No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 pounds fresh strawberries, washed, dried

2 packages (8 ounces) Cream Cheese, room temperature

1 T honey

Instructions

In your mixer's bowl, beat together the cream cheese, honey and strawberries until well blended and smooth.

Arrange strawberries over the top.

Refrigerate for at least four hours, overnight is best before serve.

7 ingredients you should be eating AND using as beauty products

How many do you use for everyday life, they all benefits to our health, and most of all, they are cheap and nature. Totally qualified by me.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Agree with the good advantage, but unless you make your own, the store buy, is usually not 100% natural and may add on some other artificially stuffs, just watch what you buy.

2. Coconut Oil

3. Baking Soda

For this I do use them with salt as my daily toothpaste.

4. Lemons

Luckily, I have my own tree in the backyard.

5. Greek Yogurt

Again, just watch out for the ingredients and the probiotic is in alive form in it. And I heard that it's easy to make your own. Maybe I’ll try some day. The regular yogurt should do the job too.

6. Eggs

I really enjoy eggs in cooking, delicious, healthy and easy.

7. Honey

Beware of fake ones.

For more detail please view at 

https://www.yahoo.com/style/7-ingredients-eating-using-beauty-234221386.html.

practice

Today, I want to share Joshua 5:13 - 6:27; 7 - 8, if you are not familiar with it, you ca go to http://praisedance123.blogspot.com/2016/07/joshua-513-627-7-8.html. Or just read along with me.

There’s a saying, you are what you eat, it's more about the physically.

You are what you practice, spiritually.

The worst part here is, your kids are what you are, and this scares me.

Lately the relationship between me and my kids are terrible. Days ago, I was so tensed, and I broke down, yes, again, loss control of myself, went in the room, pray in tears, confess and cry out for help from the Lord. I worry about these strong emotion going to affect my health, I’m feeling like I'm a manic and if, I'm not healthy, how will my kids will turn out to be? I need wisdom, strength and everything come from God solely. To leave time and space for both me and my kids.

So, I have myself a 7 days' practice, don't say a word or have a thought, if it's not a positive feedback, believe me, it is not easy, today is the sixth day of my practice, so far so good. I'm fairly surprised about myself can make this far and can act calm when I heard something disrespect or irritate from my kids' mouth and how I, myself restrain my tough. I see changes in both me and my kids, though, it's still a long way to go, and faith will keep us go on. What I mean is, it's not merely another day to accomplish but the rest of my life.

If you practice jealous, anger, judgmental, sad, pointing finger, picky, lying, dishonor, nagging, yelling, or any negative attitude or viewpoint every day, trust me, you will for sure, become good at that and your kids will only learn from you, you both will become monsters. You won't even love yourself anymore.

Ai? Artificial intelligent? No, it's a city that Israel defeated in faith, if you read Joshua 7 - 8.

There are times, I almost losing mastering my temper. I have to admit that the beginning of first 2-3 days, I hardly say anything at home, that's how bad was my manner used to; I'm the mom, the highest authority, I provide everything for this family and I have lots of pressures, so I get to say or do anything, if I wish. Luckily, I have a job, I'm kind of escape or hide myself in the office as long as I can for those days, otherwise, I’ll go crazy

This particular song, the upside down praying mantis in my backyard and Joshua 5:13 - 6:27; 7 - 8, they fight with me side by side in this battle of my life. Two different kind of battles, won in faith. No question to ask, just listen and obey, victory come.

讓我得見祢的榮面 See You Face to Face - 讚美之泉敬拜讚美專輯(21) 我要看見

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jvI7dY6Mz-0

http://down.kyhs.me:2350/web/gepu/d/file/2016/07/c635017182eb83e557f36e8d03471f29.gif.

Each one of us have our own struggle, difficulty or so call battle to get pass, if you are still breathing. 

Do you want to live this kind of lives or what legacy you are going to pass down to your kids and the generations after, don't do anything regretful or stupid.

Joshua 約書亞書 5:13 - 6:27; 7 - 8

Joshua is a book for those whose prayers seem to go unanswered, for those who wonder if God is really alive and active, and for those who desire fresh assurance of God's dependability.

Joshua 5:13 - 6:27 Jericho Falls

Joshua 7 - 8 Defeat, Confession and Victory

Listen to and obey God without any doubt.

So, Mount Ebal stood for cursing and Gerizim stood for blessing. This event between the two mountains formed a huge object lesson. What happened to the Israelites in the land, the history of Israel, was going to depend on where they lived, as it were - on Mount Ebal, in disobedience and under the curses, or on Mount Gerizim, in obedience and under God’s blessing.

An altar of uncut stones, on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

It shows that human beings can add nothing to the work of God for salvation or for spirituality. It is all by grace through the work of God in Christ.

The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide

Self-learning guides about herbs, herbs are not just as culinary uses, but also remedies for illnesses and a way to maintain good health naturally.

Things need to know before, during planting your own herb garden. How to use it as a remedy? Caution about each individual herb.

You’ll be amaze about how those herbs can do.

Everything in this earth being created for human beings to use, not the man made ones, not the chemical things, take advantage of the nature and be kind to each other.

However there are three things that I have to say how this book on its editing, first, I wish there are real photos for the each herb and the photo should be right before or after each herb is introduced. I know there are budget involved in this issue, it costs more using a real photos and have each photo right before or after each herb is introduced.

Secondly, I wish, it can bold type the words or phrases that it’ll be explained in the end of the book. That way, is easier for readers to know when and where to reference them. And those explanations are awesome and helpful.

Lastly, I’ll suggest the appendix A, the summaries of the herbs, can be in tables, it’ll be much clearly to be read.

Made in

Does it matter, to pay attention about where is the food products made from; of course, I’ll say it out loud. But does it guarantee that all the ingredients from the same country, I truly double it.

So, maybe, I should say, try not to eat processed food as possible.

friend's son

In the library to avoid the heat and met a friend’s son. Haven’t seen him for years, he said hi to me first, almost cannot recognize him at first, has become a handsome, gentle, independent young man.

Years ago, his mom insisted to send him to a boarding school at young age. I don’t really approve that and kind of worry about what will he become. Now, I’m happy for both of them.

Praying mantis

A praying mantis in our backyard on the pine tree that is planted by my son years ago.

God knows that this is what I need now, someone pray for me silently. Don't ask me questions like, who, when, where, why, what and how?

You can ask me why the praying mantis is praying upside down though, but my answer is, I have no clue, you tell me.

fig

Another wonderful nutritious and healthy food that kids won’t take it, therefore, here’s comes my secret weapon, smoothie!

Supermarket

OK, here are two scenarios, all happen to me in two different famous mainstream supermarkets, while I was checking out. I don’t know about how others’ response or feelings, but I definitely, don’t feel very comfortable about them.

Scenario number one, I bought whole bunch of groceries which including a glass bottle of raw honeycomb, quite expensive. And while checking out, the cashier, ask me, “do you know the price for this one?” the way and tone that he asked, is quite disturbing to me, is like, “hey! Don’t’ you know it’s very expensive!?”

Scenario number two, again, almost the same situation, this time I had a bottle of some kind of expensive nature soap, pure Castile soap. As soon as the cashier scan this particular item and put it in the bag, he placed it to his counter, until the checkout completed, and I got the receipt. I have to ask him for this item back, weird. Is he really forget about it or did it on purpose, if so, why?

What happen to the world this day? Lack of loves, full of violence, racial discrimination, sexism and so on.

friend

The other day friend of mine share some thought and songs with me.

Exquisitely pieces, enjoy!

Knowing a masterpiece's background or story before and after listening to it.

You’ll get diverse tastes of them.

Itzhak Perlman - Ziegeunerwiesen 流浪者之歌

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLFB8BDD0B6E024FB6&v=Ww4qCBhypxo

"依據吉普賽民謠譜寫的「流浪者之歌」，曲中含有吉普賽音樂特有的懶散部分（Lassu）與狂熱部分（Friss）。「流浪者之歌」是一首華麗而富於戲劇性的小提琴曲。曲中安排幾段匈牙利民謠與通俗音樂的旋律，原為小提琴與管弦樂演奏的樂曲，但很多時候，由小提琴與鋼琴演奏。"

Meditation de Thais

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss1URTJYlfQ

"The Méditation is an instrumental entr'acte performed between the scenes of Act II in the opera Thaïs. In the first scene of Act II, Athanaël, a Cenobite monk, confronts Thaïs, a beautiful and hedonistic courtesan and devotée of Venus, and attempts to persuade her to leave her life of luxury and pleasure and find salvation through God. It is during a time of reflection following the encounter that the Méditation is played by the orchestra. In the second scene of Act II, following the Méditation, Thaïs tells Athanaël that she will follow him to the desert."

Perilla 紫蘇

Perilla

Hyssopus, purple flower

Perilla, a sweet gift from my senior friend, and I forget the name of it when I got home. I don’t want to cook them without knowing what plant it is, so I took a picture and did a google search for the name. Guess what name that I got, “leaves”, ha! 

And then I manually do a simple description search, this is the name I found, perilla, I compare with the image of it, should be the right one.

Another plant that I found from our backyard, same search first, and got the same result, “leaves”, ha! Ha! Double the fun, I must took terrible pictures of those.

Therefore, I did a description search like for the other one, and I hope that I got this name right, Hyssopus.

I’m sure this is not rosemary, it doesn’t has the aromatic, like the rosemary. Though, I wish it is.

For this one if I take the picture of the whole plant, I may have a different outcome. I should give it a try later.

Hours later...... Guess what the search result is? Plant! Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s right, triple the fun.

Estate sales

First time went to an estate sales in our neighbor, which means everything has to be gone. And I can almost tell who owns them, a elegant old couple. They must live in that house forever.

Whole set of glassware, chinaware, antique furniture, pictures….etc.

Among these, one thing caught my attention, pairs of baby shoes, they don’t look new, and they must be the first pair of shoe of their child(ren).

Memory!  A show tune from the 1981 musical Cats.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FWNWt3kiTWc

http://sheets-piano.ru/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Memory-%D0%B8%D0%B7-%D0%BC%D1%8E%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB%D0%B0-Cats.pdf

Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can dream of the old days
Life was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Every street lamp seems to beat
A fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp sputters
Soon it will be morning
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life and
I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
A street lamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me,
It is so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you'll touch me,
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun...

海天一色 Sky and sea

It looks like the sky and sea are connected together, awesome creation.

A beach outing with fellowship, a fun day with the bonus of both kids go with me and a free ride from a dear brother.

Sunday Christian

Sunday Christian, is referred as some ones only go to church on Sunday morning and act like a Christian.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m a Sunday Christian. Or I should say, a lot of times, but I a good way, feeling relax and happy to see and talk with sisters and brothers. Especially, knowing, my kids are away from computers and with friends.

Taipei Taiwan

I Charleston Taipei 讓世界看見台北的美 - Official Video [HD]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOD0pcKfVWY

A different way to introduce a city, Taipei Taiwan, so swinging beautiful.

If you never been there, then go visit it yourself. The song, Raise your Hands, if you love me is sung by one of my favor singer, Karen Joy Morris.

莫文蔚  

愛我的請舉手 Raise your hands, if you love me

作詞：李焯雄
作曲：林暐哲

等等　再等呀等　該發生的沒發生
等等　再等呀等　再完美也不完整
等等等　悶悶悶　等等等　慢吞吞
美夢成真　快樂也不興奮

等等　再等呀等　青春變成魚尾紋
等等　再等呀等　失去靈魂的標本
等等等　悶悶悶　等等等　慢吞吞

這時分　一臉誠懇不如給我一個
一個一個　一個一個　又一個熱吻
(兩個三個　四個五個　再一個熱吻)

愛我的　請舉手　愛我的　請你點點頭
愛我的　請舉起左手　我愛的　請舉右手
愛我的　說出口　愛我的　請你說出口
愛我就　請說 Wo Ho
有時候　一次不足夠　有時候　一次不足夠

bell pepper

My first homegrown bell pepper flowers.

I planted them from the seeds which come from the bell peppers that we eaten. They are mix with green, red, orange and yellow ones.

They are surprisingly healthy, the only thing that I do is watering, wait, and I also do an in-ground compost.

Cannot wait until they can produce bell peppers.

When I see those new plants, I image myself as the giant. When I touch them, I feel the lives in my hands. They are my precious babies.

This is truly amazing to my heart, oh, no, now, I’m thinking that whether we can the leaves of it or not?

New Boot

The other day I bought a pair of new boot for myself and 2 pairs of shorts for my son, within 5 minutes. This breaks my shopping record. 

Normally, it takes hours or days or weeks or even years for me to decide or find something that I want to buy.

There was one time, when I shop some shorts with my son, he was so irritated and storming mad and decide not to buy the shorts. 

Benedictine

I heard this word, Benediction, right before the church's service is over. I can guess what is this word's meaning, but never known how to spell or the exact meaning. Until yesterday, when I looking up the word, Benedictine, and this word, Benediction, is right following it.

Exit closed

The sign at the freeway showed," the second exit will be closed"

Most of the people who were going to exit that exit, most likely will exit the freeway when they sees this sign.

Who? Me? Yes, I was about to exit the exit that is closed, but I chose not to exit, I drove forward instead.

Why? Because, I thought, oh! Maybe the exit was just reopen and they didn't get to take away the sign soon enough, besides, there're three sub-exits for that exit, maybe, the one that is closed is the not the one that I’m going to take. Silly me, it’s like the old Chinese saying, 

明知山有虎, 偏向虎山行,

I aware of that there's tiger ahead, but I’m undeterred.

Therefore, I detour the next exit.

蘿蔔、雞蛋和咖啡 carrot, egg and coffee

A young lady encounter difficulties, feeling rather sad and even want to give up her life. 

Went to visit her grandma, telling her grandma all her frustrated stories. This wisdom lady didn’t say anything to her nor comfort her right away, only ask her granddaughter to follow her to the kitchen.

Have her Preparing three foods, carrots, eggs and coffee grounds, then boil them separate in three different pots. After 20 minutes’ boiling, the wisdom lady have her granddaughter to put all three in 3 different glass containers and question her, "what do you see?” "Carrots, eggs and coffee, of course.” she replies.

Three different foods boiling in the same condition, three results come out. The carrots change from tough into tender; the eggs become solid; the coffee grounds infuse the whole pot with aroma. 

When tough situations come across to your lives, what's your response to it? Surrender, stand stronger or transform and make good impact to others? 

Simple as

Often time you can find different baking recipes for same dish, some are simple some complicated, even exactly the same recipe you can choice a simple way or a detour.

For example, Old-Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies:

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup sour cream

6 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Cream butter to consistency of mayonnaise. Add sugar gradually, while continuing to cream.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.

In a separate bowl, mix and sift flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Add dry ingredients alternately with sour cream; beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Drop by teaspoons or tablespoons depending on the size cookie you want. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the tops of the cookies. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Chick-fil-A

Good news! But I don't have an outfit for it, think! Think! Think! And again, think harder!

Happy Cow Appreciation Day.

Chick-fil-A is giving away free food to anyone dressed in cow attire until 7 p.m. 7/12/2016 Tuesday.

Guests can select any breakfast, lunch or dinner entree and children may choose from any of the restaurant’s kid’s meals.

when someone you know has depression

"Build your life raft before you need it."

Although, mood disorder, a genetic illness, according to some studies shown. We can help to prevent it to happen. Knowing more about it, forming a safe home environment, making sure all family members, including yourself, get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid drugs or alcohol.

Learn all the strategy beforehand, not help on others, yourself too. 

Depression or other mood disorders occurs a lot, especially nowadays. The caregivers' mental health are also an important issue to concern. Likewise, whoever take care of long term illness patients, such as dementia, facing a huge pressures too.

Besides knowledge of the illness itself, friends and families' support is crucial.

7-11

Let’s all go!

7-Elevens across the country are giving out their freebie Slurpee again, this time with an added twist for the cool drink’s 50th anniversary on July 11.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., customers can enjoy a free small-sized Slurpee on a hot summer day at participating locations. 

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

My kind of Mac and Cheese, yum!

Ingredients

16 ounces pasta, cooked
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons wheat flour
2 cups milk
6 slices bacon
1 cup onion, 2 cups celery (diced)
1 bulb garlic, crushed 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 °F.

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

In a medium skillet sauté the chopped onion and celery, and minced garlic, then take off heat and add chopped cooked bacon and set aside.

To make the sauce, in a medium saucepan melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and continue stirring until thickened. Stir in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar cheese and stir until melted.

Combine cooked pasta, sautéed vegetables and sauce. Pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Add the last cup of grated Cheddar cheese to top of mixture.

Bake uncovered in preheated oven until cheese on top is melted and light brown. Serve warm.

 

Scrumptious Apple Pie

Homemade Apple Pie with home grown apples.

Ingredients

Crust

2 c wheat flour

2/3 c + 2 T butter

4 to 6 T cold water

Filling

1/3 c sugar

1/4 c wheat flour

1/2 t ground cinnamon

8 c sliced apples

Directions

In medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour and butter, then sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).

Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half; shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold.

Pre-Heat the oven to 400°F.

With floured rolling pin, roll one pastry round into needed size; pressing firmly against bottom and side.

In large bowl, mix sugar, 1/4 cup flour and cinnamon. Stir in apples until well mixed, spoon into pastry-lined pie plate.

Roll other round of pastry top over filling; trim overhanging edge.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, removing foil for last 15 minutes of baking. Serve warm if desired.

 

windows 10

Last night while I was using my laptop for some important preparation for this morning's service. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, my laptop start to upgrade my windows 7 into windows 10 itself, without my permission.

That really drives me crazy, it's late night, way past 9:30 pm.

When it pop up to ask for upgrade my windows, I gently click the "X" to close the dialogue box.

At that moment, I suddenly realized, why I borrowed the book, When Someone You Know Has Depression, the other day from our local library. It’s for myself.

I feel like, I’m going to burst and fine it funny at the same time, therefore, I calm down and continue my reading, while I’m, has to be, patiently waiting for the  upgrade process. Almost 2 hours, with a joy heart.

One thing I do need to thank God for, it didn't happen this morning while the service.

And I’m starting to find out why do windows do that to users?

Also somehow, I cannot turn off the computer as before, need to find out too.

12 people

This afternoon we have total 12 people gather together and having lunch.

Interesting number, 12, what a perfect coincidence number.

cornell

Today right after visited my client, went to drive back to work, and saw the next door company's name is "Cornell", it's nothing special really but only I happen to reading a book, The Living Bird which marks the 100th anniversary of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Actually, this kind of coincidence occurs to me all the time. Still every time, it’s an ooh and aah! (Raise my eyebrows with eyes wide open.)

Addictive

神是智慧、力量、恩典的來源。
當你的孩子沈迷於虛擬世界時，你還愛他嗎？

God is the source of wisdom, strength and grace.

Following is a simple question from a seminar promotion clip.

“If your child is addicted to the cyberspace, do you still love him or her?”

And she ask for 3 times, it really hits me hard, do I?

Living Bird: 100 Years of Listening to Nature

An introducing video this book.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-living-bird-100-years-of-listening-to-nature/

I haven't finished this book yet, but strongly recommend this book to you all. It’s not a picture book for little children, it does have over 250 images by wildlife photographer Gerrit Vyn and stories of the birds by some of the world's leading naturalists and bird enthusiasts. The book also marks the 100th anniversary of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds.

Birds from the backyard familiar to exotic birds.

Suitable for young and old, of course for the young, you have to use simple words to retell the stories to them.

Awesome and precious pictures and true stories about birds and beyond, how the relationships in between humans and birds, or I should say, the relationships humans and all the creations and the environment. They are the sign of the health of the place that we live in, the earth.

An educated, inspiration, a wakeup call for all. One of the must read book.