Mysterious Giver ...

(This writing was originally posted last year during Thanksgiving time)

There is this story about “The Mitten Tree,” by Candace Christensen, where this lonely older lady felt compassionate to a lone, young boy who was watching other children playing in the snow with his bare hands in his pockets. So, she decided to knit a pair of mittens for that boy. She enjoyed seeing the happiness in his face and being the mysterious giver. The lady decided to knit one new pair each day and hung them in a different branch of the tree for each child that has no mittens. Children enjoyed this gift giving game where they would search thru every branch of the tree to find the mittens of the day. The day before the winter holiday, this lady hung different color of mittens on every branch of the spruce tree.

This lady has found her happiness thru the gift that she has been giving to the children. She never expected anything in return but the happiness and contentment found in the children face. She felt as if her life was fuller from the laughter and expressions that the children had. One day, in return, she found a mysterious basket lying on her front porch filled with different color of yarns.

 

We are very lucky to live in this part of the world where people are quite generous when come to sharing their wealth. People have been involved in reaching out to the less fortunate, to the victims of many different disasters from different parts of the world.

Let’s pause during this thanksgiving time to express our gratitude for those who have been playing a crucial role in assisting the needy. Because of them, there are less people who would die from cold, hunger and lack of shelters. Because of them, there are a lot of children that would go to sleep with a full tummy. Because of them, there are a lot of children that would have some place to turn in before the darkness beckoned.

I would like to take this opportunity in my journey to wish everyone, “Happy Thanksgiving!” May this thanksgiving bring you all happiness that is beyond what you have given to others. And perhaps inspire the rest us to be the "Mysterious Giver!"

Until next stop,
Journey of Life

Party is on … Are You Coming?

If you haven't already, we are having a BlogFest Party that will be on the whole month in October. And the most exciting part is I am going to be the host on the 27^th of October. Can’t wait!

The prompt for today writing is all about Party Story. As I heard the word party … my mind wondered of and arriving at the first Birthday Party that my parents gave me. I believe I was turning either fourteen or fifteen years old.  I didn’t recall why that year just because my parents were not big on birthday parties. But they made it big for me and whole bunch of my friends were invited. My mom still have the pictures –how I wish I have them with me at this very moment.

When I was seventeen years old, I threw myself a birthday party, first party away from home,  at the house where I had rented a room along with many other high-school-er. Together, we definitely had fun. –Um … not to steer you to the wrong direction --no alcohol, just a lot of food! Then I made the first and last birthday cake in my life for myself on my nineteenth birthday. My  hubby was there to celebrate with me. First birthday with him and the party never stops ...

Perhaps that is how our family birthday tradition has started as I don’t recall any year would go by without any birthday in our households. The best birthday party was the surprise birthday party when my hubby turned thirty…

I remember we had a date that night and he was picking me up from office. Before he arrived, I placed my hands into the fridge at the office to freeze them. Soon after my hubby arrived at my office building, I told him in my faint-est voice that I was not feeling well and I touched him with my chilled hands. He was concern about my health but at the same time, I could sense the disappointment in his voice as he was so looking forward for his BD dinner with me. I pretended that I was sleeping during our driving home. As soon as he pulled his car into the drive, I was as quick as a wink and went inside the house. Before he realized it, an army of his friends came out and threw him all kind of whipped cream and pie –and that was the best birthday party he had :-)

We love to celebrate our birthdays with a chocolate ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins and dinner with our family. Being a bit special in my family :-), my hubby would take me out on fine dining and two dozen of roses will magically appear at our dining table. As for the girls, birthdays mean friends and fun activities --not to mention a lot of gifts :-)

2011 Birthday dinner

The question is --what is your birthday party story?

Until next stop,

Journey of Life

Living with the Dead …

Um… Just the thought of the cemetery can spook many of us if not all, how about having your very own home in the cemetery? 

In Egypt, it is very common practice from the olden days to build a cemetery that is so elaborate and looks like a house. It gave the convenience for the living to mourn during the funerals and ease the visiting time. 

However, due to current Egypt’s chronic housing crisis, some of the Egyptians were forced to move into Cairo’s City of the Dead –Cemeteries with living people above the surface and dead below.

In fact, they were about 5 Million people (recently updated number off the net) willingly or UN-willingly are occupying the cemetery as their very own home. Instead of playing out in the park or fields, the children are playing in between the tombs.

The family of the deceased seem to care less since they view the living occupants as people who accompanying the dead. Why not, I guess! The living conditions are not the best but manageable, they have running water, electricity and such with one caveats –enormous smell of the garbage piled up outside their door.

Let me take you on a journey into the City of the Dead thru this YouTube video that I found ...

Until next stop,

 Journey of Life

How does a cooking bug skip a generation …

Yeah ..Yeah … I don’t like cooking nor do I like baking. In fact, I am quite lucky! When I grew up , food were just on the table for what I knew. All I needed to do was to show up at the dining table and woala … foods were ready and time for me to chow down. Then I was sent to college where I was on my own, far away from home and I was living in a housing where it didn’t come with food. Scratching my head and found myself at the Kentucky Fried Chicken with a brand-new rice cooker. Cooking rice was a challenge … The rice was either over-cooked or under-cooker—Take a pick!

Gradually … I managed to learn how to cook. Yeah … cooking for survival! Before I knew it, I was cooking for some years until my first daughter was born and then I was excused—Yes! You heard me right … ever since she was born I have never been back to the kitchen except for getting some food. Foods just magically appeared and they are good :-) –Can’t complain here …

Then my younger one was taking art-n-cooking class from her school and (you guessed it) she made pretzel for me on Mother’s Day and for her dad on Father’s Day –Cinnamon Rolls! Alright—she definitely carved out the biggest smile out of her dad. And I think it was more like feeling proud and touched :-)

Here are some photos for your amusement ...

Hope you enjoy this little cooking bug’s creations! --The biggest cinnamon rolls that I ever tasted and they were DE-li-ci-ous!!!

Until next stop,

Journey of Life

Until Next Life …

“Remember to lock your door before going to bed!”

“Will do, dad!”

“Be careful and take care of yourself. You know what I mean, right?”
“Yes, dad”

That was his attempt to warn me about the intruders/strangers and perhaps boys :-) I nodded rapidly so that he would stop talking about it. I guessed being fourteen and sort, that kind of conversation just seemed too cumbersome especially coming from my dad.

It was our first time traveling together, in fact several thousand miles away from home, to drop me off for a high school. My brother always wanted to study in that town and I didn’t mind following his footsteps. That was the town where my father spent his teenage year when he first migrated from China. He lived with his aunt and her family. My father grew up in the small village in Tao Yen Village in China. He spent most of his childhood with his grandma and when the time came, he immigrated and decided to live with his aunt.

Even though, he grew up without much love from his parents, my father was known by his kindness and warm personality. His attentiveness and wisdom somehow still echoes in my heart. His endless love has shaped who I am today. He was always there to listen to us and stood  behind what we had decided even though he might not agree with our decisions.

“There is nothing that I can give you but knowledge.”

“I know ...”

“Study well and once you can stand on your own feet, please lend your hands to your own brothers and sisters.”

“I will …” –That was my promise to him before he passed away …And I was eighteen years old.

Years later, I stood in front of his photo, I still could vividly recall all of the moments that I have shared with him. Even in that photo, his smile seemed so tender and his eyes were still so loving.

“Dad, I have taken care of my siblings and I have delivered my promised to you.”

Shedding between tears, “Aren’t you proud of me?”

“And someday … we shall meet again and I want to be your daughter again.”

I hope you enjoy this journey visiting my father—a loving man that will forever lodge in my heart. He may be somewhere in heavens but his memories will forever carved in my heart.

Happy Father’s Day,

Journey of Life

Sealed with a kiss …

Sitting here on the bed,  I looked at him from the back, his back always gives me the feeling of comfort—shields me from all the trouble. He was too busy to notice me --trying to get the fire started for the fireplace in our room –at Sonoma Coast Villa and Spa. The heat from the fireplace started to warm up as if trying to catch up with my heart –He and the fire place both have given me the warm and fuzzy feeling. 

That was the last night we were at the villa. The villa is tucked within the hill at Bodega, very tranquil setting in a sixty acre land which provides horse-back riding, golfing, meadow and the wilderness. The place is big enough to house a crowd but small enough to feel like it belongs to only two of us. The smell of the air is so fresh and flowery—gave us the much needed relaxation. And our room, the room is very cozy with the king size bed and a sitting area with two arm chairs facing the fireplace. A table with two seats facing the garden that filled with green and colorful flowers.

We started our morning with a breakfast then strolled around the property taking mental pictures of the surrounding before we traveled to Bodega Bay, Santa Rosa and Sausalito  where we had marvelous time dining at the local restaurant, The Fish. The garlicky pasta with salmon, barbeque oysters, white clam chowder and crab roll were exquisite. –every bite was as delicious as they look. Then we spent some time leisurely walking along the shops and the bay.

As his hands clasped tight with mine –my mind traveled back in time—back in college years when he first took my hands. Little did I knew he would hold my hands and led me into the wedding aisle.

Many years have passed and as we celebrate each anniversary, he would always seal it with a kiss. In fact, that was how it all started, with a simple, innocent, first kiss on the Haunted House ride in the Disney land –a kiss that lasts a lifetime. He started it that way and he would always end our anniversary celebration –sealed with a kiss.

A kiss that has traveled thru time and would be resealed in each anniversary...

Sealed With A Kiss

Author Rachel

The soft summer breeze

Whispers in our ears

The weakness hit our knees

As that special moments nears

The closer you come

The tighter you hold me

My body becomes numb

Like it was always meant to be

As you come near

There’s a smile on my face

I know there is nothing to fear

When my heart begins to race

The sounds become unheard

A feeling I’ve had never

You say that special word

That lasts in my heart forever

Our breathe slows down

We’re now face to face

Our love is renown

As our lips willingly embrace

Thank you for journeying with me on this special day...

Until next stop,
Journey of Life

Nature walk ...

Time flies ... She decided to show up in my tummy one day and then presented herself as a gift on Mother's Day. Can you imagine the feeling that I had on that day? --A gift was sent to me on the day that I was 'born' as her mother! As she celebrated her birthday, it was mine too. I have always had a soft spot with her. Not sure because she is the youngest, or the fact that she is my Mother's Day gift, or perhaps the way she is... --cuddly, innocent, more like little stuffed human.

Each year for her BD, I have searched far and beyond on what things that would be fun for her. See, if my memory served me well ...We did parrot show, gymboree, Invited Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Snow White, Art-and Craft @ local art place, Horse riding, and series of in house custom parties with sleep-over. But the best was this time where we took the girls for the treasure hunt at the local open-space park. --Nature hunt.

Speaking of Nature, our family loves walking in the nature. Ever since our girls were young, we often take a walk nearby our neighborhood as we are lucky that our neighborhood still feel like the woods. We can still spot many deers especially during spring time where the fawns are wondering around with their mother. Occasionally we would sight some bucks as well. Or we would stray a few miles further where we could see some people are fishing at the reservoir. The trail nearby the reservoir and its park are quite a walk as it provided cooler feeling with its creek.

Image courtesy of flickr.com

In fact according to researchers that connecting with nature inducing both healthier mind and body. They also believe that getting in touch with nature will rejuvenate children's brains preparing them to be ready for the next challenge. When they are out in the nature, all the senses get triggered. They are involved in something grander then themselves. Nowadays between iPhone, iPad and computer screen, the kids have seemed to lost their senses.

Hope you enjoy this little visit with nature walk along with my girl's BD and be inspired to do your own nature walk with your children. According to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, urges us to take a second look at getting our kids in touch with nature. 

If you enjoy my blogs, would you come 'Like' me on my FB fan page: https://www.facebook.com/AngelJourneyofLife --Thank you!


Have you walked in the nature lately?
Until next stop,
Journey of Life

Happy Mother's Day!

The world is celebrating on Sunday. Why? The very day to recognize that a mother has been born. Like Rajneesh once said, “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new. “

And I like to dedicate this blog to each and every one of that special woman who has become a mother. Today is your day! --And you rock!

Before I ask you to take me on a journey to meet that very special woman in your life, I would like to take your hands with me and meet the most incredible woman in my life. The woman who gives me the best gift ever –life.

My parents

She was eighteen when she married to  the most wonderful man in the world –my father. They live their lives to the fullest where they were blessed with six children –three boys and three girls. She tenderly attended all of her children while assisting her husband in their business. Unfortunately, just like any party that would end, she lost her husband to cancer when she was forty two years old. –What an age to be a window!

Never once crossed her mind to pursue another marriage, instead she had determined to devote the rest of her life and love to each and every one of her children. One by one she sent her children abroad to study and she paid for every single penny hoping her children would start their lives with debt-free. Many years of hardships and countless heartache, yet, she stood tall and still smiling. She admired all of the achievements that her children have accomplished. She has produced two business owners, three engineers and one founder for a startup and currently pursuing an elite MBA from Harvard. 

Smiling and feeling contented with her misty eyes, she murmured to her deceased husband, “Aren’t you proud of me? I have done it! Your (Our) children have grown up beautifully. Not only they have their own lives but also they are very successful. I hope you are feeling as complacent as I am today.” --Isn't she wonderful?

I hope you enjoyed this journey that I am taking you as much you have enjoyed your own journey traveling to meet you own special woman in your life.

--"For the hand that rocks the cradle - Is the hand that rules the world” --  William Ross Wallace quotes.

If you enjoy my blogs, would you come 'Like' me on my FB fan page: https://www.facebook.com/AngelJourneyofLife --Thank you!

Tell me ya ...about that special woman in your life ...

Happy Mother's day!

Journey of Life

Happy Valentine …

It has been years that Valentine day has played an important role for all of the love birds in the world. Greeting cards, chocolates, and flowers are being exchanged each second on this very special day. For the longest time, I thought this day was a hype by the greeting card makers as just another way to gain more consumers.

Little did I know that Valentine day was originated way back since Roman times. There are numerous theories that sparked the celebration of Valentine day. Some say St. Valentine refused to obey the law where young men were prohibited from getting married; he continued to perform the sacrament of wedding regardless. Another source was saying that he was killed while attempted to free Christians from harsh prison life.  Last which seemed to be the legend, suggested that St. Valentine wrote his love letter to a young lady – who may have been his jailor’s daughter and signed “From your Valentine.” Interesting.

My Valentine never fails me for as long as I could remember. Roses always magically appear on my dining table each year and a nice fine dining is waiting for me each time. Yes! Tonight shall be the night. I met my Valentine when I was twelve … wait! That is not what I want to write about … sorry guys I seem to lose track. I want to dedicate this blog to someone that I barely know personally but his story stuck in my heart …

--courtesy of socceronlinematches.com

This very someone told me that he met his wife when he was younger and he knew that she was the one that he was going to marry. He wanted (wants) to spend the rest of his life with her. Beautiful … Knowing that, while the daughter was away in a trip, his future-mother-in-law then invited him over for a dinner. This mother said this to him, “I want you to know that my daughter has an illness ever since she was eighteen years old and that someday she may not be able to bring food on the table and able to take good care of you.” –Not in exact words but something alike. And she added on, “I want to make sure that you would be there for her when she is no longer able to take care of herself. But, if you want to walk out now, I won’t hold it against you.” Guess what his answer was? – I was so touched and I found my eyes were teary!

He said to this mother that he knew it all along that the daughter had this illness but he wanted to be with her regardless. And he would be there for her no matter what it takes. Even until today, after a couple decades, this very same man has devoted his life and soul to his wife and their love never shattered. Wow! I thought to myself! This definitely outweighs all of those flowers, chocolates and greeting cards.

I hereby dedicated this blog to this loving couple and may their love last forever and knowing how lucky both of them to have each other. Happy Valentine to all of you and May your love last a lifetime!

Oh ..for the math geeks out there .. enter this into goggle search ...
sqrt(cos(x))*cos(300x)+sqrt(abs(x))-0.7)*(4-x*x)^0.01, sqrt(6-x^2), -sqrt(6-x^2) from -4.5 to 4.5

Until next stop,
Journey of Life