I’m Blessed

Yesterday during the sermon at church, our pastor talked about a moment he had outside, surrounded by beauty.  He reflected back to numerous art museums that he had walked through, and yet here he was, sitting right in the middle of God’s art, like a 3 dimensional painting.  The very idea that we are not only living in God’s artwork, but a part of it is just amazing.

We are witnesses of beauty.

I went for a walk when it was drizzling the other day.  I took one step outside and was so overwhelmed by the colors that I quickly ran back in to get my camera.  These shots are all straight out of the camera without any fiddling.  The colors of fall leave me speechless many times.  You just have to absorb the beauty of it as best as you can.

Missy and Lena got a bit dirty in the mud.  Missy obviously shows it more.  I don’t know how she does it, but one day she’ll play in the mud, and the next day she’s pretty much white again.  It’s a mystery. Rolling around in grass perhaps?

I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of dirty things, but I am a fan of healthy things.  Sometimes dirty means unhealthy and uncared for.  Sometimes dirt is what we need and it feeds our soul and is actually very healthy.  I read this article once about how kids who play in the dirt often are on average healthier than kids who never play in the dirt.  How does the saying go?  Empty stalls require no cleaning, or something like that?  A dirty life can often show a full life.

Anyway, Missy’s dirty.  Actually, she was dirty.  How she got clean again, I don’t know.

I’m off topic.

So check out these colors from my drizzly walk.

Yesterday we got to go to a wedding.  Wedding these days are so unique, and this one had a really fun element of having a potluck in lieu of gifts.  I made a hot dish, and a pumpkin pie.  My recipe actually makes 2 pies, so we had to test one out the night before.

I just want to write about the tears I had when I was making the pies.  I love making pies, and I’m obviously out of practice because I used way too much flour, but they turned out delicious anyway.  It’s just…I couldn’t make pies this summer.  At the big 4th of July celebration, where everyone brings pies, (an event I love dearly) my mother in law offered to make my pies for me, since I was hurting so bad from the car accident.  Knut was shocked that I accepted.  I just love making pies so much.  I haven’t been able to for months.  The motion of using my shoulders to push down a thin crust was just too painful.

I made pie.  It didn’t hurt.  I can’t do everything I used to do yet, but I can do this.  I feel so unbelievably blessed.

So we ate one pie.  It turns out our family is at the size where everyone gets a piece, and there is exactly 2 large pieces left over for Knut and I after the kids go to bed.  We brought the other pie to the wedding.  They had so many pies.  I was looking for a piece of mine, but couldn’t find one.  After the reception, and we were gathering up our things, I went to get our dishes to bring home, and it turns out they cut my pie, but it was in the back of the pile, so it never actually got set out for people to try.

So we had to take our whole pie home.  I know…terrible right?  Bonus pie.

The soy beans are done.  Today they’re going to try to start corn.  The view outside our house has changed so much.  I couldn’t help but take this pretty picture (above) at dusk.

My view at dawn the next morning was pretty much the same.  Except, of course, with Missy in my view, staring through our window and seeing the lights come on inside the house.  She has shelter.  She prefers to sleep under the stars, where she can keep watch better.

With the rain, and Knut getting to be home, it was such a peaceful, cozy weekend.  I’m blessed.