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.