Red Maple…or orange?

I hope you all aren’t ridiculously tired of my autumn photos.  I just never grow weary of the reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn!  This is the first fall season I’ve been home for in 3 years.  In Kenya, the trees were all purple at the time of our fall.  In Colorado, all the trees were golden yellow and absolutely majestic.  But there is something so amazing about fall in Kansas.  I love the VARIETY in color!  My mother bought a red maple for our yard and has been hoping it would turn a fiery red…this year the leaves finally did turn a beautiful color but more orange-y than red.  But regardless it is beautiful!

Nov11-Playing

Ella also likes to play with “jewry”, try on any pair of shoes she finds, and color…or rather just empty out all the crayons from the box!  She also loves to do whatever we are doing!  This morning Andrea was getting ready, and Ella thoroughly enjoyed trying on ALL of the bobby pins, which she calls “bows”. (Anything that goes in the hair is a bow!)  After Ella goes home, it is not unusual to realize I have a few extra bobby-pins in my hair or a few extra necklaces around my neck!

Sidewalk chalk

Ella came over today and we had all kinds of fun!  It was such a gorgeous day, so we took advantage of it and played with side-walk chalk!

Nov10

Oh the beautiful faces…

Safari sunset

Safari

Goodbye fall colors…

As I was driving home from the retreat, I realized that in just a few short days most of the trees had lost their leaves and our world now looks more winter than fall.  I love the beginning of Autumn, but have a hard time with the end of the season…I want it to stay for months longer!  However, I am determined to enjoy each beautiful day we have left!  Tonight Ella was here and we raked leaves and played in them again.  We also went on a walk this evening and it was the PERFECT temperature…I didn’t even need my jacket!

242 Retreat

I spent the past weekend on a retreat with the young adult group I am now going to in Wichita (242 stands for Acts 2:42)!  We drove about an hour and 15 min. from Wichita to a retreat center in Eastern Kansas, and I shared a cabin with 5 other wonderful girls (including Andrea).  The speaker was from Young Life in Wichita (a ministry that works with junior high and high schoolers) and really had some great perspective and insight to share with the group.  He often spoke on passages I have heard a hundred times and yet each time I was amazed at the fresh perspective!  I have plenty to think about!

I woke up early both days and walked down to the lake for my devotions.  I’ve been reading through 2 Corinthians because Pastor Dave is doing a sermon series on it at church. This morning, I read 2 Corinthians 5 in which Paul said Jesus has died for us, rose again and now has given us the message of reconciliation to share with the world!  I was really thinking what that looks like for this period in my life.  THEN…for chapel that morning the speaker used that same passage and spoke about our ministry of reconciliation.  SO AMAZING when that happens!

I am really excited to finally have found a community of people close to my own age that I can connect with!  Most people at 242 are out of school and working somewhere in Wichita or close to finishing their degrees at Wichita State or Friends University.  I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and really look forward to building on those foundations in the months to come.  I am really praying I can find a good job in Wichita…I would really love to move there in the next few months so I can be even more involved.

I was up ENTIRELY too late last night playing a game so I am going to try to make it an earlier night tonight.  I hope you have all had a relaxing / fun weekend and that you will be refreshed for the week to come!

My little furry friend