Hiroko's B-Day Dinner at Italian Restaurant, Journal

Hiroko’s B-day dinner had always been celebrating with Christmas dinner.  However, 2013 Hiroko’s B-day was special, so they wanted to take Hiroko out.  Dan-san told them Hiroko would not be happy to celebrate B-day.  Hiroko’s two daughters planned to have the dinner at Calo Italian Restaurant close by Hiroko’s apartment.  It was cold, cold day but Dan-san and Hiroko walked to the restaurant.

In any Italian restaurant, very tasty and the restaurant’s special bread are served. 

This is Calo’s one called Pizza bread which is very soft and tasty Pizza.  Everyone told each other don’t eat too much bread. 

This is Lisa who planned this B-day dinner outing. 

All were looking over the menu and deciding what dish to choose.  There are so many things to choose from.

Appetizer and drink

Grilled seafood tray – octopus legs, scallops, shrimps, sliced squid, and calamari on the bed of spinach

Beer and red wine, water for Dan-san

Kampai, cheer, Happy Birthday, thank you for planning this dinner outing

Was Hiroko happy to hear Happy Birthday?

The big appetizers were all gone, now let’s start on main dish.  First of all green salad

Everyone except Richard ate green salad, but different dressing.  Richard ordered soup.

Main course – everyone ordered Pasta dish, but different topping and pasta

Angel Hair pasta, grape tomato, asparagus, & fresh mozzarella cheese tossed with white wine garlic & olive oil

Same as above dish but add 4 big pieces shrimp

This dish is almost same as above, but Fettuccini pasta and adds clam and shrimps

Baked chicken tortellini with mozzarella cheese and meat sauce

Mostaccioli pasta, Italian sausage, chicken, asparagus & roasted red pepper in a zesty tomato garlic & olive oil sauce

Linguini pasta, chicken in a creamy parmigiana sauce

With the Happy Birthday song the creamy Birthday cake with one candle on was brought.  Everyone in the restaurant was singing Happy Birthday song to Hiroko.

“Make wish!” ”Make wish!” said everyone, but Hiroko didn’t forget to take the photo of the cake.

Then, Hiroko made her wish.  Do you want to know what Hiroko’s wish was?

Hiroko always wishes that Lisa/Dave, Elsa/Richard have the personal relationship with Christ.  Steven/Amanda is attending the church and having the Bible study, so they must have the good personal relationship with Christ.

Is it so important to have personal relation with Christ?  Yes, it is important.  Without the good personal relationship with Christ no one has the true love in life.  The Love of Christ is different than any other love.  Declining the Love of Christ in this world, people takes someone’s life easily and takes their own lives.  Jesus promised to give us His peace and joy.  Christians know where we are going, so there is hope.  The hope gives us the bright light like the candle.

“Blow the candle!  Cake is melting!”

“Sorry!  Sorry!  Fuu! Fuu! (this is sound of blowing the candle)”

Starting the dinner at 6:30, and until 9:30, all were drinking, eating and talking.  One interesting subject they talked about the remarkable progress in all sorts of field for the last 50 years; wash machine, typewriter and many office machines, communications methods, etc.  Dave said because of the changing communication method so rapidly, caused many problems in bank, and stock market.

It was a wonderful Hiroko’s special Birthday dinner.  Thanks to Lisa/Dave, Elsa/Richard and Steven.

2013Chrismas and the Dinner, Greetings

Merry Christmas!  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas greeting was one day late for posting Christmas Dinner photos together.

Christmas morning, around half inch snow has fallen as forecast.  It made “White Christmas” in Chicago.

These photos were taken from the porch.  There were a little bit of new snow on the garages roofs.

Snow on the Porch

Christmas Dinner at the home of Lisa/Dave

Lisa/Elsa and Holly, Dave’s brother’s wife 　

Dave was busy cooking and Amanda helped washing dishes

Steven, Dave’s father Ranny, and Dan-san are sitting down at the front room away from the kitchen

Many, many presents for 12 adults and 1 beautiful girl

Charlie Brown tree skirt was used around the tree

All those presents were separated and made a pile up at the feet of each person, and started to open.

They were happy to have all those presents.

There is no photo, but Lisa came to Hiroko and said “Happy Birthday!”  Hiroko’s special Birthday is coming soon, so everyone pitched in and gave Hiroko to use them for the part of Air Fare to Japan.  Surprise! Surprise!

Thank you very much to everyone!

Well, here is foods for Christmas Dinner.

These foods are almost similar to the Thanksgiving dinner, but the big difference was the roast beef tenderloin, instead of Turkey.  This tenderloin cooked by Dave was so delicious, that the meat melted in the mouth. 

Gravy, Bread and Green Beans with Bacon

Salad and Potato

Rice Casserole and Cauliflower Casserole
They are always very, very tasty

Ham

Amanda’s usual corn casserole was changed to vegetable dish.  It was very, very tasty.  Amanda said it took so many hours to prepare.  The many different vegetables without cheese dish was very good for Hiroko who had high cholesterol last January.

Giving the grace for foods!

Dan-san started to pray, “Happy Birthday!” to Jesus, and we’d like to remember how this baby will walk to suffering life in this world, and the last greatest suffering would be to die on the cross for the salvation of human being, because Jesus loves each one of the all human being so much.  Dan-san told the Lord he wants to give thanks to all the hands prepared all these foods, and special thanks to Lisa/Dave for opening their home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2013 Last Month in Chicago, Christian Thoughts

It has been cold and windy days in December of Chicago.  Over 15 days were under the freezing, around 15 to 20 degrees during the day, and minus o degree in the night.

Hiroko’s my dentist’s wife, Okinawa-san and Hiroko had the tickets for the Opera, “La Trabiata” on the one of the coldest days.

Since Hiroko had to go see the Opera, she decided to check up the new Ramen restaurant in the Macy’s and taking photos here and there.  Sushi and Sashimi have always been interested by Americans, but now is Ramen, too.  There are so many Ramen Restaurants in the downtown Chicago.  You all know the Santohka ramen shop in Mitsuwa which is so crowded that it is not easy to buy the Ramen.

This is the Ramen Shop in the food court of Macy’s.  The name of the Restaurant is Takashi.  Hiroko heard this is the most expensive restaurant in Chicago, but this March’s restaurant menu is not too bad.  The cost of one bowl ramen starts around $5.00.  Hiroko called Arboretum-san to meet at this restaurant to enjoy eating Ramen and catching up what we are doing.

Now, Hiroko wanted to see Macy’s Christmas windows and The Chicago City Hall court.

Since Macy’s took over the Marshall Field, their Christmas windows had not been very interesting, but this year’s windows should be good, Hiroko heard.  Hiroko thought she took the Title window, but there wasn’t in her camera, so Hiroko can’t remember the exact Title of the Christmas windows.  

It has the story for those windows that made interesting.

Hiroko’s poor Arthritis fingers were very, very cold, because she couldn’t take photo with gloves on.

Another interesting place to go is Chicago City Hall court.  Every year, German town has been placed in here.  Specially, in the news, some people against Christmas put something by the Nativity scene.

Can you see “A” made with wire?  This “A” is the symbol of Atheist.  Some argued against their idea and said, “Isn’t it an Idol?  You said you are Atheist, but you made the Idol and worship in the public.”

Right next to the “A” symbol, there are the Nativity scene as usual.

Here is the Nativity scene.  Mary/Joseph and Baby Jesus in the manger are placed in the center of the scene, and around that there are Shepherds, Wise Men, and Angels.

About Joseph, Hiroko would like to write in the continuation.

2013 Chicago City’s Christmas Tree.  Every year, the lighting ceremony has been held at the end of November.  It might be of interest to attend the ceremony.

Hiroko’s friends and Hiroko enjoyed the Opera after this.

The following day of Opera day, it was snowing.  Hiroko would like to know how to take the photo of the falling snow.  Can you see the falling snow from these photo?

Dan-san has been coughing for the last couple weeks, so he was sprinkling the salt on the path which was shoveled at the first snow.

The meteorologically speaking, it is a record to this cold and snow weather in December.

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This devotional thought was given to the one of the meeting at church.

Devotional: Pastor John led a devotional based on the life of Joseph.  Even though God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus, we often forget that God chose Joseph to be the earthly father of Jesus.  Joseph was a kind, loving, and godly man.  Even though he did not play the major role, he was extremely important.  He protected, provided and cared for Mary and Jesus in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Egypt.  That was quite a task for a not very well traveled ordinary guy.  It took a lot of guts and a lot of faith.  God can use ordinary people like you and me if we just say yes.

Hiroko is always thinking about these ordinary people like Joseph, Mary, Apostles, and disciples including women in those days.  Go back to over 2,000 years in the Judea, and put yourself in the position with Jesus, even though you heard the voice of the Lord or see the angels in your dream, it is not so easy to follow Jesus.  Joseph heard the voice of God, and immediately took the actions; married Mary who bore the child who wasnot his, and so on.  Of course, right now too, it is very hard to follow the voice of God.  Pastor John said guts and faith, and Hiroko wants to add humility and courage. 

Here is the story of Joseph in the Christmas quoted from the Bible

Matthew 1:18-24 and 2:1-23

There are so many other verses regarding the story of the birth of Jesus.  If you are interested to know more about Him and His love please go to the church to find out.

2013 Last Devon Leisure Group Meeting, Christian Lives, Homosexual

There was no Bible study on that day, because Christmas presents for the Nursing Home residents were made. On December 15, Sunday, Puppet and Caroling groups will be visiting Sr. Citizen Home and Nursing Home.

This Christmas Ornament is made with paper Angel pasted to the shaped Christmas tree made with green foam sheets.  Nursing Home residents can decorate their own rooms or hang it on the wheel chair.

This is small bamboo box decorated with Christmas pictures.  Put kisses chocolates in this box, and give the Sr. Citizen Home residents as Christmas present. 

  

This is Origami paper box pasted origami Santa Clause on top of the box.  Put 2 cute oranges in this box, and give the Sr. Citizen Home residents who can’t eat sweet.

There wasn’t Bible study at the meeting on that day, but Dr. Wang shared with us what he hard at the conference in the Chinatown.

Dr. Wang shared with us very, very interesting subject.  The speaker, whose name is Christopher Yuan, Chinese American, grew up in very devoted Christian home.  He was attending Sunday school until Jr. High.  He is not built up big, rather he is very small and skinny.  His friends made fun of his stature, and asked him how his love life with girls, or with boys.  Those teasing made him to think to have relationship with woman.  During those days, he saw the photos of relationship of men with men (Gay Pornography).  From his high school age to college

and Dentistry school, he used drugs and started to sell the drugs at college.  He started actively to have relationship with men.  His parents expelled him from his family.  Soon after that, he was caught and imprisoned over 10 years sentence for selling the drugs.  He was told he had HIV disease. 

Passing for 6 or 7 years, he had been depressed and scared for his life.  One day as he lay on his bottom bunker bed, he saw some writing on the bottom of the top bunker bed.  It read “God has plans for you, God’s plan is higher than human’s.”  He knew the phrase, and he can quote it from Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  The verses made him so shocked, and after that he started to read the Bible.  Especially he wants to know what the Bible says about homosexual behavior.  He read the Bible several time from the first book, Genesis to the end, Revelation, and search regarding homosexual.  Finally, he decided that the Bible defines that the homosexual behavior is sin.  Now, what he had to do with his knowledge about homosexual and the Bible verses.

He sent his resume to Moody Bible Institute and asked to start to study Bible.  Meanwhile he started to talk with his many inmates about the love of Jesus Christ and who Jesus is.  Many showed interest and some were accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Moody Bible Institute accepted him as their student with full scholarship.  He studied hard the Bible, and continued to talk to inmate, and also searched about how the homosexual behavior in their gene in the medical books and many other area.  He decided with his researches and also his experience that Homosexual behavior does not come from their gene.  Homosexual is preference and choice, he decided.  For example, there are many fine arts and people have an idea of preference of the arts and choose one of them.  In his case, his circumstance with all those Jr. High and High School bullies who mae fun of him was influenced.

He talked about how to tell them Homosexual is sin.  It is much better to talk about the Love of Jesus and make friend with them.  He goes to Asia, Europe and all over the United State to talk about this subject. 

In the conference there were so many young people, and they asked so many questions: one is “Is he still thinking about the Homosexual behavior, and make an effort not to think?”  He answered that Homosexual is same as other sin.  We know we shouldn’t talk of rumor or lie, etc., but we talk of rumor or lies, and do other sinful things.  He has never been in the action, but “yes” he is thinking sometime, but never dwelled on the thought.  Other question is “Are you going to marry?”  He answered that he gives his whole life to Jesus, so Jesus will take care of that.  At this moment he is interested to be with the Lord and listening and doing whatever God wants him to do.  Another question is “What does he thinks about gay marriage?”  It is not so easy to answer that question.  We have to think about financially, politically, emotionally, etc., but Bible says marriage is between man and woman (Genesis 1:24). 

If you have any questions search Google and go to his websites.  He has several websites and also you can meet him at You-Tube.

Let’s go back to Leisure Group.  What were they doing?

Craft time

Men were putting Kisses chocolate in the small beautiful boxes.

Women were making Christmas tree and angel ornaments.

After this, Chinese foods were service for the special Christmas luncheon.  Hiroko was busy eating as usual, and forgot to take photos of the food.

It was cold and snowy day but we had a very good time.  Thanks the Lord.