Dear God...Today is Mother's Day

Okay, today is obviously not Mother's Day. But this was a slideshow I created for my church when they ask me to give a talk at the Sunday school in May 2002. I thought hard and fast in trying to find the best topic to speak that day. I know the children would either fall asleep or not pay attention to what I am saying.

I gave much thought and prayer on this...and ask God what He would want me to say. Then He spoke...

The full slideshow was created in Microsoft Powerpoint in year 2002. It comes with sound, animation and a MP3 audio file of the Don Moen's hymn : Give Thanks. However, to put it up on NET, means my file will be very huge. So I eliminated all the sounds, special effects.

To watch this slideshow, Click the picture to progress each slide.


http://www.kitchencapers.net/MomDay/DearGod.html

All the Yellow and white text is the child's 'voice'.
The Blue text is God's 'voice'

What is the story line here?
A child goes to God and say to Him:

Dear God, today is Mother's Day

And tells God what he/she thinks mothers are. And in each slide, God spoke (in Blue text). And finally the child understands and praises God for giving him/her the best gift for Mother's day..his/her mom.

This slideshow was shown in my church and also in a few churches which my friends ask me for. If you would like a full copy of the slideshow for your church or fellowship, please write to me at gina@kitchencapers.net

It was a truly inspirational slideshow. Many who saw this, cried. Because it reminded all of us about our mothers and our role as mothers to our children. And most of all, how God look after us and cared for us when we are not even noticing Him.

May you all be blessed and know that Love is all around...

Natasha's God's Pockets

I chanced a gift shop at OUB centre in 1997. And saw this wonderful gift called the God's Pocket. I bought 2 sets. One was packed and given away to my boss Ms Su-Chzeng, the other I had to keep for myself. Only a year later, I gave it to Natasha, my eldest daughter to use.

So what is this God's Pocket all about? Its actually a cloth pouch with 2 notes inside. One note shows a poem, while the other tells you how to use this God's Pocket.

This is what the poem writes of:

Let Go and Let God
As children bring their broken toys,
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend
But then instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that are of my own
At last, I snatched them back again,
and cried, "How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "What could I do? You never did let go"



For the note of instructions, I hope you can see and read the words on it.


In late 1997, I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, Melody. She was supposed to be mildly deformed based on the fluid test I did when I was 4 months pregnant. As parents, we are worried sick. But we left the matter with God, asking church and close friends to pray for the unborn child. Natasha was only 7 years old back then. And she wanted to help too.

So I gave her this God's Pocket and told her to write short notes of all her fears, her hopes, her dreams and leave it inside this pocket. And to pray over it. And she did. But I am not showing her little pink notes here as she thinks its very private. So what you see now is an half empty pocket with 2 photos.

1 photo shows her carrying her baby sister and she was smiling in the photo. Its her way to saying to God "Thank you for answering my prayer to make my baby sister well"

Another photo, I have blurred out the faces. Its her cousin and boyfriend. They had a big fight and no longer going out together. In her naive ways, she thinks she has to put that photo of them in the pocket, asking God to bring them together again. Because she adores her cousin and doesn't want to see her cousin miserable.

In all her little pink notes, she used to write to God. Asking God to cure her baby sister's illness. So she can be born whole.

Years have passed and while spring cleaning, I found this old and wrinkled God's Pocket. Natasha, no longer writes her notes to God nor put photos in there anymore. Because this little pouch taught her to have faith in God and to believe that all prayers said to Him will be answered..in His time and space. And she learns that by praying, she is blessed and also able to bless others too.



May all who come here to read this post, find peace and joy in the Lord!

God Bless you!

Going places

Last Saturday was the last day of my Dim Sum Workshop series which was conducted at Tanah Merah Country Club. The club organizer, Miss Nora did a Cover story about my workshop and had took photos of the members trying their hands on making Dim Sum delights.

Look at the ladies..all smiles, laughter and looks like they are having fun too. It was a pleasure for me to be able to share my knowledge with them. I enjoyed these workshops alot. Although we had many hiccups during the classes(stove not working, steamer just won't steam properly, etc) things went well in the end.



And with each workshop, I surprised them with a new dish. And it was often my special chilli sauce that wowed them each time.

Come November, I will see them again. For the Christmas Roasts and delightful Sour Cream Walnut Crumbles cake I promised them.

Stay tuned...

Sugarpaste modelling

I will be conducting this sugar paste modelling next month. If you are interested to join this class, please email me at gina@kitchencapers.net

Course : Sugarpaste modelling : Learn to mould cute figurines by hand
Date : 4th October Saturday 9:30 am to 11: 30 am
Venue : Hougang Ave 7
Highlights:
You will learn to mould gold fish, lady bugs, sheep with life like wool, mini roses, Patch work detailed Teddy Bears. Each student will bring home 4 delicious Nutella Chocolate cupcakes decorated with these the figurines they have made.
Cost per person : S$100**

**If you have already attended my classes, you can sign up for this class and pay only S$65.

Obsession

Lately I had this obsession to learn to mould mini sugar paste figurines..namely flowers and especially ROSES! These are what I have made..looking at toys and gifts at home. And trying to re model it using sugar paste.

Enjoy!

What is an Eggplant?

Well, its neither an egg or a plant. That's for sure. For years, it was something I hated to eat. I find it too soft and gummy in texture. Not until I met Sukhvinder, my ex colleague who does good food magic to basic vegetables. She taught me to love and to eat egg plants in curries. And ever since then, I loved eating it sauteed with lots of garlic and chilli or have it in curries cooked with fresh spices.





Here's how its explained:

"Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, it's related to the potato and tomato. Though commonly thought of as a vegetable, eggplant is actually a fruit, specifically a berry."

Source : Jewish Recipes and Food
http://www.jewishrecipes.org/

and here's how Melody perceives it as ...she made this with sugarpaste. Its just so funny! A sunny side up egg with a leaf..that's an eggplant to her!



and this WAS my eggplant Plant..before the rabbit gobbled up the leaves and ate a bit of it and spat it out!

God's Boxes

Many years ago, a friend email this wonderful poem to me. Now I hope you know about this poem too. Wonderfully written but by whom, I have no idea. If anyone knows who is the author, please let me know. So I can give due credit to.

May you be blessed with this beautiful poem

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I stored.
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curosity I opened the black
I wanted to find out why.
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile and said
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God why He gave me the boxes
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings
The black is for you to let go."


--Author Unknown--