October bucket list

So maybe I'm not the worlds biggest fan of all things Autumn but seriously you'd have to be dead inside not to appreciate these colors.

Not that they sparkle in the just-right light as much as these two...

But I digress...
When my beauty quest turns screenward I can't help but make some mental notes.  Sometimes inspiration is better than vitamin d (the bottle kind not the sunshine kind.)

I really want to find $1500 in last Fall's jean pocket and crash a party at this place.  Crafting, cooking, eating, and dreaming about God's big plans.  Yes please.

From bon appetit's throw-a-party-like-our-parents-did, to Brad and Angie's new movie in Malta, the 70's are rockin it right now.  Maybe this will remind us to keep some things in the past.

How good does this look for dinner?

And then I'll take this for dessert.

Foster care has been burning a hole in my heart lately and this book cracked open the door a little.  It painted huge swaths of grey into my black and white ideas about poverty and social work and the "system."  I'm left unsettled in the best kind of way.

This blog is my go to for new sensory table ideas in the classroom but they have so many amazing Reggio inspired ideas that it's hard to pick a favorite.  The one thing I absolutely LOVE is that instead of complaining of all the sit-down, be quiet and do your worksheet attitude when her son started kindergarten, she did something amazing.  Um, hello Mrs. Kindergarten Teacher, would you mind if I donated a sensory bin for your class and changed out the materials bi-monthly?  Who's going to say no to that?!  Please hold me to it when Ian starts next year.

Three current book recommendations from the littles...
one

two

and three

After my last blog post I stumbled upon this and even though I'm not a new mom it just felt serendipitous.  I'm actually going to forward it to a new mom that we brought a meal to today.  Man did she look exhausted and desperate for answers.  I really wanted to take her out for cheesecake.

Speaking of cheesecake....just kidding.

I know the amazing Jen Hatmaker started a thang with this book.

and I'm not going to pretend I was anywhere close to staging a mutiny, except for those few years there really wasn't any choice in the matter.  But now it seems to have seeped into the cracks of our psyche and I kind of like it.  The capsule wardrobe is the new it girl of your closet.  If I manage to snag an afternoon with zero responsibility I am definitely on board.  I spend way too many mornings staring at my bulging closet wondering what to wear.  This just seems practical.

My hilarious Amy O. shared this on facebook and I could not stop laughing.  Genius.

And into another week we go.  Wide eyed at this beautiful season.
Ok maybe peeking though my fingers.

ordinary days

Tuesday morning as I turned the corner out of our street and came to an abrupt halt for a school bus stop sign I locked eyes with a woman dropping off her kids.  It was almost pitch black out but she couldn't have been clearer standing under the street lamp.  I immediately felt a twinge of jealousy over her bed head, flannel jammies, and large snoopy mug as she shuttled her two littles up those dirty bus steps and headed back inside.  For all I know she had a sleeping baby and a fast food job waiting for her that day but for just a moment I wished it was me standing there.  I imagined coming home to an empty house and hunkering down in front of the fire with my stack of books and the perfect nap blanket.  I thought of recipes I wanted to make and life I was desperate to record.
As I neared the interstate with Ian singing "I am holding on to you," in the backseat I considered something new.  I started to wonder what she thought when she saw me.  Did she wish she had a reason to curl her hair at 7am and put on a cute necklace?  Did she wish she had a set of keys around her neck?  Did she wish she could trade her cozy mug for Starbucks?  Probably not I thought.  But maybe.

I'm not sure if it's just women who play this comparing game but I do know that if self pity were a currency I would be very, very rich.  

As I drove I was reminded of how many days I longed for answers about how my gifts and passions would play out.  How many days I wondered if there would ever be extra money to go out to dinner and splurge on a bag of pecans at Costco. (seriously they're like $20!)  And now that I get to walk into a classroom with outstretched arms and the 3 year old chant of "Teacher Rebekah is here!  I was waiting for you." and splurge on not only pecans but travel hummus, I still resort to discontentment and jealousy.  

I remembered that quote from the office about wishing there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.  I know this but sometimes, ok a lot of times, I forget.  These messy days of teaching and mentoring families and not remembering where I'm picking up my daughter and coordinating schedules and falling asleep before 8pm and Safeway lasagna and showing up at soccer games in the wrong colored jersey and 5am quiet times and tear stained cheeks while sitting in traffic, these are the good days for our family.  Honestly, I wish I wasn't still having to process these changes. Yet every sunrise brings a new plea.  A prayer that I would have eyes to see that this is where He wants me.  This is where I will flourish because I have committed these ordinary days to Him and He promises to set the pavers in front of me.  And just in case I forget, a nightly reminder from my 4 year old to be ever thankful for the small gifts.