Chocolate and Conversation

The Fantastic 4

Seriously, you didn't really think I was gonna talk about those 4, when I have THESE 4!!

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Jade 馥寧

We wanted a name that represented part of her heritage. She was the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.

As a baby, Jade never cried. When I say that, I really mean never. My sister flew over to Taiwan to see her first niece and suggested Jade might be a mute. Now 11 years later, I can tell you she is definitely not a mute. She has sure made up for the silence of the first 2 years of her life.

Jade is an overachiever, a perfectionist. She possesses the gift of understanding. She has a fairly grounded self-concept. She is quiet, but strong. She has an eye for beauty. She internalizes everything. She enjoys writing and has already developed a distinct voice in her writing style.

Aspen 馥娓

I fell in love with the aspen groves in Utah when I moved there. The name also goes well with Jade. Stone and tree. Thus, Aspen was named.

She was my only baby that ever got chubby. As a baby, Aspen would only sleep if you put her on top of your stomach.

Aspen has beautiful almond eyes. Artistic, creative, a natural comedian. She aims to please. She is tender-hearted. A free spirit. Aspen has strong emotions. She puts on the best shows and her siblings are enchanted by her storytelling. She is sure to be clever in the kitchen. My Aspen has many unassuming but virtuous gifts.

Kirin 麒麟/復宇

My first and only son. I had wanted to have a son so I could name him Kirin. Kirin is a mythical Chinese animal, said to have "the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, a body covered with the scales of a fish, and a single horn. The Kirin appears only before the birth or death of a great and wise person. The Kirin personifies all that is good, pure and peaceful." My parents had an ancestral "altar" with two carvings of Kirin on it. I always thought they looked pretty rad. We also thought an animal goes well with the stone and the tree.

Kirin is just an impressive kid. If you give him a list of things to do vocally, he can finish the task without forgetting. He is always building something, when he was 3, he built a structure made out of blocks and built a little something to set up a rolling pin in there and told me if he was to pour water in the "canal", the pin should roll and cause this device on the lower bottom structure to do something else - cause and effect. I was blown away by his logic and quickly got on the internet to show him what an actual water wheel looks like and what people use them for. He thought that was pretty cool for about 2 minutes.

Kirin knows practically everything about space, and if you think you know something, you'll probably find he'll correct you on a number of points. He also is already a great writer. Kirin is intense. Most of the time I don't remember he is only 6. But sometimes he is cuddly and sweet and that's when I remember. I think growing up with only sisters will help him develop the sensitivity he needs to be a good husband. He speaks Chinese with the thickest American accent of all my kids. It's fun to listen to. I heart this nerdy boy.

Sage 馥潔

I thought for sure she would be a boy, I thought that God and I had an agreement.

She was the only baby I was able to have from pregnancy to delivery and beyond with complete peace, serenity and support. And the only baby I got to hold for as long as my heart's content.

We had wanted to give Sage a water name to complete our Feng-Shui. But between Mississippi, Amazon, Yellow River, Yangzi River and the Nile, we settled on Sage. That was how we ended up with a stone, a tree, an animal and a little bush.

That Sage, I wouldn't trade her for any money in the world. She said to me just today: "Mom, can you peel this clementine for me? I am too lazy." Sage says it like it is. Granted, she is only 3 but I sure hope she doesn't change it. Sage is a singer and knows how to play your heart. She is obsessed with hair. Before going to bed, she has to grab a bunch of my hair and put the tip of it in her ear for soothing purposes... Go figure.

A few weeks ago when we were having our cuddling time, I kissed her all over and said: "Sage, I don't want to share you." To this she said: "Is it because I am not a toy?"

As I am writing this, I come to realize how much of me are in my kids. I've always thought they are so much like Andrew. I hope they are not too much like me though, I hope they are able to perfect my weaknesses and make them into strengths for their benefit.

Andrew

Tomorrow is my Andrew's birthday. We've been married for 13 years. Sometimes I watch him study or being with the kids and I think to myself: "How did I get so lucky?"

I can't talk about my husband without saying something about his mother,too. Andrew's mom is the most Christ-like woman I've ever met. Her countenance radiates love and she spends her days in the service of others. Everything I love about Andrew is a reflection of this great woman. Happy Birthday to you too, mom, we love you!!

God knew what he was doing when he sent Andrew's best friend to the Vancouver, Canada Mission some 15 years ago. It was no coincidence that after a few failed attempts by other missionaries, Andrew's friend was the only one able to convince me to listen to the missionary discussions, subsequently, humbled me enough so I FINALLY really listened...

Andrew is the piece that completes my puzzle. He is my logic. When my frantic thoughts get too much for me, Andrew speaks something like an iceberg, if an iceberg could speak, and that calms me. My parents are baffled by me, their non-conventional, only Chinese by birth daughter. With me marrying Andrew, they had gained a Chinese son in the form of a white boy. Andrew learned to speak Chinese to impress my father. He decided to learn how to write in Chinese soon after, his characters (Chinese writings) are like something that came out of Chinese newsprint. Andrew is adored in Taiwan. He sits down with the locals and eats the street foods like he has been eating them all his life. Here is a little something about my husband.

He is:

Brilliant
Musical
Steady
Noble
Loyal
Peaceful
Faithful
Respectful
God-fearing
Assuring
Patient
Tolerant
Undaunted
Loving
Accepting
Gentle
Soft-spoken
Supportive
Unassuming
Happy
Loves Unconditionally

Here are a few of my favorite things about my husband:
He is not a complainer.

He sees the good in all people.
He takes walks with us on Sundays even when he would rather stay home and read LDS.org
He has a few times opted to not tell me about his upcoming exams or papers so he can spend time with family without me feeling guilty.

I married an absolute STELLAR MAN, honorable and true. My North Star.

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In-Home Spa

My husband has a degree in Massage Therapy. A long time ago before we decided to take out loans for this education, he promised to massage me at least once a week. That lasted for a good year...but what a great year it was!

A few days ago, while I was out, my husband was enlightened. When I got home, he announced that he will diligently use his talents to serve us. The goal: To make us happy (or at least makes his wife happier). His offering: A full body massage for each and every member of the family every Saturday night!

Knowing his schedule and everything else about my beloved, "Wow, that'd be nice" was all I said.

Tonight, he set up the massage table (memory foam), a spread of lotions and scented oils and invited all of us for a massage.

Ok, people, YOU HAVE NO IDEA how GOOD Andrew is with massages. I promised him if he follows through with this even just one time, I will write a post about it. Not that he cares or ever reads my blog. But since I am waiting for my turn anyway, I am using this time to write this post.

Isn't he a keeper?

Jill, is that sexy enough for you?

I think it's about high time I brag a little on my blog. You totally have my permission to be jealous.

(OK. Don't be jealous yet. Now 2 and a half hours later, he is still working on the last child... I am still waiting...)

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I did finally get my massage, but was too relaxed and sleepy to post this last night. So here it is.

Hopelessly Addicted

Behold this:

They came by way of FedEx this afternoon, just sitting there by my front door. Waiting.
Imagine me squeal in delight!
All FIVE boxes, 24 bars in a box. Total One Hundred and Twenty bars - All mine!

My Precious

Completely. Magnificently. Undeniably. So deservingly. So selfishly. MINE.
Not even gonna share one, not even a bite.
This is the best thing out of Utah. This is better than Lindor, yeah, imagine that!

This amazing truffle is best consumed at slightly above room temperature, so you can really appreciate its exquisite texture. The first bite is kinda dense, until you get to the center bottom where the soft velvety truffle meets your senses...it's truly a dream...

There are No preservatives, No hydrogenated oil, No trans fat. Right now, the only unnatural ingredient in this little truffle bar is the vanillin(an artificial flavor) but starting next year, they will be using real vanilla. By next year, this will be an all natural truffle bar, how amazing is that!

You Utahans, all is not lost, just drive to the nearest Macey's and your lust will be granted.

Foods Are...

I miss the little nooks and narrow alley ways back home, where you can always find some street vendor who is cooking up a delightful aroma. In Taiwan, you always hear someone recommending to someone else some small eateries in ambiguous places. Places you have to seriously remove two mountains to find. Back home, as long as you know how to cook, you can set up a shop even under the sea, and you will get people who will be willing to drown themselves just for a tasty bite. I remember a friend once took me going in and out and around and backwards like inside a maze before she finally brought me to this little hole in the wall place that sells freshly made tofu dessert. This place doesn’t even have a wall, just a ma and a pa and a few tables and a big old tarp on top to keep the sun and rain away. It was like going on an “expedition” just for a simple bowl of sweetened tofu. They weren’t the only ones know how to make the desserts either, in fact, such treats are easily found on the streets of Taiwan. But people come far away for them because they were dubbed the best! I tried taking other friends back again, but couldn’t find it afterwards.

When we were living in Monterey, California, we would go to the farmers markets on Tuesdays almost every week. I loved the varieties of tomatoes I saw there and was amazed at how many new ones I seemed to discover each week. But what really motivated me to go rain or shine was this fruit vendor – Goosens. It’s a family operated fruit farm that sells freshly picked peaches and nectarines. I am feeling a sense of loss right now to think it will be a very long time before I could hold those nectarines in my hands again. Since then, I have looked up and down, far and near for a fruit farmer who can produce peaches or nectarines like God intended them to be. The farmers I found all claimed their fruits are above the rest, but so far, none are comparable to Goosens, not even close.

After Monterey, we moved to San Diego and the craving for Goosen’s nectarines got the best of me, one weekend, we packed up and drove 6 hours ONE WAY just for a taste of Goosens’. It was worth the cost of gas, hotel and all the traveling expenses combined. I’d do it again in a heartbeat! Upon hearing that we drove 6 hours just to be there, Steve, the owner, threw in some green grapes as a friendly gesture. I wasn’t too impressed with how the grapes looked; some of them were covered with a few dark specks. But that is not the important part. The part that really mattered was how divine they tasted.

I remember browsing around the farmers market after picking up the nectarines and grapes. Naturally, walking around in place that has abundance of fresh food makes you want to eat something. So with the grapes sitting so conveniently in bag, I reached in, put one in my mouth, upon one gentle light touch of my teeth, the grape bursted open in my mouth, it was... oh, still, I am at a loss for words.
It was absolute perfection - something like a perfectly choreographed dance, a Beethoven’s 5th symphony inside my mouth. The fresh crisp skin combined with the slightly tart yet sweet, tender, plump flesh, never had I known grapes can have such complexity in texture and flavor…

I literally had a stand still moment; I think the world stopped spinning.

From that one little grape, I could taste the California sun, the earth the seedling sprouted from, I could taste the air, the rain…it was love, it was “This is how grapes are supposed to taste like!” “What have I been missing all my life!!”

I had a painful realization right then that I had not lived until that moment. I had experienced perfection from such a small and ordinary fruit and I knew I shall never be content again buying fruits from grocery stores. And I haven’t.

When I moved back to Utah, I wrote to the owner Steve Goosen, just to thank him for such dedication and pride for his work. He actually remembered me. He wrote me a nice letter about how he is getting old and no longer selling in Monterey’s farmers market anymore and how his kids are going off to college. And he sent me some pictures of his sinfully engorged peaches and nectarines. I secretly wish he had FedExed me the real thing instead, but felt better after he promised to “treat me right” if I ever come by his way. I like his all American boys’ heart.

As the weather is turning colder, I think of hot steaming tea, slow cooked ox tails with meat falling off the bones, red cooked fish, deep fried pork chops (unbeatable Chinese style), sweet and pungent duck, sticky rice cooked in bamboo, cumin lamb with mounds of cilantro, roasted lamb legs rubbed in exotic spices, braised lamb shank, basically anything lamb will do. And other dishes that I shall not name to keep your delicate American digestive system intact.

Notice the thin film wrapped around the rice? It's the coating from inside the bamboo and that is how the rice gets its distinct fragrance, it's the most simple and tastiest thing EVER!!

My heart hums with joy at the thought of holding a simple bowl of hot soup noodle on cold winter mornings, my favorite kind of breakfast.

Foods are that men may have joy!

A Fabulous Morning

I have this pile of laundry in my bedroom on my bedroom floor IN MY BEDROOM for a over a month...yep, did I mention it was IN MY BEDROOM? They WERE clean once upon a time. It got moved from the dryer to my bed then to the floor. Then the pile got sorted and it got smaller and the new clean piles got added on....Of course, none of the stuff on the floor is mine. They belong to my husband who is always so agreeable to help me, and my daughters' "leftover" clothing that they don't seem to want anymore.

I have been waiting patiently for my family to come back and proclaim what is rightfully theirs, like they do with cookies and brownies... I know for sure if they can remember the cookie they had asked me to "save" for them for over a month ago, they can remember the laundry in my bedroom that I've been saving for them to fold. I am a firm believer in "teaching them the correct principle and let them govern themselves".

Well, none of them came back and I've decided to attack the pile of beast this morning and put them back to the drawers where they belong with dust and all. Most importantly, my bedroom floor is CLEAN!!...until I wash some more, which is right after I post this. But right now, right this minute, I just feel so accomplished - my life again has meaning.

Also this morning, I "battled" with Sage and I WON!!! (Big Grin)
Let me say it again, I WON!!!! (Look, my blogging this early in the morning is the sure evidence that the wild Sage has been tamed!!)
This has been a great morning and it's not even 9 o'clock yet!

I had wanted to post a picture of the pile of laundry for you to admire but decided that I don't want you to know what disgusting pigs we were, but now you know anyway.
I will take any advice if you have one as to how to deal with my laundry problem.

More Sage ~S'il vous plaît

Some of you have inquired about Sage’s noticeable absence from the blog. Here she is as requested. You can tell she is well and very much alive…I think I need to find her a hobby. OR find me a different job!

Daily dialogue of a 3 year old and her mom:

9:00 am: MUMMMM, Can I have some candy please? Some candy please?

9:01am: I want some candy. I want some candy please.

9:03am: Can I have some bubble gum?

9:04am: No, Sage. You’re gonna die eating only candy.

9:04am: I won’t die, I will just eat one.

9:04am: Can I have some bubble gum? Pink! No, No, purple!

9:04am: I want some purple bubble gum….

9:05am: No, Sage. Let’s read some books…

9:05am: (Her eyes lit up) Then I can have some bubble gum?

10:00am: MUMMMM, I want some candy please.

10:01am: MUMMMM, I want some candy please.

10:01am: (Rolling on the floor in agony calling out) candy, candy.

10:01am: (Still on the floor, but arms reaching upward - must be seeing some candy hallucination - and crying out) candy, candy.

10:02am: (Fake sobs) candy, candy.

10:02am: (Being rocked by mom)...

10:03am: (With tears glisten on lashes and saying it very softly) Mommy, can I please have some candy? (And softer) Candy? (Even softer) Candy?

Below is a picture of Happy Sage who got her way

11:00am: Can I please have some peaches?

11:00am: Ok, you can have some peaches. (Much relieved at the change of conversation, mom takes out some fresh peaches from the fridge)

11:01am: No, no, not that peach. I want yellow peaches.(Referring to canned peaches)

11:02am: No, you can’t have those. You can have these.

11:02am: (Enter wailing and foot stomping) I want yellow peaches. I want yellow peaches.

11:03am: Sage, you can only have this kind. You can’t have yellow peaches. Do you still want it?

11:03am: (Sniffling, looking at mom with contempt)...

11:04am: Ok, I guess you don’t want any. (Putting down the peaches)

11:04am: (Silence)

11:05am: (Silence continues with furrowed brows and pouting lips)

11:06am: I want candy. No, No, I want bubble gum! Purple bubble gum!

11:06am: MUMMMM, I want purple bubble gum.

11:07am: (Mom puts herself in timeout.)

Such dialogue goes on All Day Long.

Every Minute!

EVERY!

SINGLE!

Day!

I was busy for a minute one day and forgot to keep my eye on Sage. When I turned around, this is what I found:

Luckily, I think I am out of candy... and then here comes Halloween!!