Everywhere I look today things are changing.

Fall is in the air.

The temperatures are cooling and this morning I woke up to actual rain!

I've never been so thankful for rain in my life!

I've been conserving water for weeks because we have a well and have had no significant rain fall since early June, if my memory is correct.

I've taught myself new methods of brushing my teeth, cleaning the pots and pans, rinsing dishes before I place them in the dishwasher, and even bathing.

I stopped watering the plants in my flowerbeds by late July.

We aren't out of the woods yet, but I am grateful for the constant patter of rain on the roof today.

We need more than a solid week of this, and I will be thankful for each day it continues.

I grew up here and was used to rain interrupting many outdoor activities.

I learned early on that every single event had have an alternate plan in case of rain.

Many times my family camped and hiked in the rain and huddled in our tent to keep warm.

It even snowed one time!

But we loved the outdoors and that was just part of the experience.

Lush green fields, towering and thriving evergreens, and deep cool waters were what made up my home state.

I just read this morning that some of our lakes are only 20 feet deep right now.

The Puget Sound is getting too warm to sustain many of the fragile life forms that are the food for fish and marine mammals.

So much has changed in my lifetime.

I have changed greatly just over the past year.

I'm still an introvert, and have loved staying home over the past couple of years.

I'm still hesitant to poke my head out of my protective shell and voice my opinion, but I do it much more often.

I'm a mother bear when I feel the need to protect my children and grandchildren. 

I will defend the rights and promote the well being of anyone I think is being taken advantage of.

And if my sincerity or honesty if questioned, I will stand up boldly and state my truth.

Gone is that little girl who was abused and afraid of her shadow.

Gone is the woman who was told she wasn't an artist.

And now stands a woman who knows that God has her back, knows how to listen for His words, and follows where He leads.

I am thankful for all the years of learning that I can fall back on.

The years of studying science, psychology, theology, and philosophy.

The years of working with vulnerable people.

The years of learning how to speak softly with an open heart and encourage people to tell me what they need.

The years of quiet observation, using my eyes and ears to gather important cues as to the state of mind and level of distress that was presenting itself to me.

The years of mistakes.

Oh I've made so many, they make me cringe.

All of that has brought me here to this place in time.

I don't know what they have prepared me for, exactly.

I do know that I'm not sure where I'm headed next.

I know that many people I have loved and cared about are no longer part of my life for many reasons.

I know that I am not alone here in this place.

And I know that wherever I'm going I will find new feelings to explore.

Life will continue to change as we know it.

Politics, laws, climate, health issues, and knowledge will continually grow and change.

My job, as I see it, is to use my intelligence and experience to educate and encourage others.

My job is to use my gift of color and light to offer a bit of joy, peace, or hope to whoever it is meant for.

Because I know that each painting is created for one specific person.

So instead of fighting change, I'm embracing it.

I don't have to agree with everything that changes.

And much of it I don't.

I just need to continue to educate from my experience, encourage others to follow their own path, and create the paintings that come out of me. 

Change is hard!

I feeling the physical changes that are happening to my body as I age.

I'm feeling the emotional weight of other changes.

And I know that my ability to be flexible with myself, learning new ways to accomplish what I need to, and holding on to my faith that all things will work themselves out in time, are the critical.

So as fall comes, may you embrace the beauty that comes with it.

Notice the wonderful colors as the emerge.

Inhale the scent of falling leaves.

Listen to the rustle and crunch of the leaves as you walk.

Feel the texture of your coat around you.

And ponder the possibilities of growth through the next season.

I'm not sure where my artwork is headed.

I've enjoyed my exploration with circles.

I'm pondering a change of palette....we'll see what happens.