Johnny Tan

As children we appreciate being reminded days ahead if not weeks before that tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Many of us look forward to this day with great anticipation as it gives us the opportunity to express our love and our gratitude to our moms – with a special gift from the heart. However, for some of us, this reminder may not be as thrilling because it reminded us of the bruises and scars we had experienced as a child years ago.

Regardless of which group you fall in, you may not realize this, we all have several moms in our life. The first mom is obviously our birth mom, and the others are women who have already contributed or will soon be richly contributing to our well being as our mentors and counselors. They are the ones that are always available and are always happy to help us with the things we needed the most, and with the one thing we don’t always know yet we need.

In my weekly radio program (From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio) this past Tuesday morning, I kicked off our month long Mother’s Day Celebration theme. Although I say it is a month long, in actuality it is going to be three months long. Yes, that is correct – three months long!

The reason being, when I did a query last month looking for some interesting mother’s day stories I did not realize I was going to get so many heartfelt, soul moving stories to choose from. After much internal debate I decided to pick the thirteen very best heart warming stories that simply had to be told.

I divided these wonderful tales into three categories to discuss over the next three months. The themes are: for May – Motherly Love from a Mom’s perspective; for June – The Experience of Motherly Love from a Child’s perspective; and for July – Mother and Child sharing their Motherly Love experiences.

From stories about “Operation Babylift” – the largest humanitarian initiative our United States government ever undertook in foreign adoptions, to delivering Hope as a surrogate mom, a son’s tribute to his single mom who raised him by herself, a daughter’s Emmy award winning songs expressing her mother’s love, and moms who finally came to terms and realized that “hey I am now a mom, and I need to be more…” will all be covered in the next three months.

Reflecting on these great stories, I realize that none would have taken place if not for “Motherly Love” in our varied lives. As an adopted child from birth, having had the opportunity to be mothered by eight other incredible women over the years, I have to confess that perhaps I am spoiled by the love and attention I have received from my nine moms. They all had a part in moulding my soul and guiding my heart.

Earlier this year, just days after celebrating her 92nd birthday, my Progressive and Spiritual mom, Elsa Mae Stevens, peacefully passed on. Although I was not present during her final hours, I was glad we were able to share some happy memories together a week earlier on her last birthday.

Elsa Mae, who I have known for 23 years, has never forgotten to make that one call every year. She is the only mom who calls me right after midnight on my birthday to wish me “a happy birthday.”

In her many words of wisdom she imparted to me, one will always be part of my very being.

According to her, “In a real-life situation, happiness is always felt by the heart rather than thought of by the mind. Although we can choose to be happy, we still need to feel happy. When we approach everything in life with a heartfelt passion, we are putting the human factor into the equation. By just doing this, the energy of humanness will take over and create a synergy of respect, love, and understanding.”

Elsa Mae taught me to live life by balancing the right amount of heart and mind in everything I do. She said “Although bruises and scars may remind us where we have been, they certainly do not dictate our future.”

She continued by saying “it is always pleasing when we do something good for ourselves, however that good deed dies with us. On the other hand, when we do something good for someone else, it not only feels good to ourselves, it lives on as a legacy in the memory of those who’s hearts we touched.”

On this mother’s day – Elsa Mae Stevens, your legacy lives on!

I love you and may God’s eternal light shine ever so bright upon you in heaven.

To read more recipes for living – please click here to purchase From My Mama’s Kitchen-“food for the soul, recipes for living” book, and help us make a positive difference in our preferred charities.

Johnny Tan created From My Mama’s Kitchen™ concept to honor his 9 incredible moms who changed his life, and to honor moms everywhere by bringing “motherly love” to the global center stage by recognizing the significant roles mothers play in making a positive difference in our daily lives.
Our weekly From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) on Blog Talk Radio also serves as a resource center for mothers everywhere by bringing inspirational, spiritual and motivational stories from our special guests of ordinary moms doing extraordinary things. All shows are archived. Please click here to listen at your leisure.
Thank you for helping us spread this wonderful unconditional gift “Motherly Love” to everyone you know!

Listen to FMMK Talk Radio Show

Tags: 9 incredible moms, author and talk show host Johnny Tan, Blog Talk Radio, Celebrating Motherly Love, Elsa Mae Stevens, FMMK Talk Radio Show, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, gift of unconditional love, Global Center Stage, Motherly Love, Motivational Stories, Operation babylift, Preferred Charities, Recipes For Living, Resource Center for Mothers, surrogate mom, This Mother's Mother's Day
Posted in 9 Moms, FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, Family and Parenting, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Mother's Day Special Series, Motivational, Recipes For Living, Self Help and Inspirational, Women Empowerment | No Comments »

Without much fanfare, the first half of 2009 is gone for ever. Good, bad, or indifference – I can’t change the past. What I can look forward to is a better ending for the second have of this year.

Many indications are pointing in this direction, which I am glad! I feel much stronger on the inside after having gone through learning experiences that are always valuable after the fact! Although I have much to celebrate for because of the many things I have accomplished thus far, being human, one cannot deny oneself that it is natural to be taken aback when some things do not work out as anticipated .

After all, I wrote about it – Respect the past, because it is always a classroom for lessons learned. Be prepared for the future, because it is my destiny. Live in the now, because every moment is a memorable experience. (From My Mama’s Kitchen-”food for the soul, recipes for living” book)

A friend once told me that Life is gift. I need to respect and use it properly. She went on to say – Rest to be strong, Play to be happy, and Work to be successful. Remembering these great words of wisdom I am fired up for the second half of this year.

My book, From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living” and my From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) have been gaining readers and listeners respectively everyday and this trend is picking up daily at a very steady pace. My company The Reyna Collection is also picking up in sales after a slow start during first half of this year.

Although the planting season is never over in my farming story, I am expecting a great harvest from the seeds I have already planted. Whether being optimistic or just having a positive outlook in life, one thing for sure is that if you don’t expect the best, you will never get the best!

With God’s grace, I am looking  forward to celebrating the various victories in all areas of my life at the end of this year!

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: author Johnny Tan, farming story, FMMK Talk Radio Show, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, God's Grace, great harvest, Life is a gift, My Vision, Play to be happy, Recipes For Living, Rest to be strong, second half of 2009 year, The Reyna Collection, Work to be successful
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Self Help and Inspirational | No Comments »

The theme for my June From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) was Women Empowerment – The Balancing Act of Motherly Love and Career.

In the first week my guest was Allegra Huston. She is a mom, author, and entrepreneur. Her book Love Child – A Memoir  of Family Lost and Found came out in April this year. I met Allegra at a Writer Garret Event in April and invited her to be my guest on my FMMK Talk Radio because I believe she has a very interesting story to tell my listeners about her transformational journey from childhood to the women she is today. As I expected she did have a very interesting story to tell. Please click here to listen to our interview.

The second week I had a wonderful lady Maia Berens from Santa Monica, California joining me on the air to talk about women empowerment, motherhood and career. Maia is a very interesting lady, currently a grandmother, she has been a life coach for over thirty five years and has been dubbed as a wise fairly godmother. Maia was one of the founders of Mars Venus Institute and have worked extensively with John Gray author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Please click here to listen to our wonderful interview about how life coaching can help you.

I had a very interesting guest for the third week of June – Debi Silber. She is  a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s degree in Nutrition, a Personal Trainer, Whole Health Coach, Lifestyle Expert-just for moms, speaker, President of Lifestyle Fitness Inc. and author of The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best (recommended by Parenting Magazine) and From Mom To Wow: Your Ultimate Body, Mind and Life Makeover Guide. Also known as The Mojo Coach, Debi’ energy from within is truly an inspiration itself for all mothers everywhere who need a shot in the arm to feel that motherhood is something to celebrate within oneself. Please click here to listen to our energized interview.

My last guest for the series was Jamie Saloff. As a wife, mother of two, a cancer survivor, an author, and a momtrepreneur, she truly exemplify the spirit and the law of working moms everywhere. She had home schooled her two sons, has a home based business with fifteen websites, an advocate of volunteerism in her community and with Penn Writers Association, and recently became ordained as a minister. Please click here to listen to our great interview about transforming oneself from within.

So, please check out the above interviews as they are truly special in their own ways when it comes to inspiring and motivating us to go the extra mile just when we thought we can’t!

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: Allegra Huston, author Johnny Tan, Debi Silber, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Jamie Saloff, Life Coach, Love Child, Maia Berens, momtrepreneur, Parenting Magazine, Penn Writers Association, Recipes For Living, The balancing act of motherly love and career, the mojo coach, Women Empowerment, Working Moms
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, Family and Parenting, From My Mama's Kitchen, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Self Help and Inspirational, Women Empowerment | No Comments »

Once in a while, the lack of a backup plan is obvious! This morning FMMK Talk Radio show was a perfect example of such a moment. We are all set to go as scheduled. However, our guest was late in calling into the show, and we were not prepared for that.

Needless to say, the first eight and a half minutes of this morning’s show did not go as planned as it showed areas of improvements we need to make quickly. I was caught off guard and was scrambling for materials and words to present while we are trying to contact our guest. I had to sign off temporary because of our lack of preparedness on the production end.

Fortunately our guest finally called into the show, and believe it or not, for the rest of the next fifty one minutes, Allegra Huston and I had a wonderful interview.

FYI: Allegra and I have already agreed to have her come back on July 7th for another interview session. (Allegra Huston Take Two!)

Although the first eight minutes of this show does not represent me and my team’s best, I have made a decision not to delete this wonderful interview for all of you faithful listeners of my FMMK Talk Radio Show.

Therefore it is available in our archived files. By the way, please mark your calendar for July 7th to join Allegra and I once again live on the air.

Thank you for your understanding, and for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Johnny

Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary | No Comments »

It is wonderful to see successfully married couples raising their children.  But the nuclear family as we know it is disappearing, giving way to blended families that are combination of adults and children from previous families.  An estimated one-in-three Americans are part of a blended family, and that is expected to climb to 50% for Americans during their lifetime.

About 75% of divorced persons will remarry, and 65% of those remarriages will include children from prior marriages. In fact, by 2010, blended families are projected to be the predominant family form in the United States.

Helping me keep step with how these families form and function in my last show for my Mother’s Day Special Series this past Tuesday morning on my From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) with the topic of: “Blended Family – Unconditional Love – If there is a will, there is a way” was Shirley Cress Dudley, a Licensed Professional Counselor from Charlotte, North Carolina, with Master’s Degrees in both marriage and family counseling and education.

In addition to her practice, Shirley, along with her husband Eric, is a blended family with five children.

According to Shirley, a blended family is when two adults marry or live together, and one or both adults bring children from a previous relationship into the new marriage or living arrangement.  They “blend” the two families into one new family.

Regardless of how much abundance of love there is in this new family, there will always be times and situations that would require just a little bit more love and understanding from everyone to ensure the survival and success of this new union.

In my book From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living” I talked about the unconditional love I received from my adopted mom in Malaysia and from eight other women in the United States whom I refer to as my other moms.  It is my experience that in order for us to truly experience and appreciate this kind of love, we, on the receiving end must consciously allow ourselves to be loved, and for those of us who are on the giving end must also consciously allow ourselves to give unconditional love.

Ultimately, the success or failure of this family synergy requires everyone to participate with an open heart and mind! To learn more about how to have a successful blended family, please click on the link below and hear Shirley and I discuss the various opportunities and solutions available to creating a happy and successful blended family.

FMMK Talk Radio – Blended Family with Shirley Cress Dudley, MA LPC.

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: Adopted Mom in Malaysia, Blended Family, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Johnny Tan, Licensed Professional Counselor, Recipes For Living, Shirley Cress Dudley, Successful Married Couples, Unconditional Motherly Love
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Mother's Day Special Series | No Comments »

Every year in May we all celebrate “Mother’s Day.” On this special day we are given the opportunity to honor and pay our respect to someone who is very special to us, someone who has and will always love us unconditionally.

Although the title and role of mothers are traditionally held by women through birth rights or adoptions, there is a small group of men all over the world who either by choice or by necessity have assume the role of being a mother to their children.

These men gallantly provide the daily unconditional “motherly love” needed in their household with one goal in mind – to be the best nurturing teacher, coach, and counselor to their children and loved ones.

Although I am not one of them, writing my book From My Mama’s Kitchen –“food for the soul, recipes for living” gave me the opportunity to truly reflect back on the various heartfelt moments I had shared with my nine moms, and I can relate to the various challenges and rewards of being a mom which was a humbling experience for me.

My From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) this past Tuesday honored a couple of guests David Pellerin a current Mr. Mom, and Tyrone Johnson, a former Mr. Mom for four years, as the “forgotten moms.”

Hearing them sharing their humbling yet rewarding experiences of being the mother in their respective families on the air were truly priceless, as they truly exemplify that men can indeed be really good mothers to their children.

I believe this may be a new trend for the 21st century families, as couples and families have to decide what is truly good for the family’s overall well being not only from a financial perspective but more importantly from the desire to have a true fusion of family synergy where the father and mother may need to switch roles every so often to truly understand each other’s roles and demands in their family unit.

To hear David’s and Tyrone’s stories, please click on the link: FMMK Talk Radio – Honoring The Forgotten Moms!

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: 21st Century Families, David Pellerin, Family Synergy, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Mother's Day, Nurturing Teacher, Recipes For Living, The Forgotten Moms, The Real Mr. Moms, Tyrone Johnson, Unconditional Motherly Love
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Mother's Day Special Series | No Comments »

My topic for this past Tuesday’s From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) was Coming To A Full Circle – Mother/Daughter – Breast Cancer – A Family Affair!, and my guests were Desiree Jacobsen, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University (TCU), Jessica Sullivian, a PhD candidate at University of Texas, and Terry Wilson-Gray, the executive director of The Bridge Breast Network, a non profit organization in Dallas.

In Desiree’s thesis, she discovered in 2007 – approximately 40,460 women were expected to die from breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more death in women.

In African American women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer death preceded by lung cancer. Among the many thing we talked about on the show – communication among African women includes the generational mother/daughter communication network, which underwent a role reversal.

This role reversal resulted when the daughter would assume the superior (mother) role in taking responsibility of their mother in terms of health care. Therefore, the relationship would come to a full circle when the daughter would assume the responsibilities prior assumed by her mother.

Terry Wilson-Gray, a cancer survivor herself echos the facts presented above, but added that many of the African American women are simply to afraid to confront this dangerous illness because of personal fear and more importantly the lack of financial means to treat this disease.

This is where her non-profit organization comes into action – by providing the education, counseling, diagnosis, and treatment for patients regardless of gender, age, and certainly financial background. Her organization is the bridge for patients to get all the medical treatment needed to cure themselves of breast cancer.

In chapter eight of my book From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living” I talked about in the normal cycle of the human life, every one of us will eventually become our parents parent. Some of us it will be a gradual step into this role, and for some of us this will come quite sudden. Regardless of which, if we approach these changes with love, a twist of humility, and at times, with lightheartedness and humor, we can almost assure ourselves of a positive outcome for everyone involved.

The concept for The Bridge Breast Network was born in 1992 and was nurtured by a group of breast cancer survivors who met in the office of Sally Knox, M.D., a breast specialist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

According to Dr Knox, “We started small, but patients kept coming in the door every day. As The Bridge has grown, it has served as a model for other communities in accessing care. As we look ahead 10 years, I hope The Bridge will continue making it possible for the next generations of women to get the care they need.”

If you have any questions regards your health  please do not hesitate to contact The Bridge Breast Network directly. They are located at 3600 Gaston Ave, Suite 401, Dallas, TX 75246. Phone: 214-821-3820 Toll-free: 1-877-258-1396 and their email address is info@bridgebreast.org

Always remember – Health Makes All Things Possible!

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: A Family Affair, African American women, Baylor University Medical Center, Breast Cancer, Dr. Sally Knox, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, M.D. Coming To A Full Circle, mother/daughter communication network, Recipes For Living, Texas Christian University, The Bridge Breast Network, University of Texas
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Mother's Day Special Series | No Comments »

Celebrating Motherhood in the 21st Century was the topic on discussion in my From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) this past Tuesday, and I asked my special guest, Linda Juergens, the executive director for the National Association of Mothers’ Centers – What are the three things President Barack Obama can do for the 21st Century Mothers?

She said in an ideal world – President Barack Obama can enact the following laws:

1. “Paid Sick Leave” This is important because there are so many working mothers out there that could not afford not to work even though they are severely ill because they could not forgo their pay check for daily living expenses.

2. “Paid Family Leave” – Mothers and care givers are often caught in a situation where they could not take time off work to care for their family because their absence from work cause them financial hardship which in turned further perpetuate the problem.

3. “Safe and Affordable Child Care System” – Every year there are more and more moms having to make the tough choice of going to work to either to be the main supporter of their family or to supplement their overall family’s income. There is a tremendous need for a Safe and Affordable Child Care System that would provide these women a sense of security knowing that their children are safe while in the care of a professional care giver/sitter.

According to her, the United States is lagging behind in all of the above compared to other countries in the world who have put a definite premium on their family life.

Under her leadership the National Association of Mothers’ Centers, have grown to 37 centers strong in 11 States. She expect this number to grow steadily as mothers all over the country are realizing the many benefits the association has to offer to its members because their sole purpose to help mothers to be at the very best state of mind as a mother and a care giver for her child and family.

In the “Food for the Soul” section of my book From My Mama’s Kitchen –“food for the soul, recipes for living,” I wrote about our mom being our teacher, coach, and counselor. It is all about creating and loving. It requires patience, a happy attitude, and a touch of love.

Over the years, the National Association of Mothers’ Centers have successfully created a safe, nurturing environment that lead to healthier and happier mothers, healthier children, and families, which gave birth to community excellence!

To start a chapter in your community please visit this website: http://www.motherscenter.org. There is no minimum number of members required to start a chapter or an official commercial venue. All it takes is a common goal of wanting to make a positive in your life and the lives of other moms in your community.

Have a nice day.

Johnny

Tags: 21st Century Mothers, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Linda Juergens, National Association of Mothers' Center, Paid Family Leave, Paid Sick Leave, President Barack Obama, Recipes For Living, Safe and Affordable Child Care System
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Mother's Day Special Series | No Comments »

On my From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) this past Tuesday morning, I learned that Embryo Adoption is the new trend in adoption according to my special guest – Rebecca Utley, Director of Community Relations for Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center in Dallas, Texas.

According to Rebecca, although this trend is here to stay, however, it favors younger couples or women who are healthy to carry the baby to term. For many couples, the traditional adoption of babies and young children are still a very viable way to go for anyone who desires to have a family.

Either type of adoption choices will always require a serious commitment from the couple who wants to adopt. Whether it is a domestic adoption or international adoption, thinking about adopting is just the first step. Knowing and making sure that they are ready to adopt requires the couple to go through a series of preparation to ensure that they are ready to assume the responsibility of  being good parents.

In the embryo adoption option,the donating mother has quite a say to whom she would like to donate her eggs to. Hope Cottage, the oldest non-sectarian pregnancy and adoption center in Dallas, Texas, helps both the donor and recipient from beginning to end by facilitating the process with great detail and care.

Their program qualifies both parties and with today’s internet communication the donor and recipient can be from different parts for the country, and may never meet each other. Having the fiduciary responsibility for looking out for the best interest of both parties, Hope Cottage maintains relationships with all involved and offer continued support for both families long after the adoption had taken place.

It is all about creating a wonderful family – giving the adopted child an opportunity to succeed in his or her future with parents who are ready to love and raise a child in the very best way and environment.

The treasure-trove revealed in my book, From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living” is motherly love. It is ageless, it is unversal, it transends cultures, and most importantly, it is unconditional.

Whether you live in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, or in the Americas, all moms have the same desire to share one thing with their children – to provide food for the soul, recipes for living.

Have a wonderful day.

Johnny

Tags: Embryo Adoption, FMMK Talk Radio, Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center, Johnny Tan, Rebecca Utley, The Rewards of Adoption, Traditional Adoption, Unconditional Motherly Love
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book, Mother's Day Special Series | No Comments »

For the last several weeks I have been busy getting my From My Mama’s Kitchen Talk Radio Show (FMMK Talk Radio) up and running as another means for me to bring “Motherly Love” to center stage.

I thought having four of my nine moms on the air with me was a great way to kick off my FMMK Talk Radio Show and a wonderful way to market my book From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living.” 

Well, it worked, in the course of four weeks - my internet blog talk radio show FMMK Talk Radio profile was viewed over 600 times, and over 150 individuals listened to my show.

I find myself getting more and more confident each week being a talk show host and am actually looking forward to every Tuesday mornings from 10 11 am CST to be on the air with my special guests.

I have always been someone who like to venture out and do something new if it good for me and for others – doing this radio show is truly a rewarding experience for me, as I know I am making a positive difference in the lives of my listeners.

Thank you all for listening and for your support in helping me bring Motherly Love to center stage.

Have a wonderful week.

Johnny

Tags: Blog Talk Radio, FMMK Talk Radio, Food For The Soul, From My Mama's Kitchen, Johnny Tan, Recipes For Living, Unconditional Motherly Love
Posted in FMMK Talk Radio Commentary, From My Mama's Kitchen Book | No Comments »