Goal - Basking in God's Almighty presence

Dear beloved Grace, Lots of things have happen since I last wrote in 2015. This is year 2024 now. We have 3 kids and a dog. DAD passed away in Oct 2023,20th. Its been 9 years since the surgery to implant a defibilrator for my heart. Its been inside me, everyday working to monitor my heartbeat and sends a reading through my home monitor system to the National Heart Centre. Baby No.3, "I" was born to us June,2017. My gift from God to assure me that He has given me a good heart now. Life goes on. He is my salvation. Baby I 's name means Salvation of the Lord. He came out early at 35 weeks and the Paeditrician on standby announced his lungs were well as he screamed out pretty loud! so small but so loud. He was 2.2kg. my tiny kitten. We will hold him n love him all of our days. Till now he is motivated and a determine fighter. He loves hugs like me and will generously give to koko and jie jie a portion of his food. But he will not just back down when koko fights with him. He gives such a punch and he has his loving koko to play with him and fight with him. I pray you will love each other forever. Fight or argue, but always mend your hearts and connect again. Be strong together, pour out your heart together, support each other. Do not forget to protect your sister. She is strong, but she will need your support and love. Help her by encouraging her. Use loving words and pray for one another. Dad, you will be forever missed. Its been one year, and its still so unreal. We will never know why God brings you home so early and so suddenly. We missed you while we do our daily routine. Some of us will regret not spending more time with you. Some of us will regret not saying those words of love to you. But I guess you would have regretted the same too... I hope you will be in heaven, waiting for us and fearing God and living in His Joy and peace. I know i will see you again in your best form. Someone said, we always view our parents as forever there. And you are in our hearts. Somedays I remember I wanna tell dad this and that, bring him go eat delicious food and discover new things or tell him about my job. He never really talks about his days, who his friends are,what they do. You are a private person. Maybe you had a alot of secrets. But thank you for listening to me. Thank you for showing me about loyalty and having no barriers to connect with people. I'm sure alot of people were blessed by your genuine heart. Maybe a part of you lives inside of me. I will eat your favourite durians for you. Watch mom do her gardening and accompany her for you. I will hope your friends and relatives come to know Christ with the seeds you sow. Maybe one day you will introduce us to our siblings who went to heaven before us. You are a general, fight the war and have return to be ackonowledge by the King. Maybe He wants you there to lead his army to pray for the ones left behind. May you, Uncle Teh and Uncle Seow , continue to love God deeply and bask in God Almighty's presence.

Mushipan Strawberry

Steam strawberry mashipans success!

Ingredients

1/2 cup self raising flour

or (1/2 cup all purpose flour & 1teaspoon baking powder)

2 tbsp corn flour

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp grapeseed oil / coconut oil

50ml fresh milk/almond milk

1 egg (beaten till frothy) 

4 strawberries (mashed up)

Steps 

1. Pre heat wok 1-2 inch with water and turn off fire once water boils.

2. In medium bowl beat the eggs till frothy with a fork. 

3. Add sugar and stir till sugar melts.

4. Add oil and milk mix well.

5. In another bowl,mix flour and baking powder if you are using all purpose flour or wheat flour

6. While mixing your eggs, slowly pour the flour through a sheave and mix well till well combine.

7. Add your mashed up strawberries. Mixture will have a pinkish hue. 

8. Slowly scoop your mixture into prepared paper cupcakes (I put the paper ones on top of stiff aluminum ones)

9. Heat up your wok and once water begins to boil, put your cup Mashipans in to steam for about 6 mins (or until pans rises ) 

10. After that take them out and cool.Be careful  they are very hot!

Eat them warm! Yums!

( recipe inspired by http://angieisagirl.wordpress.com/tag/mushipan/

)

Missing grandma...

Grandma passed away on 28 Feb 2012. She lived to a 100years old. She
passed away peacefully in her home in Pusing, Ipoh.

Without grandma, will going home to Pusing will be different. Will we ever be visiting anymore?
As the family prepares for her funeral, I'm staying back in Singapore as I'm 7 months pregnant now. My grandma's daughter who is my Mom is in the US with my brother and family. How could she leave when we are all not around? 

Was it God's will that she left in her sleep without seeing all her loved ones? My heart pains and cries. It still feels like I'm  goin through it alone. 

But my husband is here with me. And my baby is within me. "Please don't cry and be too upset, because the little one will be affected too.", my brain tells me but my heart still aches. 

My grandma will not be able to see my little one. But at least she came for my wedding. How I wished I'd spend more time with her. She is my lovely grandma. 

As I ponder moments I had with her back in Penang and Ipoh. She gave her love unconditionally. She taught us how to make Chinese Dumpling (bachang) one time, few years back. She could still use a 'parang' to chop a comb of bananas at the back of her house when hubby went back with me( then we were still courting) 

Her love for some sweet bitter cakes ( kueh) from the road side market. Her passion to bring her goods to sell at the local market. She has always missed her freedom to do things independently and missed her hometown. My grandma was a very strong lady, physically and towards the end mentally sound too. 

As we saw her grow older, i knew she longed to be young and vibrant again ( taking her walks, tending her fruit farm, feeding her free range chickens, riding on her bicycle ) Now all her children and grandchildren have left to stay in the city. None has shared her love for the village she lived in. Home is home. No matter how beautiful it is in the city or how cars can transport her to different cities to stay in different homes by her children, home is home. She longed for home.

At last she was home and she slept on her bed which she slept for many years in the room ,in the house, her husband built. We belief then, she was at peace to leave. 

Now where she is, a place where no illness, nor physical limitations will ever take place. She is probably in her 30's, her youthful self again, tending to her garden and smiling at her new neighbors.  She is with Him who saw her In her mothers womb. Now with Him, no more tears or sadness. Now love and joy is being with the Him, her Father. 

I cried and told Him, that I missed her. "Dear Father, if You could, tell her that I love her and miss her".

New Look, New Perspective

Time flies since 2005 when i started this blog.
Young was I when everything took me by surprise and I loved it and embraced them like fireworks in the sky.
From graduation to beginning a new job, to experiencing a 'flying' career, to meeting the love of my life, to studying in a bible school to returning to get married, to moving twice a year, and to find out we're going to be parents soon! Life's been so far like fireworks again... only this time, it took longer for me to appreciate it when it was happening in front of me. It is like looking at the reflection of the water when the fireworks are in the sky.

But nevertheless, I give thanks to the Lord my God for not forsaking me at times when i had ignored and turned my back on Him, only to find that He is always there and willing to take me back. I'm forever grateful and can never repay Him for what He has done for me before I was even alive!

Reviving this blog was a minute decision. I had ignored it because i felt some stranger is going to look at it and i didn't like it. But now i do have some time on my hands, so why not just a glimpse of my life, and thanksgivings of everyday?

CONFLICT is Not Bad

Prov 17:10

A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

*When you rebuke someone, you make that person better.

*Conflict resolution should always be motivated by LOVE

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

KEYS TO DEALING WITH CONFLICT

1. Deal with it
2. Sit Down and write out what is bothering you. Pause.
3. Before confronting, determine your goals :- you primary, secondary and any added bonuses
4. Take control of your emotions
5. Get the facts right first. Do your homework before confronting.
6. Hint dropping is evil - are you plotting something up your sleeve?
7. Treat others as you would want to be treated

* Try to see the other side
* stay away from Attacking words/phrases like :
-------- "you always!"-------- when its not true....
--------"you never!"----------
---------"I hate that you" -------- "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger." - Psa 15:1
8. Use phrases that are non- threatening like ----" It seems as though.....
9. Don't exaggerate things
- Realize that the action was bad and not that person.

Trying my own Fried Fish Soup!

Inspired by only the ingredients i have to play with :-
Fish, Garlic and one egg.... i went to seek a recipe that could help me make a dish.

I found Stir-fried Fish Cubes and as i try to find the other ingredients in my brother's house ( yes, i was home alone )- i found tapioca flour, dried shrimp, no scallions - so i used celery and no ginger...decided to use garlic... i figured, i'd not have stir-fry, why not make soup? since the couple are not feeling well... they might like a little soup...

and then... viola...my fried fish! how did i make it?


2 Tablesp of Water
2 Tablesp of Flour (Corn or Tapioca)
1 egg white
2 pieces of Tilapia Fillet ( chop into cubes )
and a pan of vegetable oil, heat on high till u see bubbles...means hot!
then dip the fish cubes in mixture of flour,egg and water and put into the pan to deep fry... fry till golden brown!


Next the soup base...decided to just add whatever i can find since i can't go anywhere to get the ingredients in the website...

Ingredients for soup base:-
2 stems of celery (chopped into slices or cubes -for the crunchy feel)
1 Tablespoon of dried shrimp (soaked in water before adding into soup)
3 cloves of garlic (sliced)
1 Tablespoon of Miso soup base(enough to give you a clear yet tasty soup)
1 egg yolk (leftover from the making of fried fish) and then put the fried fish into the soup when ready to eat!


And then there was Fried Fish Soup! Honey potato! finally made something we always like to eat in Singapore... at least mine looks close to that...
To finish, add to soup some fried red onions.

How to make Papaya Pickles

Papaya Pickles Recipe

Ingredients :

1 Green unripe papaya

1 tablespoon Salt

6 Bird's eye chili (chili padi)/ 2 Big RED CHILLI

250ml Vinegar

250ml Water

250g Sugar



Method :

*

Skin the papaya before cutting into halves.
*

Remove the seeds.
*

Cut the papaya into 1 inch thick slices then cut each piece into thin slices without cutting all the way through. This allows the pieces to be opened up into a fan shape.
*

If preferred, cut the papaya into thin slices.
*

Put the pieces of papaya in a clean mixing bowl.
*

Add the salt, mix and allow to marinate for about an hour until the papaya turn soft.
*

Squeeze out excess liquid.
*

Put vinegar, water and sugar into a heavy-based saucepan and bring to a low simmering boil for 15 minutes.
*

Remove saucepan from the heat and leave aside to cool completely.
*

Pack the papaya slices and chili padi in a glass jar and pour in the cooled vinegar syrup.
*

Allow to marinate for about 3 hours before serving.
*

Store pickle in the refrigerator for an extra crunchy taste.



+ Recipe above is from a website i found, but those are my pictures.I really made em!

# It gives you a spicy, sweet and sour taste. Made it because the papaya was rotting on the outside and not ripe inside.So I'd rather not waste the papaya. Make pickle! You can use unripe yellow papaya too! TRY IT!

+ It also reminds me of my mom as we use to make em for pickle in a Big " Horlick " glass bottle. Anybody remember those days? HORLICK! hehe....++++