Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Today is my parents' 36th anniversary!

We used yesterday (Memorial Day) to celebrate.






After driving around for 2 hours viewing tornado damage and striking out at our first two breakfast choices--Elsie's and Swede Hollow (both closed because of the holiday), we ended up at the only legit Pannekoeken Huis in the Twin Cities.


Then we hit the farmer's market and thrift stores!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was a fantastic day to get out and walk for an amazing cause!


Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

Celebrating Lunar New Year

This year is the year of the rabbit.

Mom and I celebrated it with pork

... and this recipe.

1st Real Snow of the Season

I woke up to this ...

... so, of course, I broke out my new stand up mixer ($100 ... but I only paid $20) and made these ...

My Gram would be so proud. I should call her and tell her!

hot crossed buns

So I'm helping Mom put the finishing touches on Easter dinner. I was putting this platter of hot crossed buns on the table when Jess (my sister's sister-in-law? my cousin's wife?) makes a wisecrack about taking a picture and updating my blog. It was a two-birds-with-one-stone zinger in which she managed to get me AND my sister! Anyway, now my blog is "updated."

Possible Link Between Dam and China Quake

I try to read the New York Times headlines every day, and then read an article or two that seem worth it. The following paragraph in this article really struck me because it's about timing. I realize that the researchers are talking about timing in terms of hundreds of years, but since I lived in Dujiangyan for a year before the earthquake, the timing still means something to me personally about my safety and the sovereignty of God.

"Mr. Seeber said that while the link between the Sichuan earthquake and the Zipingpu Dam was not yet proved, work by Christian Klose, a Columbia University researcher specializing in geophysical hazards, suggested the stress caused by the water’s weight might have hastened the quake by a few hundred years.

'It would have occurred anyway,” Mr. Seeber said. 'But of course the people who were affected might think the timing is an important difference.' "

Happy Birthday, P.R. China!

Today is China's birthday! If I were still there, I'd have 7 days off (sort of--it's hard to explain to anyone who hasn't lived in Asia), but I don't, so I won't.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

No, not THAT most wonderful time of the year. The OTHER most wonderful time of the year.

Yeah, fall. The time of year when I get the urge to do something drastic to my head.


Last year, around this time, I did this.


Here's this year's drastic change:

There are more pics on my facebook.

Valleyfair!

I've actually never been to Valleyfair in all the 10 years I've lived (off and on) in Minnesota.

My first experience was a doozy! The day was absolutely gorgeous and perfect, and the occasion was one of my favorites--hanging out with people who are learning English as a 2nd (or 3rd, etc.) language. We had tons of fun!

Lunch was especially fun . . . not just because I love food, but because it was so Asian (which I miss sometimes). On an American field trip, each kid would bring his/her own packed lunch, but not Asian kids! Their lunch was more like a potluck--each kid brought enough of one thing to share with everyone else (including me) and man, was it good!

How to have a happier birthday . . .

LOAD UP ON FREEBIES!

There was an article in today's Star Trib that was right up my alley. It was all about coupons and free offers for your birthday. I cashed in on some of these for my birthday a month ago, but I'm planning to do lots better next year!

• free burger at Red Robin 
• free entree at Noodles & Co.
• from free dessert up to free All-American at Famous Dave's
• free drink at Caribou Coffee and Dunn Bros. Coffee
• free ice cream creation at Cold Stone Creamery

I also got $10 at my favorite mani/pedicure place.

My mom . . .

. . . is a wonderful, godly example to everyone around her.

Mom, I'm so thankful for you! Happy Mother's Day!

Charleston

I spent Spring Break in Charleston with my sister Emily. Visiting Em in Charleston was a perfect choice because it was a break from snowy Minnesota and because I could sleep in and work while Em was working in the morning, and then we had afternoons and evenings to have fun.
[I posted lots more pics on my facebook.]

Thanks for letting me stay in your fabulous new house, Em! I love you!

"Christian"

by Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost. Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Happy Women's Day!

Today is International Women's Day!

I know we don't really celebrate it in America, but we did/do in China so I'm celebrating today!

Jake and Meg are engaged!

Big congratulations to Jake and Meg!
They got engaged Friday night in Wilmington, NC.
Jake totally surprised Meg (which isn't easy to do). You can check out a video of their engagement on Meg's blog. They're planning a July 26th wedding in Minneapolis!
Congrats, Jake and Meg! I love you guys!

Metro News--a new blog about crisis pregnancy ministry

Check out Metro Women's Center's new blog @ www.metrowomenscenter.blogspot.com!

and

Don't forget that January is Sanctity of Life month!

Famous people are copying me.

Oprah chops Swank's hair for charity

NEW YORK - Hilary Swank must really trust Oprah Winfrey. The Oscar-winning actress let the talk-show host chop off a little more than 9 inches of her hair during a segment that was to air Friday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

The TV shearing was done in the name of charity: Swank, 33, donated her locks to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which works with the American Cancer Society to provide wigs at no charge to women suffering from hair loss caused by their cancer treatments.


"Well, it's taken months to get to this moment," Winfrey says before getting down to business. "It involves a two-time Academy Award winner, a sharp object and me."


Swank, who won Oscars for her roles in "Boys Don't Cry" and "Million Dollar Baby," says she "wanted to find a way to give back."


"I've been growing it for the last six months to donate my hair," she says. "I've been taking a lot of vitamins and taking really good care of it knowing that it would go to a woman in need."

Jane Eyre @ Guthrie

Caught a production of Jane Eyre at the Guthrie Theater on Tuesday night. It was fun, but Rochester was a little too light and flirty for me. Am I wrong, or is Rochester supposed to be dark, brooding, and a little dangerous?

Good Day Cafe

Check out Good Day Cafe--good food, fun atmosphere. We did GDC for breakfast on our way to Iowa for the weekend. I totally recommend the sticky buns and German pancake with lemon and powdered sugar.

Les Mis @ Chanhassen

Caught a great production of Les Miserables last week. It was so fun!