This Christmas season has been marked by food.... lots and lots of food!
Of course there was the usual Christmas Day Feast! Mac and I joined my family (Mom, Dad, Margaret, Grammie, Grandma, Grandpa and my bro and his girlfriend) as well as a couple family friends for a feast on Christmas Day. It was a great day to sit and enjoy each other's fellowship, generosity (thank you again everyone!!) and some wonderful food!! Mmmmm turkey, stuffing, potatoes, salads, cookies, spanish cream, fruit/gumdrop cake.....mmmmm chocolate!!!!
Boxing day was a slowish day, but then on the 27th we met up with the Cairns and Shihs for some Japanese foods. Everyone else had some form of sushi, while I broadened our scope of Japanese food by having Yakisoba. I had to laugh during the meal. At one point Drew Shih mentioned that there was "non-sushi" options for those who are more conservative in their food preferences. However, having been to Japan and eating tonnes of Japanese food I would argue that only eating sushi is conservative -- there are so many other Japanese foods that are sooooooo yummy! I love Japanese food as a whole, its the sashimi that I don't like -- though ate plenty of -- and in reality that makes up only a small portion of the typical Japanese diet.
On the 28th Mac and I joined friends of mine from High school (though Stacey and Megan were in grade school with me too!) and headed down to the Toronto Food bank. There we sorted people's donations for 3 hours and packed them into boxes. Mac was taken to help unload the packed boxes of various foods and stack them on palates to be taken to the "shopping" area and used to stock shelves. It really was amazing to see what was donated. If you are thinking about donating to the Foodbank, here are some helpful suggestions:
The foodbank is overflowing with: pasta (even gluten free sometimes!!), pasta sauce, vegetables (specifically peas, cut carrots and cream corn) and soup. There was also a lot of beans (i.e. plain beans in cans or dry beans in a bag). What there isn't a lot of is: hot drinks (coffee, hot chocolate, teas), canned fruits, baking supplies (flour, baking soda, baking powder etc), and sugar is also in low supply.
After the foodbank we went back to Mike and Ryan's place for a potluck dinner! We all brought parts of a pasta dinner and Ryan made wonderful little cakes with icing, and ice cream with lemon curd for dessert. I will eat her baking anytime!!!!! For dinner we were joined by a few other friends and it was truly a joyful evening!!
This holiday has also been marked by food in another way: baking! Before Christmas (the friday-Saturday) I made some six different kinds of cookies! I decided to try some new recipes this year that i found on a wonderful little christmas cookie website: www.christmas-cookies.com.
Then on Sunday I decided to make sourdough starter so Mac and I could enjoy homemade sourdough bread. Monday I took a break from baking to make the potato dish for Christmas. Tuesday being christmas, I took a break. But on Wednesday I made 2 loaves of bread (which ended up in the freezer because we don't actually need it right now), on Thursday I made cranberry muffins (and the pasta sauce for friday), Friday I was out all day with the foodbank and following potluck), Saturday i didn't bake anything but on Sunday I made pizza crust for lunch (mac took over once i made the dough), and then made butter tarts (with apples instead of raisins) in the evening. So baking.... mmmm i'm enjoying it!! I even asked my parents if they want me to make them bread because i'm enjoying getting back into baking bread, something I did a lot of in High School but not since. But sadly they didn't need any when i asked.
Tonight we head to friends of my Family's (the Van Sickles) for their annual New Years Eve Fondue night! Its always super fun and super yummy!! Sooooo much yummy food. We'll have a late lunch and then munch all evening long!!! mmmmmm
This holiday season needs to end soon -- or my waistline is just not going to recover!!
PS if anyone wants some fresh bread! Let me know.... i'm looking for excuses to bake!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Happy Christmas!!
Greetings friends and a merry Christmas to all. I was lying in bed last night thinking about why I enjoy this season. Reflecting on my childhood, I recall the excitement of anticipation. Waking at 6 AM was not unheard of (much to my parents' chagrin). The anticipation of getting that special toy was too much to contain. But, as with all childhood requests, some were way over the top for Santa to fulfill (here I am thinking of the authentic fighter jet).
I think this anticipation has a deeper meaning and providentially so. As with Israel in bondage and exile, they yearned for deliverance and Messiah. And so now with the Church, we desire the Bridegroom. Christmas is not for toys and large meals with friends and family, although these are great symbols of the ultimate reality of the new heaven and earth and the great wedding banquet. The Church season of Advent focuses our eyes on Christ's first coming and hopefully turns our hearts towards his return. This is why I love this time of year. The excitement of anticipation does not abate as the years go by.
Everyday, there is that hope of seeing the sky roll back or a strange looking cloud carrying a Man. The anticipation of the fully remade Creation existing with Heaven is the reason that Christmas does not lose its profoundly good flavour. The ability to explore the created order for the rest of eternity, walking along side lions without fear of being lunch, not worrying about my gimpy hip-flexor muscles as I run; these are all things I anticipate and wonder over each Christmas (and each day for that matter).
Whether you are young or old, the excitement of anticipation can be realized because as the old hymn says, "For He came near and the soul felt its worth." We all desire to know that feeling. As young kids, it is manifest in that caring gift. As teenagers...well I can only guess, maybe it is that unconditional acceptance in this awkward time of life. As a younger adult, it is that desire to see Christ coming on the clouds in those days. As an older adult, it is knowing that one day soon they will see Him as He is. We will always yearn for Christ until he returns because the curse will not be fully undone until the parousia (triumphant return of the King after defeating all enemies). Just as with Christmas in our youth, we don't always get what we ask for, so it is with Christ's return. But, there is always next year...
I think this anticipation has a deeper meaning and providentially so. As with Israel in bondage and exile, they yearned for deliverance and Messiah. And so now with the Church, we desire the Bridegroom. Christmas is not for toys and large meals with friends and family, although these are great symbols of the ultimate reality of the new heaven and earth and the great wedding banquet. The Church season of Advent focuses our eyes on Christ's first coming and hopefully turns our hearts towards his return. This is why I love this time of year. The excitement of anticipation does not abate as the years go by.
Everyday, there is that hope of seeing the sky roll back or a strange looking cloud carrying a Man. The anticipation of the fully remade Creation existing with Heaven is the reason that Christmas does not lose its profoundly good flavour. The ability to explore the created order for the rest of eternity, walking along side lions without fear of being lunch, not worrying about my gimpy hip-flexor muscles as I run; these are all things I anticipate and wonder over each Christmas (and each day for that matter).
Whether you are young or old, the excitement of anticipation can be realized because as the old hymn says, "For He came near and the soul felt its worth." We all desire to know that feeling. As young kids, it is manifest in that caring gift. As teenagers...well I can only guess, maybe it is that unconditional acceptance in this awkward time of life. As a younger adult, it is that desire to see Christ coming on the clouds in those days. As an older adult, it is knowing that one day soon they will see Him as He is. We will always yearn for Christ until he returns because the curse will not be fully undone until the parousia (triumphant return of the King after defeating all enemies). Just as with Christmas in our youth, we don't always get what we ask for, so it is with Christ's return. But, there is always next year...
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Friday, December 21, 2007
More Debate
Take off...To the Great White North!!
Those are the great lyrics from the 1980 hit tune by the McKenzie brothers, a couple of Canucks. Well I took their advice and with Tim Cairns decided to see what all the fuss was about (not really, Tim was moving to Ontario, and our true goal was to see if we could eat every meal at Tim Horton's as we drove the Trans Canada). Our departure from Vancouver was early, and by Kamloops we found our first Tim's. The BC roads were the most treacherous. Snow, slush and ice along with a broken windscreen wash made for exciting moments. Golden, BC was our second Tim's. Finally, we arrived in Banff for the evening. Great little town, but strangely they do not label the main street of the town. Guests are left to figure out that they are traveling down banff ave.
Skiing and travel to Calgary was our second day's tasks. Calgary was a bustling town with Christmas parties on for the evening. Even though it was cold it has a warm place in my heart (where's the bucket?). Then we went from Calgary to Minneapolis. Oh how I wish that was true. The plains are long and flat and without distinction in the Winter. Luckily, the speed limit is 110 km/h so travel to Regina was at least quick. Regina was a small town with deserted streets. Probably the -15c temperature kept many off the street, but strangely enough, there were masses of people outside each hotel smoking cigarettes. Wanting to watch the Canuck's game, we walked in that cold for an hour looking for a place that had a TV tuned to hockey night in Canada that served decent food. After leaving Regina, we thought we would be in better luck with the larger city of Winnipeg. Oh, how wrong we were. Update later.
Skiing and travel to Calgary was our second day's tasks. Calgary was a bustling town with Christmas parties on for the evening. Even though it was cold it has a warm place in my heart (where's the bucket?). Then we went from Calgary to Minneapolis. Oh how I wish that was true. The plains are long and flat and without distinction in the Winter. Luckily, the speed limit is 110 km/h so travel to Regina was at least quick. Regina was a small town with deserted streets. Probably the -15c temperature kept many off the street, but strangely enough, there were masses of people outside each hotel smoking cigarettes. Wanting to watch the Canuck's game, we walked in that cold for an hour looking for a place that had a TV tuned to hockey night in Canada that served decent food. After leaving Regina, we thought we would be in better luck with the larger city of Winnipeg. Oh, how wrong we were. Update later.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Visa Update
Hello All
I got a call from the US Consulate office this morning.
Turns out we missed two things -- 1) they changed their fee and 2) they need proof of Mac's status in Canada (too bad neither of these requirements were obvious on the website ANYWHERE!!!). But thankfully, instead of sending a refusal letter to us, and us having to restart the whole process, we have been given the ability to send in the two missing items soon, and then with any luck we'll get in for a short interview (if they don't have any issues with me) sometime in January. and then after that.... again we wait! But at least we might have a better idea of what kind of time frame we're looking at.
that's all, just thought I would update you all as to the process....
I got a call from the US Consulate office this morning.
Turns out we missed two things -- 1) they changed their fee and 2) they need proof of Mac's status in Canada (too bad neither of these requirements were obvious on the website ANYWHERE!!!). But thankfully, instead of sending a refusal letter to us, and us having to restart the whole process, we have been given the ability to send in the two missing items soon, and then with any luck we'll get in for a short interview (if they don't have any issues with me) sometime in January. and then after that.... again we wait! But at least we might have a better idea of what kind of time frame we're looking at.
that's all, just thought I would update you all as to the process....
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Snow Snow Snow!!
Well, if we weren't sure before, its now official! Winter has hit Southern Ontario.
In the past few hours some 20-30 cm fell on the GTA (other places had more snow) creating a winter wonderland and slowing the pace of the city.
There's something that happens when the unexpected happens in the city so that it has no choice but to slow down. In the blackout of 2003 (I think) there were spontaneous neighbourhood block parties as people pulled meat out of freezers and had massive bbqs. Well today there were no bbqs, but the community was out in full force -- on foot of course! Though some were out driving, Queen Street was quieter than i've ever seen it. Families walked down the street, all clad in snow suits, dragging tobaggons and sleds, enjoying the snow world we'd been blessed with. Neighbours talked with each other and passers by as they shoveled their drives. As I wandered in the area, snapping pictures of the snow covered beaches, and waves that crashed onto rocks with the force of oceanic waves, and snow ladened trees, I marveled at the pre-Christmas beauty. It certainly looks like we may have a white Christmas this year after all!
I know that not everyone enjoyed the slower pace today. Delays on the transit systems frustrated some, many airlines were canceling flights and stranding people in Toronto, and preventing others from arriving. Some were unable to make it to their places of business, while others (myself included) felt somewhat stir crazy at being unable to go out as freely and easily.
It is too bad that Mac missed this, the first big snowfall of the winter. Though, as he reported on the phone to me tonight, he and Tim have been surrounded by snow throughout their entire trip. "The legend of the Great White North is true!" he exclaimed. And, truthfully, with the state of the roads around here, I'm quite thankful that he and Tim are still a few days away from the areas hit by the storm. It give road crews plenty of time to get things cleaned up so they can arrive safely.
For those looking for the guys' progress, tonight (Sunday) they have made it to Winnipeg. Tomorrow they head to Minneapolis and then Chicago on Tuesday evening. Wednesday evening will find them back in Ontario!! I'm certainly looking forward to his return!!
I hope this finds you all well
In the past few hours some 20-30 cm fell on the GTA (other places had more snow) creating a winter wonderland and slowing the pace of the city.
There's something that happens when the unexpected happens in the city so that it has no choice but to slow down. In the blackout of 2003 (I think) there were spontaneous neighbourhood block parties as people pulled meat out of freezers and had massive bbqs. Well today there were no bbqs, but the community was out in full force -- on foot of course! Though some were out driving, Queen Street was quieter than i've ever seen it. Families walked down the street, all clad in snow suits, dragging tobaggons and sleds, enjoying the snow world we'd been blessed with. Neighbours talked with each other and passers by as they shoveled their drives. As I wandered in the area, snapping pictures of the snow covered beaches, and waves that crashed onto rocks with the force of oceanic waves, and snow ladened trees, I marveled at the pre-Christmas beauty. It certainly looks like we may have a white Christmas this year after all!
I know that not everyone enjoyed the slower pace today. Delays on the transit systems frustrated some, many airlines were canceling flights and stranding people in Toronto, and preventing others from arriving. Some were unable to make it to their places of business, while others (myself included) felt somewhat stir crazy at being unable to go out as freely and easily.
It is too bad that Mac missed this, the first big snowfall of the winter. Though, as he reported on the phone to me tonight, he and Tim have been surrounded by snow throughout their entire trip. "The legend of the Great White North is true!" he exclaimed. And, truthfully, with the state of the roads around here, I'm quite thankful that he and Tim are still a few days away from the areas hit by the storm. It give road crews plenty of time to get things cleaned up so they can arrive safely.
For those looking for the guys' progress, tonight (Sunday) they have made it to Winnipeg. Tomorrow they head to Minneapolis and then Chicago on Tuesday evening. Wednesday evening will find them back in Ontario!! I'm certainly looking forward to his return!!
I hope this finds you all well
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Beautiful British Columbia
Its been awhile since either of us have posted, so i thought i should catch everyone up on what's been going on in the world of the Davises.
In November I filled in for the Secretary of Blythwood Baptist Church in Toronto for 3 weeks. When i was otherwise occupied, Mac played secretary. (Needless to say my father had great fun playing pranks on Mac when he was playing secretary.) We were very thankful for the provision of this temp job so close to Christmas!
On Nov. 21 we headed stateside to celebrate Thanksgiving with Mac's family in Virginia Beach. I have to say, as a Canadian married, being married to an American makes Thanksgiving so much less stressful. We can spend Thanksgiving Day with BOTH families and there's no conflict over the issue! So this year we had two Thanksgivings, both of them being celebrated in unusually warm weather!
We attempted to take part in some of the "Black Friday" sales (the US equivalent to Boxing Day) by going to Best Buy at 5am (when the store opened), but when we realized there was absolutely NO parking within a mile of the store and the line=up to get in was out the building around the side and just way too ridiculously long, we went home and went back to bed.
En route back up to Toronto, we spent Sunday night with my great aunt in Lancaster, PA. It was great to see her, and we hope to spend a few days with my PA cousins in January.
We arrived back in Toronto on th 26th and then flew west to visit friends in BC on the 28th. It's been great to be out here, to visit old hang outs and see friends. I spent 2 full days at ACTS visiting former profs and fellow-students. It was absolutely wonderful and it felt like coming home. It makes me want to move back here and enroll in classes again, though I'm sure those thoughts of lunacy will soon cure themselves. Tonight we are going to a pot luck with my ACTS friends, tomorrow night Mac and I will be going to a favourite pub in Vancouver with Regent friends and on Saturday morning (dec 8), Jen and I will be heading to the airport to fly back to ontario. Mac and Tim will start driving East on the 13th and are expected back in Ontario on the 19th! (We're praying for NO snow!)
In November I filled in for the Secretary of Blythwood Baptist Church in Toronto for 3 weeks. When i was otherwise occupied, Mac played secretary. (Needless to say my father had great fun playing pranks on Mac when he was playing secretary.) We were very thankful for the provision of this temp job so close to Christmas!
On Nov. 21 we headed stateside to celebrate Thanksgiving with Mac's family in Virginia Beach. I have to say, as a Canadian married, being married to an American makes Thanksgiving so much less stressful. We can spend Thanksgiving Day with BOTH families and there's no conflict over the issue! So this year we had two Thanksgivings, both of them being celebrated in unusually warm weather!
We attempted to take part in some of the "Black Friday" sales (the US equivalent to Boxing Day) by going to Best Buy at 5am (when the store opened), but when we realized there was absolutely NO parking within a mile of the store and the line=up to get in was out the building around the side and just way too ridiculously long, we went home and went back to bed.
En route back up to Toronto, we spent Sunday night with my great aunt in Lancaster, PA. It was great to see her, and we hope to spend a few days with my PA cousins in January.
We arrived back in Toronto on th 26th and then flew west to visit friends in BC on the 28th. It's been great to be out here, to visit old hang outs and see friends. I spent 2 full days at ACTS visiting former profs and fellow-students. It was absolutely wonderful and it felt like coming home. It makes me want to move back here and enroll in classes again, though I'm sure those thoughts of lunacy will soon cure themselves. Tonight we are going to a pot luck with my ACTS friends, tomorrow night Mac and I will be going to a favourite pub in Vancouver with Regent friends and on Saturday morning (dec 8), Jen and I will be heading to the airport to fly back to ontario. Mac and Tim will start driving East on the 13th and are expected back in Ontario on the 19th! (We're praying for NO snow!)
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