A Prayer for You

Here are the framed prayer prints for the boys:

{ prayers created in photoshop }

In saying this is a simple project to do, I realize it's not so easy if you're not familiar with very basic Photoshop elements (or text boxes in Word).  Believe me, I'm no Photoshop guru - all this required was creating several layers of text.  So if you do know basic Photoshop, then you can probably replicate this easily.

And as promised, I will create one for a reader.  Simply comment on this post with the name of the person you'd like a prayer written for (you can submit up to 2 names) by 11:59pm on Friday, Nov. 5.  I'll randomly pick a name that weekend and contact you if it's yours.  Then I'll work with you to create the words for the prayer and send you an 8.5x11 printout for you to frame.

Keep lifting up those prayers!

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Personalized Prayer Prints

I so desire to be a woman of prayer (much like my grandmother) but have such a long way to go.

One day earlier this week as I sat and prayed for my boys, I was inspired to create something that would always remind me to be in prayer for them.   I hope this will be something Christian and Nathan carry with them each and every day of their lives.

{ prayers for my sons }

  

These are individual posters printed on 8.5 x 11 photo paper.  They were created in Photoshop but could just as easily be created in a Word document.  And it doesn't take much time to make!  I'll show the finished framed product in a future post.

I'd love to encourage you to make one for your children or anyone you may know!   To help you get started, I'll offer to make one for a reader.  Be sure to check back later this week for details on a free poster.

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Flower Power

Here are some highlights from CJ's dohl.  Although we had many more guests at his party, it was much more lowkey than Nathan's in terms of preparation because we held it at a local park (CJ is a June baby so we took advantage of the nice weather).  We kept decorations very simple and had subs, gimbap (Korean california rolls), pasta and other simple picnic fare for lunch. 

{ sugar cookies made with lots of love }

The most work went into prepping the favors - homemade sugar cookies.  I thought these would make great centerpieces.  So I cut the cookies into flower shapes, stuck them on a lollipop stick, decorated each one, put them in a clear treat bag, tied a ribbon, and then placed a few in several pots (sticks were held secure by styrofoam).  Then guests took one home as a favor.

Decorating was easy.  All it required was some Betty Crocker cookie icing (in white and then you can add food coloring to make any color you want), candied sprinkles, and lots of love.

* * * * *

Here's the recipe I used (from AllRecipes.com):

SUGAR COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

* * * * *

These were a hit. 

{ a very manly cake }

I also contemplated making the cake for CJ's birthday but decided it would be too much work in addition to the cookies.  So we ordered from a local bakery in Tenafly called Cafe Savoy.  We've had their cakes in the past, and they are delicious!  We flipped through their cake catalog and chose a large white cake with strawberries featuring a monkey.

We had no idea it would be pink!  [This is probably why I decided to make Nathan's cupcakes for his party.  :)]

But the birthday boy didn't care.  He was as happy as could be.


{ We had similar items out for CJ's dohljabi as we did Nathan's.  CJ chose the yarn (which represents long life) and then the stethoscope.  By the way, Nathan chose the stethoscope and then the Bible.  I'm not sure how I feel about both of them being in the medical field.   And the pic of CJ and daddy is my absolute favorite.  Melts my heart each time. }

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Dohl Celebration!

{ traditional korean rice cake }

We celebrated Nathan's one-year birthday on September 26.  In Korean tradition, the one-year birthday (called "dohl") is a big celebratory event because long ago, many children didn't make it to their first birthday. 

It seems like the current trend is to throw incredibly elaborate dohls which could easily end up costing a couple grand (if not more).  I always thought this was absurd considering the baby wouldn't even remember the birthday!  But tradition is important and every birthday is worth celebrating, so we have been elaborate while trying to keep the costs affordable.  For CJ and Nathan's dohl, we incorporated the traditional elements such as the hanbok (Korean outfit), duk (rice cake), dohljabi (selecting an item to foretell future), and colorful decorations.

Since we were working within a tight budget, we hosted a small, intimate party for Nathan at our home and invited family and our church growth group.  To be even more economical, I had to be creative with the decorations.  I think the end results came out nicely.  So here are some ideas for those working on a budget.

{ We placed the main decorations in front of our fireplace.  The hanging tissue fans were bought at a really great price from Devra Party.  Cutting the fans into various sizes and hanging them was probably the most time consuming part of decorating but so worth it.  I simply printed out the "Happy Birthday" letters on white cardstock paper, cut them out, and then taped them onto the fans.  We ordered the food and rice cake from caterers in Palisade Park; they also supplied the plastic fruit display for free.  The dohljabi items (bottom center) were gathered from around the house. }

  

{ For the dohljabi game (where you guess which item Nathan will choose), I simply printed out photos of the different items and placed them on the kids' easel (courtesy of Ikea).  Then I glued the same photos on little brown bags from AC Moore.  Guests wrote their names on little sheets of paper and dropped it into the bags.  The hanbok was ordered from ebay, but you could just as easily rent one or borrow from family or friends. }



{ These decorations were placed on a table near a different wall of the living room.  In the upper lefthand corner are the small favors for the children (decorated with colorful ribbon).  I found these simple and adorable mini pinball games at Michael's in their clearance section for $.49/each.  The train piece (upper righthand corner) came from Michael's as well.  You can purchase the cd case, train decal, wheels, and frames separately.  The photo frames come painted, so I just had to handpaint the train and wheels with acrylic paint.  I then put in flower pots and inserted these colorful pinwheels from Pier 1 Imports (set of 16 for $2).  The white photo tree (bottom center) was also a fabulous Pier 1 Import find (in the clearance section for $7).  And the cute 1st birthday photo frame (bottom left) was a gift from our cousins. }



{ And here's our sweet birthday boy!  He was rather uncomfortable in the hanbok so it was hard to get a good photo of him.  But he had a great time especially when it was time to eat cake!  Instead of purchasing a cake, I decided to bake cupcakes instead.  These were super easy to make and piping the swirls on top was really simple.  Here's a great website for learning how to pipe swirls and great cake ideas in general. }

It did take a lot of work and preparation (lucky for me I was no longer working full-time as of September 1).  It was a splendid affair for our little guy and didn't cost a huge fortune.    

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Hard Work

My two-year-old likes to gloat about how much "hod wuk" he does at home (he helps tend the garden, mow the lawn, pull out weeds, etc.).  So Uncle Sun decided to take advantage and put CJ to good use in his own front yard.

[CJ found the straw hat in the garage and insisted on wearing it while he worked.]

{ how does this electrical wiring stuff work? }

{ i sure hope i don't get shocked. }

{ this is just so wrong.  aren't there child labor laws? }

*Disclaimer:  Just to be sure no one notifies the authority on us, CJ gladly volunteered his services.  And there was no electrical wiring involved.  Just a lantern you stake into the ground which he enjoyed using as a shovel.

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Tribute to Grandma Kim

Bong Ha Kim
July 15, 1930 - October 16, 2010

Tonight we celebrated my grandmother's life and legacy.  Over 300 guests came to pay their respects and say their final "See you soon".  I paid tribute to her in a letter I shared:

{ with her third great-grandchild;
photo taken by sun yun }

Dear Grandma,

As the eldest of your grandchildren, I had the privilege and honor of bestowing you with the title “Grandmother” for the first time on the day I was born. And 10 grandchildren later, it became a role you embodied and embraced with so much love, pride, and care. You spoiled each and every one of us rotten – not with material things (for you knew these things mean nothing in the end) – but with the power of your prayers and by demonstrating God’s love to us on a daily basis.

None of your children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren have known a day that you, our mighty prayer warrior, were not interceding on our behalf. Every day, you and Grandfather knelt before the King of kings lifting up the many petitions, concerns, and praises for our family.

One petition that I knew had grown heavy on your heart several years ago concerned the prospect of me ever getting married.  I was pretty adamant about staying single and stubbornly declared I didn’t need a husband or children.  Maybe I’d just get a dog one day.  When I was 26, I specifically remember Christmas at Uncle’s house that year.  You and I were sitting on the sofa, and you had asked me again if I was dating or if there was a man of interest in my life.  I told you “No” and reminded you that I was never going to get married.

And then you leaned in towards me.  And very quietly, you asked me in Korean, “You like men, right?”  And I laughed!  And then you laughed, but I think you were somewhat serious!

Well, I saw the delight on your face the day I got married to James and knew God had answered your prayers.

It was hard to see you suffer the past few months.  It was difficult to see the color and life of the light of our family slowly start to dim.  Why had God allowed you to suffer in such a way?

But even in the midst of suffering, you continued to praise God.  What a testimony to us!  I remember an instance when I came to visit you earlier in September.  You had just been released from the hospital and were in hospice care at Uncle’s house.  You were so weak, tired, and in pain.  Your mouth was extremely dry so I rinsed it out with some water.  You lifted up your frail arms and thanked God even for spit because it gave you the ability to speak, even if just a whisper.

That was the testimony of your faith – being able to bless His name even when the circumstances were difficult.  And then I began to realize why it was you suffered in such a way:  It was because your faith was so much greater and stronger than ours.  You were ready to go home to your greatest treasure, Jesus, but we weren’t ready to let you.

So God prolonged your agony and your suffering for our sake.  For the sake of your husband, your children, and your grandchildren.  So we could prepare ourselves to say our goodbyes.  So we could have time to process you not being here on earth with us anymore.

And then it made me think of how Jesus died and how God had allowed his perfect son to suffer for your sake and mine.  How great is that love!  Thank you for that sacrifice, Father.

Grandma, when I heard that you went home to be with the Lord, a very selfish part of me thought, “we’ve lost our mighty prayer warrior for this family.”

And the Lord, ever lovingly, said “No. Your prayer warrior is here with me, right by my side, and continues to intercede on your behalf.”


{ four generations }

I pray you find rest and peace in heaven, Grandma.  Although I imagine with your new body, your bad leg finally healed after all these years, your spirit and mind restored, you’re probably too busy singing, jumping, and dancing with Jesus to rest.  And I praise God for that.

We love you with all our hearts. 


Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

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Turkey Chili in a Slow Cooker

I've just recently discovered the convenience and beauty of the slow cooker.  We had gotten one as a gift for our wedding (that was five years ago) and had only used it once.  That was until September of this year, and now I use it at least once a week.

My favorite recipe thus far:  turkey chili.

{ turkey chili cooked in a slow cooker }

This is the best chili I've had (Hubby and neighbor both agree), and it's such an easy and economic meal!  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

TURKEY CHILI RECIPE
(from Rival Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Recipe Cookbook)

{ ingredients from trader joe's. 
super affordable & good for you! }

 INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 can (about 4 ounces) chopped mild green chilies, optional
• 1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder (I use taco mix powder)

{ sautee turkey & onions, and then throw everything
into the pot.  easy as that. }

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Cook turkey and onion in medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to break up meat until turkey is no longer pink.  Drain, place turkey mixture into the Crock-Pot slow cooker.

2.  Add tomatoes with juice, beans, tomato sauce, chilies and chili powder; mix well.  Cover; cook on HIGH for 6 to 8 hours or until done.

[Makes 6 to 8 servings.  Prep time: 10 to 15 minutes.  Cook time: 6 to 8 hours.]

Complete the meal with sour cream, shredded cheese, and cornbread or nachos.  I also modify the recipe for the kids.  I don't include green chilies and will rinse the turkey chili before serving it to the boys because the chili powder does have a little kick to it.  The boys love and enjoy it!

The convenience with the slow cooker is that I can whip up the meal in the morning or while the boys are taking their mid-afternoon nap, and by early evening, dinner is ready!

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