Luna Lovegood, and why I like Halloween.

Hello There!
I don't know about you, but I feel like these past few weeks have been absolutely crazy! October is hands down the busiest time of the school year. It's super festive and fun, but it's hard to find time to catch your breath. In fact, I'm only finding time because it's Homecoming and I don't plan on going home before the big game!

Here's what's been going on with the Parrish people lately :)

It's FINALLY starting to kind of feel like Fall here in Northern California. I wore this to school today... it was 55 in the morning, but it's now 85...so I'm regretting the wool coat. 

 

We carved pumpkins this week. I made Jack Skellington. I also used the flashlight on Nate's phone for the sake of this picture. Nate took me to the pumpkin patch, and there would have been more pictures of festive fall cuteness, but the wind just wouldn't allow it. That's okay...not all moments need to be documented on Instagram or this blog.

 Nate decided he was gonna really go for it with his pumpkin and make something really intricate. Look how cute he is when he's concentrating.

 

Aaaaaand last but not least, I carved pumpkins with my kids at school.  I was introduced the pumpkin patch devotion this year. What a great way to illustrate how God picks us up off the ground and very intentionally designs us for something awesome. I know that Christian sub-culture kind of frowns on Halloween, but I feel personally (and you don't have to agree, I'm okay with that) that by not doing something I would otherwise love (wear a cute costume and eat yummy treats) I am letting the enemy win. Jesus owns October 31. You can call it Halloween, Harvest, Harvestween, whatever. I call it halloween. But, why should I be deprived of the awesomeness that is fall-time festivities? I know what Halloween is about. I've even heard sermons about the evilness of Halloween. BUT...How many people will know that I love Jesus if I turn off all the lights and lock my doors, or even worse, hand out pennies and toothbrushes? With that being said, I'm gonna carve my pumpkins, dress up (as a witch...Luna Lovegood to be exact) , and hand out individually wrapped candies that are safe, and do my best to reflect Jesus on a day that could probably use more of that.

Lessons continuing to be learned

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted hasn't it? Well, the school year has started, so that's life I suppose. It's really interesting how every single school year poses one major challenge that influences all facets of life. I can pinpoint them from year to year, but only in hindsight of course.

If you were tracking with me overt he summer you saw that I was doing a  She Reads Truth bible study called Women of the Word. It was awesome! But now I can see that those precious moments with the Lord over the summer were preparing me for this school year. Even now, I am constantly being reminded that Jesus has to be my strength. I write this because its easy for me to forget.

Do you get preoccupied with your circumstances? I totally do. Nate is on tour for the fall with Kutless. It's really exciting, and I really love watching him live His dreams.  But it's easy for me to focus on being alone at home. This is the challenge of this school year. Coming home from school to an empty house. The Lord is constantly reminding me that it's Him, and Him alone that sustains me. That It's God that I rely on for strength, for purpose, for everything.

Seek the Lord with your whole heart. I wish this was something that wasn't coming to the forefront of my mind now as I'm lonely without Nate, but I am thankful that God gives us the grace to realize it at all. That is what this season is for. The summer was a precious time with God, and now I'm moving into a new one, A new season of seeking the heart  of Christ on a different level. Not easy, but always worth it.