How Pumpkin Pie Is Made

My mother-in-law sent this! :) I had to post it!

Future Bastkes?

We were wonderfully blessed by our dear sisters here with a Christmas JOY Baby Shower. It was a twinkle light celebration of delight with some fun new discoveries. One of the shower games particualrity set off great laughter and brought our future generations to a new point of creation - with photos, scissors, and tape! Each team of two was given an original photo of Daniel and I. Participants then cut out our features and pasted together a possible picture of our little BB in the future. Teams choose the gender, name, and the look from mama and papa.

These are the two original pictures of us that were used.
Meet Meet Ezra Johan Bastke. He's got a long face and friendly smile.

Meet Zechariah Christian Luke Bastke. He looks like that friendly guy you'd just want to be friends with. Creators Naomi and Lisa also saw an Amish influence. I totally seem my nephew Christian in him.

Meet Taroko Bastke. She's a fun girl who likes to run. She has her father's bangs and her mother's body in her hair. She's named after Taiwan's Taroko Gorge. This where her parent's relationship blossomed into a dating one. It was also where her mama ran a marathon with Auntie Rachel.

Meet Samuel Lucas Bastke. Samuel is a name from the Old Testament that means answer to prayer. Lucas comes from the New Testament. The book of Luke shares the Christmas story. Lucas in the German form of "Luke."

Meet Isabelle Carol Bastke. She is athletic (look at her broad shoulders) and edgy (with her fun haircut). "Carol" is in honour of her birth season where Christmas Carols are sung. Daniel thinks she is goofy, yet intelligent. The kind of girl you'd meet in an AP course.

Meet Christiana Sparkle Bastke. She definitely takes after her father. Daniel thought it was weird to see what's he'd look like as a girl.

As Daniel said, "Thankfully God is in charge of our child's features." :) But this was a fun and a little wacky wild look at a possible Bastke troop. :)

Are You Hungry Tonight?

“Elvis ate macaroni and cheese at home whenever possible. He loved it homemade, thick, gooey, and made with American cheese.”

I got this cookbook from Campbell and Linda for my birthday in March. Tonight the title question pulled me in with an affirmative response and I tried the macaroni and cheese recipe. I made a few changes – macaroni to fusolini, dry mustard – Dijon mustard, and I didn't add any salt. I think I used a casserole dish that was a little small, so the gooeyness didn't spread throughout the dish, but it's the only one that fits into our little counter top oven. Are You Hungry Tonight? :)

Mama Bear

The mama bear in me is coming out! Last week while hiking in the morning, two dogs decided to mess with the mama bear. I started scolding them like I've not done before. When there owner turned the corner, I got very embarrassed, but she took one look at my belly and started scolding them with me. Thankfully, they whimpered away, and I don't think they'll be messing with the mama bear again. Another example of this is in Taipei traffic. It's always been especially challenging when trying to cross the street at one crossing in particular. But now I take it into my own hands. I've become a traffic cop as I have my hands out and signal cars to stop. Last week a car still chose to cut me off. I took my umbrella and hit the car with a vengeance as it crossed my path. It was at that moment, that I realized I need to control the mama bear. Being protective is a natural response, but how can I do that while still showing grace? It's a balance this mama bear is striving for. And what will I be like once our baby is outside of me? Daily lessons are to be learned. Until then I'll keep eating my berries and crossing the road with my umbrella in hand, but connected to my heart.