On awestruck autumn

Things as of late that have strong associations with autumn and which I have taken joyful part in: 

• strolls through a lovely neighborhood with a friend or two (Margeypoo :)
• breath taking drives with breath taking views of mountains and the breath taking sunsets. I have no breath left. 
• Deep affection for the changing leaves. Best color scheme there is. 
• Hot, homemade, zucchini soup with tomato-herb bread bought at the Harrisonburg farmer's market.
• Apple picking. boom. 
• climbing trees (can be applied to almost any season)
• purchasing new boots-- look out!
•  panera dates/bstud planning with my favorite co-leader
• wafting aroma of my constantly-burning, spiced cranberry candle!

enjoy these splendid photographic representations I have taken

 

On Psalm 63

^LIFE...

¹ You, God, are my God,
   earnestly I seek You;
I thirst for You,
   my whole being longs for You,
in a dry and parched land
   where there is no water.

 ² I have seen You in the sanctuary
   and beheld your power and your glory.
³ Because your love is better than life,
   my lips will glorify You.
⁴ I will praise You as long as I live,
   and in your Name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
   with singing lips my mouth will praise You.

 ⁶ On my bed I remember You;
   I think of You through the watches of the night.
⁷ Because You are my help,
   I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ My soul clings to You;
   your right hand upholds me.

 ⁹ Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
   they will go down to the depths of the earth.
¹⁰ They will be given over to the sword
   and become food for jackals.

 ¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God;
   all who swear by God will glory in Him,
   while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

On Bodos

Scribbled down whilest in the aforementioned place of rapture [directly taken out of my journal]:

         So, of course, Jesus is my constant source of joy. But, can a pastrami provo on everything bagel from Bodo's be just under that?! I just...I just love food, and this particular meal has 3 of my favorite things- meat, cheese & bread. I just know Paula Deen would love this sandwich. She really would. It has mayonnaise on it! Bodo's makes me feel like a glutton because I can never get enough. It is so filling and yet I could eat another one. I would feel like sh*t afterward but it would be a delicious experience until then. The saddest picture in the world is 1/4 of my bagel left on my tray. Knowing I need to savor these last bites. Would Bodo's hold such a place in my life/heart if there was one in Harrisonburg? I feel like yes...

Bodos is one of the earthly things I hope heaven holds. Along with chick-fil-a, ultimate frisbee, and the banjo.

...pleased even with stumbles

Here is something invaluable that Clive Staples tells us..

        "But the obedience which [God] demands of men is quite a different thing. One must face the fact that all the talk about His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself- creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. [The enemy] wants cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons." 

Lewis goes on to say this...

"He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles"

*bear in mind the context of The Screwtape Letters, hence the odd vocabulary with 'loathsome' and 'appalling truth'. It is sort of a bad guys point of view. check out the book :)

On current happenings

Dear Life, 

       I went to Dayton Days with Amy, and it was lovely. A chilly day to use an understatement, and yet it was a sign that the season is changing, and I got to bundle up which honestly I enjoy doing sometimes. But, don't mistake me for a lover of winter. Certainly not! It was blissful to stroll down the festival streets with my Shmames and stop at cute stands with hand-made crafts. Gorgeously painted pottery with bright images of trees and country landscapes-- RIGHT down mine and Amy's alley! Hand crafted earrings, homemade candles and maple syrup, uniquely built and painted birdhouses, etc etc. I could use up an entire blog entry on just this "2011 autumn celebration". But I shant. :)

       Leading my small group has been a grand blessing! And as I have heard their hearts, their struggles and their desires for this next year I am whisked back to myself as a freshman. And through leading this small group I have been so encouraged by my own growth. The Lord has given me a glimpse of how far I have come in my process of being a follower of Christ. It is so cool! I wish I could tell these girls, "you're going to be okay! You will learn these things, you will make mistakes but you'll turn out just fine and still in one piece!". I do not know why this season has been somewhat filled with self-confidence and just more assurance in who I am, but I am truly thankful to God for it. NEAT-O!

progressingly yours, 

Kelly

p.s.- Cheers! to a spiced cranberry candle that brings a whole new meaning to autumn aromas!

       

On worrying

Dear Lifecrap, 

       I have this song lyric I very much love...so much so that I have written it fancifully on a piece of cardboard and it sits in my room in order to be seen and to remind me.

                "Cuz I got a lot of walkin' to do, and I don't wanna wear my worried shoes" 

As it goes in the song you would discover it is much more dramatic and with necessary pauses. Life, I am here to tell you that I do not want to worry anymore!!! How much of my time is spent worrying?! Too dang much I'll tell ya. Worrying about what people think. Worrying about my future [insert ominous music here]. Worrying about what to wear. Worrying if I'll find a husband. Worrying about BLEH. I need to stop worrying- YES, even when things are absolutely, positively, without a doubt not going my way. I would like to practice that. Obviously it goes hand in hand with trust. Isn't that a pretty picture? Fingers interlocking, woven together and they belong to Mr. Trust and Mrs. No Worries. 

I know, I know...it sounds idealistic huh? Well, we would not do a lot of things if we thought the idea was so lovely as to be preposterous. So hold me accountable will ya, Life (slash reader slash God)?

preposterously yours, 

Kelly

p.s.- after doing some research I see that my song was in Where the Wild Things Are. Not only did I NOT hear this song from that movie (I've had it since high school), but I will formally announce my dislike of that movie. Good Day.

On Letters

Dear Life, you can throw this chilly weather at me but I am unaffected by it in the cozy Shire. Plus, it makes my morning jog less sweaty--> scorezone! Dear Shirefolk whom I live with, you have made this season warm and joyful for me. I feel blessed to live with you fellow hobbits. And EACH of you makes me laugh until my sides hurt. Dear Jesus, I love the fragrance of your name. I love your gracious nature that teaches me to forgive. Dear Wailin' Jennys, you are my autumn muse. I am thoroughly pleased to have stumbled upon yall on my Nickel Creek Pandora station. Keep singin those sweet melodies to me. 

steadily moving forward,

Kelly

p.s. yes, perhaps I borrowed this idea from my favorite inspirational blog. Sorry not sorry bout it.