I found myself in front of a pre-heating oven in a cold cabin listening to the rain and thunder welcoming in the beautiful season of autumn in California.
At first, the oven was my heat source, I was freezing! After drinking a little hot tea and eating some soup I was inspired. I needed to bake. At this point, I scrounge in the cupboards, look in the fridge, and rattle my brain for recipes with what I've got:
eggs - check; unsweetened baking chocolate - tons!; flour - both white and wheat, use sparingly; oats - yep; sugar - brown and white; hmmmmm.... sounds good.
1-bowl brownies stole my heart right from the inside of the baker's chocolate box. so I made it happen, but not alone.
I tuned into Pandora and shuffled around on a station based on Rosie Thomas and Ray LaMontagne (of course) and settled in at home in the kitchen wrapped in the creation of something tasty and warm. There's something about baking that warms not only the house, but my soul. There's an adventure in the measuring, or not measuring, and the taste-testing that I hold so dear. I love it, absolutely love it.
This cold and wet autumn night is a quiet one. It's been raining for about 5 hours now and it all started with phenomenal thunder and abrupt showers around 4 this afternoon - very unlike this area but definitely a sign that cold weather systems are trying to push their way in.
I just got back in town after a beautiful journey to see a dear dear friend in Washington. She had no clue - another friend visiting her helped me plan the surprise and it was exactly that, a complete and utter surprise! Another thing I love - surprises. Just getting to spend a little time and some good conversations made it worth the 23 hour train ride there and 2 hour flight back.This is a picture I took while on a walk with a couple new friends in down town Tacoma, strolling next to the water, drooling. Not just over Mount Rainier that I will one day climb, but also the inspiring sail boats that bring back my love (again) of boats and desire to learn how to sail. One day.
Then of course on the flight back today I sat next to a guy who was telling me that he takes his son and daughter on a catamaran that he and his brothers own.
Sometimes I find it hard to be thankful and joyful for the things I've been given, or blessed with - knowing that others are worthy of the things I have, yet they don't have them. I end up feeling guilty for being it a positive place in life and striving to break out of that and finding how I can be compassionate for that person who I can truly empathize with. I'm seeking to understand the ways that I can be compassionate and loving towards others who are in need of something intangible that I have, such as rest. I got sick last week and had no other option other than sleeping, sitting, and finally resting in the breath of God for a bit while others took care of me. So I currently feel rested, but I struggle to be ok with that when I talk to others who aren't rested or can't find the time to rest - where I was about a week and a half ago. I can only hope that I can allow God to pour through me in whatever way others need. 
