Autumn, How Gorgeous You Are

Hello,
I have to write about what a wonderful Autumn day today was! This morning I woke up to the sound of rain, a delightful way to enter the day. My drive to work was wonderful as the light raindrops splattered themselves across my windshield, enhancing the view of autumn sky everywhere before me. The clouds were thick, purple, and the mountains silhouetted themselves in wonderful layers, varying their shades as their distance was varied. The sun was still working in all this, and it shone orange and yellow between the blankets of clouds.
At work we made fall hats and had a fall parade and a wild rumpus, now seemingly a daily occurrence. Where The Wild Things Are is read every day in our class. I certainly don't mind!
After work I went to find wonderful fall harvest items. I bought indian corn, a couple of wonderfully colored harvest squash, some itty bitty pumpkins, and a gourd. I am so excited for my students to explore these items tomorrow.
The sky was lovely, the weather was cool, and I remember a time when I didn't care too much for fall. I'm glad that time of my life is over. I now enjoy it more every year. It is such a wondrous season. A season for cozy, for adventure, for creating, and most important, for reveling in the wonder of God's hand. His exquisite nature proclaimed throughout the atmosphere, throughout the ground, in the pine cones and acorns, in the leaves shouting from the tree tops and dancing, twirling down through the air, in the thick clouds that hold in them a serene color, in the way the shadows fall, in the way the light shines across the earth, in the way the wind blows. Fall, you are welcome here.

Decor

As I typed that title I recall that I have always enjoyed flipping through home decor magazines. And lately I am realizing more and more how much I enjoy decorations! I love the thoughts and creating and having a finished product. The whole process. I've been indulging in it planning my best friend's bridal shower, and it is definitely strengthening and revealing to myself the strength I have in this area. I have fun ideas, but I'm not the best planner, but over time and experiences I'm getting better at the planning part, and coming up with ideas with enough time to make them work.

Summer Slice

I was gonna say how it's been a while since I last posted, but what's new? 

So here's what I've been up to. A slice of my happenings this summer in photo phorm...

July

In July I went the the theatre with my friend Helen. We watched Mary Poppins and it was wonderful! My favorite part was "Step In Time" where all the chimney sweeps were tap dancing. I'm not a huge fan of tap dancing, but so many of them doing it all together was so cool! It was really neat watching the storyline as an adult, too. I haven't seen the movie in years and there is a whole underlying theme with the father that I had never picked up before. 

The next day I went down to Oceanside where...

 I lay on the beach

with my baby Bryn

and visited Zac and Julie. 

We rode bikes to the beach. It was so much fun!

I've also been able to do some free shopping in my grandpa's wonderful garden!

I went to the Orange County Fair with my friend 

Helen

We saw the ice sculpture exhibit and of course the petting zoo!

And this fried chicken, not only perfect fair food, but it was soo good! 

I was not disappointed.

August

The biggest thing I did in August was visit my friend Kim in...Boston!

This is from my first morning there. 

I took this picture from her roof deck. Juuusst.

My second day there we went to the ER where I got stitches. 

But I'll spare you that picture...

We had lots of fun eating at different restaurants and visiting tons of shops! 

And so much walking.

I went on the Freedom Trail walking tour with this fun tour guide.

 I learned some fun historical stuff.

My last night there we cooked LOBSTER!! 

All by ourselves. It was delicous.

We topped it off with a cannoli from Mike's Pastries. 

And it was as good as it looks.

September

Now it is September.

School has started.

This is kinda how I feel. 

Next weekend I'm giving a Bridal Shower for my best friend! 

I'm working on decorations now. It's going to be great!

What's new with you?

August Morning

It's 7:00 am. I'm sitting comfortably on my bed with a mellow Andy Williams album on the record player reading my friend Lindsay's blog.

I'll have to get going for work pretty soon, it is just such a comfortable moment not to be recorded.

I spent time in prayer and journaling this morning. I realize I'm in a different sort of state. It's a state of transition. I am understanding more of my identity in Christ, while at the same time fighting to understand my identity in Christ. As it becomes clearer, the things that fight against it fight against it more strongly. I am asking God to renew my mind so that identity in Him, as His child, consumes me above all else. Above my desire to be acceptable in anyone else's eyes, to realize that I am accepted by God, and that is all I need.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

These words are seeping into my soul. I did naught to earn Him, it's all His work, and in that is total acceptance.

Pancakes Every Week

My sweet baby Bryn asked me to start blogging again, which of course I've wanted to do, but you know how you don't feel like you have any legitimate content.. Thanks for the extra nudge. This is for you baby.

Three Saturdays ago I made fig pancakes, which I love. Bryn and I use this Jamie Oliver recipe which gives a nice light taste. My mom's 82 year old friend happened to be over so I shared some with her and she liked them! Very much! Success!

Two Saturdays ago I made pancakes again. With my left over figs and corn. We always wanted to try the corn ones, Bryn and I, so this day I actually did it.

The figs are still my favorite. Then my mom brought home some figs the gardener at her work gave her, so yesterday I made some more pancakes. I wish you were here to eat them with.

June 18

Today is June 18. I babysat tonight and had an absolutely wonderful time. I had my first wii experience with Just Dance. It was great fun. And we made a blanket fort and played the wonderful game of Spongebob Uno.

June 17

Well, here I am a year later, and I'm going to attempt to pick up where I left off.

For the evening of June 17, I took my dad out for gelato. A tasty little treat at the end of a long week.