Two Things

It seems all we can post about these days are all the great times we are having this fall in the beautiful weather. It's true, we have had one of the loveliest Octobers I can remember- endless sun and reasonable warmth! But we all know there is more to life than weekend getaways, golden leaves, and other beauties easy to recognize... more on that later. For now, bear with me through one more post about the wonder of October...

Early in the season, I began to envision two things I really wanted to do this fall. After a few more weeks, I shared my desires with Dave, and several more days later, we actually pegged down some possible dates to bring my wishes to past. However, I only wanted to do these two things if the weather was just that perfect, golden, crisp fall weather I love, Not asking much, was I? I invited the Lord to bless my plans and waited for the dates to come to pass. 

The first was finding a time when Faith and Marcus were busy with their own activities (more and more often anymore) and taking the younger three to Rader Farms. Kenan and I went there last year with his preschool class and I've wanted to take the others since. God provided the perfect chance on the perfect fall day!

 After leaving the big kids with their list of responsibilities to conquer (never knew pizza could be so difficult, did you, Faith!) and securing their rides to and from, the five of us piled into the small van, fitting nicely!

the duck races are the best!

Soft pillows at the bottom of the big slide enticed even Kenan to give it a try this year- by himself. He loved it! 

This rat-roll was new: simply a huge tile on two tracks. You rolled it down the track and back again. The minute they got in and started, they all three began to giggle hysterically. It was so fun to listen to them- I started laughing too. One of the things I love about this place is their creativity!

"rusty truck, bumpy road, hayrack ride, it's a full load..." - something like that anyway!

 After an hour or more there, and some pumpkin donuts (that was before the 8 week challenge), we headed into town to run errands, shop, and eat. When we have just the three youngers, it makes us all feel so young. We had a great time! 

The next wish was for the perfect fall day to fall on a day that we had no other pressing plans (ha) and we could all hop in the van and spend it at Matthiesson hiking together. I didn't think I could possibly expect this one to come to pass, but it did. And it was perfect. 

Dave stayed home all day. In the morning, he helped the kids put down the wood chips on the garden, something that very much needed to get done, while I was inside, doing the seasonal clothes change thing - way overdue and very overwhelming. I got most of it done, thanks to Dave making us take the day off. That was a great relief. 

We ate a very nutritious lunch (the 8 week challenge has begun) and then headed north. Very beautiful drive (and smooth, too, Faith). 

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We were ready to hike around 2 and spent the next two hours breathing in God's beauty and the joy of being with each other on a day off, relaxing under Dave's trustworthy leadership (!)

We have another picture of the kids in this same spot three years ago when we spent the day here with some special friends we love :)

and we had a lengthy family discussion on these stepping stones about being here even longer ago with some other special friends, something I can't remember happening, and that troubles me...  is it true, Wagenbachs?

Fully invigorated by that delightful fall air, and a little tired, especially since Dave took us the looooooong way back to our van, we drove back to town and ended the day with some (pretty) good pizza. 

A small thing for Him, God had taken me seriously, and blessed me with two perfect days for two things I wanted. I came away refreshed and filled both times, my eyes and heart drinking in this fleeting beauty. 

The leaves are falling now, and the temperatures, too. I'm thankful for the good memories. Wouldn't it be nice if life was only one long succession of pretty pictures? Don't let us deceive you: we've had our gray days for sure. (Nobody gets out the camera for those.) Its been a good season, but a hard one, too, in more than one way, and certainly one in particular. So, thanks, faithful blog readers, for reading all our happy posts anyway, and thanks, God, for faithfulness that extends throughout all seasons. We will continue to look for life's beautiful colors that remain hidden most of the time, revealed only in God's perfect time. And, if we look, we can see God's fingerprints every day.  -Kara