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A long break!

23 April 2014

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Phew! It's been a while.
A reallllly loooooong while.

KG already has an almost 2-year old daughter.

I already have two girls.

We have been busy adjusting our time to the new additions that we have been neglecting our blog.

I can't say that I have been thinking about writing, because I didn't have the time to think about writing.

But while my two girls were asleep, something prompted me to update this blog.

So, here I am! :D

I pray that I will have some time now and then to write more. Or just to encourage some readers out there on some articles I have come across.

May all the wives continue to find strength and purpose in fulfilling your noble duties towards your husbands.

-SY

Marriage God's way - How he may please his wife

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The text above is quoted from the Bible :- 1 Corinthians 7:33
while the article below is taken from No Greater Joy website.

…seeking the good of the other person.
The Bible said, “He that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” Now, think about that. This is the Apostle Paul taking about marriage, and he said when a man gets married, he can no longer give himself fully to serving the Lord. He said the person who is not married can serve God without distraction. But that an individual that’s married doesn’t have the liberties to be a full‑time Christian server. I have seen people say, “I am going to be a full‑time Christian server.” Not if you’re married.

Your first obligation if you are married is to be a full‑time husband and full‑time father. After that, you are part‑time minister. The only full‑time minister is the one who has no wife and has no children. The rest of us are part time. I am afraid most preachers have never learned that lesson. Consequently, many preachers lose their children to the world. Some of them lose their wife, and lose their marriage and are destroyed.

I’ve heard many preachers who are divorced say that it came about, because they spent too much time winning other people to the Lord on ministry and not enough time with their wife. Men, if you are married, let it be known, that God expects you to care for your wife in worldly matters. He cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

He expects you to do the silly things that don’t count in eternity for your wife. He expects you to take time out from things you feel are more important to court your lady. Now, let’s get off to a start by asking the question, “What is it that women, wives most want? What is it that causes dissatisfaction?” I have not read in to these yet, but I know the thing that causes the most dissatisfaction and the answer is simple. What women want is what they wanted before they got married.

They want someone that is just starry‑eyed over them. They want someone that loves them. They want someone that will court them. Now I don’t buy my wife flowers. I don’t guess I bought her flowers since we got married. I bought them then. But, the other day, I was at the woods in the springtime. I was on the tractor doing something.

I spotted some little wild flowers, half the size of a dime, and they were kind of rare looking. I picked a handful of them and brought them in and I said, “These are really rare, special flowers. They grow deep in the woods and the only people allowed to find them, are those who are deeply in love.” I handed her the flowers.

Now she laughed at me like I was goofy silly, but she stuck them in a little vase, and they stayed there till it dried up, before she threw them out. Now, you say, “What were you doing?” Well, I just did that for fun because I wanted to cheer up her, not that she was un‑cheered. But I wanted to delight her. I felt towards her like a young fellow feels towards a girl whose favor he wants to win. And so, I came in the house to win her favor, to win her smile, to win her attention and her approval. Before you get married, have you ever noticed young couples at the mall or someplace, they are just always looking at each other, always smiling, always conscious of where the other one is, or when they come to a party, or to church, preachers notice that!

They are always looking at each other, and just loving each other with their eyes. That’s what a wife wants, after being married 30 years. An old couple was walking along the road in an old country town, and they looked in the window of the inn. When they did, there were several objects in the window, and both of them looked at each other and just the beginnings of a smile swept across their face, a little twitch at the corner of an eye, and they were holding hands.

They squeezed just a little bit, no one around could see, and they walked on. They just told a big story to each other. They just re‑encountered an experience that they had years ago. Some object that caught their attention in the window.

Men, I want to say to you right from the start, that what your lady needs is a lover. What she needs is an admirer. What she needs is someone who looks at her and says, “You’re the cutest, smartest, sweetest, most delightful human being and I cannot live without you.”

Now, ladies, are there any of you that would say, amen! Are there any of you who would say amen to that. Amen! That’s right. That’s what the ladies are looking for.

-SY

Apple Pork Ribs Soup

10 May 2012

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I got really interested when i first saw this recipe on Noobcook. 

Not that i could imagine how the taste would be like,  but it is because my hubs love "extraordinary" food.

 He usually orders dishes that one has never heard before and always challenges me to try something out of the ordinary. 

So, apple with soup. Now, that's interesting. 

Ingredients:- (all adapted from Noobcook)  :- 
1.5 litre of water
200-300 g spare ribs
1 onion - peeled & cut into chunks
4 red apples, cut into pieces
6 red dates
Salt - to taste 



Method:- 
1. Blanch the pork ribs. Boil water and put in the ribs. 

 2. Add in the red dates

3. Add in the onions
4. Lastly, the apples. 


5. Bring to boil again and turn low heat. Simmer for 2 hours or more. Season with salt, if required. 


I must say, it's really nice! Thanks Noobcook for the recipe shared! :) 

KG


Japanese cheesecake

03 May 2012

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This is my second attempt on making this cake and it came out just like how it is supposed to be - fluffy and creamy. Definitely worth the effort! Recipe courtesy of Christine and can be found here

The Dangers of the IPad Generation & Our children’s generation – a crooked and perverse generation like never before

24 April 2012

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SY: Debbie is my sister-in-law who recently became a stay-at-home mom to look after and teach her 2 years and 4 months old son, Ezra. She wrote this article in her blog and I've gotten her permission to re-post this in BW.
Here's what she has to say on why she quit her job.


Just take a stroll in a public area and see just how many kids, toddlers, worst still babies are given a smartphone or a tablet pc (aka iphone or ipad) unattended?

I cringe at the fact my baby is given the ipad.

I could not work at peace.

Let me tell you why.

1. Studies shows that children under the age of 5 are like sponge. They absorb everything. (That is why pre-school teachers give their ALL to instill the love of everything that is good…books, knowledge, numbers, arts, sports, CHARACTER, etc….while they are at these tender age)

2. Have you ever searched the YouTube for the most innocent thing and there came up “top search – video of some kind of sensual thing as good as PORNO for the little one. (I’m being as mild as I can)

3. Coming back to sponge – whatever they see goes into their eye gate. The eye gate, and the ear gate is the entrance to your mind, and when it touches it, it STICKS in there. That is why people tell you not to watch PORNO, because when you try to forget it, you’ll find that you can never wash it away from your mind.

I rushed home to search the history. I screened through and as surely as to my disdain…some of you may not even label it as porno but to me it’s rubbish for the eyes. It must have been accidentally clicked on. I AM NOT taking any more chances!

This is what I did.

1. Explained to the caretakers (who is also family) the benefits of ipad AND THEN the DANGERS of it. And then pleaded, for my child NOT to use the ipad unattended. In return, they tell me that recent news has been reported that little children’s eyesight has been worsen because of long hours on the ipad. They support me. (A BIG sigh!)

2. Quit my job. Why, I will elaborate more below.

A perverse and crooked generation….LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

To those born in my generation the 80′s. In school, perverseness was more like bad words and fighting . Porno, from books maybe. Majority of the kids were not EASILY exposed to porno accidentally or intentionally (except for those kids that were “unfortunately” under the day care of a “care-giver” with a secret addiction for sexual perverseness which the parents of course do not know about at face value or a relative of the care-giver who happens to drop by, and exposed them.). I was exposed to sensual behaviors on TV at kindy age and first exposed to porno when a friend offered me to read a book with very explicit details. It’s addictive I can tell you…or you can tell me too haha.

Our parents generation, how easy was it compared to ours to stumble upon porno accidentally or intentionally. I don’t know. But if ours was not that easy without internet, theirs should be harder without any TV.

BUT how EASY will it be for our children’s generation to chance upon porno or whatever bad stuff and how SOON?

How easy? 3 words. “A finger’s touch“.

How soon? 1 question. When did you first let your baby (and I said baby, not toddler, not pre-schooler but…baby) use a smartphone/tablet? From what I see in public areas, the babies are at least 1 year old and BELOW when they first touched the gadget!

So to summarize:-

“Our children’s generation is exposed to perverseness within their first year and in a fingers touch“

Be afraid, be very afraid.

If you are not afraid, I will be afraid for your children.

If you are afraid, what can you do as a parent? We can’t fight technology, but WE can SAVE our CHILDREN!

Thirst Quenching Sweet Sour Pear Juice

18 April 2012

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How much do you usually pay for a glass of fruit juice out there in the market? 

Perhaps it's time to consider blending in your favorite fruits & enjoy it at home! :) 

I got a bit adventurous and decided to try on something which I have never try before. I saw some leftovers assam boi and some tempting huge pears sitting inside my fridge. I need to know the taste of this two "strangers" combined. 

The result of the mixture? 

Superb! 

You gotta try it, I'm not kidding. Definitely a perfect drink to quench your thirst in hot weather like this! :) Hey, it takes less than 10 minutes of your time. Why not? 

Introducing the Sweet Sour Pear Juice! 




1. Soak few assam boi with hot water and press out the juice for few minutes. Add in 150ml water. 

2. Dice the pear into cubes for easy extraction 


3. Pour in the assam boi mixture 

4. Add in the cubed pears

5. If you like, you can blend in the ice too! 

6. Pour unto your glass 

7. Serve! 

KG

Moist Choco Cupcakes

17 April 2012

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Moist Choco Cupcakes

This cupcakes gotta be my all-time favorite! Thanks to The Sudden Cook for the awesome  recipe! :) 

I made slight modification to the recipe i.e. by adding in chocolate chips & mint extracts (and more flours & cocoa powder, less sugar). Able to make approximately 15 cupcakes (with diameter of 11 cm). 


Ingredients:- 
90g cocoa powder
120g all purpose flour
50g chocolate chips
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
170g butter, room temperature
150g brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp mint extract
120ml sour cream (I used yogurt) 

Method:-
1. Preheat oven at 180C. Line 15 standard muffin tin with paper inserts.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together cocoa powder, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. 

3. In a mixing bowl, cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy. 

4. Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. 

5. Beat in vanilla  &  mint extract.

6. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with sour cream/yogurt. 

7. Lastly, add in the chocolate chips and mix well. Pour batter into cups, filling 3/4 cups full. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes ( i baked for 30 minutes). 

8. Cool pan and you're ready to indulge in it!

KG



Aspragus with Mango & Cheese

13 April 2012

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Asparagus with Mango & Cheese


Ingredients:-
200 g asparagus
1 mango - cut into cubes
2 tbsp shredded cheese (parmesan/mozarrela/cheddar) 
Salt (optional) 

Method:-
1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Stir in asparagus quickly cook for ~1-2 minutes. 
2. Scoop out the asparagus and set it on an oven-proof bowl/plate/casserole.
3. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the asparagus and bake in a pre-heated oven (150 degree) for 2-3 minutes / once the cheese melts. Remove and add in the cubed mangoes.
4. Serve while it's hot! 


KG



Braised Pork with Carrots & Mushrooms

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Braised Pork with Carrots & Mushrooms 
(Adapted from NoobCook with slight changes: Click here


Ingredients:-
500g pork (cut into cubes)
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 carrot
200g fresh shiitake mushroom
150g water (adjust accordingly)
1 tbsp dark soya (adjust)
1 tbsp osyter sauce (adjust)
1/2 tsp 5-spices powder
Rock sugar
Few slices of ginger
5 garlic cloves, bruised
Method:-

1. Heat sesame oil in wok, add in pork. Stir fry until pork no longer pink in color.


2. Add water, carrots, mushrooms, gingers, garlic cloves and stir well.  Cover lid and let it shimmer about 5 minutes. 


3. Using kitchen thong, flip pork so can absorb the braising liquid.  Add rock sugar for sweetness. 


4. Simmer with lid close for half an hour or until the sauce is thicken


5. It's ready to be serve! 

 KG


Ikan Bilis Meehoon Soup with Sayur Manis

10 April 2012

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Hubs brought me to the TTDI Market for the first time last weekend and my, how i enjoyed the sight of it! It was clean, well organized & spacious. It really made the selection of vegetables & meats easier! : )

With the amount of fresh veges I bought (including some super fresh fishballs too), I've decided to put it together and "create" a new menu out of it! The result of it, it's pretty good i must say. You get to taste the freshness of the meat, the vege, the fishballs! * slurps*

If you're interested to give it a try, here's the recipe below. Do adjust according to taste & portion that you'll be preparing.

Ingredients (for 2 person)  :-
2 bowls of ikan bilis broth
Few stalks for sayur manis
10 fish balls ( i love fish balls!)
Marinade pork slices (with soy sauce, sugar & some dark soy sauce)
2 spoonful of fried ikan bilis

Method:-
1. Bring ikan bilis broth to boil
2. Add in soaked meehoon in, followed by marinade pork.
3. Finally, add in the sayur manis and fish ball.
4. Bring to boil for few minutes till it's cooked.
5. Top with fried ikan bilis!

As simple as that! Enjoy!

KG 





Chocolate chip cookies

26 March 2012

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Nothing beats having some chocolate chip cookies with a hot cup of tea after working the whole day. Ahhhh.......

Here's the recipe from Rasa Malaysia.

I made a slight modification by adding 70g of oats (blended in a food processor) and using only 250g flour.

An official Housewife

12 March 2012

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Yup, I'm officially a full time mom and homemaker! Woot!

It was sad to leave my colleagues but I was more than excited to concentrate my effort at home.

It was actually an easy decision for me. The only exception was supporting my parents. But God has provided that part and I could finally leave the working world in peace.

Why was it so easy, if you may ask? Here are some reasons.

The most difficult job for me to leave was actually my previous job. I was living my dream as a journalist but God told me to leave. I knew if I could obey Him at that time, then I could leave any other jobs the next time.

Apart from that, I also believed it is of a higher calling to be a full time mom. I believe training my child starts as early as newborn.
God says " Train up your child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)"
As the mother, I should be taking up this role - not Sunday School teachers, not my parents and certainly not daycare centers.

Training a child would take a long time. I do not wish to wait until she is a teenager to start "teaching" her. A malay proverb says " Biar melentur buluh dari rebungnya". It means we need to start teaching our children from young.
I believe the reward of sowing into my daughter would be greater than sowing into a company. I am not that strong, so I would not be able to achieve this by being a part-time mom.

My husband supported and encouraged me in this decision.
My HR manager laughed and said my husband must be very rich for me to resign from an almost 5-figured salary. My husband said, "Yeah, we are rich in the Lord!"
It is great to have such strong support from husbands!

Lastly, it is also great to know I have some friends who are in the same boat. We are all housewives and full time moms! :)

But of course, I take up this " job " with fear and trembling. I can not blame Sunday school teachers or day care center guardians if my daughter turns rebellious. I will need to be an example for her to follow. For that, I need God more than ever!

-SY

A new life

15 February 2012

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It's been a while since I've posted anything to BW. Been adjusting my time and enjoying a new member to the family. KG had announced this earlier to BW readers so I'm sure you've heard of my daughter, Ethessa. :)
She's 2 months old now and we love every moment with her!

3 months after my first miscarriage,God gave us another life. The first few months were full of thanksgiving and fear that came from my own doubts. The first heartbeat sound brought me to my knees in thanking the Lord.

I did not take this 2nd pregnancy for granted. Every morning sickness, every doctor's appointment, every image of the scan - I would thank God for it. Why not? I have no control over this life that was forming in my womb.

Yes, I could take care of my body and provide nutrients to this life but that was all. "Accidents" could happen in the womb. I had a friend of a friend who was 9 months pregnant and the baby got strangled by its own cord. Heard of stories of heart failure and the rupture of the placenta. This is really beyond our control.

It is amazing to know that one cell could multiply and form the heart, the placenta and other organs of the baby. How can we deny God in this? :)

It is even more amazing to know that before the real contraction comes, the body would have a practice session called Braxton Hicks. And then, when labour starts, every contraction would push the baby further down for his/her delivery. This is, again, beyond the control of any human!

All in all, life is in God's hands. His design is wonderful and miraculous.

Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.


-SY

Wishing You A Blessed Christmas!

24 December 2011

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Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a wonderful time with your loved ones! May the reason for this season bring you a renewed love, hope, and peace! :)


Enjoy this little clip from an all-time favourite Christmas cartoon - A Charlie Brown Christmas:

Welcome Gorgeous Ethessa!

22 December 2011

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We're so sorry that we've been missing in action ! 

We've been busy rejoicing the arrival of our beloved Ethessa ! She came about specifically on 5 December 2011, 12.12am! 

Congratulations to both proud daddy and mommy, Darren Phang & Siew Yee (non other that our own co-author of the blog!)

May the Lord bless your household with abundance of love, joy and peace! 


KG

A Builder or a Destroyer?

14 November 2011

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My husband had a man-to-man talk with a friend just the other night over "ikan bakar " (grilled fish).

The friend was deeply discouraged by his wife.
"Why does she need so much money? Not that we don't have enough to eat. She just wants to see money piling up at home," he said.

The fear of having not enough money drove his wife to nag every day. She wanted him to work 7 days a week to earn more. It came to a breaking point for the friend when the wife said, "You are no good!"

"Why must you bring me down like this?" he told the wife.
"Oh, you feel down? Good! You should! Because you are no good!" she shouted back.

Mind you, this friend is not a lazy man. He works hard for the family and he brings food back to the table every day.

This couple is simple-minded, thus their conversation to each other was very direct.

I know a couple more of career-minded women who had discouraged their husbands "subtly" through their words and actions. Most of the time, it is about money.

Maybe these wives tried to push their husbands to become better by harsh words. But little did they know, they were destroying their men.

I suppose it is safe to say, women are generally talkers compared to men. They like to talk things out and sometimes, did not weigh the consequences of their tongues.

Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof".

Sometimes, it is easy to see whether a married man has "life" or walking towards "death" through his walking style and facial expression.

Does he yearn to go home after work every day? Is there a smile on his face when people ask about his wife? He has a "life-builder" wife at home.

Does he prefer to go out for a drink and delay as much as possible from going home after work? Does he walk with his back bent downwards? Does he frown and roll his eyes or become hesitant when people ask about his wife? He has a "destroyer-wife" at home.

Of course there could be many other issues or problems that the couple could be facing but these are just examples that I have witnessed from people around me that are related to the tongue.

Wives are the closest friend and confidante to their husbands and wives are meant to support their men.

Are we building our husbands to become better men or are we destroying them?

Thankfully, there is guidance from the Bible with regards to our tongues:

First, let us not worry or fear too much because;
Luke 12: 25-26 - And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Let us not think pessimistic but rather;
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Control our tongue;
Proverbs 21:13 - He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
1 Peter 3:10 - For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:


Speak wisely;
Proverbs 10:31- The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom..
Proverbs 12:18 - ...But the tongue of the wise brings healing
Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.


Show sincerity through our action;
1 John 3:18 - My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Love our husbands unselfishly and believe in him;
1 Corinthians 13:4 & 7 - Love...does not seek its own...believes all things

And do him good;
Proverbs 31:11-12 - The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil; All the days of her life.


I pray we will all be "life-builders" to our husbands. As we become blooming wives, may they too become blooming husbands!

-SY

Apple Pastry

23 October 2011

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It's a relaxing Sunday and I'm craving for something sweet. But not too sweet as I'm on a diet.

So, I decided to whip something up. And this is really easy if you have ready-made pastry in your fridge.
Recipe as below.

Recipe

Puff pastry ( I used Pampas - recommended by KG - recommended by The Sudden Cook)
2 apples - peeled, thinly sliced
Juice from half a lemon
2 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
Strawberry jam

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C.
2. In a bowl, mix the apples with the lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Take out the pastry from the freezer and thaw as instructed.
4. Cut the pastry to the smallest square of your desire.
5. Place about 2 apple slices onto each square.
6. Place a baking sheet onto an oven tray.
7. Gently place all the pastry squares onto the tray.
8. Bake for about 25 minutes until pastry turns golden brown.
9. Once done, spread some strawberry jam all over the pastry and the apples.
10. Wait for about 10 minutes before placing the hot yummy pastry into your mouth!

Note:
1. You can use any fruits that you like - peaches, kiwi, banana, etc.
2. You can use any jam that you like.

-SY

Chinese Fried Rice

14 October 2011

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I had some leftover white rice from yesterday and hence, I thought it'll be a good idea to put it to some good use. 

Chinese Fried Rice it is! 

It took not more than 15 minutes to get this meal out (I took slightly longer due to the photo taking process though).  

Ingredients:-
1 1/2 bowl of white rice, overnight
1 tbsp of butter 
2 tsp of garlic
1 stick of chinese sausage ("lap cheong") 
1 1/2 cup of assorted vegetables
1 lightly beaten eggs 
2 tsps of  oyster sauce
A pinch of salt to taste
3 dashes of pepper 

(Optional : prawns, diced chicken, fried salted fish) 

Method:-
1. Heat up the pan with butter. Fry the garlic till fragrant. 

2. Stir fry the chinese sausage for a minute.

3. Add in the overnight rice.


4. Mix the assorted vegetables and mix well with the rice. 

5. Add in the beaten egg.

6. Lastly, add osyter sauce, salt and pepper. To taste to your liking.



7. Stir for a minute and serve while it's hot!
I usually will add in some fried salted fish. Somehow without the salted fish, it lacked some "completeness"! *grin* 

Have fun, ya all ! 

-KG
 

2009 ·Blooming Wives by TNB