inspired by

Sue.  Changing up the blog background because SUMMER'S ALMOST OFFICIALLY OVER!  And i'm trying to hold off making more "autumnal" until it's actually autumn...

Goodbye August!

I'm not sorry in the least you're leaving. You've brought stress, mosquitoes, and record high temperatures!
Life has been very up & down while you've been here.

Though you did bring some delightful things...

...like the Gilchrist's. It was so absolutely wonderful to see my dear friends again.  Here's a dinner we had to celebrate them being in town :)

You can see half of Corey on the right!

And lots of rain - the forest of weeds in my backyard and the mushrooms now accompanying my herb garden can attest to that...

And a GORGEOUS hike in Madera Canyon this morning. Of course, I forgot my camera. With the rain yesterday, the stream was flowing, wildflowers were EVERYWHERE, and you half expected a fairy tale to burst into song at any moment. It was amazing, and Darcy very much enjoyed getting to play in a stream - so much so, she's now sleeping at my feet ever so soundly. Who knew it was so much closer to my house! I hadn't been there in about 6 years, and it was more beautiful than I remembered :) Thanks August, but in 3 days...one of the best months of the year!

ps

School was EXHAUSTING...but come a few days in pretty good. The first day I didn't feel like myself, but had a really powerful time hanging out with God on Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?) night which really turned things around.

just so you know... :)

i had gone to Tohono Chul...

...this past summer but completely forgot to post about it.

It was magical. They opened the park at 7am due to the encroaching summer heat, so I got there at 7:15 and pretty much had the place to myself. It was SOOOO beautiful and very inspiring!  I really want to take my empty slate of a backyard and mock some of their ideas...

this might have been my favorite part as I've been LONGING FOR WATER

 

 as a geologist, this part was so awesome! a geological history of the Tucson Basin - geology 101...and they used some of the actual rocks that they referenced :) well done

 

I would love to have stairs like this to get on my roof so I can star gaze at night!

 

I'm gonna do this outside at my house

Who knew eggplant came from such lovely flowers?

I want to get a veggie garden like this!

a great alternative to grass

Beautiful doorway...

Then I spotted this quail and he put on a little show for me. I had never seen one this close up.

The day before school starts

I'm trying to be calm...I'm really trying.  But as with every school year starting, the lack of sleep, adjustment to getting up earlier, and general frantic-ness is quite unnerving and my entire self is feeling it.

I can't believe the kids come tomorrow.  I'm having a hard time remembering I'm a teacher, after having spent all summer chilling.  I'm much more spacey-chaotic and less excited with all my new responsibilities this year - teaching 3 classes instead of 1 (chemistry, earth science, and astronomy) and heading up a committee...it's a lot but we teachers need the money!  Especially we teacher/new homeowners...

If you could pray I would so appreciate it!  I long to be present, engaged, and just alive with the kids.  I don't have all the t's crossed AT ALL, and that can at times stop me from enjoying this beautiful life I have.   At the moment I have almost 230 students.  That's a lot of kids I get the opportunity to love on - I want to do it well...any thoughts?  Feel free to comment and let me know your prayers or advice!

Thanks all....