The Hazard Chronicles

We woke up yesterday morning to a blanket of new snow on the ground. Though it had all melted by the end of the day, it caused me to reflect a little bit on changing seasons. How each one is beautiful, and difficult to say goodbye to, but how exciting it is to look to the future. I love the fall. I love the colors and the chill and the smells and the ideal weather for outdoor activity. I love the flavors, and the sound of crisp leaves underfoot. I love how the whole world looks like someone dialed up the saturation knob by a few degrees, and how my body feels fresh and ready and energized just by breathing in the air. Fall is beautiful, and remains my favorite season.

But so is winter. Our family is all so, SO excited for ski season to start. Seriously, it can't come soon enough. I love quiet mornings, made reverent by darkness and new snow and hot drinks. I love the bite of cold air on my face when it is the only part of me left exposed. I love watching football or listening to a live band in a cozy restaurant while heavy flakes drop from the sky. I love the sound of wind and ice hitting the windows during a storm, and the smell of woodsmoke in the air. 

I could go on- but I feel like I am talking about more than an annual cycle here. Seasons of our lives seem to be a thing as well. And as with the weather, it is good to look back with fondness at the past. To be able to say, "I'm glad it happened," while at the same time being able to say "I'm glad it's over." Or to look forward eagerly to the next thing, while still loving where you are at.

One might think that with an introduction like that I have some big, season-changing announcement to make. I don't. We are in a great "season" right now that can take as much time as it wants. It's lovely, and there is at least one day a week that I feel like I just want to hold on forever to what we have. 

I was just thinking. That is all.

As for our recent activities, we haven't been "busy" lately as much as "engaged." Rachel interpreted a play that she has spent a long time preparing for (she did a great job). I went to study club and did my thing there. Kids have been spending lots of time with friends and with school things. Rachel and I have been more engaged with our church (after 9 years the two of us became official members). We already have a few different holiday gatherings on the books with different friend groups, and we have some fun plans for ski vacations. This last couple of weekends we spent time up in Wallace making sure everything is ready at the house for when the snow comes. I imagine it will get used more in the next few months than it has lately.

This next week is Thanksgiving and I feel like we have a lot to be grateful for. Like I mentioned above, things are really lovely right now. We still aren't a hundred percent sure of our plans for the holiday, but whatever we end up doing I'm sure we will create some memories along the way.

For now, I'll just drop some pictures here and sign out with my usual salutation: 

Have a good week!

Addy played in a big "Gathering of the Bands" concert at the college. This is the best picture I could get of her.

Random picture, but I need this in here because it is a nightly event. I ask our kids to brush their teeth. I go in afterwards, and see an entire collection of unrelated objects on the counter. I have no idea what they are doing in there.

This is from a play we went and saw. A Christmas Story. Yes, it is that time of year. Rach did a great job.

Just hanging out at the Wallace place

These next few are also from Wallace. After going out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants we had a twilight "skate under the bridge." It was actually a lot of fun.