We didn’t do much today. I took the dogs for a walk, in one of my favorite spots.
If that looks weird, it’s because it’s actually a reflection in water.
Bare trees. And how the trees looked 3 weeks ago.
Winter is coming.
Tag Archives: Gus
More Saturday Hiking
Today was another short day trip, with some hiking.
Outside St. Joseph, MO.
Some bugs turned this leaf into a mask.
Ladybug.
We came upon this gate in the woods. A gate in the woods demands to be entered.
It was a very old cemetery.
Then, we found this jail overlook.
Tired baby.
We ended the day with some of the coolest geoaches we’ve ever found and met the guy who did them. In this one, you had to play the game Operation to retrieve the cache.
Home
I am home. Phew, what a week. I mentioned last week that I started a new job several months ago. I work entirely from home. But, we had a conference this week, so I flew to Chicago for that. It was my first time meeting everyone that I work with! It turned out to be a blast. Every minute filled with opportunities to connect and serve.
I’m not going to post conference pictures, for many obvious reasons.
On my way home, at the airport.
I was having fun with the reflections.
Still.
Bye bye, Chicago.
Hello, home.
I just need to share this… One of my favorite moments was at the end of the conference. We were all running around like mad people, ready to go home. But, one of my coworkers gathered all of us. He asked us to come pray for one of the conference presenters who we work closely with. This presenter is an adoptive dad, and they are in the process of their second adoption. We all gathered around him and prayed for his family and his waiting child, praying for protection, preparation, the destruction of obstacles, that this child would know love before s/he comes home. It was just totally beautiful. Melted my heart.
I love fall!
Today was a beautiful fall day.
We started our day off at the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, KS. It has trees from all over the world, donated by each American state and many countries.
Everyone hugged a tree. Reed picked his based on color, Lena picked hers because it is the Scarlet Oak. Aaron picked his for his favorite state, Colorado. I picked mine for my home state, Pennsylvania. And we picked Gus’s because it was tiny like him! Because I have space for an extra photo, Lena was really excited that there was a tree from California there– apparently she’s been learning about California at school.
Colorado: Blue Spruce, Pennsylvania: Eastern Hemlock, New York: Sugar Maple? , Washington D.C.: Scarlet Oak, New Mexico: Pinyon, California: Redwood.
As you can see here, some of the trees seem to thrive in Kansas weather. And others… do not. Like my sad Eastern Hemlock and the Redwood.
There were no trees from Ukraine, but there was a tree from Siberia, a Russian territory although not the one Gus is from (obviously). A sad looking Sourwood.
Then, we found one of the most beautiful trees in the park, Rhode Island’s Red Maple. I said, “This tree is practically begging to be laid under.” Covered in beautiful red leaves, with a layer on the ground as well.
And, a leaf fight ensued.
Since Atchison is the birthplace of Amelia Earhart…
We also drove by her childhood home.
Then, we left Atchison and headed to Weston Bend State Park, in Missouri.
Lewis and Clark passed through here.
And, we went on a brief, beautiful fall hike.
The earthy smell of leaves, the crunch under our feet, and all the beautiful colors. Perfect.
He is becoming such a big boy. I think he walked the whole time himself.
Gus is practicing his full sentences right now and getting pretty polite with them. “I want …, please”. We all laughed when he announced today “I want to have fun, please!” Okay, buddy, we’re on it.
Trains and Hot Air Balloons
Our day started off with more playing with the train set.
I started working, in addition to my own business, several months ago. I work from home, which is pretty fabulous, but it also means my wardrobe is pretty sparse. I have a work conference this coming week, so I had to go to a bigger city to go shopping for a few items. On my way home, as the sun was setting, I saw this hot air balloon take off!
There were actually 2 hot air balloons. How fun, right?
a moose in moscow 