A season of Sapphire Skies and Spiders

Here we are again at Labor Day weekend, or as I think of it, the last dying gasp of summer. I don't mind the death of summer (to everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn...) because autumn is wonderful and magical in its own way. In this neck of the woods, the heralds of autumn are sapphire skies and spiders. The spiders are everywhere, disrupting my life with their sticky webs and sinister bodies. Last week I killed one on my bedroom wall, one on the kitchen floor, and almost crashed my car on the way to work when one swung down from the antenna outside my window while I was driving (I'm extra twitchy in the morning after my coffee). I walk out my front door in the morning swinging my arms in front of me like a crazy person because the feeling of walking through a spider web face-first is so alarming.

Summer was long and warm and wonderful, and I felt a little manic (as usual) with sunlight from 4:45 am -10 pm. I spent a lot of money, eating & drinking too much, and doing some fun summer things. There was also a lot of sitting around in a stagnant poo-puddle (metaphorically speaking). But God is overwhelming with grace, and I am no longer in that puddle.

Some highlights from the summer include:

The Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon! It was a perfect day, and I finished the race. I wouldn't do another one in FiveFingers (my weird running shoes), but I would probably do another one...

Picking blueberries with Kara & Max at her in-laws' U-pick blueberry farm

Camping with a great group of girls from work. My first time camping, and I loved it! 

Some great hikes, including my first solo hike (on a well-travelled trail so I felt safe but also enjoyed the solitude of being basically alone in the forest). 

Spending some time with this amazing bunch: 

Sometimes I'm so thankful for these people that I can barely breathe.

Speaking of that, I had a zen moment of gratitude the other day at work that was shocking in its intensity. It was an ordinary day (actually a Friday, which are usually harder than other days) and I was scrubbing with one of my favorite surgeons. The other people in the room were all like-able enough, but not people I would say I have particularly strong feelings for one way or the other. I was suddenly smacked with fondness for everyone in the room, and had the realization that this day would never happen again because the only thing constant in life is change...and was just profoundly grateful for such a holy moment in the middle of an ordinary day. I'm sure I looked crazy grinning under my surgical mask, and I sort of wondered if the anesthetic gas was leaking, but why question euphoria?

Mostly because of the aforementioned metaphorical poo-puddle, I haven't yet made any forward motion with plans for the future. Soon, though. Transition is on the wind :)

Tell me about your zen moments...