Happy Birthday Jason, and his requested Chinese Food

NOW I remember why I stopped cooking Chinese food - it takes FOREVER to prepare:
I have always been one to peel mushrooms - yes, peel mushrooms. Some Chinese chef told me this when I was learning to cook like this (in Maui when we were first married) I curse that day and that suggestion - but ya gotta admit, they look amazing peeled.
Jason requested Beef Tomato for his birthday dinner. He has always loved this. None of us could remember the last time I made it.....at all...they all think I have not cooked it in this house that we have lived in for nearly 15 years!
No Tolentino birthday is complete without a special ice cream cake (from my sister Janice's recipe) - they get to choose what kind of ice cream...Jason said "As always, chocolate chip mint"
I HATE pictures with ugly Safeway bags in the background...really I do.

♥ The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you ♥

You all must remember about our dear neighbors the Spencer's - Nov. 2010 Joe was diagnosed with rare cancer. He was granted much longer than the doctors predicted - but it appears the end may be near.

Please pray for Joe, Valerie, Chynna and Paxton. So thankful that Joe's mom and family from Hawaii have been here with him for a month (and were able to see snow!) Chynna is able to leave her studies for a few days to be home, and Paxton is doing a wonderful job of taking care of his dad. and Valerie remains a positively wonderful caregiver.

We love you ~

♥ The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you ♥

Dear Daddy

Dad,

I know you never planned to have anyone but yourself take care of you and mom. You have been a strong, brave, wise, gentle, and generous man all my life.

You have put the needs of your family in the forefront of your hard work. You have planned and planned and planned again for your future.

You have done everything right.

You did not plan mom's stroke, nor your Alzheimer's. Try as you may, there are things that cannot be changed.

After her stroke left her unable to do most things herself, you cared for mom for three years all by yourself. It is time to allow others to do that now, and I know how hard that is for you.

You struggled that I would go to the doctor with you - after-all, YOU once drove with me on your lap to the emergency room with a chicken bone stuck in my throat. Things are different now - only slightly. I HAD to go because you don't remember things, and Del (brother-in-charge) doesn't hear well. Remember at lunch? I explained one more time that you don't remember things too well, and Del doesn't hear well. We were talking about the soup of the day right after this conversation: and you asked Del "What kind is it?" and he replied "11:45". Yes - true story! We laughed. Please keep laughing.

I admire you so much for graciously accepting the doctor's diagnosis like the true hero you have always been to me. After way too long waiting to get a blood draw, we came home slightly exhausted and had a glass of wine. Life is STILL good and we can still celebrate life..

I want you to know, believe and embrace - that you will never ever be a burden to any of us. WE were the burden - raising FIVE strong-willed Vanderhoff children had to have been the hugest burden of history! (We won't even go there at this letter)

Knowing how strong, proud and stubborn you are - makes it even more difficult for you to allow us to help. Having been raised in a loving family, always knowing I was safe with you and that you would do anything to ensure my well being, I lovingly and openly commit to caring for you when you become unable to.

It is a PLEASURE and complete HONOR that you would allow me to do ANYTHING for you. Please bury this deep in your heart and hold it close at all times - I love you and want to help in any way that I can. To deny that is to deny my love for you.

I ask just one thing if it be possible - please do not lose the ability to laugh at my jokes. Please?

I love you Dad ~ so much.