More snow!

This past week has been snowy in York so I have enjoyed a lot of days walking in the snow, hearing the crunch crunch under my boots. Here are some photos:

Newgate Coffee House

This cafe is tucked into a little side lane that leads to Parliament street. I went there on a Saturday noon in late November with my three friends and had a lovely time there as they were playing Christmas music already. Oh, I tried my first ever mince pie there, thinking that I was ordering a little meat pie a la chicken pot pie but I was so wrong! haa... (for those of you who don't know, mince pie is sweet and has minced dates, nuts, dried fruits in it).

Simple things

Some simple things that keep me sane in the midst of paper-writing stress and other responsibilities.
Cooking and eating sweet potatoes...

Organising things in my room...

and drinking tea...

What are some little things you like to do when you are stressed?

"Home"

This is a song written and sung by my fellow Moody alumni and produced by my friend Lulu. What a blessing this song is for me because it reflects what I have been thinking about often in my Christian life. I especially love the chorus:

"I've searched the world for that feeling of peace 

but I've got no solution and I feel no relief 

Someday I know I'll taste the death that's quite sweet 

for Your death on the cross took out all of the sting. 

Try as I might seems I cry everyday 

for my plans all fall out and I can't find a way 

Maybe the point is I'm not on my own 

and to try by myself is to claim this as home."

And this relates to what I read recently in a pastor's blog about his reflection on the book of Ecclesiates on how to live with joy: "What we do in this life matters. What we do in this life has real significance, but nothing here will ultimately satisfy because nothing here will last forever. Earlier in Ecclesiastes the Preacher says that God has put eternity in our hearts. How could anything less than what is eternal give us ultimate satisfaction? We were made for this, but we were made for so much more than this. "

May we not forget that we should seek real satisfaction in God in our everyday life and live in a way that reflects our eternal perspective.

Hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Coffee Culture

Coffee Culture is a cozy three-floor cafe not far from my university in the city center. It's located in one of the older buildings so the stairs up to the first and second floors are narrow and crooked, which I think adds to the charm of this place. They not only serve coffee and cakes but also lunch items like yummy wraps and full English breakfast (which in the UK can be ordered for lunch and dinner too). I went there for lunch with a few friends from university and we enjoyed the food and relaxing time there.

It's snowing!

Finally... hee.

Piccalilli's Tea Room

Since it's the new year, I think I should work on blogging more and sharing pictures I have taken, even if they might not be the most exciting adventures or the best pictures since I have pretty much utilised only my phone camera for pictures in the past few months. Here is the first installation from one of my cafe/tea room adventures with three lovely friends. We were supposed to go to a cafe in the city wall but it was closed so we went to Piccalilli's down the road instead.The coffee and tea were nothing spectacular but it was still a nice little place for an afternoon gathering with friends to talk about God's grace in our lives.