James Home Kitchen

Merry Christmas to my dear customers and friends. We will be closed for the entire Christmas week to rest, reflect, and heal from the recent loss of my beloved dog, Dallas.

I adopted Dallas nearly 20 years ago. When I first saw him, his uncertain eyes and fragile body showed signs of hardship and mistreatment. The moment our eyes met, I knew he belonged with me. From that day forward, he became family.

Dallas trusted only me. At home, he followed me everywhere and waited by the door each day until I returned. When I traveled, he often refused to eat until I came back. I spoke to him in moments of both sadness and joy, and I truly believe he understood and kept every secret I shared.

Before opening James Home Kitchen, Dallas accompanied me to two nursing homes for more than 10 years where I led Sunday music services. He would lie quietly at my feet, listening to the hymns. The residents loved him; when I arrived without him, they immediately asked where Dallas was. He was not just my companion—he became a blessing to many others as well.

Dallas was more than a pet — he was my buddy. Not many people know he went deer hunting with me. During hunting season, he wore a little camouflage outfit and sat quietly with me on the tree stand.

He also rode with me on my Honda Shadow. He even had his own goggles, and he looked very cute wearing them.

Dallas loved raw beef and salmon, sometimes taking most of it off the cutting board onto his plate when I was supposed to be cooking it for my wife. We did so many things together. He was my friend and my partner.

The most unforgettable moment was when Dallas saved my wife’s life. About a year ago, she was in the bedroom and slipped into a coma while I was busy working on my computer. At that time, Dallas was almost completely blind and deaf, yet he somehow knew something was wrong. He became very restless, circling me and running back and forth between my office and the bedroom, refusing to give up.

Because of him, I went to check — and found my wife needed help right away. By God’s grace, she fully recovered, but she was within about 30 minutes of losing her life. If Dallas had not sounded the alarm, I would have lost my wife. Even when his eyes and ears were failing, his love for us never did.

Dallas’s health began to decline about a year ago. For the last six months he had to wear a diaper all day, and during the final two months he needed a wheelchair. In the end, he seemed to know his time was near, and I could see it in his eyes.

After more than twenty years together, my heart is filled with sadness and reluctance to say goodbye. At a moment like this, I cannot help but wonder: when a beloved pet passes away, are they also within God’s grace? Are they also remembered?

The Bible does say that there will be animals in God’s coming kingdom: “The wolf will live with the lamb… the lion will eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:6–7)
This makes me believe that the world God has prepared is not cold or empty, but full of life — including animals.

C. S. Lewis once wrote that animals are not like people who must repent to be saved, yet their lives are still held within God’s grace.

With that hope, I choose to believe that God does not overlook any life He has created, especially those who have been loved and cared for by us.

May God bless you all. Life is short….. cherish your family, your friends, and your pets. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Respectfully,

Chef James

I’m visiting my relatives in Taichung, the central city of Taiwan and the third-largest city there! In one of the pictures is a couple—my aunt (my mom’s youngest sister) and my uncle. My uncle, who is 78 years old, is a marathon runner. He has traveled all over the world to compete in marathons, winning many medals, and he’s still running today!

A gentleman with an army-like appearance is my cousin, who is five years younger than me. I remember how close we were growing up—he always looked up to me as his big brother. I even led him into some mischief, like secretly damaging statues in a Buddha temple without anyone noticing. The lady standing with me in another photo is also my cousin. She’s an incredibly talented artist who can create photo-realistic paintings. I promise to share some of her work with you later!