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Monday 4:30pm - 9pm Tuesday 4:30pm - 9pm Wednesday 4:30pm - 9pm Thursday 4:30pm - 9pm Friday 4:30pm - 9pm Saturday 4:30pm - 9pm

http://www.jameshomekitchen.com/

James Home Kitchen, 2901 Chatham Road, Springfield, IL (2026)

08/30/2026

One Week After Lynn’s Hip Surgery — A Week of Progress, Love, and Gratitude ❤️🙏

Today is exactly one week since Lynn’s hip surgery.

This past week has given me a lot of feelings that I really never thought much about before. One is how important it is for husband and wife to support each other when difficult things happen. The other is that both Lynn and I have really felt the care coming from so many different directions. Some of you we know personally, and some of you I probably couldn’t even call by name, but your messages, encouragement, and especially your prayers—we have truly felt them.

Lynn’s improvement every day is something I can actually see.

The first few days she was frustrated. There was the pain from surgery, and suddenly so many simple things she used to do by herself became difficult. The road of recovery seemed very long to her. I kept telling her, “Don’t only look at how much it hurts today. Look at what you couldn’t do yesterday and what you can already do today.”

She also knows how many people are caring about her and praying for her (I read every one of your notes to her), so she knows she has to do her part too and take her rehabilitation seriously. I also keep reminding Lynn to look back at this whole experience from the beginning. There were so many things that surprised us.

From Urgent Care, to being transferred to the hospital, to all the tests and finally the decision for surgery, somehow everything seemed to connect one step at a time. We didn’t even realize until afterward that the surgeon (Dr. Matthew Gardner) who operated on her was very experienced and highly respected. Dr. Garner gave us what I believe was the best recommendation, and the surgery went extremely well.

Looking back now, it is very hard for me to believe that everything was just coincidence. I believe God was watching over us and leading us through the whole process, even when we couldn’t see it at the time.

Of course, temporarily closing the restaurant affects our income. But now I actually believe it was one of the best decisions I could have made. Money can be earned again later. But when my wife needs me, if I’m not there for her, no amount of money can make up for that later.

And maybe Lynn also discovered something new—that her normally loud, easygoing husband who sometimes drives her crazy actually has a very gentle side too! 😂

Every night before bed, I’ve been washing and taking care of her feet. At first she was embarrassed and kept saying, “No, no, you don’t have to do that.” But after a few times, apparently it felt too good to refuse anymore. 😂

To tell you the truth, I also have a little secret plan behind this. I’m trying to build up some “husband credit” ahead of time. So next time I make her mad, maybe she’ll remember how well I took care of her and forgive me a little faster. Hopefully I can get at least three free passes out of this! 😂😂 Just kidding…

Finally, I really want to thank all of our customers, friends, brothers and sisters who have been thinking about Lynn. During this past week, we have felt so much love. Your messages, encouragement and prayers have meant more to us than just saying “thank you” can express.

Her rehabilitation is not finished yet, but seeing her getting a little better every day already fills my heart with gratitude.

Thank you for caring about Lynn, and most of all, thank God for watching over us every step of the way. 🙏❤️

Your humble Chef, James

08/26/2026

Dear friends and customers,

I honestly can’t believe we have to close the restaurant again for two weeks (may change as needed), especially so soon after returning from Taiwan.

My wife unexpectedly had hip surgery this past Monday. About two weeks ago, she accidently stepped into a pothole and fell twice while working in her garden but she still kept working! That evening, I noticed her limping and asked what happened. She just said, “I fell today, but I think I’m okay.”

Well, she definitely wasn’t okay, but somehow, she kept working for almost two more weeks! I finally insisted that she get checked out. She refused to go to the ER but agreed to go to urgent care. From there, everything happened very quickly. The urgent care doctor sent us directly to the hospital, and we were told that she needed surgery the next morning. Even the surgeon couldn’t believe she had continued working for two weeks with a fractured hip!

We’re so thankful to the Springfield Clinic team for arranging everything so quickly and to everyone at Memorial Hospital for taking such wonderful care of her. The good news is that she did not need a hip replacement. Dr. Matthew Gardner said her hip joint was still very healthy, so he repaired the fracture by inserting two pins. After getting those two pins, she officially became my “Six Million Dollar Woman”! 😂

The surgery went very well, and she was already walking with a walker the next day! We have certainly been through quite a journey lately, but God’s grace and all your prayers have carried us through.

We feel a little embarrassed about closing again since we were already closed for a month in July. But right now, I need to stay put and take care of my wife, because she is definitely not going back to work this time! 😂

Thank you so much for your patience, prayers, understanding, and continued support. You are more than just our customers…..you are our friends and part of our restaurant family. We look forward to seeing everyone again soon!

Chef James

08/15/2026

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a month since we returned to the U.S. after traveling to Taiwan to say goodbye to my mother.

When we reopened James Home Kitchen, we honestly didn’t know what to expect. We hadn’t done any advertising and had been closed for quite a while. But what touched us the most wasn’t just that so many people came back—it was that so many of you came with kind words, heartfelt hugs, and condolences for our family’s loss.

Your love and support have meant more to us than we can ever express. You’re not just our customers—you truly feel like family.

Thank you for standing by us during this difficult season. Your encouragement reminds us why we love doing what we do. We promise to continue serving you with the same care, the best quality food we can make, and the warm hospitality you’ve always known.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. May God bless each and every one of you. ❤️

James & Lynn

07/26/2026

A Surprising Journey 2: What Felt Like a Disaster Turned Out to Be a Blessing

Thank you, everyone, for your concern about the iPad Pro I lost at the Seattle airport, and also for all the suggestions you gave me.

I actually did almost everything I could. I turned on Find My, put it in Lost Mode, left my phone number, and even added a reward message. What made it even more frustrating was that, before the battery died, I could keep tracking it, and the location continued to show that it was still somewhere inside the Seattle airport.

When I passed through Seattle again on July 25, I had checked just three days earlier and it was still showing inside the airport. I was very confident that I would finally be able to bring it home. But after going to Lost and Found and speaking with airport staff, no one could locate it. They also could not explain why my iPad was still showing on the map as being somewhere in the airport.

I also wrote to the airport office and the airport police. I did everything I knew to do. In the end, I still had to leave Seattle with some disappointment.

But now I am at peace with it.

If it is meant to come back to me, I believe God has His own time and His own way to return it. If not, I have decided not to keep worrying about it. Looking back on this trip, I realized that I received something much more valuable than an expensive iPad.

Spending three weeks in Taiwan also helped me see the place where I was born from a different point of view…

There is no question that Taiwan today is a very modern and convenient place. The high-speed rail, MRT system, easy access to almost everything, great food, and busy streets all make the country feel full of energy.

But this trip also helped me see another side of life there. Housing is very expensive. For an average family, a slightly nicer home can easily cost more than $500,000 in U.S. dollars, and most of the time it is only one unit in a building. If you want a detached home with a front and back yard, the price can become a burden for a lifetime.

At the same time, average income has not kept up with the rising cost of housing, so the pressure of daily life can be very heavy.

Taiwan’s national health insurance is certainly something to be proud of, but every system still has areas that need improvement. I believe that many problems could slowly change if society/industry had a little more compassion and a little less selfishness and greed…yeh, I dream for it😅

What surprised me most was that me and my wife had a little desire that we might want to retire in Taiwan someday.

But after these three weeks, my wife and I both felt the same way…..we wanted to go home. Back to America!

It was a strange feeling. Taiwanese blood runs through me, and I was born and raised there, but America has already become our true home.

I kept asking myself why I felt that way. Later, I realized that maybe the answer was not the economy or convenience.

Maybe it was the relationships between people. In America, I have been blessed with many sincere friendships and many people I can trust and depend on through life.

As a Christian, I believe that what truly changes people is not only a system or material things. It is a changed life.

When a person’s life is changed by God’s love, there is more acceptance, more forgiveness, and more genuine love between people.

That is one of the reasons I have come to appreciate America so deeply.

On the day I returned, I was exhausted while riding the Chicago subway and train. The ride was rough, and I saw many people dressed in all kinds of “unusual ways”.

For some reason, I just kept smiling. Many of them smiled back or nodded at me.

At that moment, I suddenly thought: I am really home.

I do not love this country because it is perfect, or because it is richer than every other place.

I love it because I feel a sense of acceptance here, and because I often see people sincerely respecting one another.

I truly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the world.

Not to decide which place is better, but to understand other people, other cultures, and yourself a little more clearly.

Finally, may God bless all of you. And please do not mind that I usually do not post much on Facebook.

For one thing, I cannot write during work. For another, my wife already has all of my free time fully scheduled. 😂

Thank you again for all your concern, and thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. May God bless you all, and may we learn to treasure the people around us and every day we are given.

07/26/2026

A Surprising Journey: What Felt Like a Disaster Turned Out to Be a Blessing

Maybe because of the jet lag, I woke up very early this morning. My wife did too, but the first thing she wanted to do was go to the restaurant and check on her garden. I was happy just sitting down with a cup of coffee and enjoying my first morning back home.

When I opened Facebook and looked at the post I shared yesterday, I was honestly shocked. I never expected so many people to see it or leave so many messages. I was deeply touched and really didn’t know what to say, especially because I didn’t even recognize many of the names. I have to admit, my wife is much better than I am when it comes to connecting with people. 😅

I also want to share a few things that happened during the past few weeks and some lessons I learned from them.

On the first day of my trip, while I was waiting at the Seattle airport for my flight to Taipei, I used the extra time to read some office emails on my iPad Pro and reply to a few important messages. I never imagined that I would leave my iPad Pro at the airport. I didn’t even realize it was missing until two days after I arrived in Taiwan.

At first, it felt like a disaster. But later, I started to see it as God’s mercy and grace.

God knows I am a workaholic. He also knew that this was a time when I needed to be fully present with my family and help take care of everything after my mother passed away. So maybe my iPad Pro had to disappear for a while.

In the past, whenever I took time off, I always brought my laptop or iPad Pro with me so I could stay connected to work. My wife was already used to it and knew she probably could not change me. But this time, God gave me a lesson on the very first day.

My frustration slowly turned into thankfulness. Without my iPad Pro, I had more time to be with my family and to truly experience every minute I had in Taiwan.

That was when I suddenly realized how much work had quietly taken over my life. This may have been the first vacation I ever took without checking work online!

At first, it felt strange. But little by little, I began to understand how easily our phones, computers, and work can slowly take away some of the most precious parts of life, especially family, friendship, and real time with the people around us.

So yes, I lost an expensive iPad Pro, but I gained something more valuable. I had time to slow down, pay attention, and truly experience the things happening around me.

Some were good, and some were painful, but all of them were part of life. Sometimes we do not realize what really matters until we are forced to stop.

Thank you for taking the time to read and share this part of my journey with me.

07/26/2026

Dear family, friends, and our valued James Home Kitchen customers,

Since early July, James Home Kitchen has been closed while my wife and I traveled to Taiwan. We returned home safely last night.

Many of you know that I went back to Taiwan because my mother became seriously ill. I had hoped I would make it back in time to see her one last time, but she passed away on July 4, and I arrived the following day. From the time she became ill until she passed away was less than a month. Everything happened so suddenly, and it has been a very difficult time for our family.

Although we miss her deeply, we are thankful that she did not have to suffer for a long time. She passed away peacefully, and for that we are grateful.

My mother became a Christian in her early sixties. Before that, she had been a devoted Buddhist for many years. During the nearly 30 years that followed, her faith changed her life in a remarkable way. She faithfully prayed every day for our family, our friends, and many people who were going through difficult times. Because of her faithful prayers, many people lovingly called her “Grandma of Prayer.”

As her son, one of my greatest comforts was not only being able to return home for her memorial service, but also having the opportunity to spend time with her through video calls before she passed away. We talked, I sang many of her favorite hymns to her, and I was able to tell her how much we loved her. Those moments will always be among the most precious memories of my life.

At my mother’s memorial service, I shared something that has brought great comfort to me:

“For those who believe in Jesus, death is not the end of life. It is going home to be with God. Because of that hope, I believe we will see each other again one day.”

I understand that not everyone shares the same faith that I do. But for me, my faith has given me peace, strength, and hope during one of the hardest times of my life.

Losing my mother has also reminded me how precious life is.

If your parents, your family, or someone you love is still with you, don’t wait to tell them how much they mean to you. Make the phone call. Spend time together. Give them a hug. Say, “I love you.” One day, those simple moments may become your most treasured memories.

Lynn and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who prayed for us, encouraged us, reached out to us, and patiently waited while we were away. Your kindness, prayers, and support have meant so much to our family.

James Home Kitchen will reopen on Tuesday, August 4, and we look forward to serving you again.

Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and your continued support. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

May God bless you and your family with peace, good health, and many precious moments together.

James & Lynn Wang

12/25/2025

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

James Home Kitchen

08/30/2026

08/26/2026

08/15/2026

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12/25/2025

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Monday	4:30pm - 9pm
Tuesday	4:30pm - 9pm
Wednesday	4:30pm - 9pm
Thursday	4:30pm - 9pm
Friday	4:30pm - 9pm
Saturday	4:30pm - 9pm