Mele Kalikimaka

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

 

Reasons why I love Christmas:

 

-Celebrating Jesus' birth

-Spending time with family

-Time with friends

-Presby Candlelight service...singing carols and lighting our candles

-Another reason to bake cookies

-Nutcracker ballet...getting into the Christmas spirit!

-Japanese food gatherings (homemade sushi and mochi!)

-Downtown shopping and the big tree

-Making new memories and laughing at old ones

-Wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and Christmas music on the radio 24/7

-Snowboarding season

-A break from work and busyness...time to rest in Him

-Reminiscing how the Lord has blessed us in 2012

-Stockings, opening presents (seeing their expression), and a big Christmas brunch

-Buying my first Christmas tree...love the smell!

 

It's so nice to be with family again after living in London last year...being so far away from home! But now I miss my London family too. I will always remember celebrating my first British Christmas with mince pies and mulled wine...then partying it up Brazilian style! Sending my love across the pond :)

 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." -Luke 2:14

 

Haugh Ohana

Christmas morning

Nutcracker PNB

Oishi

 

 

Spiritual Inventory

I was encouraged by reading this article by my Pastor and mentor, Wayne Ogimachi. It's called "Taking Spiritual Inventory" and helped me to examine my walk with Jesus. Hope it will do the same for you!

Here are the key points:

1) Remove the barriers: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." -Hebrews 12:1

2) Commit to persevere: "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...let us not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:1,3

3) Stay focused on our Lord: "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:2

How's my...

-RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...Does He have my heart and soul?
-FAMILY...Am I fully connected with them?
-FRIENDS....Do I enrich and sharpen others as they sharpen me?
-WORK...Does it get my best without driving or owning me?
-LEISURE...Am I balanced?
-FINANCES...Am I a cheerful giver?
-HABITS...What destructive habits hurt me?
-THOUGHTS...Is my mind clean and healthy?
-SPEECH...Is my tongue in check?
-INTEGRITY...What am I hiding?

Wow...so convicting to examine each of these areas.  As Joyce Meyer (one of my favorite authors) says, "I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be."

These are a few of my favorite things...

Eating shave ice with Puppers

Swimming at Turtle beach

Watching surfers and 30 ft waves

Relaxing at Lanikai

Hiking in the rainforest of Hawaii

Reading a book at Ko'Olina

Driving around Kailua

Hanging out with Mom

Recipe of the Week: Easy Quiche

Sorry, I've been slacking on my 'Recipes of the Week'...here's a simple and yummy treat for breakfast brunches! I added spinach instead of broccoli...you could even add ham too.

Ingredients:

 

-2 cups of milk

-4 eggs

-3/4 cup biscuit baking mix

-1 cup parmesan cheese

-1 package frozen spinach

-8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
-1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10 inch quiche dish.
2. In a large bowl, beat together milk, eggs, baking mix, butter and parmesan cheese. Batter will be lumpy. Stir in broccoli, ham and Cheddar cheese. Pour into prepared quiche dish.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes, until eggs are set and top is golden brown.