Home again.

So, we saw a part of the country we'd never been to before. And it was beautiful. We drove through hills and (baby) mountains, past streams and rivers and trains and trees. Beautiful. We read a lot, drank a lot of fall-themed beverages, slept a lot. We picked apples in a sunny apple orchard in Connecticut, drank the most delicious chai on a rainy day in NYC, slowly ate slow food in Vermont, and tripped over cobblestones in Boston. It was glorious. Eight straight days together, and we still had things to talk about. We never tire of each other. Multiple times older married couples asked if we were newlyweds, and then seemed surprised that we have been married almost two years. Then we asked them their secret to thirty or forty-six years of marriage... "Yes, dear" was the answer for all. Then they laughed and one couple said it's important to have a common goal. The other, longer married couple, they told us to never give up. Work together and don't give up like all the other young couples out there. I love advice from people who have seen it all.

But... It's so good to be home. I love Bloom. It felt so like home to be there tonight. Looking around at all the familiar and unfamiliar faces, feeling comfortable enough to take off my shoes and take barefoot communion (as we do every week), listening to people sing at the tops of their lungs, with all they've got... It's beautiful. I love it so much, and I love feeling the presence of God in our midst.

I'm so thankful for the friends I have here. They made me feel like I (we) were missed, and that's so good.

Yellow

Maybe I decided just now that every day I need a little yellow (or mustard) in my life. On the way to Breckenridge* yesterday, while listening to "Ghosts Upon the Earth" and staring out the windows at the yellow aspens, I crocheted a yellow cowl to match. It was delightful and just like fall. I've been inspired by my dear coworker to love this color, and I'm so glad I know her - for that reason and many others.

*We went to Breck to celebrate some dear friends' engagement. And it was delightful. We heard the story of life and surprise, and I talked for a long while with their mothers. I soaked it up - I so miss being around people my parents' age. And weddings are always a beautiful thing!

I love when people call their spouse / spouse-to-be "love", "dearest*", or "darling". It's so old-fashioned and lovely. (*I call David "dearest" because it's what Mormor and Papa used to call each other... at the very least, on their Christmas presents to each other)

Fall.

It's back!!




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What a perfect way to start this fall. With this album that is breaking ground and awakening my heart again.



www.gungormusic.com
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I also recommend listening to that album in order, all the way through, while driving through the mountains of Colorado (or anywhere beautiful and natural and peaceful) to seek the changing leaves.

Our autumn drives every year serve to recenter me. When everything else feels like it's swirling around me, driving in the mountains and seeing how the seasons change with my best friend and love, I feel centered in my soul again.

Youth.

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity"- 1 Timothy 4:12

This is an encouragement to me. I / we have been blessed (especially lately) with much responsibility. In jobs, in church, in life... I'm feeling the weight of it. I am completely overwhelmed by it.

And be it my own tainted opinion (that cares too much what others think of me) or be it the truth, I feel that everyone is looking down on us because we are young.

So I will cling to the Word of God and trust that we are in this amazing season for a reason.

What have I been up to lately?

What have I been up to lately, you ask?

For the past few months, I have felt uninspired to write here. It started when I wanted to share all the stories of my precious children at work, but then they suddenly moved out. It was such a loss, so heartbreaking, that I couldn't find myself inspired to write anymore. I miss those kids so much that they still bring tears to my eyes, even now, three months later. Those four (from Ghana) had sneaked their way into my heart and they're still there. I pray desperately for them, and catch snippets of their lives from the school they still attend. But I so wish they were still at Champa, learning and growing and smiling and talking again.

And now my other family of four children has left us. And I worked so hard on those kids, and they were so hard. So, so hard. So frustrating. But I had made a break through, and now they're gone. The oldest, with his shy smile and long limbs, who finally trusted me... Gone. And I didn't get to say goodbye. Maybe I'll run into them at the school, but I know that all I can really do is pray desperately for them.

{There are so many precious children stuck in my heart. Most of them left Champa abruptly and without warning, so I never got to say goodbye. I worry about those children so much sometimes... They're scattered all over the city and maybe the country, and I'll never see them again.}

So here we are. With the three babes (who are easy and precious and we laugh a lot) and a new family, with older children. So I will earn their trust and understand what makes them tick. They are so precious and crazy and I can't wait to know them. I can't wait until the trust has been established and we're buddies!

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That's all for now... Lots more to share, but not enough time or energy to share it.

God.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent and praiseworthy - think about such things" Philippians 4:6-8

It is so hard to give yourself over completely to God. Such a terrifying concept... for me, at least. But He's trustworthy and He always comes through. This verse has been something that I'm clinging to these days - it's printed above my desk at work.

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I'm so thrilled that this weekend is three days of freedom. Sleeping in, baking, farmer's markets... Who knows. I'm thrilled. Last weekend was amazing and busy and full of love and laughter - Mom was here!

I'm so thankful for my job and the things I learn and witness there. I get the opportunity to take seminars (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) and go to tea at the Brown Palace! So great.

September is here and I have never looked more forward to fall. Our great fall trip (that hopefully hasn't been ruined by Hurricane Irene) is coming up next month and I love fall in Denver. I'm anticipating long walks to and in the park, crunching leaves underfoot. Crisp air and my much-beloved scarves!

Lately.

What have I been up to lately?

Walks with babies in which I saw this truck that had a garden growing out of the bed. Amazing!

A word of advice: never walk a mile with three infants all by yourself when it's 95 degrees out. Or ever.

Solo drives, blasting Mumford and Sons and/or The Civil Wars. Once driving behind this dream car of my youth (and perhaps my current older age).

Field trips / end of Summer / beginning of the school year party with one of the coolest kids / superheroes the world has ever seen. Farmers' market, City Park (with the best view of the city ever), fountains of incredible joy and surprise and delight (and free!). I love my job (especially on these days!)

Notes on my new chalkboard door - from children and moms, to each other and me. I love it, and I love them.


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I'm so thankful for the groups of girl friends I have. Pizza and sangria, pedicures... I love my Bloom girls and I love my college friends. Which, let's be honest, saying "college friends" makes me sound really old. Or maybe just feel old. They're my for-life friends, not just college. I decided.

We've had (and will continue to have) so much family time lately. It's been so good. I'm so thankful for these times with my grandma (and aunt, uncle, and cousins) this summer. And soon it's my Momma's turn!

I also love the Les Miserables soundtrack I'm listening to right now... It brings back such great memories. Being a tiny child, sitting in the front seat of my dad's truck (Truckie), listening to the cassette with him. Senior year of high school, my parents, Jenny, and her mom seeing it live in San Francisco. So good.