Just wanted to share some bright spots from a true Monday...

• I woke up AFTER the sun...I love these time changes!
• "He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him" (Proverbs 30:5)...the words I read before heading off to teach this morning
• Hugs from my kids, even if they can't follow directions and get under my skin!
• Finishing my Language Learning class....finally!
• My students "helping" me do my homework after school
• A phone call from a parent who never cared before about her child's homework asking what his homework was this evening
• My daily morning phone call from my dad before I even got out the door this morning!
• A friend randomly giving me some WHITE popcorn to pop, which is the best for popping and which I can't seem to find ANYWHERE down here!
• Apples and carmel dip
• It's nearly November and I'm still wearing flip flops comfortably
• Getting to see and talk to friends of mine after work, which delights my heart to no end.
• A heavenly Daddy whose peace and presence has overwhelmed me all day long. :)
  

"Trust hangs somewhere between knowing what your heart longs for and trying to dictate the shape or timing or outcome of your heart's desire. It lies in the willingness to accept the particulars of how and when and where God chooses to intervene. It waits in the cool shade of surrender."

-Paula Rinehart, "Strong Women, Soft Hearts"

This morning I woke up underneath the warm blankets and looked outside to see a beautiful day revealed. The sky a perfect tint of clear blue, the wind blowing the pine needles and leaves to the ground whispering "autumn" in each breeze...pushing the seasons ever forward as another year passes. Once I mustered the courage to pull my covers back, my feet hit the floor, realizing that I was on my own timetable today...no rush to be anywhere, no one to please, and just doing the day as I want it to be done...so my heart sang a song of thankfulness to my God who made this day possible...and who knew exactly what I needed after a dark, rainy night.

Sometimes I see myself and I wonder how I have gotten to this place...with all my fears, my tendancies, and my passions. It seems so far removed from the simple Iowa girl who always dreamed of the "normal life" as she grew up. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a season under heaven for everything...I read that passage the other night and tears came to my eyes as I realized the season in life I am in...and sometimes we just have to hold to the Saviour's hand and ask for His presence to be so very real...that He will carry us through this season and give us the strength to make it...I've stopped asking that things will be easy...its the tough things that grow us...but those seasons require His ever present love to cling to day in and day out.

And if you have no idea what I am talking about, that's fine. You don't need to know. But each season has its ups and downs...but each to the glory of our Father. And He is good and faithful and loves us so deeply that He promises to be there every step of the way.

Tonight I had a prayer meeting. After that prayer meeting, I went outside to talk with a buddy of mine on the phone. As I sat there, I realized I was chilly. Then I looked around...there were leaves on the ground. It was perfect. Fall. Leaves. Being chilly. Now all I need is a big cup of hot chocolate and I will be set. I love these evenings. Crisp. Clear. Heaven sent. Breathing in the scent of Fall through my stuffy nose. :) So sweet.

So last night, Bekah called me and wanted to go ride bikes...something we promised to do this week, but hadn't yet. I told her by the time I got home from doing my laundry, it would be dark...but we decided to go for it anyway. Also with one extra twist...I wanted to rollerblade while she biked. So we got to campus around 7:30pm, she pulled her bike out of my car and I laced up my blades and we were off...in the dark. As we went down our first hill, she commented that she hadn't ridden a bike for a really long time...to which I replied that I had not gone rollerblading for years...and yet, here we were, in the dark...biking and blading. As we went down The Blvd. on campus, the security guy drove beside me and simply informed me that what we were doing was "not the safest thing"...so after that we stuck to the few sidewalks on campus for the most part. We went by the library a few times trying to get our friend, Chris's, attention...only to discover that the library doors are tinted and he couldn't even see us...but I have to say that Bekah makes an impressive "caw-ing" sound for a bird. :) A fun night of non safe things. But hey, we can't play by the rules all the time. Then life just isn't fun! ;)

I have very few "treasured possessions" due to the amount of moving I have done over the past 6 years...but back home, I do have one treasured possession...in the form of a fishing pole. Its not just any fishing pole, mind you. It is a very special fishing pole. It is one that my Grandpa Page made for me a long time ago. When I was growing up, I was a complete tom boy and on any given summer day, you could find me down at the local pond fishing with a friend of mine. I remember one time riding my bike to the pond with my pole in hand...and it got caught in the spokes of my tire! I was horrified as I realized what I had just done; broken the tip off it. So I went back home and at some point in that year, we went to see my grandparents and my grandpa fixed that rod for me. As I have gotten older and as my grandparents are now in Heaven, that pole has become all the more special to me. I hardly use it in fear of breaking it again. But whenever I see it, fond memories overtake me. That pole is one of my few "treasured possessions".

So I am now into the book of Deuteronomy...chapter 7, verse 6! And it reads:

"The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession."

I know the direct context of this is talking about the Israelites, but the fact is that those of us who are followers of Christ- who are God's children- we are God's treasured possession. If that doesn't send warm fuzzies shooting through your body, I don't know what will. Out of all the world, He chose us to be His children, His representatives, His "treasured possessions". The thing about God, though, that differs from my fishing pole is that whereas I just look at that rod and don't use it...God uses us and bends us and stretches us and sometimes even breaks us carefully with His hands of Love...just to mold us into the treasured possession that He has created us to be. So for me, tomorrow when I am frustrated up to my ears with teaching, and it seems I will never catch up on my school work...I can take refuge in the fact that even if I fall flat on my face, I'm still a treasured possession...chosen out of all the peoples. That's pretty sweet.

Escape into the mountains...on this past weekend, I went to visit my folks and my "second" folks while they were vactioning in TN. Here is my dad, me, and my "second" dad, Don. :) I made them hike with me a little ways when we got to Newfound Gap. Wow, it was breath-taking! 

The Smokies...ah, how amazing. 

Have I mentioned how much I love Fall? :) 

And here are finally pics from the Fall Party back on the 23rd of Sept...sorry about the little red X's and whatnot over the past week...guess I'm not near so smart as I thunk. :) Here are some of the ladies at the party...April, Bekah, Laurie, and Teri. :) 

Cuties on the couch...Chris, Jonathan, and Karin all squished together on the love seat. :) 

Our friend Steph "just happened" to be in town that weekend, so she joined us as well as our friend Priscilla. :) 

My friend (and Bekah's boyfriend) Eric and Dan. Eric gave up free tix to see a football game because he knew how much I was looking forward to this party. So I gave him my new Fall hot chocolate mug to drink out of. He's wonderful. :) 

Here is a great view of our stylin' living room. Yep, green carpet and wood paneling...gotta love it. But its home and we enjoy it much. :) Especially when there are people to fill it! 

Mon amie and Karin chatting it up. :) 

Bekah and one of our favorite friends, Canas. :) 

All the food...pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, brownies, mint brownies, lemon bars, cheese dip and crackers...and of course, hot chocolate. :) Yum! 

Back in early September a few of us went to the State Museum for $.99 Sunday...here the boys are building an arch...which as typical boys, they soon destroyed. :) 

I wander a lot...some days more than others...but I wander around the school I teach in, I wander around my house, I wander around campus...though anymore time constraints say I have to have purpose in the things I do, sometimes I like to aimlessly wander. And as I wander many times I wonder. I wonder about the things I see. The squirrel that "barks" at me outside my window on Saturday and Sunday mornings (I think he's not an early riser)...the people I see walking down the street...the memories in my mind...the people in my life...all these things I wonder about. And "wonder" usually implies that there is no answer to the questions that plague my mind. Over the past few years I have become accustomed to being in a state of constant confusion, of wondering what will happen next, of thinking, "Hm, I wonder what that means"...and generally, I'm ok with not having all the answers. I figure most answers will change given time anyhow. Sometimes, though, I feel like it would be nice to have an answer to the wondering questions that plague my mind. Oh well.

This weekend was a thing of absolute beauty. Jack and I got out of Columbia for a day and went to see my folks in TN...then my dad and my "second dad" went up into the mountains and just allowed ourselves to be swallowed up in the Creation for an hour or so...then went and practiced such a vivid act of gluttony that I immediately felt guilty. We ate at a wonderful place called "The Mill"...known for the yummies found therein. Then Jack and I got on the road and headed back to Cola...only to be greeted in my kitched by a most wretched cockroach who had the nerve to find himself on his back, unable to turn over. So, as most damsels in distress do, I called a dear friend of mine to come and rescue me. I know, pathetic...but sometimes, a girl just needs to be rescued by a brave gentleman. I mean, really, do we HAVE to face every fear that resides in us? Well, apparently we do. Bekah (my housemate) told my friend that he had to make ME get the cockroach out. So after much trying to talk him out of it, I finally gave in and set about the awful task. And yes, it was awful. But the cockroach is gone and I am praying that no more find the need to be in our house...particularly when I am the only one home!! :)

Alas, the day has come. It is a cool, Fall day here in SC and I can only imagine what the weather and colors are up north, I miss Fall (here in SC, we don't really have "Fall")...today, I will get to go at least a little further north to check it out. In about an hour, I'm heading out on a road trip up to TN to see my folks. I can hardly wait to get out of Columbia, even if just for a day! Its a beautiful day for a road trip and I think Jack (my car) is looking forward to it as much as I am...its been awhile since he's been free to just drive. ;) Praise God for these little "rewards" amidst trying times. Anyhow, posted some pics below, decided today was a catch up day for such things. :) Grace to you!

It has become our tradition that every Sunday after church I go over to my favorite newly weds' house (Tom and Amy) and have lunch with them. Its been SOO fun to see their house evolve as they have unpacked and they just have an atmosphere of love and peace in their house which is a sweet refuge from what I endure all week at school. :) Anyhow, this past Sunday they had just gotten their new furniture...so Amy and I cuddled up on the love seat and Tom and RJ on the couch. I tell ya, this furniture is pretty wonderful. ;) I didn't want to get up! 

Just a song that's meant a lot to me lately...I know I couldn't make it without Him. Life just wouldn't be worth it...He is the life-giver...the peace-giver...the joy-giver....particularly in the midst of trying times. How awesome is that? Yeah, pretty amazing. Here are some of the lyrics:

Be Your Everything - Big Daddy Weave

When you’re lost and all alone I will be your sure way home When you’re left out in the cold I will be your shelter from the storm When you’re clouded by your doubts When you’re surrounded and there’s no other way out I will be all that you need And I’m here for the asking Let me be your everything Let me be your everything Look at all that I will bring In exchange for what you have Let me be your everything When you face your deepest fears When you can't see thru all the tears I will stay year after year

So my evening routine of sitting in the library attempting to study led me to the reading/listening of Leviticus 13 tonight. And simply put, I discovered my least favorite chapter of the whole Bible. I don't know if its disrespectful to say I have a least favorite chapter of the Bible...I certainly don't mean it that way, I simply mean that as I was reading/listening to it, it made me squirm in my seat as it talked about a hair in a sore and what color that hair was. Gross, no?

So that was my evening. Reading/listening to Leviticus in attempt to catch up on my work. And Lord willing, I'll get there. :) Some nights my time in the library is inspiring. Tonight was not one of those nights. :)