before

Last week, I’d mentioned the running program to my sister and was met with, “I HATE running.  Have fun.  No, i don’t want to join you.”

After seeing me survive my first workout & looking through the program details, she asked to tag along on today’s workout.  I was ecstatic!  Exercise doesn’t seem like so much work when you’re not alone and I’d been trying to schedule a walk with her unsuccessfully for months!  She’d actually started walking on her own around the neighborhood with baby Sakura on her back a while ago, so it’s not like she’s TOTALLY out of shape.  She’d wanted to go running while carrying Sakura too ~mom & I talked her out of it today, but may need experienced runners to talk her out of attempting that in the future.  I can’t imagine that would EVER be a good idea…

We walked/ran around our neighborhood, planning our route so that we ended up at Starbucks so she could pick up her daily caramel macchiato.  She did great & wants to go again on Saturday! Encourage her on fb~I’m excited for the next few months! =)

after

on your mark, get set.....

WOW, it’s been a while since i’ve visited my own blog! =p  soooo much has happened, & i might get to that eventually… just want to do a few quick posts out before i get totally behind…

One of my twitter pals announced she was checking out the #5kin100days running program and her tweet about it caught my attention.  I looked into it and signed up too.  I am SO not into running, but I figured it was the perfect way to revisit the activity.  Fortunately, I have the time now to focus on improving my health & fitness and work on the things my physician has been telling me to do for the past few years.  Funny how marriage & prospective mommy-hood changes you.  My health gets pushed to the top of the priority list because it isn’t just about me anymore.

I attempted workout (5)1.1 at Kapiolani Park on Tuesday.  I used to walk there regularly with the bon dance posse crew & I wanted to see how the workout compared to our previous walks.  It went pretty well~ I ended up going 1.5x around the park.  Shorter than our usual walks, but with the running component thrown in, it felt like i did more work.  Definitely feels do-able and a great start overall:  no shin splints, side-pains, or negative side effects.  Already, that’s an endorsement for this program.  Hopefully, I’ll be as diligent documenting it all as I am sticking to the program!  It’s a good thing one of the components of it is reporting back to Brad.  I must say, I do appreciate encouragement & feedback from my twitter/fb ohana! <3

Everybody falls sometimes/Gotta find the strength to rise/From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache/You think it’s more than you can take/But you are stronger, stronger than you know

Don’t you give up now/The sun will soon be shining/You gotta face the clouds/To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains/Hope that doesn’t ever end/Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen/Silent prayers get answered/Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard/Impossible is not a word/It’s just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody’s scared to death/When they decide to take that step/Out on the water/It’ll be alright

Life is so much more/Than what your eyes are seeing/You will find your way/If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains/Hope that doesn’t ever end/Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen/Silent prayers get answered/Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds

You don’t have a chance

(That’s what faith can do)

When the world says you can’t/It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains/Hope that doesn’t ever end/Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen/Silent prayers get answered/Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

That’s what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

“what faith can do” by Kutless

coming from a place where i’ve gone through all that and can look back…so impressed by the faithfulness of God & blown away by his goodness.  sunny days ahead. =)

Yesterday, Melissa posed a question to Twitterlulu about good fried chicken joints in Honolulu.  Reid got Chef Sean (@pacificsoul) to make a batch of chicken today so I went down to check it out. I’d had the sweet tea, cornbread & his chili from the Honolulu Farmer’s Market before and it was okay, but I decided to give the food another shot.  I found the truck near Emily St. on Kawaihao (see twitter for locations).  The two guys manning the truck were really nice.  There wasn’t a price next to the Buttermilk Fried Chicken plate—I guess it depended on how many pieces of chicken you wanted.  I got the plate with two pieces ($9) – one for me & one for my sister.

It came with cole slaw, chili, & cornbread.  Today’s chili was better than last time. =)  The cole slaw was pretty good.  I was really disappointed by the cornbread this time though.  It was drowned in honey butter (?)  & it had a REALLY strong floral note that I STILL can’t get out of my nose — I had two bites & my sister had one.  We couldn’t eat it. =(  I LOVE cornbread & don’t remember it being like this last time.  It also had pieces of corn inside for those that are particular about texture (my niece Emi is not a fan).  My sister’s comment on the chicken:  ”it doesn’t have any taste.”  I thought it had a nice crunch.  I guess it could have used more ‘flava’, though it went well with the chili as it was.

I also ordered the special of the day:  seafood gumbo ($11)  There were nice pieces of shrimp & scallop and it was very flavorful.  I ended up taking it home.  The cornbread didn’t cut it, starch-wise, so I’m putting it over rice or pasta for dinner.  So much for today’s lunch run for my sister.  She had one bite of cornbread, two bites of chicken, & several spoonfuls of the gumbo — and sent me home with the rest.  I’m sitting here thinking I should have stayed home & processed some of my Ma’o veggies for lunch.  sigh.

The Soul Patrol has had some rave reviews on Yelp (even an entry by @emihart ).  It’s gotten a recommendation from @onokinegrindz too, so my experience could be an anomaly.  Check it out for yourself.

My sister & I still think the Pastele Shop’s fried chicken is one of the tastiest around town.  If you do make the trek to Kalihi to try it, you might want to call before going down (or go early) – they don’t usually make very much.  It’s a winner with the gandule rice. =)

::edit:: went down to pastele shop the same week after the soul patrol trek.  noticed there was a different woman at the counter & new menu items…. chicken was different too… sis said it used to be a lot better before.  ::sigh::  metromix gallery is out.  looks like i need to give soul patrol another shot – friends w/ similar taste as mine checked it out too & said was ono… i still can’t get that cornbread sauce out of my head though. ::shudder::

::update::  ventured down to the restaurant in august to meet a few twitter peeps & the food was awesome! =)  totally different from our unfortunate lunch truck experience… will def go back…

when i was approached with the idea of doing a mochi tweetup, i honestly didn’t think people would come out during dinner time just for mochi.  i love my tweet tweet pals & thought it would be a fun opportunity to cook for them too.   that, plus being shy & feeling more at home in a kitchen than in a room full of people—and a poor case of time management (which i’m working on =p — i really didn’t plan on showing up THAT late) contributed to my not arriving at little oven until well into the tweetup.  i figured the effervescent Traci Toguchi was already the perfect hostess & since Junie & Sara I. had taken care of set-up, my presence wasn’t needed early on.  i can’t tell you how awesome it was to be greeted by a room full of old & new twitter friends when i walked in the door.  seriously, all the fatigue from a relatively sleepless weekend melted away. =)

wish all my tweet tweet pals could have come, but mochi-production limitations & little oven room capacity didn’t allow for it.

as much as i love making mochi, i do miss catering and being in the kitchen at diamond head market & grill.  i was planning to post the menu prior to the tweetup, but ran out of time.  here’s what was there:

ume edamame

matsutake okowa (mochi rice with matsutake mushrooms)

lindy’s salsa

cheesy spinach artichoke dip

artisanal cheese platter: Humboldt Fog goat cheese, Saint Andre Triple Cream, Vella Mezzo Secco, & Westcombe Red cheddar – grapes, dried fruit

baguettes/pita chips/tortilla chips/multigrain crackers

mini caprese salad with kahuku toybox tomatoes, fresh mozzarella perlini & basil

roasted vegetable pasta salad

butter mochi & blueberry mochi

plantation iced tea with Zhena’s Gypsy love rose tea

culinary peeps in action =)

I am very grateful for everyone who attended, tweeted, took pictures AND video (!) =) – i have yet to go through all the tweets & twitpics but am SO encouraged by all the positive comments i’ve seen so far & that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves (my kitchen is still a disaster area =D).  Thank you Traci for organizing – hope i didn’t cause you too much stress.  Many thanks to Little Oven & Joyce for coming in on her day off & letting us hang out at one of the coolest venues in town.  Heartfelt thanks for the wonderful people who volunteered and helped out including Laurie, Derek, Mitchell, Junie, Sara I. & Gregg — you rock!  i’m awed by how much some Hawaii twitter peeps are so giving of their time & willing to lend a hand.  if any of you ever want to hang out at mochi house & help do stuff like make peanut butter balls, let me know.  this holiday season is going to be crazier than last year, with a newborn in the family – she’s limiting the help i get from my two major helpers (mom & sis), Mahealani’s on the mainland, and Joni is unavailable due to being severely understaffed at work.  still paying off debt, so can’t afford to pay money, though i’d feed you (incl. mochi =)  ).

Oh, and happy b*day Jeannemarie! =) glad you were able to stop by & i’m happy that we were able to play a small part in helping make your day a memorable one! =)

here’s an awesome video by Susie!  love the music too! =)

this is Chris’ cool video – and folks, please don’t try this at home…

…………………………………………………….

below are just my personal notes on the food for improvement & future reference.  i like to keep my notes in one place & my blog be it…

ume edamame – i love ume spaghetti, so thought i’d use my sauce on soybeans. need to take into account carry-over cooking =p… though part of the coloration WAS due to being boiled in shoyu dashi. grandpa grew soybeans in the garden and i grew up eating them well-done. will tweak recipe)

matsutake okowa – 1pkge makes 4 cups. -from marukai – smelled good, but was gone before i got to taste it.

lindy’s salsa – tasted better when lindy made it.  wonder if she used fresh corn.  i’d defrosted a bag of frozen corn, but didn’t like the texture, so didn’t use it & had mitchell bring canned corn.  definitely tastes better with a squeeze of lime juice.

spinach artichoke dip – used Paula Deen’s recipe plus knorr veg. soup mix.  mixed in most of the cheese and used some to top (only used half the block of pepper jack); bag spinach instead of boxed, so had 6oz more spinach than recipe called for.  it looked very solid… should have put more mayo/sour cream…want to adjust consistency.

cheese platter - (oops, forgot the table water crackers, apricot preserves, fig spread + nuts, garnishes… and wasn’t able to get my hands on the mango stilton in time =p)

pasta salad – the veggies were a little softer than i usually like them for a salad, but there’s nothing like the flavor of roasted, caramelized eggplant & onion.

finally got around to opening my can of chaokoh sugar cane.  like bamboo shoots, they don’t do well in cans. =p

…and twitterless D’s help with the mountain of dishes the day after (and peanut butter ball-making) was invaluable. =)  —not to mention getting me out the door to exercise despite my protest of time constraints. shave ice mo arigato! =)

one of my fave events is here! =)  can always count on good food, running into friends & family, and a dose of uchinanchu culture.  all the 411 can be found at: http://www.okinawanfestival.com/

there’s at least several twitter peeps planning to enter sunday’s andagi eating contest.  cheer them on & stick around to hear our sanshin group (@11:30).

……………………………………………………………………….

one of my friends is involved with common grace – check out the event they’re having this weekend too! =)

Common Grace Benefit Bazaar and Silent Auction

Where? Kaimuki Christian Church, 1117 Koko Head Ave. at Harding Ave.

When? Labor Day, September 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Find that video game for your child or the bowl that perfectly matches your china pattern or an exercise bike to get your body in shape … even a weed whacker to get your yard in shape. Also place your bid on Silent Auction goodies from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Questions? Call (909) 233-8474, email commongracehawaii@hotmail.com or visit www.commongrace.org

***if you have items you’d like to donate, stop by on sunday:

Drop off your donation of gently used items for sale at Kaimuki Christian on Sunday, Sept. 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. We can use jewelry, handbags, CD’s, DVD’s, sports equipment, working appliances and electronics, etc. for the White Elephant sale. (No clothing please.) Also needed are high-quality, valuable items for our Silent Auction.

haven’t posted in ages – and yes, i’m still swamped in paperwork, but when something post-worthy happens, i just have to update.

a dear friend & sister-in-Christ left the islands today – her departure was rather sudden and i’ve been processing the news of it for the past few days.  you know, when someone close to you dies, you go through a range of emotions… it’s been quite a rollercoaster ride — thankful it’s not a death, but y’know, it’s kinda similar, since physically, she’s no longer in town.   i’ve seen red flags pop up recently, and have wanted to do something about it, but hadn’t known that time would be so short.  didn’t know what else to do but pray – surely, if anyone could help her, it would be Jesus.

i was disappointed in myself that i couldn’t do more this past week.  after pulling several all-nighters working, my body wasn’t physically capable to hold out & i ended up falling asleep on some urgent messages.  it made me sad that i wasn’t there for her when she needed me.  i was mulling over that this evening when i was reminded about the passage of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Mt.26:36+) where the disciples – the people closest to Jesus, kept falling asleep and weren’t “there” for him when he was in anguish.  some friends, huh?  i would think, that in the whirlwind of events that happened shortly afterward, that the thought must have crossed their minds that they totally failed Jesus.  things definitely hadn’t gone as they’d planned (could not have fathomed the events to come) and they weren’t able to change the course of events & rescue him.  if things hadn’t played out the way they did, scripture wouldn’t be fulfilled, and history would be different.  God ultimately orchestrated everything and enabled that story to be told to future generations to give us hope.  one may wonder why people go through crappy situations or seem to be dealt a bad hand in life — it’s more a result of a fallen world & dark forces at work than God willing it for people.  i think it’s possible for God to be glorified in even horrific/tragic situations.  the events that happened this year were allowed to happen —and even though a lot of junk stuff occured, i still marvel at how we even met and how she ended up at my church!  it may seem distant, but i believe this story WILL have a happy ending. ナンクルナイサ(nankurunaisa)— it will all work out in the end.  i am hopeful that time spent with her family will strengthen their relationships and that she will obtain the care that she needs while she’s up there.  while i love her and will miss not being able to hang out, i know she’ll be back—even if it’s just for vacation.  the world’s a lot smaller with the internet too, so it’s not like i’ll never see her on-line either.

so yah, sis, it’s not goodbye.   being the conservative asian that i am, i know i haven’t said it enough — i love you and am SO thankful for your friendship.  you’ve been an encouragement to me and i’ve enjoyed hanging out with you.  you’re always welcome here and i look forward to your return.  =)

lots of things going on in town this sunday:  the annual bg charity fair (i’ll be at the bead gallery with my mochi – come say ‘hi!’ =) ); the JCCH children’s day fair in Moili’ili (@nemu & co will be there!), and the Janell Araki fundraiser @ Aloha Tower.

my mother needs to read this, but i’m posting here because EVERYONE should be aware of this.  take a woman’s word if she says she’s being stalked and if you want to help, read up on resources like this and/or direct her to them: http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm

**edit:  Thanks to @danseto for providing a link to another great resource! =)  http://www.stoptheviolence.org/home **

i have a friend whom i knew pre- and post- boyfriend.  it’s been approximately 10years since they were together & they were a couple for less than a year.  i caught up with her several years ago and barely recognized her.  The vibrant, cheerful person i once knew was timid, fearful, and spoke barely above a whisper if you could even manage to get two words out of her — practically a shell of a person; not to mention paranoid that she would be found.  i’m glad she’s been able to plug into a church & small group – she’s improved considerably, even though she’s still haunted by him.

yesterday, i got a call from one of my mom’s friends, whom i respect (and who has had pastoral duties before).  she wanted this friend’s phone number so she could talk to her.   i asked if it was okay if i had my friend call her instead & she agreed.  we talked for a bit before i called my friend and relayed the message.  my mom then calls me and tells me she was going to give her friend my friend’s cell. number, and recited it, asking if that was the right one & i got upset.  i was also unsettled by my mom’s friend.  even if she is counseling the guy, i don’t see why my friend still needs to be contacted about it.  rule #1 of the survival guide is to avoid contact = CEASE COMMUNICATION.  from the last several attempts he’s made to enlist pastors and counselors help to get him in touch with her again (!), he’s stated that he’s better and wants to be friends…  obviously, he hasn’t moved on and i honestly don’t think it would be a good idea for them to re-establish any kind of relationship.  if he truly loved her, he’d let go and move on.  she definitely is not the same person he knew way back then anyway.  It may seem kind of extreme to take such precautions, but judging from the way women who hadn’t been taken seriously end up murdered & on the front page of the paper, i think it’s worth it.  My friend does not need to become one of them.

…yah, i’m behind on posting – my computer was out of commission a few weeks, it’s tax season, and been busy with work… =s

Chapter Two

I AM – Your Sufficiency

   

Lesson Five

 

 

“I Was”

モーセは思い切ってこの人といっしょに住むようにした。そこでその人は娘のチッポラをモーセに与えた。彼女は

男の子を産んだ。彼はその子をゲルショムと名づけた。”私は外国にいる寄留者だ。”と言ったからである。出エジプト記2•21-22

      

“And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

Exodus 2: 21-22

reading is here

    

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself ‘in faith’ yet bewildered or demoralized?  yes, feels like everything else just got pulled out from under you and you’re knocked off your feet.  not fun.

 

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content? yes, both, but usually more ‘decidedly content.’

3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling? when i’m not content, i’m stressed out with worry or wanting to take the reins of control and MAKE things happen.

4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a greatopportunity passed you by? no.  doesn’t do much good to dwell on stuff like that.

5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now? was totally there several years ago, thinking about how nice it would be to be in my mid-twenties again…  good times…  several years ago, things were so up in the air, i wasn’t really involved with any ministy and was between churches…

6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of “I Was”? i guess… felt like i was wandering in the desert.  did some re-evaluating and  got back to basics.  i’ve grown.