We made some Nasi Goreng for New Year’s eve. Our final food picture for the year.

“Happiness cannot be travelled to,
owned, earned, worn or consumed.
Happiness is the spiritual experience of living
every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Watley

—

I wanted to write a list of the things that we are thankful for this year but the list is too long. And for any of you who have been reading this blog, you would know how many times we’ve had to stop during the year to be grateful.

Mike and I want to thank you for your friendship and hope that the next year will be wonderful for us all. Here’s to more laughter, good food and good friends!

Earlier today, my dear friend Cindy forwarded an email about how the Singapore Esplanade New Year’s Eve festivities will be quietened down in light of the tsunami. They will forego the usual fireworks and instead have a moment of silence in memory of those who have lost their lives or loved ones. The event will be turned into a “platform for Singaporeans to come together as a community”.

In toasting the new year’s arrival, won’t you spare a minute of silence for these innocent people.

“He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life away in fruitless efforts.” – Samuel Johnson

I am once again challenged by the forthcoming new year, to re-examine who I am and how I’ve lived my life.

Enroute to San Jose, I picked up Gourmet and found a very easy recipe in it. We made it tonight with one skillet. It really is a simple recipe and great for week nights. Only 5 ingredients: chicken thighs, onions, stewed tomatoes, pinto beans [the recipe called for white beans but we had pintos] and bacon.

I present: Baked Chicken with Pinto Beans and Tomatoes

Read more

Help in any way you can – this is evidence that bloggers can change the way of the world.

Jasmin had a few thought-provoking questions that I thought I would share my answers to:

What will you be doing on New Year�s Eve and the day itself?
Mike proposed to me on New Year’s Eve 2001 so it’s a special day for us. I think this year, we might enjoy New Year’s Eve with each other – maybe a little bubbly and a quiet dinner. We are thinking of going to watch some fireworks too. It’s our first new year in Seattle and we might find a new tradition from this list.

What do you wish for in 2005?
Our biggest wish would be to own a home. A place to call our own, where we can paint the walls and just be stewards of.

What did you enjoy most about 2004?
2004 was a big and most wonderful year filled with too many blessings. It’s funny how many little steps we’ve taken to get to where we are today. The best part of 2004 was how we made our dream move to Seattle. I truly believe in Coehlo’s quote about the universe conspiring to help us attain what we desire, Jasmin. We just have to put our minds to it. And sometimes, things can turn out better than one has imagined.

Are you ready to let go?
Yes, I often look to a new year with much anticipation and look back on one with a sort of gratitude that I’m able to be at this point. Another notch in one’s life. With all sorts of possibilities lying ahead.

“The little gift you send, on Christmas day
Will not bring back the friend you turned away
So may I suggest, the secret of Christmas
It’s not the things you do, at Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do all year through.” – Ella Fitzgerald

Little is known about Boxing Day here in America. The origins of this holiday is in Great Britain and is celebrated by only few countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and of course, Britain. There are many explanations of how this day came about but the simplest one is this:

“The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; or maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters’ clients.”

I’d like to think of it as more gift giving for everyone (regardless of class). Definitely influenced by my own family’s tradition as we would leave one present to open on Boxing Day.

It’s still Christmas Day but it feels like it hasn’t arrived. I don’t know why it seems that way. I didn’t think the spirit of Christmas could escape me. We had presents, we sang carols but something seems missing. I cannot put my finger on it. Why do people spend about 4 weeks rushing around preparing for a day that feels like it comes and goes too quickly?

Maybe I’m just sad it’s going to be over soon. I often remember as a child how Christmas evening was always a little quieter. With opened presents, leftover ham and curry…and carols that seem to have lost their sense of anticipation.

The reality is, the spirit of Christmas shouldn’t be for just one day. We should give and share of ourselves with our loved ones, EVERY single day of our lives. If you love someone, tell them you do. For tomorrow can be too late. If you see something that would remind you of your loved one, maybe you can buy it especially for them even if it’s the middle of March.

Christmas this year is different from my Christmasses passed but it only teaches me the true meaning of it all.

I wish you all the same wonderful spirit throughout the whole year.