WARNING: this is going to be a random, rambling sort of post.  Okay, you’ve been warned, continue at your own risk….

So, I ran away the other day.  We had a moment of sun & it was.absolutely.gorgeous! I’m so glad I did it.  Just went.  Walked out. Despite all the lists {to-do’s/need-to-do’s/have-to-do’s/urgent-should-have-done-already’s} staring me in the face. I’d been working on the computer, all the fall colors have been screaming at me – through the DUMPING rain for days {we typically only get a week or two of full-blown fall colors, then the leaves blow away.  so we really need to take advantage when the leaves have fully changed over}, – and for a moment — there was no wind, there was no rain, and there WAS sunshine!  The trees were absolutely glowing — I LOVE all the fall colors.  I’d have to say spring & fall are my two most favorite season.  One is the new life after winter and the other is everything dying….but they are the seasons with the most color.  I am realizing I might be a color addict :-D.  In the moment of glowing fall colors I said, “let’s walk to the lake” {sadly, this is not normal for me, but I really, really wanted fall color pictures}.

Let, me clarify something a moment – it’s been raining for.like.a week — ever since we came back from the cabin.  Oh, that’s right – I didn’t get to tell you, we “ran” to the cabin for the weekend to help dad with a lumber run.  The internet didn’t work until the night before we left to come home, so I had a mandatory 2.5 days of being ‘unplugged’ – it was awesome! More on that another day though…I have cabin posts, house project posts, life posts, homeschooling posts…all running around in my head, they’re kind of confused at the moment {not me, but the posts :-D}…I had a ton to do, but chose to walk away.

I didn’t regret it, I am still trying to get caught up.  But at least I have eye candy memories to think about :-D! Also, all those pictures are from my iPhone?!  So aggravating!…I had my Nikon D3100 with me.  I’ve been waiting to take pictures of all the beautiful fall colors we’re seeing.  And the stupid thing didn’t take as good of pictures as my cell phone!  Out of the 35 photos {because I forgot to start with an empty card} I took on the “good/real” camera, only a couple were in focus and the color wasn’t as good.  AAGGGHH!!!  It is so frustrating, even using it on auto focus it doesn’t focus all the way.  I often get just as good/or better pictures when I just point the camera & press – not looking to see what is in the frame.  When I came home & downloaded the pics….all went great ’til I went to put the card back in my camera – guess what?!  Now it tells me there is a problem with the memory card?  I just took photos off, why does it say that?  Fortunately, I have a second card, so far it seems to read it still fine….What am I going to do?!  I like the size of the Nikon, the feel in my hand, the shorter finger distance needed to reach the button – but I’ve been so disappointed.  Do I just replace (maybe go a step up in models?) or completely switch back to Canon?  I have some possible major life-changing events to document in the next year.  I need a camera, and I can not have a camera I don’t trust.  Do any of you have a recommendation or suggestion for me? At least I have the definitive conclusion it IS the camera & lens – not just operator error, remember?  [getting off the dumb Nikon camera soapbox {again}.  Just over a month, then I can get this resolved.]

Back to our walk.  We were gone an hour, as I walked up the driveway it started to rain. As in LOTS. {like you feel as if you’ve taken a shower outside, fully clothed} And it hasn’t stopped since.  I’m so thankful for those moments away – the week has been another full, and insane one.  I’m beginning to wonder if I don’t get the choice to go back to life being slow, seemingly manageable.  I chose to not go back to the cabin this morning.  I decided I wanted to be present, live where I am, and not constantly focused on what is ahead.

I made a HUGE Costco run this week.  Stocking up for the coming winter.  Not wanting to go out on icy roads anytime soon.  I think the rain has me paranoid – it only has 10* before that rain is snow = very icy roads.  When wet roads freeze it’s not fun, I fully plan to stay home. The thing is, my children don’t appreciate cereal for multiple meals in a day…so I had to make sure we had stocked up on the many basics which had run low.

We’ve had some issues crop up & haven’t been able to start school as fully as I’d anticipated.  But I think the last shipment will come tomorrow.  Dear UPS man, please deliver our box earlier — like 4’ish?  So we can enjoy our new school books, besides it always kind of creeps me out when you drive up & ring the doorbell at 8/8:30pm!

I get to get together with other women at the church and sew tomorrow.  I’m so excited!  Granted, it’s 11pm and I haven’t gathered my stuff and figured out what I’ll sew.  Maybe I’ll just touch & feel the material….Not really, I won’t haul it all to the church just to feel it. I hope.  I hope I get inspired & get a lot done. Oohh, I can’t wait to show you the material I bought for making my nephew’s new blanket!  Maybe I’ll start that – it’s going to be really simple.

I am starting an independent class to help me with my business.  I finally have a business name I like.  I will share it someday, but I’m not ready to yet.  Need to get some other really big factors in place first.  Such as — how we can have our own space in the living room – for school and work? (my dad veto’d the hole-in-the-wall-to-add-on idea)  I tore everything up two weeks ago, moved stuff all around, re-arranged, and am still a few inches short — it doesn’t all fit into a specific home.  I’m still sitting amongst a big-old-unorganized mess, it is driving me nuts.  I haven’t been able to come up with the perfect floor plan solution yet. {sigh} … Maybe tonight in my sleep something will hit me. 😀  I feel like it’s a big, 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle, I’m down to the last 15 or so pieces and they just won’t fit!

I started a new Bible Study last week, James.  I am once again reminded of how much I like and appreciate James 1:2-8 {well, really a whole lot more, but that is what we talked about last night} 

James 1:2-8 (NIV)  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

This says to me: Trials are to make my relationship stronger with Jesus. I have to work through {…trial…} in order to grow. I know I lack wisdom, yet all I have to do is ask.  He promises to give us the wisdom needed.  In order to be considered stable, I need to be firm in what I know and believe; trust He is giving me the wisdom I need.  When I doubt Christ in me, I’m being double-minded.  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for providing a way for me — Jesus!