Yea! It's finally fall. I mean you wouldn't really know it based on the evidence alone: 100 degree temperatures, lack of fall foliage, kids still asking if they can swim. But, I double checked the calendar and indeed it is officially fall! So, cool weather and sweaters or not, I am celebrating the season. We've recreated a bit of the fall feel in our home with faux pumpkins and autumn leaves and pumpkin candles. I even spent all last weekend canning 40 lbs of pears. (Now we have pears for months and I never want to see one again!) If I didn't take a step outside I could almost convince myself rows of trees dressed in their red and orange best and winds that bite at my nose hinting of the winter to come are just the other side of my door. Almost...
I've been in one of those moods lately. The kind where you start to reconsider everything and really feel the need to define yourself, your life, your purpose. I kept trying to figure out who I was, what I was supposed to be doing and then, what does that look like? But, I think I realized somewhere in all that analytical deep thinking, I should get up, stop thinking and actually "do" my life. That is, I already know the most important detail of who I am: I am a child of God. Moreover, He has placed me in such a time as this. A time where I get to enjoy the youth of my children all day, everyday. I never have to give them up or miss out on any of the great discoveries they make, the kind that come once in a lifetime. My husband is my best friend and I spend everyday with him. So what if I stopped trying to figure who I am and started doing the life God has blessed me with the very best that I can? I came to realize that this, right here and now, this is my life. I fell into the realization that I can keep trying to figure out what I should or could be doing or I can do this and do it well and really enjoy it at the same time.
I was helped along to this conclusion by some pretty amazing people around me who are doing just that. First, my girls. Man, do they love life! I mean they wake up everyday excited and can hardly wait to see what adventures are in store for them. Currently, they are working together to clear the side yard to (finally!) start their garden. The most beautiful part of this is that they decided to do it all on their own and they are doing it together. They work right outside my office window and I can hear them singing, laughing, and giggling. Such sweet sounds and I am filled with joy as I hear them, two little best friends, making that sister bond that lasts forever.
They are staying busy with home school and activities. In fact, here is a picture of Emma riding the Sky Bike at the Arizona Science Center. The Sky Bike is a bike suspended two stories that is impossible to tip over. You ride on what is basically a tight rope. Now there's a girl who doesn't miss a chance to have a once in a lifetime experience!
Jill would have gone too if not for her lack of height. Jill is excited for her birthday coming up in December and is already planning her sleepover.
Speaking of sisters living life, mine are doing theirs in a BIG way! My middle sister recently became engaged to a wonderful man. I can't think of two people who deserve happiness more. Oh wait, I can think of two people who also deserve such happiness. My oldest sister recently gave birth to her third child. A beautiful little girl named Claire. She is perfect. Not in the sense that she has 10 fingers and toes, because plenty of perfect children are born without those things. I mean she is perfect in the sense that everything about her is good and lovely. In the wise words of Maurice Sendak, I want to eat her up, I love her so. When I need inspiration to live life well, I need only pick up the phone and call one of these two amazing women I am blessed enough to call my sister.
And then there's the man I share my life with. Talk about inspiring. He spent last weekend in Mexico with 200 teenagers from our church building houses, a rec center and a church with the group, One Mission. He said it was life changing and he has committed to make every 
mission trip to Mexico with the teen ministry. In fact, it impacted him so much he has insisted I go with him next time. It was amazing to hear of the work God is doing there through our youth (who all too often get a bad rap.) It didn't take much persuasion for me to agree to go next time. Erik has also stayed busy at work and mountain biking. He inspires me in the way he sees every minute as a moment not be wasted, every encounter an opportunity and every detail of his life as a gift from God. When I am down, he reminds me to look up.
mission trip to Mexico with the teen ministry. In fact, it impacted him so much he has insisted I go with him next time. It was amazing to hear of the work God is doing there through our youth (who all too often get a bad rap.) It didn't take much persuasion for me to agree to go next time. Erik has also stayed busy at work and mountain biking. He inspires me in the way he sees every minute as a moment not be wasted, every encounter an opportunity and every detail of his life as a gift from God. When I am down, he reminds me to look up.
So, we are going to celebrate the season this weekend and make a pumpkin chocolate cheesecake, go for a hike and do some fall crafts. What do you know? I've fallen in love with my life all over again.
In Christ,
Jaime
