VOTE

Fall -- turning leaves, orange sunshine, beautiful colors, pumpkins, harvest, school activities, field trips, a nip in the air, a mother's new year, schedules, waning sunlight, harvest moon, apples, cinnamon, allspice. I am trying to keep in mind all the reasons I like fall because I'm not ready for summer to end yet. There are still so many thinks I'd like to do with warm weather however the fall lover in me is beginning to wake up and nudge me toward embracing all the brilliant colors with abandon.

This year I am anxiously awaiting the outcome of the elections. It seems that our country is really at a critical point and no matter who is elected some change needs to happen. The times feel strange to me. I hate all the political ads on TV but even more than that, I am afraid for those people who only listen to the awful ads but don't read or in some cases can't read and find out what these canidates stand for. I love that in America we get to choose our leaders. Voting is such an amazing right that we get to excercise and I feel truly blessed to live in a country where my vote counts. My encouragement to all is to know what you believe and know what the canidates stand for and for pete's sake, VOTE!

For now, on this rainy Sunday afternoon, I'll leave you with some pictures of a new piece of jewelry I have designed and a field trip I went on with Moriah's class to the Lava Lands and the Lava River Caves here in Central Oregon. The trip was very fun and we enjoyed fantastic weather and lots of laughs.