In the midst of some stressful moments here at the end of the year, I think it’s very important to remember the blessings of the year.  Some are big.  Some are little.  All are important.

Friends – It’s hard for me to think that I’ve only been in the UK for two years.  I’ve made so many great friends here.  I’ve had so many fabulous meals, coffees and laughs with friends here.  Similarly, I’m blessed with many good friends in Canada and the US who have put in so much effort to stay in touch.  I’ve had great visits from friends that have really encouraged me.

Books – I have read so many fabulous books this year.  They have let me travel to so many wonderful places in my imagination.  Early in the year I discovered the public library and it has been such a blessing to be able to get books for free.  I’ve also been blessed by the space to enjoy reading fiction.  Who knew you could read on days that weren’t holidays?

Home – I have been very blessed in my new house this autumn.  It has been such a relief to be in a place that feels like home.  It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely a community.

Mission – As the year has gone by I’ve become more and more confident in where my “calling” lies, which brings a certain confidence and comfort.

Location – The longer I live in the UK, the more I love it.  It would be good to travel a little more than I do and have a little more money to go to things…  oh well…  I’d rather be poor here than rich in suburban America.

Travel – I’ve been lucky to travel to both Ireland and Wales this year.  I just love Wales and need to go back more often.

Too many others to mention…

2009 has been fantastic.  There have been many many ups and downs, but I’ve learned so much and come so far…..

Continuing on with the interesting end of the year questions over at Tea and Cookies, the question of the hour is What is the Best New Blog You Discovered This Year?

I’ve found a bunch of good blogs this year (and greatly expanded my foodie blogs).

Here are some of my favourite new blogs:

Joy the Baker – I may pretend to like cooking and baking equally, but really I like baking better.  Probably my giant sweet tooth.

Adventures of a Spartan – The blog of a former student of mine who’s out there living what she learned.

I think my absolute new find is Serious Eats.  It’s a bit of a cheat, since it’s a round up site with pieces from all over the place.  I’ve found lots of good recipes from there, not to mention food trends and news.

I’m heading off to Wales on Monday for Christmas.  I headed in to the library today to see if I could find some good reading material.  I found so much that I ended up having to put some books back!  Now I have to choose which to pack….

The Last American Man – Elizabeth Gilbert

I loved Eat, Pray, Love when I read it earlier this year.  Excited to find another book by her.  Though it’s an earlier book and that doesn’t always bode well.

Day After Night – Anita Diamant

I adore her fiction work (The Red Tent is best) and this is another fiction based on true events.

The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

I have had this recommended by several people.

Change of Heart – Jodi Picoult

Jodi’s always good for an easy holiday read.

Anyone read any of this books?  Thoughts on which two go in the luggage?

While the rest of the world is counting down to Christmas, I’m counting down to some less festive deadlines.  Deadlines that look overwhelming.  However, they need to be met for me to continue doing everything that I’m doing that it seems like God has laid out before me.

There’s no way I can meet these deadlines and they look logically impossible.

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you… The Lord himself will fight for you. You won’t have to lift a finger in your defense!”  Exodus 14:13-14

Evidently I’m looking for my own Christmas miracle this year.

Had a chance to teach tonight on discipleship.  It’s both a super easy and super hard topic to teach on.  Super easy because I’m so immersed in it that I can talk on it for 30 minutes without even trying.  Super hard because how do you fit it all in???

So the other day I jotted down a rough outline of what to say.  Tonight I started to speak and got so caught up in it.  A God who wants our minds and not just our hearts.  A God who is truth, and so seeking truth will lead you to Him.  A Rabbi who wants us to be walking so closely behind him that we’re covered in the dust of his feet.

It’s amazing how, as teachers we can make things so complex and clinical.  Sometimes it’s teaching on the painfully simple that can remind me of my own passion.  My passion for people to give over their minds to God.  For people to want to learn to be like Jesus.

Even if no one else in that room tonight learned, at least I was inspired and remembered why I do what I do.

I’m been going through a pretty rough patch lately on quite a number of fronts.  I’ve been struggling with faith, fear, health and vocation and it feels like everything else too.

I was with a good friend this afternoon and he asked what I was hearing from God.  I said “Nothing”, which is really not true.  I just haven’t been hearing anything directional.  What I have been hearing is “Near”.

I got on the train out of Waterloo tonight after a long day of discussing all these tough situations.  On the way in I had been listening to a Rob Bell podcast on the Beatitudes (a fantastic series – can’t recommend it highly enough).  I was almost through, but put the last 5 minutes on to finish it off.  Here’s what he said:

“When everyone’s against you.  When you’re all alone.  When your own failure to get it right is nipping at your heels.  When you’ve tried to do the right thing and it somehow was misunderstood and now you are being persecuted.  In those moment, rejoice because it’s all a gift and leap much because you’re not alone….

You are not alone.  You are not alone.  You are not alone.

When you have met me and I have met you in your lowest, darkest, most awful place, and you just want to give up, I’ll be with you.  I’ll be with you the whole way.  And in the end, when it’s at it’s worst, I’m giving you a couple of simple words – rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward.  You can trust this God.”

Near.  You are not alone.  Rejoice.

What’s the best album of the year?

I haven’t bought as many albums this year as I previously would?  Twilight soundtrack (fantastic), Chris Tomlin’s Glory in the Highest (a new favourite Christmas album), U2’s No Line on the Horizon (what’s to say??), Kings of Leon’s Only By the Night (really outstanding)…

I think this is the year of the good album.  I don’t normally have this good taste!  It’s hard to decide between them as they were all so outstanding.  For sheer excitement to buy it, my favourite would have to be U2’s No Line on the Horizon.  Receiving it from Amazon was a real event.  Right now Chris Tomlin’s Glory in the Highest would be my favourite and it’s really transforming my Christmas.

I’ve watched the unfolding of “Climategate” with some interest.  It seems to be playing bigger in North America than here in Europe.  Perhaps it’s that there’s less opposition to the assumption of global warming here.

Whatever happened in “Climategate”, I think there are some important lessons for the world as a whole to learn from this.

1.  Scientists aren’t God – Is this the ‘reformation’ of science?  Putting scientists on a pedestal is no better than putting anyone else on a pedestal.  Science has lots and lots of grey area, especially when people are involved.  A scientific result isn’t always absolute truth, especially when the data is being interpreted by humans.  Scientists can make mistakes and understanding can change.

2.  Scientists can be biased – I know, more gasps.  Scientists can bring their own biases to their research?  Of course they do.  If you work on a climate change project, chances are that you have some strong opinions on the subject.  If nothing else, their continued funding is going to depend on their getting certain results.

3.  Emails can always be read by anyone – Every office has jokes or practices that, if seen in stark light, can be taken in an unfavourable way.  I work with a prayer organization.  Some flippant remarks (particularly if someone is tired, discouraged or high on sugar) would look bad as the headline on the newspaper.  Be careful what you commit to paper and assume firewalls were made to be broken.

4.  Accountability is important.  It’s one thing to have a rogue scientist.  However, this isn’t just one or two people.  Others had to have known about this.  Lack of accountability leaves too much room for integrity to melt away.  No pun intended.

I think people who are shocked by this may be a little too naive.  Scientists can fudge numbers.  Statistics can be invented.

That doesn’t change the basic issue that our delicate environment is in peril right now and that it is the poorest of our world who are suffering the most as a result.  Keep praying for Copenhagen and wise decisions by our leaders taking responsibility for the damage we have already caused.

Last week I had the chance to visit Bath.  I’ll definitely be going back.  We managed to be there the same day as the Christmas market.  What fun!

One of the blogs I read has started a series of “the best of 2009″.  It’s got me thinking…  It doesn’t feel like the year is almost over, but that’s mostly because I’m locked in the bubble of the self-centredness of a couple of issues.

So, here’s the first question:

What was your best restaurant meal you had this  year?

Hmmm…  well, we can safely say it didn’t come in Ireland!  Here are the contenders:

- Giraffe (UK) – Huevos rancheros – so so so amazing.

- Teapot (US) – Chinese – one of my favourite restaurants in the world.  I’m so glad I got to eat there while I was in the US.

- Orangery (UK) – Proper tea with my friend Summer at Kensington Palace.

- Esselon (US) – Not actually a meal, but an amazing latte and cookie.

- Borough Market (US) – Had an amazing chili garlic prawn wrap sitting by the side of the road, followed by an amazing latte with my friend Rebecca.

but, I think the winner has to be

Christopher’s American Bar and Grill (UK)  A beautiful restaurant near Somerset House in London.  It’s a beautiful restaurant and has amazing food.  My first outstanding crab cake since leaving the US, followed by lovely blueberry pancakes with maple syrup.  Definitely memorable.  Plus good company.