The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
And just like that, it's O c t o b e r .
And for the first time ever, I am not excited about it. For years now, I have written an update in October. And, though my blogging has kinda died out, I knew I still wanted to do this. I still wanted to look back on what has happened between now and last October. God has been so good, and has blessed us so much. He has blessed me with the worlds greatest sister-in-law, and a pretty great future-brother-in-law. By the end of this year we will have married off two of my siblings - leaving just me and LaKaysha at home. Our family has grown so much, and yet home-life has shrunk, you know?
Since last October we have added to our family; Gideon, Brynna and her "Baby Pooh", and soon Byron will be officially family (as if he wasn't officially added the moment he and Liberty started dating because we're one of those weird families, lol). I honestly had forgotten that last October we didn't even know if Gideon was a boy or a girl, so it's strange to think that now we have so many other people added to our once-family-of-seven. Now we are a family of soon-to-be thirteen. THIRTEEN. What!? I know that's not really a huge family, but it blows me away how quickly we grew. And how quickly we could still grow. Crazy. Chancy and Brynna's baby is due to arrive in April 2023, and I just can't wait to be an auntie again. It was kinda crazy to realize that I will have to share this baby with Brynna's family, but it's okay - being an auntie is amazing, so I will let Molly and Maybel be aunties to this baby too *winks*
Why am I not excited for October?
I don't actually know. Maybe it's due to the fact that Fall in taking forever to come to the PNW this year. Or maybe it's because I will turn 23 next week. *wrinkles nose* Gross, I'm old. I am now way older than Felicity was when she married Josiah. And maybe it's because my eighteen-year-old baby sister is getting married in December. Or maybe it's all the crazy changes going on around me, without anything changing in my life, as far as big things. I am still single. I am still cleaning houses with LaKaysha (even though we are struggling to hold on to clients). I am still living at home. Still share my car with LaKaysha. But you know what? I will be getting my own room when Liberty is married. *laughs* there's something. I have never had my own room. And I have never not shared a bed with LaKaysha, but maybe this is God's way of preparing us to finally go our separate ways? Who's to say, really. Either one of us could meet someone and leave the other behind. And maybe now we'll actually be prepared for that change.
Besides adding to our family, so many other things have changed in my life. We have moved! As I'm sure you know. We moved to a farm in the Flats and honestly nothing has ever felt so right. I love how the sun shines through the tree outside my window in the morning. I love how the birds sing like crazy in the evening. I love how beautiful the fog is, and I love the cows in the field, and the smell of hay, and the barn, oh how I love how cute that barn is. But I think my favorite part of living here is falling asleep to the sound of elk bugling, or coyotes yipping. There's just nothing like laying in the comfort of your own bed, listening to the wild animals wander the fields. just ahhhh *hearts for days*
And the best change of all - my darling cousin and best friend has FOUND CHRIST!!! Heaven is rejoicing for her, and I am too! Having her back in my life has been the most wonderful thing. She's come down and visited twice now, and each time we stay up till wayyy too late visiting, and sometimes I have to just lay there next to her in awe. Hearing her talk about God makes my heart leap for joy. And sitting beside her in church, and knowing she's no longer lost... sometimes I get overwhelmed. God is SO GOOD. I can't even put into words how wonderful this is. I just thank God everyday that He has brought her home. *praising God forever over this*
It's now been over a year since Abi went Home, and going on a year since we lost my mom's dear friend, Susie. I have never really dared to share how hard losing Susie was for me. I guess I was afraid people would think I had no right to hurt so much for someone I hadn't even seen in years, or someone I have never even spoken to personally, just hung around with her and my mom through the years. But my pain is real, and it doesn't matter if people think I have no "right" to grieve her. The truth is I have had to grieve this loss. But now, coming up on a year, I can truthfully say I am doing better. I am no longer angry with God. Last year, when this was all fresh and I was really struggling, I had a dream. A dream I believe was from God, and I know it was meant to be a comfort. And for a while there I wondered why God would give ME that dream, when Susie's own family could use the comfort more than me. And that's when I realized that it was okay for me to grieve for me. It's okay that I was hurting. And maybe now I am ready to share that dream? I wrote it down in my diary, and now I've been thinking about maybe sharing it on here for Susie's family to see. What do you think? Should I dig out that old diary and relive that dream for the sake of maybe bringing comfort to someone who may need it??
But enough about sad things! It's fall (even if the weather still believes it's summer), and I am so ready to be doing all the falls things. Going to the pumpkin patch, drinking fall drinks, and eating fall treats. So ready for this. And this year I've been wanting to watch some cozy-fallish movies and shows. Any suggestions?
Been diving into wedding planning... here we go again. Lol.
So you know the saying, "Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride"? Well, what happens when you've been FOUR times a bridesmaid?? *laughs*
I hope you all are doing great, and I hope your weather is cooler than mine!!
Until next time, 
