...Fun times at the Epic Church retreat...

Happy toes in snow!

My moose sledding in the snow. =)

...farewell to Grandpa and Grandma...

I know it seems like such a personal thing to post on a blog...but if you have a chance, please keep my family, especially my grandparents in your prayers. They leave for the Philippines on Tuesday to spend the rest of their lives on their farm. This weekend was the third time I've been in Vegas since Christmas. Honestly, it's the weirdest feeling-saying "goodbye" to grandparents that have always in your life since birth. I assume such parting happens all the time, but it's not like you can prepare yourself for it...even if you knew it was coming. Ah....such is life isn't it? We plan on going out to visit them this Christmas. I can't wait to see their hometown...even if there's no running water, there's big mosquitos and it's humid. My grandfather wants to raise chicks and start a library. I love you Grandma and Grandpa!

...cooking comfort food...

All the rainy, cold weather was making me crave my favorite comfort food...Arroz Caldo (Filipino Chicken Rice Soup). I actually made it myself for the first time today! I've never had this at a restuarant (although I can hardly imagine messing it up-it's so easy) but the key ingredient is huge peppercorns. Mom used to make this whenever we were sick or it was cold outside. In fact, I called her while I was making it and guess what...she made it yesterday!
YUMMY!



I used this recipe...and added a few changes
Arroz Caldo

Note: This recipe is from Reynaldo Alejandro's Philippine Cookbook available at The Filipino Book Barn

3 tablespoon vegetable or corn oil
2 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
8 1/2-inch slices of ginger
1 2 - 3 1/2 pound chicken, cut into serving piecies
4 tablespoons patis (or 2 tablespoons salt)
1 carrot chopped
6 cups water
2 cups uncooked rice
1/4 cup chopped scallion
Peppercorns


In a large covered stockpot, heat oil and saute garlic, onion and ginger. Wait for the garlic to turn brown and onions become transparent. Add the chicken and patis or salt. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Chicken will produce its own juices. Add water, rice, and peppercorns. Stir often to prevent sticking, simmer for 25 minutes over low heat or until chicken and rice are tender. Add carrots. Add chopped scallion and pepper before serving.

I also like to add fresh lemon juice before eating.




Staples of a Filipino kitchen...I'm forgetting a tomato! =) By the way, Patis (filipino fish sauce) is TOTALLY different than Thai fish sauce (which is sweeter).








Grace tagged me with this quiz months ago, so I guess I should anwser it...(I changed a few of them)

Seven things I want to do before I die (not in any particular order):
1) Lead someone to Christ
2) Read the whole Bible
3) get married
4) adopt children
5) travel to 6 continents (not too hyped about Antarctica)
6) go on a Jane Austen tour
7) live in the Middle East

Seven things I cannot do:
1) live without flip flops or some sort of open toe shoe
2) go to Mecca (even though I really want to!)
3) ice skate
4) live in Vegas (sorry mom and dad!)
5) eat beets
6) prevent loved ones from dying
7) make someone fall in love with me (i don't believe in falling in love...nor do I think anyone is capable of forcing someone to love them...I just couldn't think of a good seventh thing!)

Seven things I find attractive (in general...again no particular order):
1) KCRW - their free eclectic music streams, news, and awesome radio broadcasts like This I Believe and Story Corp.
2) flowers-especially bulbs and fragrant ones like Sweet Peas and Lavendar
3) hearing other languages spoken in public
4) stuff you find at shops like Cost Plus World Market
5) food blogs
6) people who listen
7) bookstores, card shops, farmer's markets, and parks

Seven things I say most often (not in any particular order):
1) Take out a piece of paper and a pencil
2) Too bad!
3) It's your choice...
4) I'm looking for a quiet hand...
5) I'm looking for the cleanest, most quiest row/table...
6) laughing really loud
7) Crap!

Seven books (or series) that I love:
1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
3) Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery
3) The Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
4) The Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers
5) The Princess by Lori Wick
6) Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
7) Price of Honor by Jan Goodwin


Seven movies I can watch over and over again:
1) Pride and Prejudice (the A&E, 2005, and the mormon versions)
2) The Sound of Music
3) Hitch
4) Ever After (I'm such a girl!)
5) My Name is Kim Sam Soon
6) You've Got Mail
7) Alias (not the last couple seasons! =(


Seven people I pass this on to:
1) traderjoys
2) fifistorm
3) aDORAble26
4) monkeyfries
5) delta boy
6) allison
7) chiudpht

...enough quizzes?

Adobo: Meats simmered in soy sauce and vinegar.

Classic Filipino dish


Which Filipino Food Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

...I'm Elizabeth Bennet!...

Congratulations, you're Elizabeth Bennet! Fiery,

witty, and passionate, you always stand up

for what you believe in and you love your

family, no matter how embarassing they can

be. You are never afraid to assert yourself

or your own opinion, and you never let others

dictate your actions. However, you are

critical and tend to judge people too

quickly, leading to unfortunate

misconceptions and misunderstandings. As long

as you reserve judgment, though, you can be

very proud of yourself as being one of

fiction's greatest heroines.


Which Character from Pride and Prejudice Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

...blue skies...great company...and a rifle!

Today I went shooting with my brother-Greg, Amy, and Greg's friend Eugene. Although I'm not a fan of guns, weapons/firearms, or the NRA, I have to admit I did have a lot of fun! We tried out a Ruger 66 pistol, Mossburg 22 Bolt Action Rifle, Mosinnagant M44 Rifle, Mosinnagant 91/30, and a Howa 30-06 Rifle.

The pistol was the hardest to hit anything with. The first time I shot with the rifle, I hit the clay targets in a row! My best was seven.

I don't know if you can see it very well, but the guys next to us were using little Marshmallow Peeps as targets!

Journey Through Lent

Journey Through Lent

...Pray...

I discovered this song the other day and I was really challenged by the lyrics...


Pray by Kendall Payne

I will pray for you now for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I couldn’t not ask for more than what you’ve already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me

May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head
May they all fall come crashing down around your feet

May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater each stride
May your company be of humble insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride

What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the one who made us
And see him smile when life is through

May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they’d be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see

May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you’d learn to trust the plan he has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true

I have prayed for you now all of my dear and faithful friends
But what I wish is more than I could ever speak
As the way wanders on I’ll long to see you once again
Until then, would you pray these prayers for me?
Oh that you would pray for me.



i love how there's a slight irony to it all...not just praying for blessings and health and well-being. but things like "may you never be sure of any plans you desire" or "may your blessings be many but not what you'd hope they be" show such surrender to Christ. Almost hard to to swallow isn't it?