The Fragrance of Fall

It's almost the first day of fall and I've been bracing myself since I moved out here for how I would feel not being in Utah this time of year. Fall has always been my favorite season and I usually start getting excited for it the first part of August. This year was no different except there is a part of me that's been sad too knowing that I'm not in Utah and I don't get to start seeing the leafs on the mountains changing or start feeling that cool crispness in the air. It has been sunny here almost the entire three months we've been here, which for the most part I have loved. Until now. We got an awesome rain storm last weekend finally and I LOVED it and it made me miss Utah even more! Now I am SO ready for the coolness and for the beauty of fall and although we will also get it here, it doesn't come for a while so I feel really off. Then, Jennie told me how she decorated her house already, which made me sad, because I'm usually the first person she calls to come over to see what she's done and I was so sad that I couldn't hop in my car and head over there. She was sad too.

For the most part I think I've hung on pretty well and I've really been trying to stay positive because there are so many things I love out here and I am still SO happy that I'm here, I just need to get through the fall and I think I will be okay. I'm actually headed back out to Utah to spend a week or so with Jennie so that should be just what I need to to keep going.

It has cooled off here a little bit and was only in the 80's this past week but it's expected to be back up to the 90's this week again. YUCK! I lit my pumpkin spice candle and am trying to get into the mood to decorate here soon but with how hot it is, it just doesn't seem right. So...overall, all is well, I'm just a little bit homesick right now.

I posted this picture above that I found of this beautiful little house in the PERFECT fall setting and decided that I am going to imagine myself sitting out there on the front porch early in the morning when it's nice and cool and sipping some hot coffee (with pumpkin spice cream of course) while watching the lake and savoring all of the beauty and smells of fall! Awe..... :)

MOPS

This is first time in my life that I am not living close to at least two or more of my sisters, not to mention all of my other family. I miss them but I realized a long time ago that I hadn't felt connected or like I belonged to anything and it's something that's been missing in my life for a long time. Being out here away from everyone is making me realize how much I need people (other than the ones that have to love me) in my life, so I am determined to meet some. I know God has big plans for us here and I really think He is going to bring people into our lives that we can connect with and make life long friendships with and I'm excited to see who we'll meet.

So... I joined this group called MOPS which stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and I am way excited about it! It's a Christian-based group and it's a bunch of mothers who have kids anywhere from birth through kindergarten who get together two times a month. At the meetings we will eat, do crafts, listen to great guest speakers but mostly just support one another as woman who are all moms going through a lot of the exact same things.

Our first meeting was today and I was surprised at how many women were there. There were probably at least 40 and the ones I met seemed so down to earth and real and I am really looking forward to getting to know them. We will have a ladies night out once a month and an "outing" once a month planned at different places around Bakersfield. It will be fun to be able to talk with other woman and get advice on parenting and support but more important- just be able to connect. I have no doubt that that is one of the reasons that God has brought me here and I look forward to what He has in store for me!

Home at Last

Even though I've lived in Utah my entire life and love a lot of things about it, I've always felt a really strong pull towards the ocean all my life. Every time I've ever been by it I have felt total peace and serenity and I've always LOVED the energy and mystery that it holds. Since we've moved here to California, I have felt like I have been within arms reach of it and it had been calling to me louder then ever but I had not had the chance to make it there. So since my sisters were here for our LA trade show that we are doing, we decided to take a couple of days and hit the beaches and it was SOOOOOO fun and worth it! Maybe it's because my mom and dad were both born and raised in California and it's in my blood, I don't know, but when I was there I finally felt like I had arrived home at last...

A Trip to Sacramento

A few weeks ago we took a little trip to Sacramento to see my sisters Liz and Sherry. It was just me, Chris, Amanda and my two boys. I had never been there before and it was so good to be able to fnally go and to see them! We got to see my neice Amber's new baby boy while we were there too and we got to go to my cousin Duane's house and see his famous Tiki collection and visit with him and his wife, Amy.

The trip was only about five hours away from where I live and we got to take the motorhome there and stay in it so that made it nice and comfy. It was so relaxing and quiet there and we really had a good time. I love not only being here in California, but being in a central location. I feel like I'm only hours away from SO much!