I found a place . . .

. . . where Autumn finally fell,

and, I picked it up.

"The human soul is slow to discover the real excellence of things given to us by a bountiful

Creator, and not until the shadows of death begin to gather around the object that we love, 

do we see its worth and beauty. Autumn is the dim shadow that clusters about the sweet,

precious things that God has created in the realm of nature. While it robs them of life, it tears

away the veil and reveals the golden gem of beauty and sweetness. Beauty lurks in all dim old

aisles of nature, and we discover it at at last." - Northern Advocate

{KK 411}

 For the second day in a row it was really foggy.

And for the second day in a row I went out with my camera.

Because it was so foggy I couldn't see very far at all,

which made me look at what was right in front me.

And what I found was a place where Autumn finally fell...

a blazing trail of crimson red, giving back remnants from the summer sun,

carried on the wings of the wind.

Grateful that fall has finally graced the gulf coast, even if it's a whisper!

Yes, I have more to share...no I just didn't get them finished before this morning, and I'll be heading out with my boy for what I'm hoping will be close to the last of his infusions. We will both be getting a dose of grateful...such a hard place to be for a mom and a 16 year old boy...but it is a place where you will find a multitude of blessings when you keep your eyes open. Sometimes, we just have to remember to look a little harder, and take a little extra time, to dig down deep, to find the good in the places that are the most difficult.

Because I think gratitude is much more than finding good when we aren't in the midst of a storm. It's the recognition that there are even good things among bad happenings.

With much gratitude and love, 

Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World, Sweet Shot Tuesday

The harvest of a season . . .

"Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night; and thus he would never know the rhythms that are at the heart of life."

-Hal Borland

Spring, no doubt is one of my favorite seasons....it's about life and rebirth and about hope.

but,

summer would definitely be a strong second...as time is more carefree, and fun, and the days are longer.

That would be followed by Autumn (or fall), and my least favorite....old man winter (and I don't even live in a cold and snowy climate).

Each season has a beginning and an end, yet in no way can be rushed. Because they are marked by the moon and by the setting sun. And this timetable has remained unchanged for eternity. We can put our trust in that.

I. . . put my trust in that. 

But, sometimes, well more like lately . . . 

 I've been having some difficulty with the timing of some of these personal seasons in life. I sometimes feel like God has maybe just forgotten. 

Right now, I would really like to run ahead of His plan and implement my own, but this time of year like no other reminds me that if I try to get there in my own timing, I will most likely miss the harvest altogether. And I guess at the very least some lessons to take with me to the next season.

So, I went back to re- read some of Solomon's words...(Ecc 3:1-2) There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.....(3-8) A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. 

 This time I think I got something else out of it. Maybe when He provides these cycles in our lives it's not really about just getting through to the other side as much as it is the work we need to do while we are there. That we need to be active participants, not by standers in waiting.

The seasons of time and of life are really no different as both are guided by His hand...and have been for eternity. Both not only signify change but without either maybe there would be no way to appreciate where we are, where we have been and the changes that take place within us along the way.

And can I put trust in the seasons of time without putting trust in the other?

I just need to remind myself of this over and over again that His timing not mine is important. To be reminded that I'm not in control and to be patient so that I may know and understand better the rhythms that make up the heart of life. Some rhythms, seasons, easier to dance to than others, but grateful to be dancing none the less.

 Love, Kim


Linking with Tuesday Muse, Texture Tuesday, Tuesdays Around the World,

I found Autumn falling . . .

. . . ever so gently!

"No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, no fruits,
no flowers, no leaves, no birds - November!"

- Thomas Hood

I went for a walk, and not only was I finding fall, but apparently Mr. Thomas Hood has never been
to Texas in November . . .


. . . because I found some shade.

And not just some shine . . . but some Texas star shine.

Yes there are still butterflies . . .

My submission for Photo Art Friday - the theme this week is digital still life - and I'm very, very loosely

interpreting it this week. It's life, it's very still, and I digitally manipulated the photo by adding textures, ta da!

{ The first 3 textures I used are from Bonnie called Soft Sunset, Margin Call, Vintage Vellum and then

finished with Kim Klassen's texture Kristen }

I found the bees were still buzzing . . . I even got a little serenade from this one!

{ Foto Friday - texture}

 

And the plants are still growing fruit.

  Vines are still flowering. . .

 And not only are there still leaves, but they are turning beautiful colors against a bright blue fall sky!

And when it comes to the coast, here you will always find birds. These are our resident Quaker/Monk Parakeets and quite a chatty bird, almost always greeting me when I arrive for the sunrise.

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is
a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."

I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful fall day where you are!

 Love, Kim
XO


Sharing with Photo Art Friday, Foto Friday, This and That Thursday, Finding Serendipity,
Thursday Favorite Things, A Rural Journal, Fabulous Friday, Little Things Thursday,
Favorite Foto Friday

Foto Friday - A time for everything

Come out, come out wherever you are!

As much as things change sometimes they just seem to stay the same, well that is

depending on where you live. I've been seeing these gorgeous images that others are

sharing of the beautiful change of seasons - they are falling into Autumn - and I can't find

it to save my life. So, being determined as I am, I set out last weekend in search of it.

It was subtle, I certainly didn't trip over it, and after a 5 mile walk I finally found signs of it.
But, it was a reminder that there is a time for everything. . .
. . . and then I thought about Solomon's observations:

Ecc 3:1-22
There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.

{linked with La-La's home daycare - theme leaves and fabulous Friday}

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

Talk about seasons, there is not a thing about this caterpillar that would make

you believe it will turn into a most beautiful butterfly . . . and that gives me hope!

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to lose.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

{linking this with favorite photo of the week }

{And then some fun in picnik, linked to Photo Art Friday}

A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

(What are the chances that this incredible dragonfly would perch directly over the

scattered corn on the ground?)

Ecc: 9-13

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

(Mostly I found the colors that would remind one of fall, but here it is, my clue that the season is truly changing)

And so, there is a time for everything. Solomon is trying to tell us that God has a plan for all of us and that timing, timing is of utmost importance. That there will be things we experience that will be appropriate in the right seasons of our lives, but it will be in His timing and not ours. He also reminds us that we will truly know how to enjoy life when we recognize that our gifts come from God.

The seasons signify change and the passing of time and without them perhaps we wouldn't take notice to the subtle changes that take place within ourselves. They remind me to have patience, and that I'm not in control. I am grateful for the gift God gave me not only to look but to see the beauty in the ordinary before me and the patience to sometimes wait for it. I can't tell you how often I am stopped when I'm with my camera and asked, "What do you see?" And that's when I know the work that God has put before me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, Kim
XO

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