i heart fall.

It's fall! I love the fall. I missed fall for the last two years and I am determined to soak up every single golden, spiced, pumpkiny, crisp, cozy second of this fall. Because yes. To all the colours.

We went up north to "cottage country" this past weekend for a student retreat. Every year I go and every year I'm so glad I did. I get a little less sleep, but my soul can just breathe when I'm there.
The boys happily frolicked {such a good word!} outside, running around the mini golf course, building castles in the sand and even swimming with their clothes on. At the end of September. In a lake.

Because why not?

I made some delicious Pumpkin Spice syrup for my coffee and have been enjoying the poor man's version of a PSL in the comfort of my own home {for a fraction of the cost!}. Easy, cheap and delicious. Directions here. 

Glory hallelujah.

Yesterday I went to a pumpkin farm nearby with my Mom and brother and his girlfriend. It was lovely. And pumpkiny!

How weird is it that I've been back in Canada for three months now?
I still feel like I haven't really processed the last two years. I still miss friends {both here in Canada and abroad}. I still don't feel like I have a handle on day-to-day life and being a "school Mom". I still don't feel like I quite fit in here.
But that's okay. In the same way that it seems like my house is going to take a really long time to be in a place where I'm happy with it, my heart is also taking a really long time to sort itself out.

And with that...we head into one of the craziest times of the year; weddings, Thanksgiving, birthdays and Christmas. Jesus hold me.

beginning

yesterday i decided to just go ahead and make some plans with a blogger friend i had not yet met.

so this morning {after baking some banana bread} jamie called our taxi driver {his name is abby and he's been great so far} and me and the boys loaded into the car and drove to the other side of kampala to meet up with kelly and her boys.

it took less than 30 minutes {i was totally expecting it to be longer} and we arrived to their lovely house way up on a hill.

me and jude. noah was beside me.

my view from the backseat.

oh my. it was indeed a breath of fresh air to my soul.

to be honest, i've been missing my friends and specifically some solid, female interaction. 

and so i prayed.

and God is so faithful.

kelly and i had a lovely time chatting and our boys played together quite well.

in the words of  humphrey bogart, "i think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

thanks God for providing for your children. 

matthew 7:11

.

God is so good.
you know when people say that and you're all,

really? that's so cliche.

but you know when you say it and feel like sobbing at how good He really is and how overwhelming His goodness is in your life?
that.
Jesus is totally and completely all-consuming and everything i need. and He's been reminding me of His goodness is sweet, sometimes subtle ways.

like in a book given to me by a wonderful, wise woman. or a book i've already blogged about. or from His Word here. and here. and here. and through a song on the radio.
and every sunday at church i'm just a mess because He is speaking so clearly and ministering to me and preparing me for this crazy adventure i'm about to go on.

i am learning about trusting Him. for everything. to be everything. in everything.
i am learning to thank Him. for everything. in everything. because He is. everything.

this winter is...

wishing you were outside playing with your brother in the snow

the wall of cheer making me smile every time i walk past it

wrapping presents all in red

welcoming keven home with a huge party; everyone crammed into my parents' living room to watch a slideshow of his tour in afghanistan

baking, baking, baking!

Hey Jude...{PS I love you}

Jude, oh my Jude.

You.

I just can't get enough of you.

And sometimes you drive me bonkers.

You are cheeky. Hilarious. Stubborn. Persistent. Smart. Driven. Laid-back. Serious. Funny. Happy. Fussy. Easy. Tricky. Adorable. Surprising.

You make me want to eat your cheeks. Squeeze your thighs. Pinch your double-jointed toes.

Play ball with you. Keep you up late. Give you an early bedtime. Watch you cock your head back all the way so you can get the last little drop of milk out of your sippy. Throw you up in the air. Make you laugh. Cuddle you close. Kiss your forehead. Laugh out loud. Scream out loud. WhisperI love you onto the top of your head. Watch you as you sleep. Pray you sleep in. Hold you close and never let you go.

You are my second born and I love you oh-so-much. You have completed this family {for now} and the joy you bring to my heart and life are such that I could never be able to put them into words.

You have been out of the womb for almost 14 months now and it's like you've always been with us. We don't know life without you anymore.

Your hair. It kills me. It curls and flops and sticks up and out and I really don't want to cut it. So for now, we'll leave it.

I still call you "baby". I'm not sure when I'm supposed to stop. I don't imagine I will any time soon.

Undeserved beauty.

A couple days ago I took the boys and met up with friends and their 2 kids for a walk through the forest in a conservation area.

Noah and their son were collecting sticks and having "sword fights" with the trees. They were talking and laughing and, well...being boys. Loud. Fun. Enjoying themselves.

We talked about the things we were seeing; trees, rocks and abandoned campfires.

We talked about the things we hoped we would see; namely animals. Maybe rabbits or deer.

Us adults looked at each other and smiled knowing we were all being too loud for any animal to stick around.

And then...

up the path...

Dawn says, "Look!"

We turn around and there's a deer.

With her two fawns.

They stop and look at us. We look at them.

Then they walk deeper into the forest and then they're gone.

Beautiful.

Despite all our noise {and our doubt} we got to see such beautiful creatures.