Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017!

Our second Christmas spent in San Diego, and our first in our new home, is a wrap! Having a four year old little boy during this season has got to be the most fun thing ever. Philip and I have been living in a state of constant nostalgia this month. All of the special holiday moments from decorating the Christmas tree, making sugar cookies, to watching his sweet brown eyes lighting up as he opened his gifts, and reading the Christmas story to him as he is all snuggled next to me in his new cozy pajamas (that we made him open as his Christmas Eve present...the worst tradition for kids ever. But he was actually really excited so I'm pretty sure he's not my kid after all....)

All of the happy holiday vibes aside...has this not been a crazy year? I feel like we've all felt some sort of pain in 2016! Individually and collectively. Yes, there was lots of good. Personally we've had some of our sweetest and precious moments happen this year. So many pivotal transitions, beautiful memories, fun trips, great friends. We've also experienced some of our most stressful and low times. It has definitely been a year to remember and it has really set the stage for this next one.

Collectively we've seen so much crazy stuff going on in the world this past year, thanks in part to the power of social media, we've seen so much good and a bit more bad. I think I'm safe to say on behalf of many of us that we're ready to jump into 2017 fully expectant of a year very different than the last. Full of personal and collective overcoming, of being part of a much bigger picture as we are all important pieces to a beautiful puzzle. A year of embodying and perpetuating grace and mercy which propels us to progress. 

Here's what I am praying for - that 2017 will be a year filled with peace that we have never known before. That breakthrough after breakthrough would happen in this new year. Not only in our family, but in your family. Because when one of us has breakthrough it has a trickle effect. One person effects so many others. When Philip and I succeed - so do so many others because our lives touch others. And vice versa.

I pray that this new year would bring the relief of suffering for so many across our world. That the brightest minds would rise up with creative solutions to our country and world's issues. That we would all focus on what we have in common with each other and not our differences. That "loving our neighbor" isn't just a sign we hang in our homes but a truth that becomes etched on our hearts as we go about every single day of this new year. That we would regain at least a sliver of our child like faith and wonder and love. That's my prayer for myself and our city, nation and world.

Here are a few of my favorite images from this past month.

Love to you all. God bless you in this new year!

-Esther 

5 Stops We're Glad We Made in Philly

As we prepared to say goodbye to our little boy for 8 days it was awesome that we were able to bring him with us to the East Coast (our flight to Israel was out of JFK) and have my mom fly down from Alaska to watch him at her dad’s (my Gramps’) home in Maryland. Heading to Maryland was a tradition for my family growing up, and now for Phil and I, to spend some time out there every summer - sooooo  it worked perfectly for us to leave little Phil there to enjoy the water and playtime with my niece and nephew (who my mom brought with her from Alaska…Super Grandma) and for us to be able to spend time before and after Israel in Maryland with some of my mom’s side of the family - and to have an old bay infused crab feast.

Because of where my Gramps’ is located it is super easy to get to many of the main East Coast hot spots - Baltimore, D.C., New York…and one of my personal favorites Philadelphia. 

As a kid growing up in Alaska visiting Philadelphia every summer was one of the highlights. Some of the many, many differences include humidity, diversity, cobblestone streets, old buildings, the smells, the sounds. Visually and culturally so different. Which made it one of my favorite cities for a long time. 

Now I love visiting with Philip (and little Phil…though I’m looking forward to when he’s a bit older and can appreciate the history). After being sick (#ew) before we left for our trip, then being in Israel, we hadn’t had good coffee in several weeks (which is basically forever in our world)…so we headed into Philly with a mission. My cousin Zach joined us which made it even more fun! He got to witness what it looks like when we go pretty much anywhere. Lots of Yelping, coffee and taking photos.

We only had a few hours in the late morning - the crabs were ready at 3pm and when I say those are priority…I mean no chain can keep me away from their goodness type of priority. Any other crab lovers out there?

Our first stop was Federal Donuts - Phil loved them, and I'll agree that they were good but personally nothing I’m craving. I’d like to try them one more time when I go back just because I feel like I should have loved them. We got several hot (which were the underwhelming ones for me….) and one specialty - which was my favorite. Of course Little Phil was all about it. The incredible wall art was awwwwesome. 

Next stop - coffee time! La Colombe. I know La Colombe is pretty big now but I’ve only been once to one in Chicago and wanted to go again. Service was awesome…they had a “geisha” on their list of pour over options but when we ordered he said they were out. After chatting with him a bit he was able to find enough beans to make one more cup of it! Needless to say we were stoked. The fruitier the better and geishas are hard for Phil and I to pass up. I don't remember exact varietals, but Zach got an Ethiopian - or, I guess we got an Ethiopian for Zach - and we ordered their Columbian to try as well. The blueberry notes in the geisha hit the spot and was the perfect way to break our coffee fast. The same fabulous barista also gave us a flight of espressos to try on the house - so good. 

Next door to La Colombe was this sweet antique store, which maybe it’s the living in San Diego, but I thought his prices were amazing. Love when people don’t try and take you for all you have (ahem, looking at you San Diego antique stores) just because they can. His stuff was really fun to peruse and the owner was awesome. If you’re ever in Philly you should check it out! Since our family of 3 travels everywhere with just one suitcase - we’re going to have to bite the bullet at some point…packing is getting more and more stressful trying to avoid that painful “you’re over 50 pounds…” - we didn’t get anything, besides the little cars Little Phil picked out for his cousins and himself. Though the prices of some of the furniture was tempting!

We were a bit jittery at this point - especially Zach (first time trying artisan light roast third wave coffee will do that to you) so we hit up this sweet shop for nothing else but Philly cheesesteaks (when in Rome right?). With Whiz. Happy dancing all the way to the next coffee shop. Because we needed some for the drive home of course.

I’ve had ReAnimator bookmarked for awhile so hitting it up was a must. Their shop was pretty sweet and their baristas even sweeter. We ended up walking out with some freebies…3 bags of 3 different varietals to try. Which btw…coming home and having fresh coffee was a #blessed moment for sure. Their coffee is supposedly lighter roast than Heart coffee. Now that we were properly caffeinated we could head back for those crabs (which Phil isn’t a huge fan of…but the more for me I suppose…Little Phil loved them)

If you made it this far....you have earned this esteemed and most coveted blue ribbon *hands you second hand state fair ribbon* K...thanks. No, but seriously you're awesome and I hope you have an awesome day or night wherever you are...

xoxo,

Esther