Good Eats

It's already time for the 2010 office Christmas party!
 

We all filled our stomachs with some really good sushi at:

Miraku Japanese Restaurant

1121 Bethlehem Pike, #80, Spring House, PA 19477

(215) 643-0100 

Quotable Quotes

I started reading a new book a few days ago and honestly if I could quote every other sentence, I would, it's that good. Allow me to share one sentence that struck a chord with me:

The very thing we are afraid of, our brokenness, is the door to our Father's heart.  -  Paul Miller, A Praying Life

Quotable Quotes

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.  ~ Les Brown

Good Eats

I haven't done a Good Eats post in awhile.....so I'm gonna attempt to remember some of the good places I've dined at over the past couple months ....I just love sharing good food with y'all =)

I had my birthday dinner here, and everything (and I mean everything) was good!

"The menu is a seamless blend of Mediterranean and Latin influenced small and large plates of seasonal specialties."

Valanni * 1229 Spruce Street * Philadelphia, PA 19107
            215.790.9494 * http://www.valanni.com/

"The emphasis is on great tasting food and beverages crafted from local, organic, and artisanal producers."


FARMiCiA Restaurant
15 S. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215.627.6274
http://www.farmiciarestaurant.com/

This restaurant wasn't at all what I expected it to be when I walked in, but it ended up being a really low-key place to chill with some good pizza and sandwiches.

NOCHE
1901 CHESTNUT STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
PHONE: 215.568.0551
http://www.noche215.com/

Vintage Bar and Bistro

129 S. 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107

215.922.3095

http://www.vintage-philadelphia.com/index.html

A few of us came here for a wine tasting class, but we were more impressed and blown away by how good the food was . . .

"Vintage focuses on wine and the food that it complements. We offer over 60 wines by the glass and another twenty or so by the bottle. Our wines represent regions, countries and varietals from around the world chosen for their taste and character."

And finally I'll end with something sweet...

I was in NYC for a weekend taking some classes and right across from Bryant Park was the Crumbs Bakery . . . just awesomely delicious cupcake concoctions :)

Crumbs Bake Shop
Bryant Park
43 West 42nd St (5/6th Ave)
http://www.crumbs.com/

A Time for Everything

We're coming up on the last month of 2010, and looking back, this year has been filled with a lot of good things and a lot of difficult situations I could not have imagined. But as I start to end this year, I find myself back to a state of neutrality.  Despite the past year's many ups and downs, I feel like God has kept me mentally and emotionally grounded, something I'm extremely grateful for.

If you take a look back at your own life, it's amazing to see everything you experience as a human being living on this earth....there's the good, the bad, and the ugly.  We have seasons in our life and I've noticed amongst my friends and my family, some are experiencing great joy, and some experiencing personal struggle.  Whether you find yourself in a season of happiness or a season of sorrow, it's important to remember it is just that....a season, a temporary circumstance that will change whether it be good or bad. Though seasons change, one thing remains the same:

. . .we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   Romans 8:28

I find such hope and joy in that! Do you? God knew everything I would experience before I was even conceived. Of course I'm human, and I question His timing and why He allows certain things, but there's hope in knowing that God's timing is perfect, that I can't come up with a better plan for my life than He already has. 

So no matter what season you're currently in, remind yourself that God is in control....and as is it is written in Scripture, there is a time for everything:

A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means

Reminders...

I was looking through some of my old journaling this past week and I came across a devotional that I had read about a year ago today.  It was very pertinent to things going on in my life at the time.  More recently, I shared it with two friends as an encouragement for things they are dealing with in their own lives, but re-reading this just reminded me that I need to align my thoughts with these truths again....

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you.
-Psalms 71:5-6

When the psalmist asked God to be a refuge and rescuer in Psalm 71, he boldly proclaimed his dependence on the Sovereign Lord. When we feel weak-kneed and lack confidence, we are most open to relying on God. The Bible gives us affirmation after affirmation of God's strength in the face of our limited ability: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Nothing silences the voice of timidity as powerfully as the voice of Scripture. If you find yourself in a new situation today, make sure you don't rely on your own limited talents or skills, but that you place your unshakable confidence in the limitless God.

Timeless . . .

I heard this song today in the grocery store of all places and it just brought me back. It had come out my freshman year of high school and definitely had made an impact on me at the time.  Doing a little research on the song, I found out that the songwriter, Martin Page, wrote this in the midst of a "spiritual journey."  Although I can't say we're on the same journey, the song does make me think about my particular journey, about the ups and downs and everything in between....I guess that's what makes it timeless.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Sometimes I look for guidance in all the wrong places.  It's crazy how much I rely on me, myself, and I to get me through difficult situations and circumstances.  I forget that there's an amazing power freely given to me to overcome any sin and any worry. 

I read this post from James MacDonald yesterday morning and am reminded of this power that is freely given to us.

"Every good thing God wants to shower on your life comes through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit.

Everything.

The fruit of the Spirit, understanding of God's Word, love of worship, strength in a trial, grace to forgive, compassion for the lost, comfort in heartache, boldness in witnessing, power in ministry; all of this is yours when you live the Christian life in the Spirit's power."

                                                      - James MacDonald

Amen to that! The key word I often fail to understand here is "everything".  The Holy Spirit can guide me in everything.  It's a wonder why I make things so difficult and continue to use my own devices when the Lord asks us, even implores us, to trust in the Holy Spirit.

Worry . . .

something I've been doing in overtime lately....the following are some thoughts on the subject from a article I recently read...

"Do you know what the greatest help has been for me when it comes to anxiety? It is this truth: "Worry is sin". When we are anxious it shows that we really don't trust God. It means that either I believe God is not capable or that God does not care. Neither is true. So when I realize that I am beginning to be filled with anxiety I ask myself an important question, "Do I trust God, or don't I?"
-Rev. Bruce Goettsche

Quotable Quotes

"Wrong believing brings fear. Right believing brings faith."

More than words . . .

Since getting my new car and getting an initial free subscription to XM radio....I am now thoroughly hooked to satellite, something I swore I wouldn't do and had vowed to myself I would cancel once my free subscription was up....no willpower I tell you, none whatsoever.

So part of the reason I'm hooked is because I'm listening to two particular stations that are strictly dedicated to the 80's and 90's. And without fail, I frequently get nostalgic emotions from songs that were part of my youth.  I feel like I can remember exactly what I was thinking 15 to 20 years ago when I hear these songs.  At least for me, it's a strange bizarre giddy feeling when I remember things from my childhood and teenage years.  This one came up today on my drive back from work...tell me it's not the most perfect song for a beautiful summer evening...

Quotable Quotes

"If you look for truth,
you may find comfort in the end;
if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth
only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin,
and in the end, despair."

- C. S. Lewis

Good Eats - RAW

For dinner last night, great sushi with a great ambiance at......

1225 RAW SUSHI & SAKE LOUNGE

1225 Sansom Street

 Philadelphia / 215.238.1903

http://www.rawlounge.net/index.html

A comedy sketch on ....well....eye doctors

And yes, I've probably thought everything that he said the doctor was saying during his eye exam.

Quotable Quotes

Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.

 - C. S. Lewis

Identity Crisis

In bible study tonight, we were discussing how we see ourselves and our identity, in view of God's holiness.  And the question was asked, "What do you think is the look on God's face when he thinks of you right now?"

I was the first to answer, and I answered with my honest gut reaction, I said "disgust."

I see God's heavenly face filled with disgust. Disgust at dealing with the same sins, disgust at my lack of faithfulness, disgust at my lack of trust, disgust at everyday struggles, disgust with my hypocrisy, and so on and so forth.

And then I read this: "If you imagined God as anything but overjoyed with you, you have fallen into a performance mindset.  Because the gospel truth is: In Christ, God is deeply satisfied with you."

God, satisfied with me?? Not only satisfied, but overjoyed??
Ha, yeah right!  I can understand it intellectually, but I can't grasp it emotionally.

This is obviously an important component of my faith that I have yet to properly understand.  I always imagine that if I were "better", he would love me more, approve of me more, be more merciful towards me.  I know....it sounds juvenile, but when I break it down, that's how I'm living my life.

And in all honesty, living this way is just draining, physically and mentally draining...it "saps the joy and delight out of following Jesus."

I've become acutely aware today of the fact that I need to recognize my freedom and feel that joy that can only come in Christ. To be ever joyful that He has already made me His daughter, that He has already clothed me in righteousness, and that the work is already done!

Good Eats

So I've been severely neglecting posting much these days but I want to get back into it.....so why not start back up with food  :)

There's been some good places I've been to in the past couple weeks....from my first real taste of filet mignon at a high end steakhouse down to getting some cheesesteaks at a classic Philly favorite.

Really good filet mignon and lobster at ....

Davio's

Northern Italian Steakhouse

111 South 17th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 563-4810

http://www.davios.com/

   

" ... few have delivered delicious specialties with the consistency I experienced at Davio's" wrote Craig LaBan of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Davio’s is a stylish, up-scale northern Italian steakhouse located on the second floor in the historic Provident Bank Building just off fashionable Rittenhouse Row. Come enjoy a prime steak or our cutting-edge northern Italian cuisine. We also feature an award-winning wine list.

Can't go wrong with some sinfully delicious chocolate desserts here...

Naked Chocolate Cafe

1317 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

 

http://www.nakedchocolatecafe.com/

 

Gourmet burgers at Bobby Flay's new Philly venture (and yeah, it's considered normal to spend about $20 for a burger, fries, and a milkshake here :)

 

 West Philly

3925 Walnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tel: 215.387.0378

Fax: 215.387.0401

http://www.bobbysburgerpalace.com/

And last but not least, a philly classic: the cheesesteak...

Geno's Steaks

1219 S. 9th St.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

http://www.genosteaks.com/

Ramblings

Tomorrow's the 10 mile Broad Street Run,
And I feel like a student,
The night before a major exam,
Knowing I haven't studied/trained as much as I need to....
And now I'm desperately praying that by some small miracle,
God will give me the necessary smarts/strength to pull through.
That's what I'm hoping for.
What will actually happen?
I'm afraid He may decide to teach me a lesson,
One that I would rightfully deserve.
It's funny how I put my inadequacies and lack of work and diligence,
All on God's shoulders at the last minute,
As if He is supposed to make everything better.
And if by some small miracle I did well,
That would of course be due to my own talents.
Backwards thinking,
I do that to Him a lot.
Anyway,
Ready or not,
Race day is coming tomorrow...
Yikes!

Dulac Mission Trip

So this past week, my best friend and I were able to join some other people from around the country to do some rebuilding work in New Orleans. We were in an area about an hour south of New Orleans called Dulac which is mostly resident to a tribe of Houma Indians. Most of the homes and buildings there were severely damaged due to Katrina, but also due to the high incidence of flooding that occurs on a regular basis.

The whole trip was truly a great experience. Our day would begin at 7 am cooking breakfast, doing the dishes, working on the community center for 4 hours, coming back and making lunch, work for another 4 hours, shower, make dinner, and then hang out playing 28 or spoons till 2 in the morning (these games were intense =P). It was a blessing to experience the teamwork and camaraderie amongst us initial strangers displayed on practically every level.

Much to my surprise, I also loved the feeling of getting my hands dirty doing some hard core manual labor! We were putting up drywall, spackling, sanding, painting, etc. and at the end of the day we were covered in mud, paint, dirt, and sweat.....and it all felt very good. There was something very satisfying in the exhaustion we felt at the end of the day. Everyone who came was there to work and work we did.  In the end, it was really gratifying to see the tangible fruits of our labor.

I know what we did doesn't even make a dent into what needs to happen there, but the fellowship and friendships that were formed and what we learned of the Native Americans there, just made our world a little bit smaller in seeing the plight and hardships of other communities. I look at these projects, not so much as an opportunity to serve, but to observe how God works in other communities and to broaden my sometimes very narrow worldly perspectives.

I pasted the link below to an article written about our trip in their local newspaper....some of the facts in it are wrong but you'll get the gist of the mission that's run there =)

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20100416/ARTICLES/100419562?p=1&tc=pg
Bond attracts Indian Americans to Dulac
HoumaToday.com

DULAC — A couple of times each year, a kindred group of volunteers visits Dulac to help rebuild the bayou community from hurricanes and flooding.

Forgiven

In this life
I know what I’ve been
But here in Your arms
I know what I am . . .



An amazing song that speaks to my heart.

Nightmares Becoming Reality

I came upon this "interesting" story and all I can say is ugh! I don't know why I'm deciding to post it, but I am.  It's just one of those bizarre things you come across and read and wonder what are people thinking?

Warning: my first reaction was to gag.

The title:         Bizarre Ways to Beat Stress and Unwind

I've had one recurring nightmare for as long as I can remember and it involves snakes and picturing something like this.....and now this is a way to unwind?? A snake massage! I don't think so.  Just looking and thinking about it makes the anxiety level go up a couple notches.

If you want to read the article and even see the video (yeah, that's right, there's a video)....go ahead, enjoy
http://health.msn.com/mind-body-connection/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100256034&imageindex=2

Weird, just plain weird!

What comes to your mind on this Easter Sunday?

Here's what I'm thinking about:

New beginnings
New life
Hope
Renewal
Resurrection
Purity
Forgiveness
Love...

and an overwhelming sense of peace that comes from understanding what He had done for me 2000 years ago today......a peace from knowing that He is in complete control of ALL things.

It's a day to remember that no matter where you are in your life, no matter the path you've been on in the past, Christ's resurrection allows you to start fresh, and to start anew.....

Have a Happy Easter.

Good Eats - Toscana 52

Dinner Tonight:
a local goodie where there's a new Italian menu every week (hence the name 52)

Toscana 52

4603 Street Road

Feasterville PA 19053

Phone 215-942-7770

http://www.toscana52.com/

"Experience authentic modern Tuscan cuisine in the tranquility of a dramatic Tuscan Villa. Our team of executive chefs prepare each days menu from scatch. Features include crudo (Italian Sushi), fresh seafood, wood grilled meats, homemade pasta, our pastry chef's seductive sesaonal desserts."

Does God Really Love Us?

"Does God really love us? I say look to the crucified Jesus. Look to the old rugged cross. By every thorn that punctured His brow. By every mark of the back lacerating scourge. By every hair of his beard plucked from his cheeks by cruel fingers. By every bruise which heavy fists made upon His head. God said, "I love you!" By all the spit that landed on his face. By every drop of sinless blood that fell to the ground. By every breath of pain which Jesus drew upon the cross. By every beat of His loving heart. God said, I love you."
-Billy Lobbs

It's hard to imagine that a day where we remember unimaginable cruelty inflicted on a man that was sinless and perfect, as being called "good".  But can you imagine the consequences if these events never did transpire?  We'd be left to our own devices, to suffer the consequences of the depraved sinful creatures that we are.  But instead, because of his sacrifice, we are made clean, freed from the bonds of sin, and even made righteous....and what do we have to do? Just believe.

Indeed it is GOOD.

Hosanna!

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"  And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!" -- John 12:12-15 ESV

Quotable Quotes - Memories

Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember. ~Seneca

Life is a rough biography. Memories smooth out the edges. ~Terri Guillemets

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it. ~Michel de Montaigne

I'm always fascinated by the way memory diffuses fact. ~Diane Sawyer

The Persistance of Memory, by Dali

Good Eats - Marathon on the Square & Philly Cupcake

Some good eats from this past weekend..
First brunch: 

Marathon On the Square

1839 Spruce St

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 731-0800

http://www.marathongrill.com/index2.html

 
  and then an evening treat from:

Philly Cupcake
1132 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 625-4888
http://www.phillycupcake.com/

Reflections

Based on some discussions last night  . . .

*Why am I so afraid?
*Am I willing to be used in whatever capacity is needed to bring God glory?
*When I ask for God’s will, do I truly want to know the answer?
*How much of the joy I find today is linked to God and how much is linked to my circumstances?
*Will I still cry out His name in praise if He breaks me beyond my tipping point?
*I fear God’s power, but why don’t I find solace in it? Is it because I don’t trust in His goodness?

If I could get to the heart of these questions, how much more could I be a steward for His kingdom!?!

A Perfect Saturday

Yesterday,
A Saturday off from work,
The first day of Spring,
Beautiful, sunny, and 75 degrees,
A group of girlfriends,
Starting the day with a morning bike ride along Kelly Drive,
Followed by a great brunch in the city,
Then some leisurely walking and window shopping,
And ending the evening with some desserts from Philly Cupcakes.

I'm thankful for these simple pleasures and the people I can enjoy them with...a perfect Saturday it was indeed =)

50 Random Questions

Just because it's late at night, I can't sleep, and I need to find more ways to waste time . . .

1. Where were you 3 hours ago? - At the pharmacy
2. Who are you in love with? - No one, next question
3. Have you ever eaten a crayon? - Don't believe I have
4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? - A pink bottle of pomegranate and mango hand and body lotion
5. When is the last time you went to the mall? - Today, Unfortunately I work there
6. Are you wearing socks right now? - I am
7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000? - I hope so, I just bought it 4 months ago
8. When was the last time you drove out of town? - Probably NYC
9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days? - Nope
10. Are you hot? - Nope
11. What was the last thing you had to drink? - Water....mmmm, delicious
12. What are you wearing right now? - PJ's
13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it? - Let the car wash do it
14. Last food that you ate? - Popcorn, I'm not proud of it
15. Where were you last week at this time? - Probably at home
16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? - I haven't, I've been good lately
17. When is the last time you ran? - Yesterday....5 miles...wohoo!
18. What's the last sporting event you watched? - Went to a sixers/knicks game on Monday..didn't know a darn player on either team
19. What is your favorite animal? - Animals and I have a sorted past, we don't seem to mesh well, it would be a lie if I answered this question
20. Your dream vacation? - Greece or Italy or Thailand....I'm not picky, any one will do
21. Last person's house you were in? - N's apartment
22. Worst injury you've ever had? No broken bones ever, can't think of anything serious (knock on wood)
23. Have you been in love? - Nope, next question  
24. Do you miss anyone right now? - I miss random people at random times
25. Last play you saw? - The Lion King on Broadway
26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? - Oh gosh...lure? secret weapon? really?
27. What are your plans for tonight? - You're looking at it
28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment? - I don't have MySpace
29. Next trip you are going to take? - New Orleans
30. Ever go to camp? - Nope
31. Were you an honor roll student in school? - Yes I was
32. What do you want to know about the future? - That everything's going to be allllllll right
33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne? -Yes, Usher, don't laugh
34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit? - More appointments than I care for, the joys of getting older
35. Where is your best friend? - At home
36. How is your best friend? - She's great
37. Do you have a tan? - Yes, the natural kind (it's called being Indian)
38. What are you listening to right now? - U2
39. Do you collect anything? - Personal mementos, things that carry memories
40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know? - Now if I answered that, wouldn't I be the gossiper?
41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over? - July 2001 for a speeding ticket..I don't know why I remember the date
42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw? - Yeah, why? Is that bad?
43. What does your last text message say? - "Ha ha....don't be chicken"
44. Do you like hot sauce? - The spicier the better
45. Last time you took a shower? - This evening
46. Do you need to do laundry? - Already done
47. What is your heritage? - Indian
48. Are you someone's best friend? - Yup
49. Are you rich? - Nope, but I'm not poor...My life is rich in a non-monetary sort of way
50. What were you doing at 12AM last night? - I'm old, I was sleeping

Irish Potato Candy

I don't know much about St. Patrick's Day. What I do know is that I love eating these little indigenous Phila. delicacies that only come out during this holiday. Oh, how I love Philly.

From Wikipedia:

Irish Potato Candy is a traditional Philadelphia confectionery that is not Irish and does not contain any potato, but is a cocoa powder and cinnamon covering over a white inside of coconut nougat made to look like a potato. It is an extremely sweet treat, generally made up of some blend of coconut, confectioner's sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk or cream. The treats are about the size of a large marble and are especially popular around St. Patrick's Day.

Oh Ryan's of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, makes the largest distribution of Irish Potatoes shipping about 80,000 pounds to major chains and smaller candy stores mostly in the Philadelphia area.

Many people believe that the Irish Potato was created as a commemoration of the Irish Potato Famine.

Seasons (of Life)

Today was beautiful: bright sunshine, a cool breeze, and not a cloud in the sky.

It was the first day of spring-like weather after experiencing many days of rain and gloominess (and being able to spend the day outdoors provided some much needed energy for the soul and body).

Funny how life can be the same way: first we have to weather the storms to truly appreciate the beauty that comes afterwards.

An Unraveled Life

"For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great."

- Psalm 25:11

The word guilt in today's verse means literally to bend, to twist, to distort, to warp, to pervert, or to ruin. The word means sin. David in effect said, "For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my bent-ness; pardon my twistedness, God. Pardon my distorted, warped, perverted way of thinking, God. Pardon my ruin, what I've done with myself." It's an incredible statement of personal admission. David's prayer flowed from humility born of adversity. "I'm wrong, God! My actions are wrong! My words are wrong! My motives are wrong! I am wrong!"

When was the last time you were undone? When was the last time your life was unraveled by your own shortcomings? How quickly we are worked up about the shortcomings of others. When was the last time you were taken apart by yourself? Not by what your spouse needs to learn. Not by what your mom’s doing wrong. Not by the shortcomings of the leaders in your church or where you work, but by yourself. That's the moment that God’s trying to bring about. That's where all this is headed. Not that you should observe the shortcomings of others, but that you should have a better understanding of yourself and where you're failing. That's what God is always going for in your life.

- an excerpt from this week's The Weekly Walk by James MacDonald

Quotable Quotes

The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of 10,000 temporal problems, for he sees at once that these have to do with matters that at the most cannot concern him for very long; but even if the multiple burdens of time may be lifted from him, the one mighty single burden of eternity begins to press down upon him with a weight more crushing than all the woes of the world piled one upon another.

-A.W. Tozer

What happens to infants who die?

That's a question I've always had and have heard different things on the topic.  It's very hard to think logically about the security of salvation when it comes to our infants and children.

On the Desiring God blog today, here's how John Piper tackles the question:

How do you gauge...?

How do you gauge how well you’re handling life?

For example…
Physically I know I’m doing well if my blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, etc. are all in check.
Financially I can gauge things based on my bank accounts or debts.
Socially I can base things on the quality of my relationships.

But how do you tell how things are going mentally, emotionally, or spiritually with yourself? Human feelings can be so fleeting and fickle: happy one moment, not so much the next.  It’s not something that’s so easy to gauge, is it?

Just something I‘m pondering tonight.

Good Eats - Lorenzo's

The birthday boy had a craving for a slice of Lorenzo's, so a few of us made a 10 pm run down to South Street for a couple slices of their infamous pizza...delicious!  What's interesting is that they DON'T allow any toppings on their individual slices, their pizza is that good with just your basic ingredients: dough, cheese, and sauce....and if you dare to ask for a topping, be prepared to be treated like the soup nazi from Seinfeld!

Lorenzo and Sons Pizza Inc

305 South St

Philadelphia, PA 19147

(215) 627-4110

http://www.lorenzoandsonspizza.com/home.html

And if you're wondering why I'm writing a post about pizza close to 2 o'clock in the morning....that would be thanks to a lack of sleep secondary to the scary stories my friends decided to tell tonight....I just need to remember: Jesus always wins! =P
 
Good Night!

2010 International Philadelphia Flower Show

We got an early taste of spring while attending the Flower Show this year.  This year's theme was "Passport to the World". The flowers and arrangements were of course beautiful, and the frangrance was even more divine....

                                               

Remind me to live here :)

http://www.theflowershow.com/ShowInfo/index.html

Good Eats - Penang

Dinner Tonight: Malaysian Cuisine in Chinatown

                     

HOURS: 7 days/week (11:30AM - 1:00AM)

ADDRESS: 117 N. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

TELEPHONE: (215) 413-2531 & (215) 413-2532

http://www.penangusa.com/index.html

Quotable Quotes

If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death.

— Dave Davidson

Don't Stop Believin'

TGIF!
It's been a long day to end a long week,
and I'm more than happy to be sitting at home this Friday night relaxing to a retro favorite  . . .



Does anyone else get a rush when they hear this song??  I don't know what it is, but I always do.

What makes you cringe?

I’ve been following the Olympics pretty religiously over the past week. I find myself coming home from work, plopping myself on the couch, and rooting the Olympians on as they do their thing. I love listening to the cheesy back stories they do on the athletes minutes before they’re about to race…being reminded over and over again of all the years of training coming down to this one moment. The bell rings, the race starts, the athlete begins to cruise along beautifully…and then it happens: a fall, a simple misstep that leads to a horrible crash. And what do I do?

I cringe.
I cringe at their pain.
I cringe at the disappointment they must feel in themselves.

Do you ever find yourself cruising through life and then taking a misstep? Are there moments in your life you look back on and just cringe? Do you have flashbacks to your past and think “Oh God, What the heck was I thinking?”

No matter how smart or logical you think you are, no matter how much you’ve “trained” yourself to act and be a certain way, there are those moments where your words and deeds don’t match the perceived reality of yourself.

Here is the reality: We are all sinners.

I am a sinner.

Let me say that again……I am a sinner.

Here’s the catch, the beauty I really see in that statement:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -2 Corinthians 12: 9

I’m glad I look back on moments in my life and wince, because I know the Lord is convicting me. He’s convicting me of my weaknesses, of the fact that I am a sinner and even more of my need for His grace. His grace reconciles me, not my works or lack thereof, but His grace, that’s it, that’s all. I would be more concerned if I didn’t feel the weight of my sins, not as a burden to bear, but as a reminder that He needs to be ever present for any hope of transformation. It’s not enough to know his Word, for even the devil could spit out the Lord’s words in verbatim…the Word has to penetrate, penetrate enough to cause change.

So unlike those athletes whose careers may be over after one horrible fall, our lives don’t have to be defined by our missteps. In fact the harder we “fall”, the greater the conviction that nothing can save us except for Christ…

Because Christ’s grace is sufficient…

Christ’s grace is sufficient for me….

Anytime I look back and cringe, I need to remember…

Christ’s grace is sufficient.

Good Eats - NYC Edition

Some good eats from Valentine's Day weekend in NYC...
Saturday Dinner:

MXco

1491 Second Ave. at 78th St,

New York, NY 10075 

212-249-6080

and a fabulous Sunday Brunch:

Penelope

159 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10016-8154

(212) 481-3800

My meal: Pumpkin waffles with apple butter.....soooo good!

http://www.penelopenyc.com/

Valentine's Day Weekend

I’m going to be bold here…
And mention Valentine’s Day…
As an unmarried Indian woman in her 30’s…(please sense my sarcasm here =P)

All kidding aside it was a great weekend spent with my best friends in NYC. We started off Valentine’s day with church at Redeemer Presbyterian and hearing a sermon by their senior pastor Tim Keller. I’ve been listening to his sermons online so it was a great pleasure to hear him in person for the first time.

His message was entitled “The Mocking and the Spitting” based off of Isaiah 50:4-11 and was the third sermon in a series called “The Songs of the Servant.” After his sermon which focused heavily on the torture of Christ before crucifixion he says (and I’m paraphrasing here) : “Don’t think I forgot about Valentine’s Day…..who else would love you enough to be tortured and killed just for you.” What a great reminder of a love with absolutely no limits especially on that day.

Quotable Quotes

"Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down."

- quoted from the soon to be famous Grace J. (who got it from a FB friend, who got it from ??... ultimately from Unknown)

The Road to Reward

A snippet from this week's The Weekly Walk :

You and I have got to conquer. Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end will be saved" (Mark 13:13). People who aren't really saved give up and quit. The truth is, we will all experience tough seasons in our lives. We will experience hard weeks or even a rough month or year. But we get moving again. Endurance doesn't save us, but it does prove our salvation. We have to finish strong. We have to pick up the pace as we get older. A real Christian says, "I love Him more and more. 'I press on' (Philippians 3:14) to be sanctified day after day, growing in Christ." That's the life of a believer - one who conquers. Conquerors get the rewards. Rewards will not go to the quitter. They will not go to the "I-tried-it-and-couldn't-do-it" type of people, nor to the "faith-was-just-a-phase-I-went-through" kind of people. All those people? Not conquerors.

"The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life." The book of life is the volume containing the names of all the people alive on the face of the earth. If they die outside of the Gospel, without receiving the gift of eternal life that is found in Christ - their names are blotted out of the book. They're not going to live forever...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow . . .

One for the record books...

It’s the second biggest snow storm of all time in Philly (28.5 inches).
It’s the second major snow storm of this winter season.
It’s the second time we’ve had to shovel about 2 feet of snow.
It’s the second time we’ll be stuck indoors for 2 days straight.

I love the snow, but I SECOND the decision to end the winter weather already and bring on the springtime warmth and sunshine….one can dream, can’t they =)

PS - Oh and I forgot, there’s another major snowstorm scheduled for this Tuesday…..eek!

“Can I ask you for some advice?”

Where do you seek wisdom from? Where do you go to get advice?

I’m thinking about this because I’m half-way thru the book of Proverbs and I’m amazed at how this book gives wisdom on basically every facet of human life…

From how to deal with finances, to courtship, to sexual ethics, to disciplining children, to how to speak, act, think, how to labor and how to love, how to choose your friends, how to obtain joy, on finding contentment….and the list goes on and on (and this is only from the first half of Proverbs.) I often make the Bible out to be such a “mystical” piece of literature, when it’s much more of a “let’s get our hands dirty with the nitty-gritty of everyday life” type of book.

Now I know that God should be the ultimate from whom we seek wisdom, but let’s face it, when something is going on in our lives it’s natural for us to seek advice from the people that surround us. A good friend once told me, be very careful who and what you listen to, especially when your heart and mind are in a vulnerable state. I don’t think I thought much of it at the time, but recently I’m seeing the validity of that statement.

As I’ve grown up, I’ve experienced the importance of surrounding myself with people that speak God’s truth. I find it very easy to be swayed and seduced by the ways of the world and I have found that in those moments when I’m not thinking clearly and looking for direction, the words and prayers of a person rooted in Christ is the ultimate blessing.

And you know who those people are and aren’t. You know who to approach to get sympathy, or who to see when you want someone to revel in your anger, or who to find when you’re looking for affirmation, but do you know who to go to when you’re really seeking the Truth?

Those are the people I want to go to and ask, “Can I ask you for some advice?”

Say - John Mayer

An old favorite I currently have blaring . . .



 . . . I just love John Mayer

Groundhog's Day

In my 4th yr rotations, the stars were aligned and I happened to be working out in the boondocks of Punxsutawney on Groundhog’s Day one year. I was kinda excited to be around Gobbler’s Knob because apparently they celebrate this "holiday" hardcore and it’s considered a BIG deal in that city.

Can I just tell you, the whole thing was a bit weird…a little freaky actually. When I had some down-time that day, I stepped out of the office to see all the hoopla. It was like a carnival atmosphere in frigid cold weather complete with ice sculptures, carnival booths, people with groundhog’s hats and big flasks of beer walkin’ around drunk and happy….all for a rodent!

I guess I can’t blame them, there’s not much else going for Punxsutawney, PA. =P

So the prediction was:

Happy Groundhog's Day!

S-l-o-w-i-n-g Down

It's been a busy week....and sometimes I come to the end of a week and wonder, "How did I get here?"

How is it already Sunday?
How is it already the end of January?
How is it that it's actually 2010 already!?! (I could of swore I was just listening to Prince's Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999 and wondering what that would be like ...sheesh!)
Where did this week, month, year, decade go?

Sometimes I just need to slow down...not necessarily in what I'm physically doing, but in my mind and thoughts.  My mind has a tendency to race through life, and when I do that, I run the risk of missing all the great things happening along the way.  I need to slow down enough to really savor the many moments that make me smile and pay attention to the things that make living this life so worth-while.

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,

Or listened to rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,

Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,

And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You better slow down,

Don't dance so fast,

Time is short,

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It's like an unopened gift...thrown away.

Life isn't a race,

So take it slower,

Hear the music,

Before your song is over.

- David L. Weatherford

Good Eats - Bistro 7

So it's restaurant week in Philadelphia! That means time to hit up the really expensive restaurants for some good food at a reasonable price :) I wasn't able to get reservations to a restaurant I've been trying to go to for awhile now, but Bistro 7 came in as a good substitute....a small intimate restaurant with simple, tasty cuisine.

BISTRO 7

7 North 3rd Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4506

(215) 931-1560

http://www.bistro7restaurant.com/

"Bistro 7 is an elegant, food-first American BYO bistro located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Old City section. Chef/Owner Michael O’Halloran (formerly of Fork and the White Dog Café) relies on a network of local, organic farmers for the pristine ingredients that form the basis for his eclectic American bistro dishes, and the ever changing menu reflects the best that the season has to offer"

Adele - Chasing Pavements

Listening to some real soulful music tonight. . .
Love the sound of her voice and the song:

Patient Encounters

A couple days ago on a busy workday, I had a 23 yr-old patient come in for a routine eye exam.

He looked a little rough around the edges, didn’t crack a smile, and clearly wasn’t interested in engaging in any sort of conversation when I attempted to make small talk.

About halfway thru the exam he suddenly speaks and asks,
“How old are you anyway?”

I look up from writing my notes, probably appearing slightly annoyed by the question and hesitantly answer, "I’m 30."

At which he says, “you look like you’re 23 or something.”

I started laughing…..he still didn‘t crack a smile.

At a time where I’m feeling every bit my age, and contemplating the expectations I have and haven’t met in my life, I needed to hear that on that day.

Yes, age is but a number...and lately I’m being reminded that it’s not about HOW LONG I’ve been living on this earth, but HOW WELL I’m living on this earth.

Didn't think this kid would give me something to think about, but he did.

Nice kid.

Remembering 2 years ago today...

I'm waking up with the sun shining brightly through my window on this beautiful Saturday morning, and I think...what could be more fitting of a tribute than a beautiful day for a beautiful man that we lost 2 years ago today.

A loving man who truly came to serve his church.
A man who personified the words humbleness and graciousness.
A man of few words, but of larger more poignant actions.
A man who loved and led his family by example.
A man, who in is his short time in Philadelphia, impacted lives more than he probably ever imagined.

As painful as that time was when we lost him suddenly, I thank God for allowing us to come across a soul who so clearly loved the Lord.

Houston Trip / Good Eats

It’s been a great past few days visiting with some dear friends in Houston along with 2 friends from Chicago and New Jersey. It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since we graduated from optometry school and that the 4 of us (our little grad school crew) are all doing our different things living in 4 different states. But despite time, distance, husbands, kids, etc., we have remained as close as ever and have consistently met up once a year to catch up…and when we do it’s just like old times.

So although we had all these great plans to see the sights of Houston, a lot of times we would end up just sitting, eating, and talking for hours, which is usually what happens when you get 4 girls together who haven’t seen each other in awhile! It also fit in nicely with our new mantra in life which we decided was “we just want to be fat and happy”…forget about this whole optometry business…haha :)

So that brings me to the food in Houston, good places we ate at and worth mentioning are :

Uptown Sushi

Zushi Fusion Cuisine

1131 Uptown Park Boulevard

Houston, TX 77056-3227

(713) 871-1200

http://www.uptown-sushi.com/

We also walked around Rice Village, a cute artsy part of town, and had a great lunch here before heading off to the airport:

La Madeleine

Country French Café

Rice Village

6205 Kirby

Houston TX, 77005

713-942-7081

http://www.lamadeleine.com/

Good times!