We've passed the halfway point, people! We are now less than eight weeks from the end of the semester -- which is quite shocking, actually. For those of you who didn't already know, this is "la mia stagione preferita," or my favorite season, for a lot of reasons.
We'll start with the most obvious: Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back, y'all. Unfortunately, when I take the time to consider the calorie intake, I only end up drinking 1-2 all season, but still, it's cause for celebration. Maybe you don't like pumpkin spice lattes? Well, to that I'd say 1) you're crazy; 2) insert your favorite herbal tea or coffee flavor here. Every hot drink is more appreciated. The very act of using a mug seems a little more validated. You understand.
Candles. There's nothing like the smell of pumpkin pie and cinnamon spice filling up every corner of your house to make you feel festive 24/7.
Oddly enough, death. There's something peculiarly natural about the entire world shedding its skin and dying so that the spring is extra-inviting. And although it's only pretty while the leaves are changing, I'm not appalled when the grass turns that nasty shade of pale yellow.
I'm sure you have your own reasons for loving autumn, or maybe you don't. Nevertheless, treasure it! Because it usually ends up feeling/being the shortest of them all.
This past weekend, I ended up being a "sponsor" on the Fall Retreat at the last minute. I put sponsor in quotations because if you know me at all, you know that sometimes I have to be scolded for being as obnoxious as the junior-highers that I'm supposed to be overseeing. It ended up feeling short -- which is sad because it was the most fun I've had in awhile. A lot of the kids weren't able to attend for one reason or another (it being fall break that weekend) but we seemed to make the best of it.
I learned to play Mafia, which is a really fun and addicting card game that has absolutely nothing to do with cards. I'm being really clear, aren't I? We had fart-making contests -- with our mouths, of course. I won, naturally. If you ask me to demonstrate the next time I see you, I just might grace you with my award-winning fart. We went hiking, of course, since we were at QMCC. Usually we just hike Young's Mountain since it's on campus and the trails are really obvious. This time J took us to some of the surrounding hills and we got to spread out and go where we wanted. I was with Shawna, who if you didn't already know, is a beast. She's that girl that goes to "Boot Camp" at 5a.m. during the week and has mythological calves. True story. This hill feels like a 90 degree angle and homegirl's sprinting up the mountain. Seriously? I don't kid myself, I went into this adventure knowing that I'm out of shape but apparently I'm REALLY out of shape. We had Brandon and Zach with us (two 12-year-olds) and they're poor legs weren't long enough for our strides. Here's one I took of them -- look how tiny they are compared to the rock!
You wouldn't believe the sea of cacti that we happened upon. One of the quills went through my shoe and sock and I had to stop, remove my shoe, and extract it before we could move on. Needless to say, seeing the top was rewarding. From the picture it looks like nothing, but we were so high and the view was lovely.
And most importantly, I learned a lot. Mostly about myself and what I need to fix and change about me. Usually I'm so busy staring at a chalkboard and pouring over textbooks that I really don't have much time for reflection and self-evaluation, which some would argue is the superior education. Something I took away this weekend -- what sometimes seems like an overused verse but seemed to be what I needed to hear:
"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."
Psalm 139
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