forward motion

Last week, Ashley asked if I wanted to do the Reindeer Run 5K with her and Kathryn.

The more I thought about it, the more it sounded like a great idea.

Just yesterday, I determined that if I actually want to do it, I should probably move my butt between now and December 4th.

So I ran. A little. More like jogging. But I did it here:

And here:

Hyland Lake Park Reserve is my favorite place in the world to run. I love that it's a mile from my house. I love that I can choose dirt or paved trails. I love that I know my favorite loop inside out. I love that my memories of this place go clear back to childhood, playing at the park formerly known as Chutes & Ladders, and losing my sunglasses in the lake while paddle-boating with my Mom and brother, and the summer of 2007 running with Amanda Twistol just weeks before she became Amanda Prihoda.

(uh, PS, those photos aren't mine. Just sayin'.)

Right. So back to yesterday. I purposely left my iPod at home. It was just me, the 50F wind, the sunset, and God.

It was glorious.

I forgot how much I love being outside. And being outside in autumn. And maybe even that burning in my lungs reminding me that I am alive.

I did couple loops, didn't push too hard, just enjoyed the weather. And 4.2 miles of forward motion later, I was home again, absolutely invigorated and thinking "Again! Again! Again!"

Then I saw that the forecast for next Thursday reads "Rain/Snow Showers."

Ugh. Fall, why do you have to leave me so soon?!

a few of my favorite things

[This post has some incredible photography, none of which is mine. Thank you, Marjorie Howell.]

Once upon a time, it was October.

Which is probably my favorite month of my favorite season. For a lot of reasons. October brings changing leaves, harvest time, birthdays, crisp weather, and tiny whispers of winter.

It also brings apple picking, which is probably the most delightful activity there ever was.

If you plant me a Cortland apple tree, I'll love you forever. Fact.

So this weekend, I went to an orchard.And I picked. And I ate. Well, we ate.

And we took pictures and laughed.

Oh, did we laugh."We" being me and three amazing people that God has seen fit to bless me with.
How it makes sense, I don't know; but I am grateful.

It was the most enchanting day I've had since coming back from Nigeria. By far.

It is true that life also goes through seasons. Some are filled with trials and pinching and stretching. Other seasons, like this one, are filled with innumerable joys. The differences between today and 365 days ago are vast, but my trust is in the same God, who is still faithful, still in control, and still blessing me.

Here's to a new season, which coincides nicely with my favorite season.

All pictures courtesy Spencer and Marjorie Howell. Thanks, you two.

most wonderful time of the year

You guys, it's here. Fall.

You know, the season I've been waiting for and talking about and missing all the way from Nigeria?

Well, it's here.

Yesterday was drizzly and blustery and under 60F. Which was awesome, and totally sweatshirt weather, except that I didn't have anything to wear to work.

I don't mean that I pulled everything out of my closet onto the floor, stamped my foot like a twelve-year-old, and complained that I had nothing to wear. I mean that I stared at my closet for a full minute looking for a combination of long pants, long-sleeves, and a cute fall jacket. There was no such outfit.

Apparently, I've never needed autumn dress clothes. All previous autumns have been spent in the collegiate world of Wheaton sweatshirts, with the exception of last autumn, which was spent in 90-degree Nigeria.

Yesterday, I wore khaki pants and a khaki raincoat. They khlashed. It was bad.

After work, I picked up some decent matching clothes. At Target, I ran across this:
Yankee Candle's Autumn Festival jar candle, a.k.a. Autumn-in-my-Room.

These things: this candle, these clothes, this time of year, this crisp anticipation of what winter has in store, these things help me miss Nigeria less. Only a little bit, but still. I'll take what I can get.