Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Quiche Lorraine

This morning I stopped by Bear Bakery on my way to class and discovered new baked goods! They all looked so delicious. There were two kinds of quiche: quiche lorraine and pepperoni quiche. Not many people know this, but I LOVE quiche. (I also love the egg souffles at Panera). They're like a salty morning egg tart. I bought the unsuspecting quiche lorraine and took a bite. The crust was sweet, the egg was soft, and there was a nice crispy saltiness to it. After a few more bites I realized I was tasting a delicious flavor I haven't had in a while: BACON. Dang it.

I've had meat three times since I've become a vegetarian (well, minus the seafood). The first time was free toasted ravioli, which turned out to have beef in it. The second time was range-free chicken at home. The third time was today when I ate the quiche lorraine.

Well, I don't want to waste it, so I might as well finish it!

I don't think my body is handling it very well though...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Meshuggah Cafe


I decided to start tackling my St. Louis Bucket List (see last post) this weekend, so I went with a friend to check out Meshuggah Cafe located next to Plowsharing Crafts on the Loop. It wasn't quite what I was expecting ambiance-wise, but it definitely felt homey. Along with the house coffee, I ordered the everything bagel with egg, cheese, tomato and onion. It was delicious! I give the coffee a rank of 3 stars (out of 5) and the bagel 5 stars.


Saturday, March 27, 2010

St. Louis Bucket List

Things I've done in St. Louis
- Ride to the top of the arch (its not that great)
- Forest Park: Art Museum, Boat House, Zoo, Science Center
- City Museum
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Cathedral Basilica
- Cardinals Game
- Sit on a couch and watch a movie at the Moolah
- Visit St. Louis neighborhoods: South Grand, LaFayette Square, Soulard
- Six Flags in St. Louis
- Area's unique festivals and fairs: Strawberry Festival
- Shop at the Galleria, Frontenac, West County Mall

Things left to do
- Citygarden
- History Museum
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery
- Casinos: Lumiere Place, Harrah's, The President, Ameristar, Casino Queen
- Rams and Blues game
- Cahokia Mounds
- Grant's Farm
- Old Courthouse
- Laumeier Sculpture Park
- Drive Old Route 66
- live blues music in clubs and taverns
- Floating down a river
- Elephant Rocks

Restaurants I've eaten at
- Fitz's
- Thai Pizza
- Mai Lee's
- Imos
- Jimmy Johns
- St. Louis Bubble Tea
- Lulu's
- Mandarin House
- Wendy's
- Uncle Bills
- O'Connells
- Lemongrass
- Meskareem
- House of India
- Salems
- Froyo
- Blueberry Hill
- St. Louis Bread Co.
- Bobos
- Kayaks
- Coffee Cartel
- Crepes etc
- Delmar Restaurant and Lounge
- Gyro House
- Bailey's Chocolate Bar
- McMurphy's Grill
- The Old Spaghetti Factory
- Sen Thai-Asian Bistro
- J. Christophers
- Barcelonas Tapas

Restaurants I want to try
- Meshuggah Cafe
- Miss Saigon
- The Pasta House Co
- Pi Pizza
- Racanelli's Cucina Pizzeria
- Ranoush
- Scape Bistro
- Schlafly Bottleworks Restaurant
- Seki Japanese
- The Melting Pot
- Drunken Fish

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Love

In his book Crazy Love, Francis Chan reminds his readers what being a true Christian is really about. "God's definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives by how we love."

I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor. 13:2-3


Chan references the popular love passage in 1 Cor 13 and asks us to substitutes our name for the word Love.

"Joy is patient and kind; Joy does not envy or boast; she is not arrogant or rude. Joy does not insist on her own way; she is not irritable or resentful; she does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Joy bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

This was particularly hard to swallow. Recently I have been very humbled just by how limited my capacity is to love people. There are times where I run out of patience and snap at people. I get jealous of people easily. I boast about my achievements. I can be quite self-righteous and arrogant. I am weak! But thank God for his grace that covers over my weaknesses and imperfections. Jesus... help me to love.

Monday, March 22, 2010

More Birthdays

Last night, Asian Christian Fellowship participated in our first Relay for Life which lasted from 6pm-6am. The event is a school-wide fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in which the participants relay around a track symbolizing a cancer patient's long and hard fight against the disease.

What really hit me was one of the speeches that elaborated on this year's theme of "Create More Birthdays." There was this two-time cancer survivor who had cancer in her abdomen when she was three months old. The cancer was surgically removed but after 17 months she got it again, except this time it spread to her bladder, intestines, spleen, appendix, liver, and colon. The second time she was treated with some more surgery and chemo. At two years old, she could have easily died from cancer. Instead, her family has the privilege of celebrating another year of life on her birthday.

That's when it hit me. The point of celebrating birthdays is to praise God for another year of life! I guess before I just saw it as Joy's day where I received pretty gifts and get to ask for things I normally wouldn't be able to request. (Or if it is someone else's, to wish them happy birthday as many times as possible and ensure that they have a great day.) Last night, however, really reminded me that life is precious and we only have one life to live. So cherish each extra year God gives you.

On another note, DARN YOU SIN! If it weren't for sin, there wouldn't be cancer. Muy mal.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Moses

I feel like Moses. I am incapable of articulating the magnitude of who God is and what it means to be a Christian in a way that isn't vague.

Spirit, please come anoint my lips. And prepare the way for me by softening people's hearts & opening their eyes.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Another Clean Slate

Today is a new day.

Memo to self: It's not about me, it's all about Him.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Stress

Writing this philosophy paper has been the cause of my frustration, stress and inability to enjoy Spring Break. Knowing that this paper was the one thing that I had to do over Spring Break, I did not plan to meet up with many friends from home or really have quality time with family. And I didn't even finish the paper.

On the plane ride back to school, I read some of Francis Chan's book called Crazy Love.

"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control... They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small indeed." pg 42

How convicting.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Need to Be in the Here & Now

I regret not signing up for City Lights this Spring Break.

I regret not finishing this philosophy paper before break.

I keep thinking about what working in New York is going to be like in the summer and even maybe after graduation.

I keep thinking about what floor programming I should have as an RA next year.

I... need to stop living in the past and the future. I need to live in the present, in the here and now.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Post Office Incidient

Yesterday, I went to our campus post office to pick up mail from my campus box. Unfortunately, this year my box is on the very top row, so it is just low enough for me to enter my lock combo, but too high for me to see if anything is inside. I reach in to grab what I can, and then I have to jump up to see if there's anything else inside. And yesterday, the post office worker saw me jumping and started cracking up.

"Hahaha that totally made my day," he explained.

Whatever brings joy to the world...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Blessed

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

That verse basically sums up what I'm feeling right now. As I think about it, God is really showering blessings on me this semester... and it is amazing!

- Received a bid for DSP
- Voted Pledge Class VP for Social Activities
- Got the RA position for Mudd 2
- Landed an internship with Macy's
- Couldn't find my room key, but the housekeeper was on the floor and let me in, and I found my key
- Found a GIG partner

What I've been finding is also true is the verse that says "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you" <--- Truth.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Mudd 2 RA :D

Last Friday I picked up my letter from Reslife that said whether or not I was going to be an RA. The thirty minutes before picking it up, I went through an emotional roller coaster. My stomach was churning with anxiety as I tried imagining how I would react to the different outcomes. Finally, I prayed to God again and said, "God, whatever outcome you give me, I know that is the door you want me to go through. Help me to trust you."

I went to pick up my letter. It said, "Congratulations! On behalf of the Office of Residential Life, we are excited to offer you a position for the 2010-2011 academic year as a Resident Advisor in Park Mudd Residential College on Mudd 2."

At first, I was bummed that I didn't get my first choice, which was freshmen substance free. But over the course of the day, Mudd 2 really grew on me. Of all the upperclassmen dorms, I'm really glad I got Mudd since that's where I lived sophomore year. Also, they're trying to make Mudd 2 the unofficial substance free floor :) I really think God knew what he was doing giving me Mudd 2. Since he's inviting me into a season of rest next year, having a freshmen floor wouldn't make sense because that would not be restful. Most of the people who would live on Mudd 2 next year are ACFers who already live in Mudd and freshmen from Park 1, whom I have relationships with, so that should be fun. And if I want to meet freshmen, I can go visit my ACF secret bro who is the RA on Park 1! It all works out. Praise God for his goodness!