Unscripted October Moments

October 2020

How quicky time pass us by. I wrote down in my agenda about, "how quickly October seem to come around". This is the reason why I try my best to live intentionally. To not live life with haste. To live in the present. To document life from the ordinary mundane moments to fun outings. And this is why I don't ever rush time by saying, "oh, I wish it was Friday, or I wish it was summer, or I wish it was Christmas break". Because I know better. When you think that way it prevents you from living in the present moment.

There's a pumpkin patch about five minutes from our house. Around early October is when you spot a tractor pulling a wagon filled with a huge load of pumpkins driving from their pumpkin patch to several blocks down the road toward their farm store. These were huge pumpkins.

For a few months I began to notice my eyes becoming a little blurry and burn when I read so, Jacob and I both went to see the optometrist. We got our eyes checked and we were both prescribed reading glasses, unfortunately. Fast forward six years to today and we still think having to rely on reading glasses to look at small print is a big inconvenience. I'm still not used to the idea of having reading glasses.

It is such a de-stresser to me to take the backroads whenever possible when I'm feeling overburdened. Driving along pine trees and seeing farm animals lifts my spirits, more so when it is cloudy. I'm keenly aware of my surroundings, observant, and I'm very detailed oriented so at times too much mental overload tends to cause overwhelm. Thankfully, I also know healthy ways on how to relax and decompress.  

This girl, wherever I go especially when I rest, she's sure to follow and lay next to me. I love her fur. She's got a very soft coat. I like to say she's my comfort animal because she feels so familiar to me. She's very patient when I'm holding her and loving on her. I wish she was just as loving towards other cats though.

For those of us that appreciate cloudy weather this scene never gets old. I get excited about cloudy weather as if this type of weather hardly happens, but we know that cloudy weather is a staple in the PNW, still it gets me every time. 

The above cloudy weather brought on a storm. It rained hard late at night which caused a power outage. Power came back on around 5:00 am. I'm glad it did because a cookie bake was planned on this Saturday. 

Riley enjoys helping his dad bake cookies. Sydna grabbing some lunch.

Now adding the icing. I failed to write down what type of cookies they made so I don't have a clue what they're called but I'm sure they were tasty.

This one I know. It was pumpkin cheesecake with crumble. It looks amazing! and I'm sure it was. 

Lila looking pretty.

I had a birthday in October. Riley had the day off for school. After a delicious breakfast we headed N to Redmond and Woodenville. We like taking the scenic route. 

The gorgeous colors of autumn leaves just beg to be displayed.

One of the coziest things to do when it's cloudy and cold is to curl up on the couch and watch a good movie.

After a while though I do feel the need to get up and move around, so we went on a long walk around a couple of neighborhoods.

Spotted these two pretty flowers.

Slow living isn't about doing less; it's about being present in everything you do. It's about connecting deeply with loved ones, nature, and the quiet beauty of daily life. 

This time it was Lila who wanted to sit near me. She's giving me side eye. I love her furry paws. 

Taking the back roads near our home just so I can look at these beauties. Such gorgeous trees.

Nathan dressed up as Bob Ross. So silly.

All ready to head out to a Halloween party.

The devotional book I was reading at the time. (I read it as a book not one devotion a day.) This devotion really caught my attention. We should all heed what it's talking about. We cannot do life on our own. At some point we have to realize that we cannot do life without God.

October was a fun month. It is my favorite month of the year. Anytime I can spend time by the water is always a relaxing enjoyable time for me.

Our lives are made up of time, and the quality of

our existence depends on our wise use of the moments we are given.

Seabrook Washington

Good Friday weekend 2020

Since the lockdown began, mostly everything was closed even church (sad times). We watched Good Friday service online. It's sure not the same. God called us to gather among believers and watching church online just felt wrong. However, one must concentrate on the message. It's such a somber event that happened, Jesus' crucifixion, but as devastating as it was, it was something that was preordained, it had to happen. 

...... Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow .....

On Saturday we drove to a small seaside town called Seabrook. It's 2 hours and 17 minutes West. We first had to drive through Aberdeen to get to it.

This boy couldn't stay awake. I wish I could sleep while out on a road trip. I can't because I hate to miss any interesting or pretty scenery. Another reason I don't sleep on a road trip is because I like to keep Jacob engaged in conversation while he drives especially on long drives since parts of road trips can get boring then drowsiness can creep in.

Also drove past farm land and saw cows grazing. I love seeing farm animals.

We reached Seabrook. Such a cute and pretty town but there was hardly anyone around. In a way that was a good thing. Didn't have to deal with crowds but that also meant that about all retail and restaurants were closed, except for the market and a pizza joint. 

The buildings and houses were very pretty. It looked straight out of a movie. 

Would love to have a summer home here.

The trail that lead you down to the beach meander around these trees. Such a pretty sight.

I was glad for a sunny day since the day was chilly. 

Did you know that living near the ocean is good for you? Sea air contains iodine, salt and magnesium which encourages respiratory health. Also, the negative ions present in ocean air balance serotonin levels and improve your overall well-being, making you feel happier and healthier.

I love being at the beach. I am so grateful for God's creations. I grew up by the ocean and would often go to the beach when I was a child. Even as a teenager and adult we would often go. Once I got married, we would take our two oldest kids to the beach often even though my son Nathan didn't like how the sand felt on his feet and would ask to be carried. But as we continued going, he got used to it and learned to love it all. 

I didn't find any sand dollars on this visit.

This visit to the beach was very pleasant. It was very enjoyable having it mostly to ourselves. Being by the water was a great distraction from the chaos that was going on in our country/world. It's infuriating and devastating how quickly our country has changed for the worst. And to know some people aren't phased by being ordered what to do is incomprehensible.

Freedom has cost too much blood and

agony to be relinquished at the cheap price of rhetoric.

- Thomas Sowell

 Good Friday Prophecy: "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5

Good Friday Fulfilled: "He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." -1 Peter 2:24