mm. i love autumn. i do.

 i love listening to the leaves crackling beneath my feet and feasting on the terribly impressive display of color.

i spent september in the peaks of snow basin. my eyes saw the first leaf turn crimson.

i spent october walking through the valley of the dog park, treading on a carpet of bright leaves.

a few nights ago, as momma and i were walking through the dog park we saw one lone tree, holding on to all it's golden leaves. the surrounding trees were empty with no color to offer.

sometimes i feel like i am holding on to my leaves to the bitter end; showing off my color long after those around me have faded. the year i got engaged, my color never faded.

this year i am a barren, empty tree. my leaves were the first to fall and my color the first to fade. my branches were full of hope and green with life once, but the cold came too quickly and i am left with empty branches; hungry as i look at the harvest around me.

i crave a blanket of white snow to tuck me into winter's slumber, so i can rest and sleep and hope for spring; hope for budding, green, full branches.

i am grateful that the earth mourns. i am grateful for seasons of abundance and seasons of scarcity. seasons of loss and seasons of hope.

i love autumn.  

good

today is a good day.

the grass is green. the sun is shining. the breeze is whispering.

last night my main squeeze came home with beautiful spring flowers for me, after working another 10 hour day. how am i so lucky? after dinner he took me to see 1 day old baby lambies and then kissed me goodnight as he headed to play bball at 10 as i was heading to bed.  this guy doesn't stop. i love him. i love how hard he works and how much he makes me laugh. i get to play golf with this handsome dude tonight, and there is nothing i love more than to watch his smile after he crushes his drives 360 yards straight down the fairway.

i woke up to the news of my brand new baby nephew, born this morning. a healthy 9 lbs and 21 inches. chubby as can be. i can't wait to snuggle him and kiss those fat cheeks in a few more days. i love my family. period.

boss surprised me with a call around lunchtime saying he was coming over trappers loop. we went off to get lunch and farr's ice cream followed by a trip to sportsmans warehouse to get a buoy for jack and 270 clay pigeons. i love my dad. it seems appropriate that this new little baby be named after this wonderful guy.

we got to go to the cabin, just us, last weekend. we rode bikes down the red rock river valley, hauled pipe, ate fried green beans at slackers, rode horses and fished all in 24 hours. no one has more energy or fun than my dad. he is understated, generous, funny, good. i can't think of a better dad.

after that i jumped on my bike and rode all around my neighorhood. sun kissing my face, jack nipping at my heels. i love that dog. biking is only way now that i can release some of his good old fashioned lab energy. we rode down to silver lake and fetched with his new buoy. i need to bridle some of the energy and be as excited about life as he is.

speaking of jack, he has a new friend, JILL. i almost hit a lop-eared bunny a few nights ago and brought it home. she is the cutest and snuggliest little thing. jack sits in front of her cage and whines. it is so funny.

anyways, i am looking out my window at the mountains and green fields bowing to the breeze, overflowing with gratitude for my life, my family and my Lord. 

top ten

i am missing my family today, they are scattered all over instead of gathered in. maybe it is the youngest in me, but i always want my family close by.

always growing up, we would list our top ten of the year on new years. so i will proceed to do so:

1. getting married to darren! it has been a great year, with lots of growing. darren is very patient and i am blessed to have him as my life partner.
2. we bought a house-it is so fun to have our own place! hoping that a yard is on my list new year
3. we lost aunt robyn and grandpa moe this fall. i am learning a lot about the plan of salvation and the legacy of a life.
4. we added a new member to our family...our little canine jack who is equally cute as he is naughty.
5. we went a whole year without a tv AND we got one for christmas.
6. i left the family business (still missing boss and jamie) and started a new job that i am loving.
7. a new niece and a new nephew this year and two more nephews to come next year!
8. darren and i got to do pioneer trek together this year as a ma and pa-it was a great experience to do together.
9. darren got a new investor in his company that we are grateful for...and i don't see him as much anymore!
10. one of the best nights of the whole year was december 23 at boss and nanny's. we re-created the nativity, watched the girls open american girl dolls, ate crab and chowder, received heirloom guns and watches from grandpa moe and came into 2012 with ipads! i love my family.