bake apple

Oh! No! It looks easy and yummy, one more recipe that I have to try hard to find time to try it myself.

Baked Bloomin’ Apples

http://tiphero.com/baked-bloomin-apples/

Ingredients:

– 2 Apples (I love Honeycrisp’s)
– 4 Caramels
– 1 TSP Cinamon
– 3 TBS Brown Sugar
– 2 TBS Butter
– 1 TBS Flour

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cut off the top 1/4 of an apple

3. With a melon baller or spoon scoop out the center/seeds but DO NOT grow through the whole apple like you would with an apple corer.

4. With a small paring knife make two deep circular cuts around the center apple. Next flip the apple over and cut slits through the side to the center, and repeat these cuts around the entire apple.

5. Put apples in a baking safe dish or pan. Place 2 caramels in the cavity of each apple.

6. Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 second, stir and pop back in microwave for an extra 15 seconds. Remove from microwave and add in flour and cinnamon.

7. Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. If apples still feel hard try baking for additional 5-15 mins.

8. Remove apples from oven and place on plate or bowl. I love to pair this with Vanilla ice cream.

How to Bake Apples at Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKt0foWLwo

coworker 3

The other day right after the mission complete, for get to connect with this coworker that we are dying to know how is she doing.

I seem to hear a voice say to me, "Alice! You have a beautiful heart." and I reply, "Oh! How about my appearance, is that ugly?" then immediately, I heard the reply again, “You are beautiful inside and out."

important decision 2

Actually, one of the brother's sharing at the meeting got me a big thinking.

It’s a wake up call for this pastor thing, what are we focus on, our kids' benefits only.

Often, we heard parents say, we are here, because the kids and their pastor really care for them, other time we heard, again, the parents say, the pastor didn't take good care of my kids, people pointing fingers at each other. They being putting all responsibilities to the pastors, the church, I know some of the parents, they don't even attend church worship regularly or event or giving out any helping hands when the church need it.

A lady speaks out at the meeting, who I known her for over 10 years, says how this pastor take good care for her kid, how appreciate she is, at same time she critics on all other pastors of our church and the fellowships that she ever attended, none of them care about her at all, which are completely not true. Or I should ask her; have you ever care of others?

Pastoring is not a one man's job; they are not the free babysitters with full responsibilities.

We are a one, but are we now?

All in all, discipleship is important and crucial to run. Is this youth pastor accomplished or tries hard enough or does he totally agree on this idea in those young fellows or is it too tough for him to carry out among those young sheep?

Everyone is a leader in a way, even you are not the leader of the whole universe, a country, a company, or in your own family, you are very unique and important, you are the leader of yourself and our lord is the highest marshal.

I pray to Lord, for each and everyone whoever are involved in making decision and this particularly pastor might need to make some changes of his thoughts or the way of pastoring in order to accomplish God's heart.

I just heard that this pastor has a car accident an hour ago, pray and pray for him!

important decision 1

An important decision been made about discontinue contracting a youth pastor of our church and a lot of different voices and opinions from the parents and the kids. 

Normally, this kind of major decisions made by group of elders and senior pastor, I guess this is the policy of all the churches.

In this special case, we held meetings for junior high, high school kids and parents separately for explaining why, how, when and the like regarding for this decision is made.

Everyone gives their thoughts about this pastor, how is he caring those young, asking questions to the senior.

This meeting for parents last for over 2 hours.

The senior and elders decided to have an emergency meeting to re-consider about this issue.

After hearing so many different sayings, here are my thoughts about this case.

Set aside to judge whether the elders and senior make the right decision.

First, before senior and elders made this so called final decision, do they think about what the impacts on the youth minister and the parents?

Do they already have a backup plan, a candidate for replacing this youth's pastor's position and works, is he or she will be at least has the same qualifications as him or even better than his ministering?

If not how is the church going to make up for this big gap in between.

Secondary, do they provide fully help for this youth pastor in improving the performances. And for this kind of important evaluation, why are the constellations only held between senior pastor and this youth pastor only, should it include a third impartial person, like the head of the elders or another pastor who also work and knows this youth pastor well!?

And why when they make the decision, the other senior English speaking pastor is not there!?

Now that, as they decide to held emergency meeting to re-making the decision. If, that’s say if they change their decision, ok! We’ll give this youth pastor a second chance, will this youth pastor say yes! I’ll stay!?

Finally, if this youth pastor does leave the job and another youth pastor come to take the job, what if he or she is worse than his performances!? I really wonder what will happen next, in this case!?

Leave the finally decision and result to the Lord, oh! Lord, the holly spirit, please comes, please come to help, You are the decision maker, and You are the helping hands. Let all the burdens and worries onto You.

conversation between 2 women

The other day I overhead a conversation between 2 women, that's say women A & B.
Women A: Hey! B, look at this woman, so ugly, no wonder, she has no husband. (I’m guessing that she is pointing at some actor or someone used to be an actor or whatnot.)

And as my understanding that this woman A, herself, is a single mom, so far still is single.

That woman that woman A mention about, maybe in regular human's eyes and standard is not quite pretty, but somehow I believe, she, at least has a beautiful heart.

The woman A, I’ll say, she’s ugly from inside and out, God knows.

支氣管 Bronchus

台語有一句話說，「你皮在癢啊!?」，我最近倒是常感覺到，歐喔！我的皮又在冷了」。

怎麼說呢，數年前因為疏忽，感冒和咳嗽很久，沒有好好的醫治，當時，自以為年輕身體強壯可恢復快速，結果造成氣管、支氣管、以致於細支氣管都非常的脆弱，只要天氣一涼，風一吹，特別是吹到冷氣或者吃了冰涼的東西或者刺激性的食物或者是話講的太多就開始咳嗽不斷，讓我感到非常的苦惱。

後來才慢慢覺醒，開始注意自己身體的調理和開始參加了讚美操的運動練習，漸漸的我的氣管問題才了明顯的改善。

但最近由於工作和家庭兩頭忙，常常沒有時間去做讚美操的運動，又加上最近因為天氣炎熱，我開始不忌口，只覺得太熱了，受不了了，所以，吃和喝了很多冰冷的東西，又加上在辦公室一天數小時的吹冷氣，我敏感的氣管 - 咳嗽又復發了。

人真是非常軟弱，明知對自己好的事卻不去做，對自己不好、不該做的事，卻不能節制，最終受害的還是自己。

主啊！求祢幫助我，求祢用你的聖靈緊緊地把我保抱在你的懷裡，祢是我的手，祢是我的腳，祢是我的心思意念，祢是我的一切，幫助我，幫助我作對的事，禱告奉告主耶穌基督的名來求，阿們！

對了！我該去做讚美操的運動了。下次再聊。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2jiE3wPXQ

There’s a saying in Taiwanese, "Your skin is itch ah!?", that means that you are not behave and someone is going to scold you, recently, I often feel, "Oh! No! I feel my skin is cold."

Why do I say that? A few years ago because of my negligence, my cold and coughing last for a long time, I didn’t even take good care of myself at that time, I thought, young as I, was physically strong and can recovery quickly. The result, my trachea, bronchi, bronchioles become so very weak and vulnerable, and later, once the weather change into cool, wind blows, especially the air-conditioning or eat something cold or irritating food or talk for some time then I’ll  cough hard and constantly, this, makes me feel very depressed.

Then slowly I learn, and begin paying attention to my own health and begin participating in the praise dance exercises regularly and gradually my bronchial problem improves significantly.

However, lately I’m so busy with work and kids, often, do not have time to do the praise dance exercise, plus the hot weather presently, I start to eat and drink a lot of cold food at will to get away from the heat and cool myself down, and hours of air-conditioning in the office each day, my sensitive trachea – coughing problem, reoccur again.

Humans are really very powerless beings, knowing it’s a proper thing to do but fail to, and for things is not right to do but can not control ourselves, eventually, we pay the price for the consequences unwilling.

Oh! Lord! please help me, Thy Holy Spirit protect me and embrace me tightly, You are my hands, You are my feet, You are my mind and heart, You are my everything, help me to do what I should do, pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Oh! Yes! Go to go! It’s my praise dance exercise time. Talk to you soon.

noodle & eggs

Yap! again, our traditional birthday meal and it's a must.
Today i almost forgot about the birthday of my younger one until my older one mention about it .
Good thing is, it is way before day's end furthermore, I've gotten a big pot of ribs and Chinese cabbages, so i cook the noodles and eggs in it, yum!

A new thought has just come into my mind, a homemade smoothie ( banana, strawberries and milk are a must have ingredients for it), will be added onto this traditional B-day meal.

coworker 2

Thank God! My coworker’s daughter gets the message that I left her on the YouTube account. And my coworker calls me back, and thank God again, she is OK now, but need further exams soon, for it’s really  a live and death emergency.

Still need more prayer for her recovery and later exam and everything regarding it, for her daughter and her husband too.

coworker 1

I’m your mom’s coworker; first, I’m so sorry to use this way to contact with you.

We try to contact with her but no answer, how’s she now? We all are very concern about her. Please contact with me when you could. My number is XXX-XXX-XXXX auntie Alice Chen. God bless!

Those are the messages that I try to send to a coworker’s daughter that I try through her YouTube account, as we never know each other face to face. Now I just wait and hoping she will see this message and contact with me. For my coworker has an emergency the other day and since then we try to call her cell and home but no answer.

A wonderful lady that I know and her daughter’s name happen to same as mine, sometimes, she share with me, her daughter’s story and especially her music talent.

I pray Lord to protect her and her family.

What Would Jesus Do ?

"Have you lost your faith, pastor?"
This is just a conversation between a pastor and one of his Congregation people in a movie.
A touching story and bunch to think about it.

When people in terrible trouble, sometimes even pastor lost faith.
We need to pray, pray, and pray more.
In Jesus everything is possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q1AKU0KHrEQ

gray hair

A lady dye her whole hair gray, in order to honor the ageing, once she spot a tiny little bit of gray hair shows.

But I prefer just keep it nature, I mean let the hair turn into gray in its speed. Like mine, ha! Ha!

christmas shopping

People start the shopping for Christmas already!?

Oh! Yeah! Once I heard one of my friends, she shop for Christmas whenever she has some extra money, otherwise, the shopping money may run out way before Christmas.

family / friend

When you are driving in a heavy traffic, what will you do?

Change lane to lane!? Most of the people probably do the same as me. And every time after I change lane, immediately, I regret, and almost no exception, the land that I change into, the driving speed becomes slower than the land that change from, sometimes even at a full stop.

But I am never giving up on changing and hoping and then, regretting and frustrating followed, same pattern occur over and over again.

today, while I was driving and changing lanes, I look back and forth between the lane that I was driving on and the lane that I want to change into, suddenly, I saw the innermost lane, the car pool lane, in the instant, how I wish that I can have someone, maybe a family member or friend with me so I can drive in the car pool lane.

Sometimes we thought that we make a smart move, but it turns out, it is an arduous way.

Different route can lead to the same destination, some are faster, easier, safer or shorter, some may slower, tougher, dangerous, or a longer route. You can drive alone or have someone to keep you company, someone will give you a helping hand or a wisdom advise when you need it.

開車時，碰到交通處阻塞時你會如何做呢？不斷地換車道嗎！？我想，大部分的人可能跟我一樣會如此做，但每次當我一換到新車道的時候，我就立即後悔了，而且幾乎沒有一次例外，我所換到的新車道一定比原來的車道慢，有時甚至完全停止了。

但我從沒放棄不斷換車道或者希望我的車速能變快一些，然後又開始後悔和苦惱，同樣的動作和思緒就不斷地重複著。

這次當我獨自一人開車時，我不斷的換車道和觀看到底應該要換到哪一個車道較快速時，突然間，我看到了最內側的快速車道就是共乘車道，那當時我有了一個想法，我要是有一位家人或者朋友同我一起乘車，那該有多好。

有時候，我們自認為做了一個明智的選擇，後來確發現是一條艱難的道路，不同的路線可以到達同一個目的地，有些路線比較快速、安全、簡單、捷近，有些路線比較慢、艱難、危險、漫長。

你可以選擇獨自開車上路，或選擇有一位同伴同行，一位可以適時地伸出援手和給予智慧的建議。你同意我的想法嗎？

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cFUpDEnSGk

newspapers

The other day, finally, down in southern California, the city that I’m living in, it rains. It rains for couple hours, kind of hard and our shoes outside get soaked.

Good things is not just we all need the water badly; also the trash day is the day after.

What is the trash day is anything to do with the rain or wet shoes?

That is because, I can have plenty of papers to dry those shoes, I try to use different type of papers, among those papers, and newspaper is the best for water absorbent. But actually, newspaper is the last thing that I want to use. It always leaves terrible poisonous black mark.

Why is newspaper the best absorbent and glass cleaner material? I think, probably is because the material and the way that how they are made differently, am I right or wrong?

9-16-2015

I just back from my audition opportunities for Kairos communication service international as an narrator.

Boy! My heart is pounding at that moment, first time ever inside the recording room. And good thing is I get there earlier than the appointment time, also the people before me cancel the appointment, and therefore, I get to have extra time to relax a bit and even get to have a second chance of audition on it.

Now I just wait for the result, but just like before I said, “no matter the result is, I’m really appreciate for the special opportunity”.  Hope God uses me for something that I can be.

     I’ll also try a voice record for this particular event.

So wait and listen to me, ok!

Oh! I do forget before the audition, they ask to relax; I should sing a song, such a shame!

下午結束了開路者協會播音員的試音，試音時真的非常緊張，這是我第一次進入播音室。
還好我今天提前到達，並且上一位試音者取消試音，所以我有較多的時間放鬆心情並且多一次試音機會。
現在就等著試音的結果，就如我上次說過，不管結果如何我都非常感激有這樣一個機會，願上帝使用我的才能。
噢！對了！當負責試音的人員叫我用各種方法在正式試音前放鬆時，我應該唱一首詩歌，哎呀！真是太可惜了。

computer, on

Most people, including myself nowadays, often time, unconsciously and nervously keep checking cell phone, computer, iPad,  apple watch or any other kind of 3c products for email or Facebook or news or whatever social media.

It's if I don't check for an even millionth second, then I'll miss huge.

Do i really want or not want to do this, sometimes I'm really puzzled.

Oftentimes, I ask kids, what? Are you doing some kind of important big business?

lucky me

The high school’s football field is only one block away from my home. Therefore, I’m so lucky that I don’t need to buy a ticket or stay there for hours in order to enjoy the band performance.

watermelon

Found this particular way of consume watermelon on the internet. Therefore I try it my own with the kids. This is a really kind of odd way but fun at the same time. We all approve it.


First, and of course, buy a really big and good watermelon, wash it really clean too. And if you want to make it even better, cool it in the refrigerator for hours or a day before you try it.


Cut a hole, big just enough for the hand blender can go through, blend them well then pour them and serve them in front of kids.

It tastes good; the hard thing is how to pour them out into the cup nicely without spilling. I use the bake underneath while both blending and pouring, just exchange the positon between the watermelon and the cup, get it?

And because the watermelon is big, so you might need to cut the hold lager gradually so the hand blender can reach the whole watermelon flesh.

And I strongly recommend saving the watermelon shell as a dish to serve food with in later. That makes it even interesting.

 

9-11-2015

Yesterday is 911 2001, 14^th year anniversary and when I jump into my car, the clock shows, 9:11, the temperature reads, 91, what a coincidence. It’s like remind me do not forget this incident, and for those who sacrifice their lives now and then to recusing lives there. May peace and joy with the world.

prayer request

Hope that you are not shocked by the words, prayer request; next week I will have an audition opportunities for Kairos communication service international as an narrator. My heart is full of joy and tremble at the same time, a brand new thing that I’m going to experience; I hope I can take advantage of this special opportunity.

Things happen, often seem unrelated in our life, but when you piece them up, you’ll find it just like jigsaw puzzles, it becomes a wonderful, an unexpected picture.

When I’m in elementary school, my language teacher says to me one day, she thinks my Mandarin is fairly good; therefore, she is going to put me into some kind of contest for recitation. Was timid when heard this news, feeling proud of myself and fear of failure, but later, the teacher choose another student to participate instead of me, since then I have never had any opportunity to participate in any kind of training and competition regarding this. In fact, for years, I’ve been feeling sorry for this.

In recent years, an idea come into my mind, a change of job or life path, hoping to find a suitable job in either church or non-profit institutions or other similar fields, still waiting for chances to come.

A few months ago, because a brother's need for using voice typing and another brother teaches him how to, texting or searching or browsing the Internet, it turns out that for me, is a big benefit and learning too. For my typing is slow also when use voice typing, I have to speak slowly and very clearly, otherwise the computer cannot understand and render my speaking correctly.

You see this big picture? I’m very looking forward to have this opportunity to serve, this is not just a regular announcer; it is an opportunity to spread God’s love and grace.

A few years ago when I first start my own blog, I dream about it, maybe one day I can become an independent writer, I later find that how insignificant l am and not that stand out among those millions of bloggers neither, so I try some ways in order to expanding my readers, I add a number of different variety of topics, and add some pictures, to attract more readers.

As this narrator cer try out opportunity , an idea arouse my mind, I can use my voice to express my thoughts on daily life and how God made a wonderful change for my life, God's power and grace is profound, I sometimes joked with my friends, even a timid person like me can reach some difficult goal, you will do better than me, so do not let fears or other concerns stumble your steps, stride on now!

Therefore, no matter how the result of the interview comes out, I will have this new idea in my plan. Please wait and see, oh no! I mean wait and listen to me shortly.

 

代禱 prayer request

聽到代禱一詞，可能把你們嚇了一跳，不要為我擔心，只是小事一件，下星期我將會有一個為開路者協會應徵播音員的試音機會。雖然我只是抱著一個嘗試的心，但心中卻很重視這件事，一件全新的事，一件不一樣的嚐試和轉變，希望我可以把握這個特別的機會。

在生活中常有一些事情的發生看起來似乎互不相關，但當你將ㄧ件件串連起來的時候，卻像是ㄧ個千萬片的拼圖一般，慢慢拼連在一起成了ㄧ幅美麗的圖案。

小學時我的國文老師有一天對我說，她覺得我的國語還算標準，準備栽陪我參加朗誦比賽，當時膽小的我聽到這個消息，感到既期待又怕受傷害，怎知後來老師選了另一個小朋友参加，自此後我就從來沒有過機會參加任何訓練和比賽。這幾十年來在心中對此一直有些遺憾。

近些年來在心中更有了一個想法，轉換跑道換工作，希望能夠在非營利機構或者是教會或是相關機構找到一份合適的工作，但這個願望始終還沒能實現。

數月前因為一位弟兄的需要和另外一位弟兄教他如何使用語音控制來打字、傳簡訊或者是在網路上查找，怎知這對我來講也是一大收穫和學習。這不但對一個打字緩慢的我來說是一大福音，而且用語音來控制打字，我必須說話緩慢且標準，否則電腦無法正確判斷我的用詞。

你看出這一幅美麗的圖像了嗎？非常期盼有這一個服事機會，這不僅僅是一個普通的播音員，更是一個將神的話語和愛傳播出去的機會。

幾年前當我開始自己的部落格時，曾經夢想著，也許，有一天我也可以成為一位獨立的文字工作者，後來才發現在茫茫眾多的部落部格作者中，我是多麼的渺小和不起眼，於是我開始想該如何擴大我的讀者群，我加入了許多不同的主題，後來更加入一些圖片來吸引更多讀者群。

這一次播音員試音的機會更激起我另一個想法，我還可以嘗試用聲音來表達我對人生的想法和神是如何在我生命中做奇妙的改變，神的大能和恩典是何等的長闊高深，我有時跟朋友開玩笑說，就連我 Alice 這樣一個膽小退縮的人都可以達成不一樣的目標，你一定可以做的比我更好，不要怕往前跨一步吧！

所以不論這次播音員試音結果如何，我都將將這一個新的想法加入我的計劃中。請大家拭目以待，喔不！我的意思是，洗耳恭聽。

seafood rice

Clam, sea cucumbers, salmon and of course rice, first have all the seafood cook just when they are cook, bring them out and use those seafood stock to cook the rice same thing with the noodles, you only need to add salt and pepper to taste, it’s deliciously good.

checks

The other day I went to pick up the checks from the law office for my dad’s car accident case, it’s been two years, finally, it finalized. That day I saw an old couple also pick up the checks and leave happily.

In a car accident, if you are lucky, not your faults and not hurt seriously then you healed and get to have compensatory for other’s mistake, which you deserved it.

I understand that there are consequences after every action you make. But not happy about to getting the money from it, I don’t know why?

And in some cases people die from accidents or get serious injury and the body don’t function normally anymore. That’s so cruel.

vegetables

This morning (when I continue writing is the second day) I use the time before go to work, I cook a vegetable dish, a pot of mung beans, slice a giant honeydew melon so before I get home, the kids can have something to fill up their stomachs.

First I cut the vegetables then wash and soak them in the water, since I have no time to lose; I use this waiting to browse the web and of course including listening to the living life. When it is time for cooking the vegetable, again, I do not waste any time in between, slice the melon and prepare the beans for cooking later.

bodyguards

When my kids were younger and people told me, “you should find yourself a boyfriend”, I answered, “but I already had two”, yes! My two loving kids are my boyfriends.

Now that they are older and both, of course stronger and taller and smarter and much more in any way than me, they are my bodyguards.

Time’s fly, it’s an old saying, but so true, mixes with joy and sad moments.

I ask God for more blessings for them in each any way, lives, safety, health, wisdom, future marriage, future generations, self control, study, work, friendships, fellowships, relationships, leaderships, kind hearts, serving hearts and many more ways that in between or beyond my thoughts.