Fall Morning Walks, Evening Sunsets

This year, the days of autumn have been filled with such splendor that my heart aches. Ever felt that way? You want the beauty to slow down... quiet the mad rush of exploding colors so you can soak in every beautiful minute of it. I think that is why Fall makes me sad and glad all at once. It is so rich. So beautiful. So exquisite in every detail, while I know it is fleeing even in its glory. Each falling leaf means one less leaf on the tree, and soon the winds and rain will come, and the leaves will all have fallen. I am trying not to think of that, but rather just enjoy every beautiful moment. 

 

Early mornings bring a ray of promise with the fog layers hanging low, as the sun's warmth pushes the wispy fog away. 

Morning walks show the trees losing their leaves, one by one, but still brilliant. 

Fog layers hanging over the mountains

Always an inspiring view

Our neighbor's vintage machinery

Evening sunset skies

The skies of Sandpoint are surrounded by mountains, and this glorious sunset.

These clouds were incredible as if they were moving off the mountain

Riley enjoys our morning walks together. She lets me know every morning when it's time to get ready to leave! 

Burning bush beams bright red! 

Rose hips sparkle after the rain. They are abundant this year! I have been feeding them to my chickens. They love 'em! 

My Fall Garden welcome sign

Miracle Missy has settled into life at our home quite comfortably. I talked to her momma yesterday, and they are still working on getting into another apartment. She hopes sooner rather than later, but of course, everything is taking a very long time. If you want to read about Missy's rescue from the fire, you can read my blog post here. 

Missy and Bandit have become friends and sleep on my bed together. I'm thankful they are all getting along! With cats, you just never know! I let Missy introduce herself on her own terms to the other four cats, and it has gone really well. I know she will be so happy to get back to living with her momma. While she and I talked on the phone, Missy walked all around me looking for her! I'm glad to have been part of this miracle! 

Did you see the October Hunter's Moon? It was truly spectacular. I saw it coming up through the trees, and tried to photograph it. Its light was so bright that the picture was blurry and overexposed. 

I kept working with my phone camera, changing angles, positions, and settings.  Suddenly... the blur disappeared, and this came into view!

It was quite a transformation on my screen - from blurry to clear. I was so excited to be able to see the moon's spots, its shadows, and craters when before all I could see was an orb of light. 

This poem came to me: 

This orb of light

That brightens the night,

So far from Earth,

Yet close to sight.

Unknown depths,

Unseen delights,

This light speaks

To me tonight.

The message it spoke to me was simple. 

Life is full of fuzzy moments. 

We struggle to make out details, form opinions, and see clearly. We try different angles, alternative approaches, and still nothing makes much sense. 

Then God steps into our picture, and the fuzzy disappears, the light becomes the moon, and we can see clearly what before was hidden.  

This reminded me of our lives - so often we struggle with focus. 

There are seasons in life when our vision seems clouded and shrouded in uncertainty. We cannot see what lies ahead, and we wonder how everything will work together. Yet God sees the entire picture. He knows what we cannot know. He understands what we cannot comprehend. And in His perfect timing, He often allows us to see what was hidden from our understanding.

Sometimes we simply need to be still, trust Him, and wait. Just as the moon had been shining clearly all along, even when my camera couldn't capture its beauty, God's purpose remains steady, even when our understanding is blurred. And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all.

We don't have to see everything clearly to trust the One who does.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

May the things in your life that seem cloudy and out of focus become clear in the light of Christ's love for you ! I don't know about you, but I need His light to shine more clearly than ever before into my heart.

Praying always for each of you! May God's light shine clearly in your heart today :)