Macungie Park. Big playground, surrounded by a huge field


Ann is beginning to be more like her brother. Chasing after the birds


Of course, the birds flew away...she gave up


What better way to bond with your kids..."higher, daddy, higher". Yes, even the fathers came. It was really a very heart-warming sight


Everyone having a great time


Dining...al-fresco, without burning a hole in your pocket






The kids all had a fun-filled time


An American picnic all-time favourite - hot-dogs


Pretty little eggs - another new recipe I picked up


Now...who stole the cupcake from the cupcake tray

What a monster!

Just before I left for US, good friends were telling me that I might just put on some weight over here, with cheese, milk, beef..."you might just gain some weight". Putting on some weight might just help to keep me warm in colder weather.


Look at this monster I have to handle. This reminded me of those vacuum cleaner I used to see on shows like "I Love Lucy". It was 15 kg heavy! (but it has the words 'light-weight' printed on it) Carrying it up and down the stairs was enough to shed whatever I have stuffed into myself. It was no wonder I hated the cold weather

14 May

"God will make a way where there seems to be no way..." Yes, God always has His ways of working. Really, all we need to do was just to trust Him.

I wrote to Barb asking if the church has managed to raise enough funds for the roof repair.

Today, I received an email from Barb Love

Yes, Shirley - Praise the Lord----we have! As a matter of fact, today the steeple came off. I took pictures and tried to video it so we shall see how good a photographer I am. I'd like to burn it to a CD - that is once I learn how to do it!! :-) I have people who know how to do that so maybe they can show me. The steeple is now lying on it's side by the Church shed. We are putting a new roof on it - Lord willing and the weather holds out - this Saturday. Shingles and materials are being delivered early tomorrow morning and then early Saturday the work will start. Pray for good weather for the guys. The Lord has been so faithful as He always is so I want to not make a big deal of stuff because He always comes through.......Love, Barb :-)

Why be normal?

Food is a very interesting subject.

Take a piece of pork chop, you could have many ways of cooking it. Must pork chop be eaten as pork chop? Not really, you could sliced up the meat for stir-fry with vegetables, used the bone for soup. You could minced the meat for meat balls and dumped the bones....

Must lasagna be cooked as lasagna? No, lasagna can be made into pasta roll...Step out of the ordinary and you could see much more


I first read about this in a food magazine. Then, in US, I saw this on the Food Network. It was a channel where only food programmes were shown. So, here I tried it out and yes...another yummy result.

14 May

God continues to be good and He continues to assure us that He is watching over us.

Deut 32 : 10 - 12
He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the LORD alone guided him...

Kid's Meal

Eating out with kids was a fun thing to do. Almost every restaurant would have kiddy pack for all the kids. It would consist of Crayola crayons, colouring paper, games etc...


This was from Friendlys, this restaurant was very much like our Swensons

Then you have dessert. Fabulous desserts they have over here. Choose the flavours for the ice-cream, choose the toppings and build your own sundae.


This one was built by Ann


Dig in, of course