It's pumpkin time!

We went up to Oak Glen - a MUST SEE for your fall lovers! :) It was quite busy, but we still had a wonderful time. We went to Riley's Farm to get our u-pick pumpkins (is there ANY other way to get a pumpkin??) :) It was the most glorious day yesterday - cool, crisp and clear! I loved spending time with my love!!! And, of course, I had to throw in some EXTREMELY adorable pics of our Lizzy! (on the way back, we listened to "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" by the Beatles, and decided that that is officially Lizzy's song. :)

Amazing movie - two thumbs up!!!

I encourage every one of you to go see the movie "Fireproof" soon! Cameron and I just saw it last night with our church's marriage group, and it was AMAZING!!! It is a beautiful story, and definitely encourages and challenges you. The move glorified our Lord in a beautiful way! It's a must see!! (Also, you should rent the movie "Facing the Giants" - created by the same church who made "Fireproof" - it has an amazing message as well.

Day at the Akrami's

Today was wonderful. We went over to Cameron's Dad's house to be with him, his mom and his grandmother, Olga, and Richard. It was a great visit! We took Lizzy with us, and she had lots of fun running around the big backyard and being "pushes" (oops!?) into the pond. :) She went for her first official swim today! I learned more Farsi (Persian) today, which will come in handy! Cameron's dad has a ton of fruit trees, of which I picked a bag of apples, some lemons, one (hopefully) ripe pomegranate, and a handful of small avocados. No produce shopping needed for this week! Thanks, Akrami farm! :)

Cameron's 10-year high school reunion

Cameron had his 10-year high school reunion this weekend, and we had a fun time! Above is a picture of most of "The Posse" and their wives/fiances. We had fun together!
My beautiful husband and I at his reunion.

Amy (Brian's wife), me, and Tina (Gavin's fiance) at the reunion.

H2O roomies camping trip!

Last month, we had our annual "H2O roomies" camping trip! This is officially our 3rd annual camping trip, and this year we camped up in Ojai! It was a fun and new experience. Ah, I love the outdoors. We went fishing on our last day, and we went home frustrated at the lack of fish biting. But, it's all about the experience, right? :) We still had a great time.

Rain, never, never go away!

This morning was a beautiful morning! I woke up to a beautiful swirly hue of orange glowing sunlight - the sign of rain!! I know I may sound so weird to my fellow Oregonians, but I miss the rain so much!!!! The rain is such a blessing - it cleanses and washes. It makes me want to do 2 things: 1 - go outside and walk and run in the rain; 2 - stay inside, brew some coffee-pressed coffee, and curl up in a blanket on my sofa and read a book.

It reminds me of a Nichole Nordeman song "Gratitude" - it's such a beautiful song.

Send some rain, would You send some rain?'

Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again

And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?

Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down

Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not todayMaybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude

For lessons learned in how to thirst for You

How to bless the very sun that warms our face

If You never send us rainDaily bread, give us daily bread

Bless our bodies, keep our children fed

Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight

Wrap us up and warm us through

Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs

Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time

Or maybe not, not todayMaybe You'll provide in other ways

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude

A lesson learned to hunger after You

That a starry sky offers a better view

If no roof is overheadAnd if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between

Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace

Move our hearts to hear a single beat

Between alibis and enemies tonight

Or maybe not, not today Peace might be another world away

And if that's the case ...

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude

For lessons learned in how to trust in You

That we are blessd beyond what we could ever dream

In abundance or in needAnd if You never grant us peace ...

But, Jesus, would You please ...

God is faithful!

Today was an amazing day that was filled with God's faithfulness. I often struggle and wonder if I'm making a difference when I'm teaching, and I finally understood that I'm going about it the wrong way. I am in my job because God has called me and HE wants to use me in any way that He choses - NOT how I choose! At college group worship practice last night, we sang the song "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" (not the really famous one). And I came into my choir room and worshipped in the morning before the students came and sang this song, and I welcomed the Lord into my classroom for Him to do HIS will, not mine, as "good" as mine may seem! His blessings abounded, and God was here.
I want to encourage you to invite the Lord into your life, your workplace, your family, and He will show up and show Himself as faithful and will give you strength. He is good.

"Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
It's all about you, Jesus
And all this is for you, for your glory and your fame
It's not about me, as if you should do things my way
You alone are God and I surrender to your ways

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all of my days
For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega, you have loved me
And I will share eternity with you