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!

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It is time for BIG changes.  {Part of my motivation for taking on this challenge.}

Posting for 31 Days. {Day 3, we’re on a roll!  :-D}

Seasonally we are changing. {for us fall is basically over; we’re headed into the crispy winter air.}

We’re headed into our first year of high school home school. {a whole different game. we have to log hours!}

Music: Lessons are set up. There will be 4 sets of lessons (3 official) & 4 practice times happening. Each day!

I’m still trying to get my business off the ground. {It’s not that I haven’t done work – it just keeps being not paid work….I NEED to get this figured out.}

I’m so thankful God has a plan. It is ALL in His control; His time – NOT mine.                 No matter how hard I try, it just doesn’t work.

These are photos from a couple days last week. On my way to a meeting, a week ago today.  After a day when I felt overwhelmed with God’s planning, timing, and provision. A day I felt in awe. A day I experienced the feeling of the absence of fear {I believe for the 1st time in my life}. On top of the overwhelmed feelings.

I was driving to a meeting, by choice, by myself,  I didn’t know who else would be there. I had never been to the area, subdivision, or house I was going to. I didn’t even really know what the meeting was about – other than some kind of missions support group for the missionaries sent from our church. For this hard core introvert {as in extreme, all-the-way-to-the-end, not an ounce of extrovert type of introvert} normally, I would have been sick. Physically ill. Headache. Stomachache. Shaky. It {absence} was the oddest sensation. Honestly, it was. I think the time has come for me to step out and take some risks. Risk doesn’t come easily to me {above mentioned physical symptoms, usually precede any thought of risk; which then changes my mind. Out of fear.}

Then Wednesday happened: Started with Ortho appointment changing some major future plans. But I keep reminding myself, He has a plan. He has a good plan, for my future. For each of our futures. He knows the whole plan. His timing is perfect. I just need to trust.

This was at 6:30AM, a couple days later.  {LOOK at that glowing sky. The sun was trying to peak out. It didn’t make it, but it’s effort sure was BEAUTIFUL!} I was heading into town for a seminar on Google+/Places/Local. Again, by myself, not knowing who all would be there. I did know one sister-friend who was going to join me – but we hadn’t actually talked. Only text’d a ‘YEA’ a couple days prior. No plans for meeting up. No parking together. No walking in together. I did it. Alone. I even walked in on my own, by myself, knowing she wasn’t coming for another 15 minutes or so.

You may really be wondering about my sanity. Really, I’m not insane. These are huge hurdles for me, but it’s because I’ve allowed fear too much of a foothold. This has been a constant prayer for several years – “Please, Lord, give me the strength to….” is not a new prayer for me to ask God for the strength to work through. It must just be the right time. His time.

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Fall – one of many favorite times of year for me.
I am always ready for fall and the color changes…it also signals school supplies, books, and schedules (more favorites for me) :)!

A beautiful day on the lake.
Bumpa with all his grand kids checking out how the boat rides.

Getting ready to head to Whittier. 4 of the 5 boys in our family went for a guy’s only trip with the boat to Whittier.

These were the two boys who couldn’t contain their grins, the big boys were excited too – they just didn’t show it quite as much. They had a beautiful day and a wonderful time was had by all.

Vince created this ‘bread bowl’ for the campaign dinner mom & dad had last week. It is his cabbage leaves inside a birch basket. He really enjoys cooking and presenting food – this is a good thing :).

Christine has started Rhythmic Gymnastics and is loving it! For several years she has wanted to do this, I’ve held off because I figured she was too young to really appreciate and practice what she learned. I think it worked – she is practicing all the time, she’s stretching further and further. She can hula hoop for a long time and controlled balance spin it on her hand too.

She has come so far in such a short time! Yes, she is hula hooping 2 hoops at the same time. That is a bridge on her toes!!!!

This was my creative outlet this weekend…3 pairs of jeans became 2 skirts for CJ.

To make a long skirt I had to use 2 pairs of jeans. Somewhere I saw this online, but I couldn’t find it again. Doesn’t matter, I probably wouldn’t have followed the directions anyway. 🙂 Christine loved that she got to pick the heart shaped stitching for the hem and the zig-zag is decorative.

This was a pair of Vince’s painter pants. I loved that I could keep the side pocket. The opposite leg had a hole split totally across the knee it was close, but I got it to work. The ruffle I had sitting done already, it was for a flower girl dress I didn’t make because we found one instead – and it was the perfect size! Vince isn’t real sure what he thinks of his jeans’ 2nd life. (I think he’s secretly pleased :)…shhhh!) He’s informed me I won’t disgrace his Carharts….we’ll see. 🙂 The other skirt was my favorite, until I made this one.

There have been many changes for our little family of 3 this fall. I worked all but 2 days of the fair – wow! That was a really fun experience and I got to work with a wonderful team of people. Mom kept my kids, thanks Mom!! They were long days, but we all are able to now really appreciate I don’t have to work 10-12 hour days all the time for us just to live.

We are entering 6 weeks of school times 2. We are home schooling and enjoying life. In August I became a full-time student too, my classes are all online so I’m home with the kids and we do school together. I’ve also just started working a part-time job. It is a job the kids can come with me and so far they are enjoying working along side me. This is a new venture for us – for me to work outside our home, long-term, not just for a couple weeks. We are also working around 2 youth group schedules. My kids are Seniors this year and Vince is Middle School! Yes, I’m tired, but content and know these are all things that were waiting for the right timing. For whatever reason the right timing is now – all at once! The kids are old enough for this to work and we are happy. God is in control and He puts His plan in front of us. It is up to us what we choose to do with that direction.

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