dried radish leaves

Children, please buy dried radish leaves that are green, not brown. See this for the rationale. I am soaking radish leaves that were brown to start off and it's not good.

Whale Snow

 Recently I read Whale Snow by Debby Dahl Edwardson illustrated by Annie Patterson. Here the book talks more about the spiritual connection the people have with whales hence "Whale Snow" but many natives in polar regions have a big vocabulary when it comes to snow. I am fascinated with the specialized  vocabulary for snow, sea ice, and region specific animals for people in the arctic described in this article.

I also wonder about how religion plays a role in this culture. The book describes animism but I also found out that many Inupiat are Christians. As a Christian and as someone from Korean descent, I often think how important it is to show respect to a culture while sharing your faith gently. This delicate balance is not for the fainthearted and must be lead by the Holy Spirit. I choose to read many books that describe different cultures and religions to my kids so that they may be educated and have cultural sensitivity. Sometimes we pause to repent of the harm Christians have done to other people in the name of Christ and yet our hope is for all to be saved so we pray that God's Spirit may equip his people in those areas and bring many to have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through a living relationship with His Spirit.

Pandemic Cooking

Dear children,

During last spring's lockdown, you did a lot of baking of cookies, brownies, and I made....chicken wings.

Now it's winter so I like to make soups, guks, chigaes, and 계란찜 steamed eggs, chorizo tacos with caramelized red onions and mushrooms to cut the salt. Butter chicken was high in rotation. Caramelizing red onions definitely is worth the time to make this dish super special. Also, add coconut milk or cream. We like it so much that I started using two packets of Kitchens of India butter paste. I usually buy from www.vitocost.com

 

My mom's ginger and date tea (ginger and dates blended together) has been such a wonderful treat everyday. My dad's lemon tea has been nice but I don't enjoy it as much as my mom's tea. 

I also tried the feta pasta which was super trendy and we thought it was just okay. But my tastebuds remembered Maggiano's Rigatoni and made something similar!

Thank you all for being such wonderful independent children and being able to make sandwiches and copious amounts of toast with butter and jam. Thank you my eldest for baking salmon so often. During the scary time that ahpa worked the Covid unit, my second daughter said, "I trust God that he will protect Dad. Look at how much he has protected us thus far. Even when there was a tornado, only our house was okay. God is faithful." And my super affectionate eldest who loves to hug has not hugged a friend for almost a year. Even though your friends sometimes gave you some difficulties that your mom is so strict about social distancing and no to playdates, you still obeyed your parents even through your tears. It means so much to me my daughter. And my little two youngest who are two peas in a pod and even dress up in the same outfits, you are still so cheerful and kind. Even though we have lost loved ones during this pandemic, some that we have not even grieved properly, God has given us the grace to walk together as a family. May God reveal himself to you in a deeper way to each one of you.

umma

2019 Winter Cooking Notes

On rotation these days...

Instant pot hamburger soup

Lebanese chicken and potatoes

gyro meatballs

gluten free meatloaf  (I sometimes sub gf rice cereal for the breadcrumbs)

easy chicken Tikka Masala

gf chicken pot pie

spaghetti with Jovial gf noodles and Victoria spaghetti sauce (I stock up when Costco has a sale) I also like to add roasted blended carrots to the sauce.

bibambap

japchae

gimbap

kimchee chigae

chili

me-uk guk

daengjang guk

ttuk guk (especially these days because of the new year)

soon dubu

fried rice

ddukbokki

Hangul Day

Hangul Day is celebrated annually in Korea on October 9 to commemorate King Sejong's invention of Hangul, Korean's written language. More info can be found here and here.

This is the first year of us learning about it and we watched this nice documentary here (vocabulary is a bit difficult and I did pause it several times) and this fun video by Akdong Musician (Fun Fact: these sibling duo were homeschooled by their missionary parents in Mongolia).

I didn't have a chance to show my kids this year, but this video also has great info on the holiday and it has English subtitles!

Snow days

These snowy winter days have brought itchy dry skin, colds, and the love of all soups bubbling and hot. I am trying to find balance between eldest child's packed ballet rehearsal schedule and classes and using the time I have with the younger ones wisely. It's so funny how quiet the house is when even one child is gone.

Our family dynamics has changed as the children are growing. Earlier this week, my five year old woke up and bellowed down the laundry shoot and every room in search for his dad so he could play soccer with him.  And today, my little two year old who loves playing with her older siblings came looking for me for her last nursing session before sleeping while her older siblings were teaching chess to my husband totally past their bedtime. Our days include trying to make a conscious effort to not be too loud while daddy is sleeping (he works nights), the girls practicing their instruments, clearing the table and sweeping the floor only when I remind them, working on birthday productions (this week they're working on the older two's birthday party preparations), having and reluctantly resolving heated sibling squabbles, teaching their younger brother when they feel the whim, while I try to have a handle over the never-ending dishes and laundry and still guide some structured learning. (We're enjoying The Mystery of the Periodic Table and 초단비 예비 초등 these days.)  But every night, when I see my sleeping children, I say to myself how blessed I am to have this life, and to have them near me.  Every night, I surrender them to God and pray that he may have mercy on them. I wish I could protect them from everything evil and wrong in the world, but I can't. I can only attempt to nurture an environment for the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts. And pray that they may live, not for themselves, but for God's glory.

Summer in the mountains

This summer we spent two months in Korea. Just looking at these pictures makes my heart ache. There are aspects that are still very foreign to me, but I still have a special love and yearning for this beautiful country.

I felt so blessed to share this time with my children. Even the snakes didn't scare them!