Schweinekoteletts mit Apfeln und Zwiebeln

Aka: Sauteed Pork Chops with Onions and Apples (apparently pork is one of the more popular meat in Germany)

... served with homemade Spatzle.  Quite delightful.
Reminded me of the time I made smothered pork chops and used cider vinegar instead of apple cider :(  And my small group was so gracious to eat it.  It was only afterward when I was wondering what was wrong with the recipe that I realized it was because I can't read properly :)

Noodles on 11

Today, I tried out this new restaurant near my work, Noodles on 11.  Interestingly, it is opened by the owner of the two restaurants sandwiching this one -- HaadThai and SushiAoi.  Guess what -- you can actually get pho from this place.  I was choosing between pho, wontons with noodles, or dry noodles with soup on the side -- I went for the last one with roast pork, thinking that this way, I can probably make two meals out of it (it is expensive to be buying lunch around here -- I can eat away all my wages).  But, I ate the whole thing :)  The noodles were crunchy and the soup was not bad.  The roast pork was also ok -- though I've had tastier and the color was coming off (I wonder how they make roast pork where the coloring doesn't do that...)

Sunrise

This morning I woke up to a beautiful sunrise.

The picture from my window just doesn't do it justice.  As I was enjoying the view, I was reminded of how it used to be a norm for me to be seeing the sunrise as I head out to work or arriving at work (since I used to get to work at around 7:10am, having been out of the house since 6:15am or so).  During those five years, there has been times when I would enjoy the various shades of a beautiful sunrise and also times when I just wished I was still in bed.  And now, to think that I'm getting up at around 7am -- what a change!  Although I don't have the built-in consistency of seeing the sun rise every morning and miss various aspects of my "former life," how gracious of the Lord to give me this season where I can sleep for longer stretches of time, not having to think about work for the most part when I'm not at work, being able to take part in so many other things and not be constantly exhausted from August to June.

Mark challenged us in his sermon this past Sunday to trust in the Lord without having to know all the specifics in our lives and to trust in the Lord with our uncertainties.  I definitely have a hard time in that -- I want to know everything and I want to be the one in control.  May 2011 be a year where I learn to trust the Lord for His plans and provisions every day He gives me on this side of heaven!

Cooking Therapy

Cooking is therapeutic for me -- there is just something about mindless chopping, following a recipe and working toward a finished product that lifts up my mood.  And I just enjoy it in general -- whether it is trying a new recipe or repeating an old one.

Recently, on a spontaneous day off, I made Tuscan White Bean Soup with Italian Sweet Sausage for the 2nd time (this time without having to substitute canned beans).

I've also made pecan pie for the very first time!

Now, if you are going to spend about 1 hr making one pie, might as well spend 1.5 hr to make four, right?  It makes sense in the economy of time.  :)

(One has already been eaten at the time photo was taken...)

New Year Morning in DC

New Year's morning was pretty quiet here in DC.  If it weren't for the fact that I've agreed to go into work for a little bit today, I'd probably be home sleeping in myself.  But it is nice to walk through what is normally a very busy part of town and to be able to enjoy the uncommon stillness of the city.  So, I decided to take some pictures of Union Station while I strolled by ...

The Christmas tree and trains were still on display inside...

Reflections of 2010 and Hopes for 2011

2010 has definitely been one of the more challenging years walking with the Lord.  During this year, I've struggled with despair and distrust of the Lord more than ever before and for the longest extent of time.  In short, "trust in the Lord" has taken more weight and meaning -- I've never realized how hard it actually is to trust in the Lord when the rubber meets and road and how I am incapable to do just that with my own might alone.  Sadly, there has been many times when I found myself being angry with the Lord and doubted His love and care just because He did not carry out my plans for my life.  Sometimes, I found myself questioning why the Lord seems so slow to deliver me from my despair -- or even why He would allow me to stay in the valley (or desert -- whichever analogy might be more preferable).  I've wanted the Lord to spare me of trials rather than to carry me and refine me through trials -- the former of which the Lord never promised and the latter of which He is always faithful to do.  In the midst of my struggles, one of the most comforting thing was the recognition and reminder that my helplessness to "dig myself out" and to change the condition of my depressed heart points to the reality that any faith that I do have comes from the Lord and that apart from the Lord pursuing me in love, I would have never chosen to love the Lord.  I've also learned that the Lord is a lot more patient in carefully working in my heart than I am.  In one of Paul D. Tripp's analogy, I go for the wrecking ball approach to remodel whereas the Lord goes for the small chisel for restoration.  And just like the conditions of the grumbling Israelites, the Lord has been providing me manna the entire way through -- it is just that I am too blinded to see it or unable to appreciate the many good gifts that the Lord has blessed me with during this past year.  So, here are just a few examples...

• The Lord has blessed me with many (and I do mean many) friends (both big friends and little friends) who are constantly showering me with their loving care -- in their prayer, emails/notes, coffee/breakfast/lunch/dinner get togethers, making me a part of their family, housed me, gave me hugs, thoughtful gifts, and most recently a trip to Singapore in the near future.  They have tirelessly cheered me on in my walk and cried with me along the way.

• The Lord has given me a season of less stressful work.  This year, I've also transitioned out of a demanding teaching position with a long commute to an "easy", more contained job where I can use public transportation.  This transition has allowed me to sleep more, be less stressed overall, be able to participate more consistently in ministry opportunities and in the general life of the church that I would have been otherwise hesitant to take part in due to time.  It has also been exciting to work in a secular setting where a Christian culture is not as easily taken for granted since it is not the norm.
• The Lord has given me the opportunity to go on a short-term missions trip through the generous support of our church.  It is exciting to take part in kingdom work in an area where the gospel witness is close to none.  It also helps in me thinking through how I might invest in overseas work long term.  The Lord has also blessed me with elders and friends in my life to help me think through and pray about such a possibility.  I have also seen the Lord given me more opportunities and grown me in evangelism.
• This year, I got the privilege of celebrating with many friends as some got engaged, some got married, some became parents for the very first time, and some watching their kids grow up.  And though these are also times I am tempted to envy, the Lord has been kind not only to allow me to take part in these blessings but also using it to help me practice trusting and finding joy and hope in Him.  What a blessing it is to be able to take part in the lives of my friends in these ways.  
• The Lord continues to provide for me with food on the table and a roof over my head -- there has not been a day when that has not been true.  The Lord has provided even in ways that I have not expected.

Our God is gracious beyond measure.  One of the things that have been impressed upon me lately has been how I often so easily overlooked God's blessings in my life because I can be so fixated on what He has not given me and all the things that are not what I want them to be, and therefore, unable to enjoy the present.  I pray that in 2011, I will learn more of what it means to live with joy in the Lord for every blessing every moment of life that He gives me; that I would not rush on to the "next season" but be able to appreciate the current season and be grateful for the Lord's provision; that I might grow in my trust for the Lord loving kindness and be confident of His future mercies.