Here, There, and Everywhere: A Few Things

Alright, I didn't feel like doing a regular weekend update, but still feel like I have a few things I wanted to share and chronicle on here.

Let's begin, shall we?

I made a double batch of these cookies. Just because.

I'm really bad at spotting hearts in things. Even though its one of my goals in life.
The other night I noticed my heart shaped pita chip. But it took my brain a minute to compute.
So I literally took it out of my mouth to take this photo.

I saw The Great Gatsby.
The Gatz, if you will.
I loved the Gatz.
I love Leo. I love Leo in Baz Luhrman films.
What I especially loved about this one was it wasn't too over the top. Just enough over the top.
I kinda want to see it again.
It felt like I was in Hearst Castle all over again.

My friend Ellen and I did our second (and her third) Soul Stroll on Saturday.
It was SO fun.
It's a 5k walk/stroll along the bay trail (which we all know I love) - with an option to do a 1 mile, 5k, or 5 mile stroll. They even have "chair exercises" on the lawn for those with less mobility.
The warm up sesh is kind of my favorite part "everybody dance now" bum, bum-bum, bum, bum, bum-bum.

We earned our medals, and wore them proudly the rest of the day.
My sister and I took our parents to the Giants game Monday night.
It was another amazing Win for the men in Orange and Black.

My mom accidentally grabbed socks instead of mittens.
And so she was calling these her Panda Paws the whole time.
It was equal parts ridiculous and adorable.

Sometimes I have anxiety about things.
And want to do this:

And sometimes to cope I bake (see above), and sometimes pouring myself the tiniest little bowl of Lucky Charms does the trick too.

But in reality, the Lord is the answer to all things that make me anxious.
You see, me and the book of Philippians have a long history.
It is probably my favorite New Testament book, and it is quite a popular one.
Especially Chapter 4.
I heard an awesome sermon on the radio on this passage, probably 11 or 12 years ago.
I cling to the truth that the Lord hears our prayers, knows our worries, and supplies us with peace.

This week, he opened my eyes to this passage in new ways.
That little phrase, split between verses, I have overlooked it the hundreds of times I have read this passage.
"The Lord is at hand"
Those 5 words bring more peace to my heart than anything else.
He is at hand. He is right next to me. Every circumstance. Every person who is hurting. He is at hand.

And lastly, Oklahoma.

If you're looking for a way to help, I highly, and I mean HIGHLY suggest giving through Samaritan's Purse.
Their Emergency Response Team is incredible.
They took action immediately after the storm.
Their volunteers are true servants of the Lord, and they help hurting people in both practical and spiritual ways.
My experience with them in Sandy Relief in New Jersey was like nothing I have ever seen.
Go here for more info. 

Turkey Talk: Ephesus

After a day in Istanbul, our ship traveled back through the Aegean Sea and into the port of Izmir, which you may know by the name of Smyrna. Izmir is a more recent development, geologically, and a port city, as erosion led to the receding of the harbor of Ephesus. Now, an hour inland from the port.

Our tour took us into Ephesus, driving through what used to be submerged in water, but now is an almost Californian landscape. Brown rolling hills, dry and smattered with trees.

Once we arrived in Ancient Ephesus, we were greeted with a large area of excavated ruins.
Our tour guide took us along the main thoroughfare where Cleopatra and Mark Antony once paraded through town on their chariot.

Ephesus was my second ancient city, last year we toured Ancient Corinth.
There is something about seeing with your own eyes, and walking with your own feet, in towns you have only read about in the Word of God.

One of Ephesus' theaters, the Odeon, or small theater.

Among the ruins and rubble were so many marble pieces, and columns. Two that stood out to me because of their familiar carved symbols.

First, Nike, the winged goddess of victory.

The second was probably once a part of the hospital, the snake and staff medical symbol.
What I loved about Ephesus was that you could see how life played out thousands of years ago.
It seemed to come alive before my eyes. 

 And by far, my favorite part of ancient Ephesus was the library.
I mean look at this thing. Only the facade remains standing, but how incredible is it?
It might have been the fact also that it made the biggest shadow and was the only relief from the sun on this blazing hot day in Turkey.

You can see the fillers in the columns where they helped make them complete, but all in all, this structure is pretty intact.

I could absolutely imagine this place back in its golden day.

And finally, as we walked away from the ruins, and back to our buses we passed this shady path, the commercial agora.
I know the picture is blurry, and sadly its the only one I have, as this is likely where the Riots of Acts 19 occurred, due to the loss of business from silver idols the Ephesians were buying and selling, which Paul had reprimanded.
(Here is an awesome site with a lot of historical and biblical references for Ancient Ephesus)



As we drove out, we passed the Great Theater.
It was huge. Imagine the days long since past, and this theater full of Ephesians, the crowds and excitement bustling through the ancient city.

All of these sites combined are only 15% of what has been excavated to date. And the excavations continue.

Compared to what I had seen in Ancient Corinth the previous year, which was awesome, but not even close to what I saw here, this was unbelievable.

I may never return to Turkey, but if I do, I would love to see more of what has been uncovered.

The Insta's that Didn't Gram

Sometimes I post pics on the 'gram, change my mind, and then delete them real fast.
{I have issues.}

Sometimes I edit them, and get ready to post, and for whatever reason, change my mind.

Sometimes I have two or three that I want to post, but hold back from over posting.

A lot of times they are pictures of Mylie.
I mean, I already post a zillion. Imagine if I didn't restrain myself.

Downtown got Yarnbombed.
It's pretty awesome. And intentional.
A little promo for the city, and beautifying while they are at it.
A week ago, I was meeting some friends for dinner and saw a mailbox with monster feet.
A few days later I saw this article. Pretty awesome.

The San Francisco fog has a mind of it's own.
And a twitter of it's own.
It creeps like none other.
Here it is, literally rolling in over my head as I headed out for a run.
By the time I got back it was gray and dreary all around.

I mean, cutest. Right?

I like her.
In case you couldn't tell.

I heart The City.
I am pretty sure there is magic in every particle of the air.

Anyway, just a glimpse into a few recent things that didn't really make it on their own.

Side note, this is the post that almost didn't post.
Sometimes blogger kills me.