Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! I got love in my tummy!!

So, thanks to Em and her amazing Christmas present of the Dinner-on-a-Dime Taste of Home cookbook, we have been eating fantastic meals over the last 4 months, none of which have been repeated or were old favorites before, but they soon will be.

(I was especially grateful for this gift because I had forgotten to pack a cookbook in my unaccompanied baggage! We would've been without a cookbook for a good 2 months, and while I am excellent at following recipes, I'm not willing to free-style it like that just yet. So hooray for well-timed gifts. =)

Anyways, the latest of these fine culinary creations that I have effortlessly whipped up came from said cookbook. (I revised the recipe slightly, as it was supposed to have vanilla chips and those are not available here. But other than that, it's the same.)

So, I whipped up a batch of sugar cookie mix (from Mom & Dad for my birthday - yay you guys!)

Chopped up 3/4 a jar of maraschino cherries
And viola! Vanilla Chip Cherry Cookies, sans vanilla chips. Heaven on earth...

I have been noting Joe's response to the new recipes in the margins of the cookbook so when I have tried them all and do start repeating them I'll remember which ones he liked and what he didn't care for so much. His response to these? "Holy shit. Where are the rest of them and why aren't they in my mouth?!!" BAhahahahaa! I love my husband. And yeah, they're THAT good. =) xoxox

P.S. I would also be including a picture of the finished masterpiece, but I just ate the last one. =)

And Many More...

Thank you Grandma...
for a beautiful birthday card and the enclosed gift!! I love you. xoxox

Happy Birthday to You!

Thank you Mama...
for a lovely birthday card! She also enclosed some birthday money and instructions for me to find something Korean for myself in one of the little shops by our apt - I'm on the hunt! =) xoxox

Complete Obedience

That was the theme for the Onnuri English Ministries Women's Retreat that I went to with Jessie last Saturday! It was held at the Namhansanseong Provincial Park, which is SE of Seoul. After spending the night again, I had a great time hanging out with Jessie and her friends from her church and enjoying worship, special music (short clip below) and a great teaching on obedience. Our guest speaker was Liz Torrey from Jesus Abbey. She works there (in a similar fashion, she said, to Moses preparing for the Isrealites to be released from Egypt) as she and her family and fellow workers anticipate the opening of North Korea's boarders to allow missionaries to enter in and minister to the North Korean people. They also educate South Korean people on the hardships North Korean people are facing in order to work towards the possible unification of the two countires again some day. We had gorgeous weather and thoroughly enjoyed being able to lounge around and rest in the company of other women and our Lord. Thanks for inviting me, Jessie!! =) xoxox

Oh Happy Day!!

TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can...
~ By Anne Bradstreet

Sooooo, MY dear and loving husband spoiled me rotten for my birthday this year! First, he got up and made me breakfast - pancakes, bacon, fresh strawberries, oj and coffee. After a while I opened my presents, which he SO creatively wrapped in pages from one of my COSMO mags. I loved it!!! He got me the novel I requested - The Postmistress (which I read in 5 days and was just as fantastic as I'd heard it was!) and an Ipod touch (which, since then, we have both spent many hours playing games and listening to music on)!



Then in the evening my "gorgeous hunky husband" (as Aunt Susie has lovingly dubbed him =) made me dinner - spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and some wine! Mmmm!


We watched Avatar together (my first time - SO GOOD!) while he was baking my birthday cake!!! Yes, that's right ladies, you heard me correctly. My husband baked me a birthday cake. On his own, without me asking or hinting or anything. Totally blew me away. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing and polka dot party candles to boot! And let me just say, it was fantastic. =)




Thank you to my sweet husband for planning ahead and taking off work for my birthday, and then lavishing me with your love, gifts, time and sweet companionship. I am so in love with you, so thankful for you, and SO looking forward to what this year ahead has to offer us!! =) xoxox

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! =)

I got a birthday box from TWF!!! =) It was filled with some very special cards and presents from all the members still residing in MD - so fun!! (I don't know why some of the pictures are turned the wrong way but I can't seem to fix them...sorrow.)

The Geigers sent me 2 tea shop mystery books (to be read while sipping tea and munching on a little something, of course) and some mentos!

The Biffies sent a pink beeswax candle, a keychain, earrings, some birthday money and some books I'd asked Aunt Judy if I could borrow!

The Mustakas' sent a video game for Joe so he wouldn't feel left out ;) and - made by Laura - a wall hanging paying tribute to one of our (our = me and my sisters & our = joe and I) favorite children's books, and a limited edition special order reversable apron!!

Mom and Dad sent candy, four different types of cookie mixes (peanut butter, oatmeal, sugar cookie and double chocolate chunk), a microfiber cleaning rag and some birthday money!

Thank you all sooo much for making sure I feel very loved even from so far away! I enjoyed all our birthday video chats and opening presents with you! xoxox

HAAAAPPY BURFDAY BURFDAY BURFDAY!!

I got a birthday package from the Burnisons!!!

Inside I found lots of cards and letters and pictures and stories, along with glitter Easter egg dye (for next year of course!) and 2 really pretty necklace pendants! They were also the first ones I got to video chat with on my birthday! Thank you all so much for helping me celebrate!! Aunt Gigi loves you!!!!! xoxox