crossrhodes

Last night we hosted a missionary couple and their little girls. They are old friends of the family from the Philippines travelling through the U.S. We were the 43rd home they’ve slept in since June of 2003. Can you imagine? The wife and I found something in common… scrapbooks! She homeschools and scrapbooks in their van. God bless her! Last night we all sang while the husband played the piano. Our piano hasn’t been played that well in years, I think it had an asthma attack. At breakfast this morning, we had a long talk about their observations of the American culture. Too much to blog.

Over the weekend I hosted my family for dinner. My brother and family came after Thanksgiving with his in-laws. My sister’s in Hawaii and my parents spent Thanksgiving with my aunts and uncles out of state. That’s one disadvantage of marriage - sharing holidays with different sides of the families. I miss holiday reunions with the entire clan and all the cousins when we were young. The world seemed smaller then. Road trips were fun and the singing continued in the house. These days, we share long distance holidays via webcam. I think my sister got a touch of homesickness when we webcammed with Hawaii after dinner.

Before the weekend, Don’s family came down from Rochester for Thanksgiving. Don’s brother joined us from Iraq via webcam. Isn’t technology wonderful? Too bad he couldn’t share the meal over the internet. I had turkey AND ham, the annual Cream of Winter Wild Mushroom Soup, 4-5 side dishes, a brie en croute and roasted chestnuts for starters, plus 5 kinds of desserts. I lost count of the pitchers of margaritas and bottles of wine we consumed. Don and James were a big help at clean up. The day after, James even volunteered to help me put serving pieces away. (I think he was just dying for me to have free time to buy his Xbox online.)

My guest room and dining room were definitely put to good use. Now I am officially pooped! I think I outdid myself this year… I have carpel tunnel on both hands to prove it :) All that cooking and cleaning! But I wouldn’t change a thing. I love company! I especially love company I can feed. However, I’m sure my husband could use some down time (we’re opposites in that way). I can’t wait to do it all over again at Christmas!

Perhaps someday when James and our (unborn) kids are grown, I could run a real bed and breakfast. For now, enjoy the pictures of our Thanksgiving gathering, including James’ last marching band show of the season.

Father and son were butting heads again last night. My parents were here to be reminded of what it was like raising teenagers. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Don and I have it easy with James. An adolescent Lani would be Don’s worse nightmare. He’s not the most patient guy. He wants James’ attitude fixed NOW. But James doesn’t even realize he HAS an attitude until he’s 30. It’s kind of fun being Lani in the middle.

“I’m tired of dealing with him! You talk to him!” says a frustrated father as he slams his office door.

“I can’t take him anymore! You talk to him!” says an angry son as he slams his bedroom door.

Meanwhile, Lani sweeps the mud they both dragged into the house, trying very hard not to giggle at the steam coming out of their ears. James came out of hiding first to watch TV in the living room. Don has a TV in his office so he has no reason to leave :)

In the living room, my parents are reminiscing the million times they wanted to smack me! But they didn’t (for the most part) and I grew up (for the most part). My mom made an astute observation after listening to James vent to me. I had siblings with whom to hash it out. James is an only child for now, which makes me mom AND big sister. Yeah, I can deal with that.

I got a huge food processor as a birthday gift from Don and James. I can’t believe they were actually listening when I made the hint! It came just in time for Thanksgiving too coz I cooked alllllll day today. I took one break — long enough to catch the end of Jacques Pepin’s thanksgiving episode on TV. I finished all the savories — sauces, soups and base for side dishes. (Elaine and Chef Roger would be proud of me :) They’re all in the freezer ready for reheating, assembling, and/or baking. Tomorrow is pastry day when I prep dessert. All the table linens have been washed and ironed. After I get all my serving pieces together, I’m ready for a truckload of maids to clean up the mess I made in the kitchen. *hehe* It’s actually not bad. I cook and clean along the way when I’m cooking for company.

Why so much food??? I’m hosting Don’s family again for turkey day. Its probably more food than we can eat but I love playing house. I’m more prepared to host this year too. I assembled the king-sized trundle bed in the guest room myself! I bought additional dining chairs, padded and comfy, to double as living room seating for kids and grown ups alike. All that’s left to do is charge the kareoke for Kelly!

I had a deja vu of my mom cooking until the wee hours of the morning before a party at our house. We had many great parties growing up. (A Filipino party can mean anywhere from 2 to 200 people. The point is, Filipinos cannot gather without food. If you don’t believe me, stop by my aunt’s house in North Jersey. She will hold you hostage until you’ve eaten a buffet she started whipping up as soon as you rang her doorbell. *LOL* How do you think Don gained 50 lbs since he married into my family?) Um, what was my point again?!?! Oh, that thinking back to all the solo marathons I’ve ran in the kitchen, I realize I’ve become my mother! I don’t mind. She’s awesome! My mommy made me custom window treatments. Yipee!!! She made my and my sister’s wedding gowns. She always remembers to bring James’ favorite siopao and slips him cash in between birthdays and Christmas. Whenever I visit my family without Don, my mom makes a plate of food for me to take home to him. She’s always the first to greet me happy birthday. She prayes for her children several times a day. That’s what moms do. They take care of their nest… even when their chickies are all grown up w/ their own nests. I wouldn’t mind at all if someone told me I grew up to be just like my mom.

(Okay, mom, you can stop crying now.)

…must be all the onion vapors I inhaled that’s making me melancholy ;-)

GUESS WHAT??? Remember that scrapbook layout I did of James w/ the black and white pics? Better Homes & Garden’s scrapbook magazine wants to publish it in their teen-themed May/June 2005 issue!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!! I just read and replied to the editor’s email today so I’m waiting to receive more details. I may have to remove it from the scrappers community website so here’s your last chance to see it :)

The gang at the office is pooling for the mega million powerball. I’ve never played the lotto on my own, only under pressure from co-workers :) “But everyone’s doing it! If we win, you’ll be the only one left working here.”

I know my chances of winning are like 1 in $3M. And I know how God feels about coveting quick and easy money. But it’s too easy to overlook even 1 of the basic 10 commandments when it’s wrapped up in a casual office game. *sigh* So easily decieved by the rationalization of sin!

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.