Landsflicka

     My lil sister is having a solo recital in December, so I took some pictures for promotional flyers. Lemme tell ya. She is one of the best violinists I have ever listened to and that is saying a lot.
Of course there is the never ending, sibling-rivalry "my instrument is better than yours" argument.
Clara: "The violin is portable which is waaay better -- people can appreciate your music wherever you go."
Me: "But violinists rely heavily on piano accompanists soooo.... basically you're lost without me."
Clara: "My violin cost more than both your pianos combined."
Me:  "Can you read the bass clef? No. Didn't think so."

You get the idea.

We had a blast during the photo shoot. Between traipsing about our neighbor's field and climbing on hay bales, it was a full morning. Clara played some folk tunes and Lalo (an odd combination). I fiddled around with camera dials and lighting. My camera is still relatively new to me, so I am learning something about it every day. The result of our shoot? Lots of laughter, dirty bare feet, and 174 pictures.
Soon I will be taking Cabe's senior photos! I am doing what I love best: photographing the people I love best.

campfire beans!! nuthing like it.

Every morning started out at 45° F and a bitter cold shower.

     Husband and I went for a 3 day trip to Indiana Dunes State Park. Between skipping along the beach, cooking our own campfire meals and picking raspberries we were able to find some time for journaling. I selected a few excerpts to share with y'all. Hopefully they will give you a glimpse into our little sandy paradise!

CHARLIE
"My lovely wife sits to my right. We are on the Kemil Beach of Lake Michigan, listening to the brass winds and thudding drums of the surf. Though the seagulls beat us here, and some old folks with old dogs, I think we found a wonderful hideaway up in the north." 

"Sunday night vespers by the campfire. The kidney/pinto beans have been eaten heartily. Today we escapaded to Michigan City, then to Saugatuk and then to Holland ... Tonight's our last night here at Dunewood. So long campground, I'm sure we'll see ya in the future!" 

LAUREL
"Charlie and I are at the beach. Wet feet, sandy butts and windswept hair. Right now it is around 6pm, so the sunlight is golden, the air is still warm and there are people here and there - sprinkled across the shoreline watching the surf like seagulls." 

"Charlie ordered us some coffee and chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. South Haven was such a lovely town - I was ready to buy some real estate and settle down ... Holland Harbor had a bright red lighthouse that was built in 1847 (?) (not too good with dates) ... we walked out onto the pier and watched sailboats for a while. Beautiful, white, poetic triangles skimming the cerulean blue." 

"I have about a million pictures that I want to take home and edit and about a million more yet to take. It is our last night there and we are out of clean clothes. That is all. Goodnight." 

APPLE THOUGHTS W/ CHARLIE

1. we all have cores. exercise them
2. don't skip the apples on the ground. that's where I found the best ones.
3. if you go to the orchard with brothers BE ON YOUR GUARD. there might be chewed up apple being spewed at you.
4. an apple a day ain't so bad really.
5. they say money can't buy happiness, but it does buy apples.

> These fall days have been full. Full of happiness and exploration. Full of planning and remembering. There has been a little bit of stress - (where the heck did my insurance card go? how are we going to replace the broken car window?), but obstacles are nothing compared to the daily joy of living and loving. This Thursday I am joining a women's Bible study. The small group meets at Adam Bros Coffee and discusses chapters from the book "Without Rival" by Lisa Bevere. I could not be more exciting about finally venturing into the community and making connections!

> Traveling has been a surfacing passion in our lives. Charlie and I are planning a weekend camping trip to Indiana Dune State Park where we can absorb some fall weather, live out of a tent and do some birding in the marshes. Also, this winter, we are traveling with some family to Costa Rica for two weeks! Charlie is taking a Spanish class this semester and I am relying on my "two years" of Spanish from high school. We are so stoked for some beaches, jungles and city markets.
This evening a new traveling opportunity was presented to us. Two wonderful women sat down with us to tell us about United World Missions and the Avance program in Mexico City. It was a lot of information to take in. I had a hard time containing my excitement, but at the same time I knew that a decision like this would take loads of prayer and thought. Next summer will be a pivotal time for me and Charlie and we want to seize it. We are feeling called to serve in some ministerial capacity somewhere, somehow. God will give us guidance - I am sure of that; we just need to open our hearts to Him.

> Otherwise, our lives have been filled with the ordinary, daily tasks that never end. Laundry, dishes, cooking, homework... They all serve a good purpose no matter how small the chore. And there is joy in good purpose.
Stay tuned for an update on our Indiana Adventures!!