Happy Chinese New Year!

On Sunday mornings I help out at a church with an English program for Asian men and women.  There was a lot of hype and activity going on this Sunday because of the Chinese New Year, which was last Thursday.  

We put together lots and lots of wontons.  

There were two fillings:  1) Shrimp and Chives and 2) Beef and Spices

It was definitely a team effort.

It really is a simple process and it is so fun.

{.1.}

Take a wonton skin and scoop a small serving of filling into the middle

{.2.}

Wet the outer edge of the wonton skin, 

fold opposite corners together and seal it into a triangle

{.3.}

Take the two "arms" of the now folded wonton 

and fold one on top of the other

{.4.}

Steam, bake or fry until fully cooked

I've officially decided I would like to have a wonton party

sometime in the near future.

xin nian kuai le!

{Happy Chinese New Year!}

Picture Credits:

Wonton Steps

I Will Be Grateful

I will be grateful for the unceasing rain.
{because it means there will be green grass and flowers soon}.

I will be grateful for the cold, biting wind that makes my hands numb
{because it means I have the sense of feeling}.

I will be grateful for the fact that I miss home terribly
{because it means I have incredbly wonderful parents}.

I will be grateful for the three tests that I have this week
{because it means I have a brain that can think logically}.

I will be grateful for the pain, the pleasure,
the failures, the successes.

No matter what -- no matter the circumstances or the outcomes,

Volume 25

Roomie Time

Today was a fun day.

I slept in.  

That was wonderful.

Then I headed off campus with my roomies

(except for Lauralee, who couldn't make it--sniff, sniff).

We were celebrating Abbie's half birthday.  

The rest of us have birthdays in the semester, but hers is in the summer,

and we didn't want her to be left out.

So, what did the half-birthday girl want to do?

Well, there's this great Mexican restaurant close to campus.

 

The food is absolutely wonderful.

We tried fried ice cream.
It was very interesting but very good.

We had lots of fun.