I feel like I get to this point in the fall where all I want to do is 'get organized, started, motivated', etc. I go a million miles an hour during the summer and then I stop when fall starts. Yesterday was the start of fall, if we're basing it on the school year. My baby girl started kindergarten. So I'm blogging again to try to get organized.

Let me back up and recap the chaos of this summer.
May-July is a blur. Tons of prep for a mission trip to Peru. Nick and I led a team of 38 to a small town outside of Cusco. Loved it. Grew a lot. Really tired. We went camping right before that in Southern Oregon on the Rogue River for our annual family 'camping' trip. Really we just stayed in a deluxe trailer with hookups. No complaints. The kids loved it and got crazy dirty. It was fantastic. Last year's post on the cinnamon roll guy will sum up how awesome the trip is. This year all the kids got up before the sun and waited for him to pull into the campground. About 8am, they asked the park ranger where the cinnamon roll guy was. He told them he'd died about 10 months prior. The kids were so sad. But it brought about amazing conversation with Reagan about death and the choice we have to make when we're here on earth. Then Peru, then Hume, and we're heading up to Hume again today for Labor Day, then back up to Southern Oregon for my Beautiful Grandma's wedding. Yep, she's gettin' hitched. We're all so happy for her and thrilled that for the first time in her life, she will get to be taken care of. All my Grandma has ever done her entire life is care for others. Her Grandparents, parents, in-laws (I watched this first hand growing up), her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren. Also ex-cons, stray dogs, and the homeless. She is my hero and exemplifies Matthew 25:35. She is my hero. More on Virgie to come after the wedding on the 10th, which my sister and I will be shooting at;).

I am tired. I am worn out. And it's good. More than just life events, I wanted to share a little about what God's been teaching me this summer.

1. I have 2 ears and one mouth for a reason.
2. I am thrilled that I can ask Him for wisdom and He freely gives it.
3. My way isn't always THE way.
4. The weight of parenting is heavier on my heart than ever
5. Now is not the time for another child to come into our family, which breaks my heart.
6. My heart is for missions and orphans.
7. I don't care what people think. I care what God thinks.
8. I lack self control.
9. I have some of the most amazing best friends in the world. Carrie, Nat, Jennelle, Sally, Kendra, Michelle. I cherish them.
10. The old testament gets wacky sometimes but is so rich.
11. I don't want to waste my life on things.
12. I am more in love with Jesus than I ever have been, and for me, it started with my understanding of Judah's adoption.
13. I am 'a wretched, poor and helpless worm, on Thy Kind Arms I fall' is the greatest phrase I have ever heard in my life.
14. My life is simply not mine. No matter how long or how much I fight this principle.
15. God doesn't need me.
16. I am finding so much joy in praying and watching God unfold the story.

And some non-spiritual things too:
1. I love to repurpose. My new favorite show is Picker Sisters. That'll have to be another post.
2. I love pinterest.
3. I don't love facebook anymore.
4. I have a renewed love for reading.
5. I am so enjoying gardening. It's so relaxing and fun to learn.

I know this post is a little out there, but I think this is just kinda how my brain works...it's everywhere. I don't think in one direction. It's weird, but I'm learning to come to terms with it and at the same time, be organized through it.

So Reagan started Kindergarten! My baby.... I totally cried. Yep. I was that mom. I'm so proud of her as she grows up, and so reminded to be on my knees for her. Parenting is the hardest job in the world.