The Van Is Wrapped

Tuesday, 29 May 2007

Except for the pictures of the pigeons, the other graphic designs, that we wanted to display on the vans, were done on the 18 May. The pictures of the pigeons was finally pasted on today.

The original plain vehicle at the graphic wrap shop on the 14 May 2007

The Shevrolet van look great! I like it!

Beef Ribeye Steak Boneless

Saturday, 16 June 2007

Finally, tonight, Michael got to cook the steak the western style. It was good. I enjoyed it. Michael is a good cook. I think I still prefer my steak cooked with green onions!




Tuesday, 29 May 2007

I am being silly again! Mike will never forget this for the rest of his life! Me also!

Never bought it. Never seen it. Never cook it or remember cooking other steaks either. I have eaten steaks but not a boneless beef ribeye steak. I read the label - I can see but I was blind!

Mike had taken it out from the freezer and left it to defrost in the fridge for tonight's dinner. I have taken it for granted, as a ordinary piece of meat, as I did to all the pork that I have bought!
He got the shock of his life when he saw a bowl of slices of what he believed to be the steak, together with other food preparations, that I was about to cook for dinner.

This is what the boneless beef ribeye steak turned out - stir-fried beef with green onions and ginger.

Memorial Day - Picnic

Monday, 28 May 2007

It was public holiday - US federal holiday (formerly known as Declaration Day) on the the last Monday of May. I am glad the table below a young tree was not taken. At least there are some shade from the sun as it was still hot and sunny at 5:30 pm. Better still, it is near the playground.

Not biting into his piece of smoked beef ribs.

"Stewart Vincent Wolfe Memorial Playground" was what got the children to come. Sheridan didn't get to play last Saturday night because it was getting too dark to see inside.

Looks eerie at night!

There is another playground for the smaller children nearby. Except for the sun and and heat that afternoon, West Wetlands Park is a beautiful place! This evening marked another family home evening to remember.

Shopping with Children

Saturday, 26 May 2007

2 of the older children were sitting inside the cart while the youngest was sitting on the higher side.

A good way to keep the children from running all over the store! I couldn't resist walking to their mother and asking her whether I could take a picture of her children in the cart.

I was already walking away. I would be sorry if I don't take a snap. I had my camera with me! The girl inside the cart didn't like taking pictures so I have to resort to the 2 siblings in the background instead. The boy inside the cart is peeping through the rails.

Our Ward's Missionaries

Wednesday, 23 May 2007

After 3 weeks in Yuma, we finally got to meet and visit with our ward's missionaries, Elder Henrichsen (from Idaho) and Elder Furlong (from Texas) at our home.

We didn't see them at Sunday meetings as they served other wards as well.

Noticed they carry the small white-coloured appointment note book that the missionaries carry in Malaysia as well.

They got to taste a little of Malaysian-Chinese cooking for the very first time! Next time I will cook curry chicken for Elder Henrichsen because he said he likes that!

HFPE Combined Activity

Thursday, 17 May 2007

Last Thursday night, it was photography and using auto settings at Sister Buller's place, at 7:30 pm. This is the 2nd time I missed the chance to learn more about photography. The Kota Kinabalu had a young freelance photographer to teach about photography in an enrichment meeting and I had missed that as well.

Tonight, it is HFPE (Home, Family and Personal Enrichment) Combined Activity at 6:30 pm at the church cultural hall. I am grateful that Sister Sue, who lived only a few doors from me, agreed to go, if not I don't think I would go because she is the only 'friend' that I have presently.

Light supper and drinks were provided. Nothing we need to do but sit at the 3 round tables and listen to 4 different talks/demonstrations. A brother spoke on good communication skills and another spoke about gardening. Sister Hall shared her gift of floral arrangement and Sister Moss showed what could be done on scrapbooking.

Desert, Mountains, Cactus

Tuesday, 15 May 2007

It is hot here! And I was told it is going to get hotter in the next 2 months. The umbrella may provide shade from the sunlight but could not block the heat from the blazing sun penetrating. I can't imagine the children playing in this heat in the middle of the day and they were. According to the Wikipedia, Yuma is one of the hottest cities of any size in the United States, with average July high temperatures of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. And according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Yuma is the sunniest place on earth.

The desert city (as it was referred to in the Wikipedia), is beautiful in its own way. I got to see more of the desert beauty on the drive from Yuma to Mesa yesterday and from Mesa to Yuma today.

I don't see green jungles, bushes. I see wide plains, scrubs.

Passing through mountains



I saw many cactus - tall and small, scrubs like in the cowboy movies.

Mesa Arizona Temple

Tuesday, 15 May 2007

Saw it last night. It was a distinctive sight. It was brightly lighted and beautiful. Unique in structure, different from the Manila temple that I visited in July 2006 but similarly beautiful outside and inside.

I am thankful to Michael for this visit to the Mesa Arizona Temple on this sunny morning. It feels good always to be in the Lord's house.

And to meet Sister Barney, a lovely lady, who taught me about faithfulness. She drives the 3 miles journey from her home to the temple every month, by herself , and then drives back again by herself. Imagine doing that every month, alone, without fail. Her husband had gone over the veil years ago.

Mesa Arizona Temple - Visitors' Center

Monday, 14 May 2007

The temple was closed on Mondays so Mike & me visited the Visitors' Center, which was opened every day from 9:00am to 9:00 pm.

What makes it more special is that I met Sister Capone here! Sister Capone is a sister of Elder Capone, whom I had the opportunity to meet with when I was visiting the Kota Kinabalu Chapel in April 2006.

Isn't that amazing? You can see Elder Capone in my Kota Kinabalu blog.

Mother's Day

Sunday, 13 May 2007

Last year, my sister and me were visiting the Penang Branch and we got a pot of live 'Japanese Rose' plants to take home. It was a marvellous idea.

This morning, I was curious what the Yuma 5th Ward was going to surprise the 'mothers'. A young lady and a young grandmother gave talks on mother and so did a Bishop. There was a song presentation by the Young Women.

The congregation was told to remain seated after the sacrament meeting is over. The Young Men came around giving present to the mothers. A chocolate bar - isn't that sweet?

Monument - Mormon Battalion - Yuma

Wednesday, 9 May 2007

I got to visit the monument of the Mormon Battalion tonight! Read about the Mormon Battalion in the scriptures and I am now actually seeing a monument on it in Yuma. Situated on the banks of the Colorado River, in the West Wetlands Park. I took a picture of it but didn't show up well on the computer - too dark. I will try that another time.

Sunday, 14 October 2007

Finally, I got a nice picture of it!

Beauty in the eyes of the Beholder

Tuesday, 8 May 2007

She is such a friendly and adorable girl.

Something else caught my eyes as well. There was a small silver dot centered below her lower lips.

It was a cosmetic jewellery like the ones that I had when I had my ears pierced for the very first time. I have seen these on the nose but not below the lips yet.

Keri pulled her lower lips down and showed me the nut on the opposite side of the mouth.

Next sight was beyond my imagination. She beckoned Mel, another friendly and adorable girl, to show me her pierced tongue, adorned with the same kind of silver wear.

First Sunday at Ward

Sunday, 6 May 2007

I don't want to miss church. This is where Heavenly Father wants me to be. This is where I should be on Sundays and this is where I want to be.

I like the church building. Mike and me went to the 5th ward. The 3rd and 9th ward are sharing this building as well.

Block meetings was from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Same time as the Miri branch. Instead of individual chairs joined together, there are 2 rows of long soft benches. Mike and me arrived about 8:40 am. We were probably the earliest birds. I didn't see anyone else apart from the Bishop, the counselors. Members started coming in after 8:50 am.

The first person who greeted us was the 2nd counselor in the ward presidency. It feels good to be back in my Heavenly Father's house. It doesn't matter whether it is in Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Penang or in Yuma, it is the Lord's house. To be able to take the sacrament, to sing the hymns, to feel the spirit of God and to know that He loves me.

Seeing that there are many people in the congregation, I assumed that people would be lining up to bear their testimonies. It wasn't so. I didn't go up because I was shy. People are the same everywhere. Here, they are shy too and sometimes it took quite a few minutes before the next person walk up to the pulpit.

The gospel doctrine teacher impressed me with her knowledge and so is the Relief Society 3rd counselor who gave us the lesson on scriptures. Being fast and testimony Sunday, I took the invitation to the class, in the last 10 minutes, and bore my testimony that I know that the scriptures are true and a blessing to me.

Walk for Life

Saturday, 5 May 2007

Mike was playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes tonight.

"Walk for Life" is organised by the American Cancer Society. I think this is really special. There were lots of people, young and old, coming out to support financially and morally.

There were many tents in the middle of the field, that people would be resting overnight. White paper bags, individually filled with sand inside the bottom and a candle on the top of the sand were lined up on both sides, making 2 big circumferences in the field. People were walking between the circumferences. The candles were lighted as the sun went gone and lighted the way for those who walked. There were probably thousands of these bags and each one of them has a name handwritten on it, in memory of a beloved family member or friend that has gone over the veil due to cancer.

Among the crowd are people - let me recall - in blue T-shirts, with the word "Survivor" printed on the back. I was told these are people who have been cancer stricken, have been treated, etc. etc. I saw a girl, less than 10 years old and she is also a victim.

Mike's dad died of liver cancer. My paternal grandfather died of bladder cancer in 1976.

A Whole New World

Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Arrived in Yuma at 00:30 am, after stopping for dinner and gas, on the way from Los Angeles.

Malaysia Airlines took off from KLIA at 15:15 hrs Tuesday 1 May (Kuala Lumpur time) and touched down in LAX at 17:30 hrs Tuesday 1 May (Los Angeles time). It would be 08:30 Wednesday, 2 May, in Kuala Lumpur. It took a total of 17 hrs 15 mins. In fact, the flight was 1 hr ahead of the ETA 18:30 hrs.

First thing is call Lian and inform her that I have arrived safely.