Starting Another Decade: 2010

Ahhhh . . . a new year. I'm done with wishing you all a "happy" new year, as happy is a fleeting and momentary emotion. I offer this prayer of blessing for you and yours:

Numbers 6:23-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

For those of you who know Christ, may you see Him more clearly this year. For those of you who don't know Him yet, may you see Him clearly, period.

As I reflect on the past year (and yes, I must), I think about how last year this time I had no idea 2009 would bring such events as the death of my mom or that I would have started to seriously paint again. The blessings and heartbreak, God's Word teaches are all for the same purpose: an opportunity to praise Him, an opportunity to chisel my character to look like Christ.

So what are those upcoming opportunities that only God knows He has fashioned specifically for me in 2010? I am excited, but slightly suspicious. The blessings I am sure will far exceed my dreams (despite my dreams thank God) and the heartache will be in areas of my life I probably am too proud or ignorant to at this moment consider. Gulp......

I love resolutions and goals. I love them as a guideline and as motivation and because I actually love "lists." So here is my 2010 list of things I care about on the first day of this year that I may forget in about 90 days:

1. Read only FICTION. My list includes finishing Amy Tan's "Saving Fish From Drowning", and two by Marilynne Robinson (who I have not read yet) "Gilead" and "Home."

2. Exception to goal #1 -- The Bible. I'm done reading about what others think about God's Word as almost an excuse to replace me actually reading the Bible. I am not being judgemental about those types of books, I just know I have a way of making more time for them then God's Word.

3. Start attempting some REAL cooking. I realized for me that when I truly enjoy the sensation of a delicious fine meal (like at a restaurant), I am in a state of praise. Go ahead laugh, but its true. I literally say "Thank you Jesus for this!" I am not talking about just stuffing your face and eating, I am talking about the pure delight of my taste buds thanking God for the joy of that experience. In many ways its a similar experience of enjoying God through the act of painting. So, since I don't want to go into debt over fine dining experiences, I would like to try to make them for myself. I am also slightly inspired after seeing the movie "Julie & Julia."

4. Get back into working out and losing weight. The good news I have already hit the gym 3 times this past week. The bad news is I need to lose 7 pounds. The more immediate goal is that I lose it before I head to California to visit my cousin and aunt for Vietnamese new year because I will be going to a special tailor shop that custom makes the traditional Vietnamese dress the ao dai (pronounced "ow yai"). I wore one of my mother's at her funeral.

5. Pray. Pray more. Pray in ways that seem trivial. Pray in ways that are uncomfortable. Pray in ways that are different. Pray more of scripture. Pray. Pray. Pray. No, I'm asking now for you to pray for ME! I want my life to reflect the character of praying. I can certainly "talk" well enough to those around me, why can't I pray to the God who is always around me?

So 5 things. Not so ambitious.

Ringing in The New Year
Last night Danny treated me to a fine dining experience at the Second Empire. We went there last year for New Year's Eve. And it was delicious again this year.

CAT -- here is what we had:

First Course:
Jax: Steamed "Snead's Ferry" clams with roasted butternut squash, smoked collard greens, potato gnocchi, grilled red onions, grape tomatoes, curry white wine jus

Danny: Roasted duck & molasses-glazed wild mushroom ravioli, cannellini bean ragout & bok choy, N.C. sweet potato puree, roasted califlower & green tomato salsa, orange & fennel reduction

Entree:
Jax: Veal cheek, pork tenderloin & venison rack trafecta, broccolini & pumpkin bread casserole, autumn vegetable puree, pineapple & cranberry salsa, arugula, Bad Penny brown ale reduction

Danny: Grilled Pacific Ahi tuna loin, hickory smoked hominy grits, Napa cabbage & asparagus, Swiss chard, butternut squash compote, pineapple & green peppercorn jus

Wine: Picket Fence Russian Valley Pinot Noir 2006

Dessert: Tiramisu (Danny's FAVORITE!)

The meal was inspiring. Yes, you read me right. Forget the way to Danny's heart, the way to my heart is over my taste buds and to my stomach.

During dinner a young couple (like seniors in college) got in engaged at the table next to us. I imagine that happens a lot at that restaurant on New Year's Eve. The guy got down on his knees while the waiter video taped the event with the girl completely surprised. Danny and I sprung for their desserts and as they were leaving they came by to thank us. It was a sweet moment with two people we will never see again. She excitedly showed off her ring while he said nervously looking for affirmation, "My sister helped me pick it out. She's had a lot of experience, she's been married 3 times." We made small talk with them and told them we would pray for their marriage. It was just a precious encounter.

This is the kind of restaurant Jack and Yen Snead taught me how to enjoy. I have never realized how much of impact my parents have on me until they were gone and how much I am so like them. This makes me smile and cringe! This is the type of place that has individual hand towels in the restroom with not only a soap dispenser, but a lotion and mouthwash dispenser. Yes, the mouthwash dispenser was the one my darling Danny mistook for the soap dispenser. Needless to say his hands smelled minty fresh the rest of our evening.

After dinner, we headed back to the coziness of our home and our PJs and Ryan Seacrest for ABC's Rockin' New Year's Eve in Times Square. And the time was also spent texting various friends good wishes. It was a lovely evening indeed.