Halloween!

We have never trick or treated as a married couple, so this night was a first for our little family of three (and a half). Expecting a short-lived celebration, as Jonathan is characteristically shy, we were happily shocked to see him trot up lawns and knock on new doors and even mutter "Trick or Treat" before hesitantly choosing a piece (or two) of candy from the neighbors. It was quite an event, we traveled in a pack of toddlers and adults from our neighborhood, and watched our little train conductor, skeleton, Buzz Lightyear, cheetah, witch, and more run down the street with loose costumes flapping and jack-o-lantern candy pails bobbing. The night was capped off perfectly with an outdoor party at the Matthews' house around a firepit and complete with hot apple cider and pumpkin pie. The whole evening was delicious...

My little train conductor, with his "James" train.

Gosh, he's so cute I can't stand it!

The first house down, and we're off...

When Josh asked him what he got Jonathan replied, "Sceee, scee..." Translation: "I'm so beside myself with excitement about free candy just landing in my bag that I don't even have words to express myself."

The neighbor boys: Conner as a skeleton and Max as Buzz.

With Uncle Seth!

Jonathan and Quincy Matthews, who is decked out as a lobster.

Good friends:) Ashley Burnett and Paul Travers, the Adams family, Brooke and Jared Matthews.

Grace

Last Friday night I believe I literally melted into my bed. This week has been tiring, for all of the usual reasons weeks become that way, and after a great night of talking and laughing and eating with friends I truly had no energy left to throw away the last straggler paper towel, much less find places for all of the toys or wash the dishes still lingering in the sink. I am fairly certain my body stayed curled in one position all night and that even dreams could barely take hold in the bottomless ocean of my slumber. When Jonathan's cries pierced through the still dark early morning I thanked my yet twinkling stars that Josh was willing to go get him.

A few moments later my bouncing two year old pitter patted into my room amid joyful chatter, so excited he was that Daddy was up to play. He gave me a kiss and then bounded down the hall to wait for his dad. Josh smiled at me, kissed me too, and then padded down the hall sleepy-eyed but and shoulders hunched inside his sweatshirt, his muscles still too tired to accept the fact of being outside of a warm bed. I fell back asleep instantly.

Hours later I finally let my body catch up to my brain and stretched my limbs, watching the sun come through the window and color the parts of the bed where my legs made bumps under the covers. I blinked my eyes and threw the sheets back, letting my skin feel the cool October breeze that washed into our room and invited me to get up. Padding softly down the hall I heard the faint sound of the ocean coming through my son's wall. I paused, confused, as I was at home and not at the beach, and then remembered that his new sound machine must still be on and playing the soft sound of waves.

It was with the gentle loll of waves still in my ear that I walked into a perfectly clean living room-- Josh had cleaned it all, early in the morning and while he let me sleep. I peeked into the kitchen, but it too was perfectly clean. I sighed and sat down happily, in the lap of grace.

Grace, I think, is not only to be found in the words I forgive you, but much more often in the beautiful moments. In those flecks of time where you don't deserve and certainly don't expect beauty, to find it is to rest in Grace. From my extra hours of sleep to the sweet kisses from my boys, to the sound of the ocean in the middle of Greensboro to the welcoming sight of no clutter and clean countertops, I was reminded of the Lord's grace, and grateful for its unbidden entrance.

September grass is the sweetest kind

... "Goes down easy like apple wine. Hope you don't mind if I pour you some, made that much sweeter by the winter to come." ~James Taylor

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I can still peel off my sweater when the day gets warm, but the mornings are crunchy acorns under my bare feet when I step outside, cold toes and the brewing thought of socks and hot tea. Today I am going to put a thick ivory covered down comforter back on my oak bed and I will wear jeans and a long sleeve tee. I will drive with the windows down and the fresh Fall air rolling like a symphony through my tired and lately quite stuffy car.

This Autumn brings more than just the relief of cool air and Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks. This Autumn I celebrate being well, feeling whole and human and more than a sick lag on the couch. As my belly swells with the baby being knitted together inside I am grateful for that gentle pucker and the fact that I am enjoying this little presence por fin. Josh and I were more than ready for another child, but the illness of this pregnancy was unforeseen and certainly not long awaited.

As it is, we have come through a hot, sick summer with pure joy at the thought of who we will meet in March and I even enjoyed a therapeutic stay in the Outer Banks just before the 80s turned to 70s and the hot sun to a deluge of rain!

Here are a few snapshots of what our summer has held. As you can see Jonathan and I are both growing rapidly and Josh is handedly holding us together.

Early summer days, fun in the sun and splashin' in the pool!

A visit to Grandy's house with Charles and Emily.

A little bit of toning.

Not so much toning here... (This is a recent pic, taken about 2 weeks ago.)

What better way to usher out summer than sandcastles with cousins?! Of course, Jonathan liked knocking them over best.