My Favorite Things: Fall

Yesterday was the first day I could taste it. AUTUMN. Now, granted, it was like 83 degress today. But the air is starting to cool, and the gentle breeze is starting to blow brightly colored leaves through the air. It's just starting, but I can't wait for Fall to be in full swing. 

Fall is my favorite season. When I was little I would always say, "I want to be in love in the Fall." It's a terribly romantic season to me. I love absolutely everything about Fall, except how quickly it turns into Winter. Pumpkins, apple cider, sweaters, brightly colored leaves...I love it all and I wish it would last longer. This sounds weird, but I have always felt the most alive during the Fall. Every time I walk outside I feel like dancing around and singing. I feel almost adventurous. 

Fall always reminds me of how quickly things change. Of course, there are the tangible physical reminders of changing leaves and cooler weather. But because I have such an affection for Fall, and because it is such a short season in the year, it reminds me to savor the good and the beauty around me.

This time next year, I will be married. My life will be radically different. Right now I'm kind of floating on the cloud of the hopes and dreams that I see becoming a reality in my life. And next year I'll be living that reality. And I just want to drink this all in.

"Learn to savor how good the Lord is" (Psalm 34:9) I don't like change (so it's ironic that I love Fall). When there is a good in my life, I want to cling to it. And the reality is, there is a LOT of good in my life. My friends, the city where I live, my job, my past experiences, my future plans. They are all so good. But the past couple of years I have grown in my appreciation for the "seasons" that the Lord has for me in my life. Things will change. Things need to change in order for me to receive the good that God has for me. 

So I feel like this Fall is going to be extra special in my heart. First of all, because that little girl dream of being in love in the Fall came true :) And second of all, I think the Lord is reminding me to savor His goodness...and to be ready to give and receive as He calls me. To savor His goodness, to delight in His love, and to be grateful with every breath for every breath.

Here's to the love of the Lord...and pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,

Catherine

"You Are Good"

"You guard my way, You guide my steps

Even though I should walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I will not fear

Though mountains high or valleys low

You are guiding my path in ways that I cannot know

Your love is strong

Should joy be great or sorrow more

In Your love You are keeping my every breath secure

You are my hope

The way is not safe

These storms they will rage on

And though I am not brave

I know You are good."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,

Catherine

Carpe Now

At the recommendation of several friends, I've decided to start this blog.

As I always say...carpe now!

My hesitancy in blogging (or writing in general, for that matter) is that I'm never sure what to say. Which is ironic, considering how much I talk. But its not like I have any particular field of expertise or any great knowledge or wisdom to share with the world. 

But at the same time, maybe I do have something to share. Not wisdom, per se. But I think there is something to be said for the sharing of the ordinary and the mundane...because in it we find the incredible and the beautiful. 

Not that my life is exactly mundane at the moment. Actually, a lot is going on in my life right now. I just got engaged (*insert girly screams of excitement*). And...yep. Well, I got engaged. BUT that pretty much means that life as I have known it is forever radically changed. As my wise mother pointed out to me "You have spent your entire life not being married, and it's going to be a long time before you've been married longer than you were not married". TRUTH. So this is going to be a pretty significant switch. A lot of change, a lot of new, a lot of hard, and a lot of absolutely amazing. 

So that could be interesting and exciting. I know for a fact that this whole "being-engaged-to-a-guy-who-wants-to-spend-the-rest-of-his-life-with-me" business has been calling me on to more self-examination and prayer. Because marriage is the vocation that I am going to be sanctified by. This is how I'm going to become holy. And I want to be prepared start preparing for that reality.

Because this holiness stuff is tricky business. It's what we were made for, and yet it seems that everything makes that goal difficult. Matthew 5:48 (one of my favorite Scripture verses) tells us to "Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect." But Romans 3:23 reminds us that, "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Both of these are true, and this is the paradox that I have been reflecting on today. I can't use my sinfulness as an excuse for complacency. I want to set the bar high for myself and strive for a "still more excellent way" (1 Cor. 12:31). For me, writing is a way to reflect and examine and externally-process all this holiness/life stuff. Which is important, because I definitely don't have it figured out yet. But maybe this blog can be a part of that.

So maybe no one will read this blog (except for me when I attempt to proof-read it). Or maybe five people will. But quite possibly there will be a time in the future when I can look back on what I've written and gain something from the time capsule of thoughts and ponderings and ideas and dreams that could gather here. And maybe someone else can glean something from my ramblings. 

Be forewarned: there are bound to be things that I'm going to talk about a lot. They are as follows...

• Jesus: I should hope, because He should be first and foremost. 
• My fiancè: because I kind of like him ;) 
• Food: because I just really really like food. A lot. 

This is a bit long. Maybe I had more to write about than I thought I did. 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
Catherine