October, where did you go? At least it had the courtesy to actually bring the weather it’s known for along with it. We’ve been on a steady 40s or 50s in the am and 70s in the pm streak, which around here is pretty rare. We usually spike one way or the other in a quest to get every season…in every season. Even had to bring out some of the cold weather running gear.
Oh no, no. Not to run though. I am apparently too old for that now. I’ve been doing a walk-run thing for the past month after multiple failed attempts to get back to running more than a mile at a time. I did something to my knee back in the spring and I have not been able to figure it out. I hate being injured…reminds me that I’m human, so it’s been tough mentally and physically. The sad part is I don’t even remember doing anything specific to it…I think the most likely culprit was moving back into the house. I have a tendency to do too much on my own. Shocker, I know. All the up and down stairs with heavy stuff is probably not ideal on the early 40s body. And then, I have a tendency to think I’m still in my early 20s when I could push through an injury with little doubt of failure. I push now and things go from bad to worse. And though I’ve proved that out more times than I care to count, I give it a shot each new time anyway.
Another sign of being old, talking about injuries and maladies all the time. So enough of that.
Left-to-right, top-to-bottom: We made it to a pumpkin farm and that’s small bear with her traditional apple cider donut. #worththetrip Next is the obligatory staged photo at said pumpkin farm with dad taking the picture. Might have been the last year of the pumpkin farm trips for us as we age out, so we were thankful to get it in. That was back when we were trying to force fall upon ourselves amidst 95% humidity…hence why we did not take the time to get dad in the picture and everyone looks like they are really forcing those smiles. Decorating the front steps could only help our cause though, right? L is loving being back home and decorating for the seasons…I am loving that she’s loving it. ❤️ The next one, top right, might be my favorite. Char decided to run for student council to be the 3rd grade representative. Only one representative from the whole grade. She was so proud when she came home and got to tell us, “I made the mallet!” It took a minute and then we realized, “Oh, ballot.” She immediately asked to take advantage of the (5) posters she would be allowed to put up as campaign ads - that’s probably her top one that she found the inspiration for and created all by herself. We celebrated mommy turning 29, again! We love her so much and loved her pick to go out for hibachi…dinner and a show! Arlie, the best dog. If she could talk, I think she would think “the best dog” is her last name. The last one is a little AI fun on the girls’ weekend trip to Myrtle. 😂
We also squeezed in our (hopefully now annual) fall beach trip. We went down to OIB with friends for a long weekend. I was in Atlanta all week the week prior for a work conference, so I met the gang there…driving from Atlanta to Ocean Isle, do not recommend.
L had to take over my usual duties and pack the car for a trip by herself. That’s her work in the top left. She did a great job, but she has shown her hand now though…may have landed herself a new role. We caught our own bait in the intercoastal waterway one morning, while the girls watercolored at the house. We had one day of cold, drizzly rain where we hoodies were out in full force on the beach. We had another day that was hot and sunny, and we spent a decent amount of time in the water. Arlie loved her first trip to the coast, had the best time digging in the sand, and is mid on the ocean. The boys and I got in a lot of fishing time and caught enough to keep us out waiting for the next one when we couldn’t feel our fingers. They each caught a fish on their own, which was a proud dad moment for sure. Last one, my buddy threw out his crab pot overnight and we did alright on the blue crabs…made a nice little appetizer before our low country boil.
With all that action, and a j-o-b, I have not exactly been focused on my project. I’ve had little pockets of weekends where I’ve chipped away and this is our current status…who needs a real roof and a door anyway?
It’s been a fun month. We have lamented over the boys’ sports teams, but they have made the most of them. I think they won a combined three games between the two…some good lessons about persevering even when it’s not going the way you hoped. They were both on the more talented, athletically gifted ends of their respective teams, so that made it all the more frustrating. Baseball is officially over after an unsurprising first round playoff loss. No, not the Braves…they made it all the way to the divisional round after being the best team in baseball for a good chunk of the season. I meant the SCRA Majors Cannonballers. Flag football on the other hand, has another couple of games…holding out hope that we might score our second touchdown of the season. 😬
We better pause here for this month. I need to go rest up. We’ll be roaming the neighborhood trick-or-treating this weekend. The day after that, November 1st, I’ve been informed that I will be running stairs up to our attic. Why? Well, that’s where our Christmas decorations are, of course! Telling myself that at least I’ll get to enjoy the day after Thanksgiving in peace. 😂
I’ve been listening to a sermon series on the beatitudes over the past couple of months. It’s all been really good, but this past week was on v. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” It was pretty poignant for me. We went through a bible study called Peacemakers many years ago…that’s where it first clicked for me that it can only be considered an apology if it ends in a period. There can be no “but” or continuation, otherwise we’re just justifying…and one of the leaders of that study said it well, humans have an incredible capacity to justify anything. It was a good word in this time and place we live in….just how radical a concept it is to apologize, to own your actions, to seek someone out and have a real, honest conversation about things under the surface between you. I needed to hear it…in general but also specifically to a situation that is developing for me. Thankful for how the Spirit is at work.