a poem for fall

i stick my head out the window

and close my eyes

and take a deep breath

the wind blows through the trees

blowing through the autumn leaves

and whipping my hair

off my face

the leaves rustle high above

coloring the sky

red and orange and yellow

against the brilliant blue

like a sea high above

covered in boats of leaves

there’s a pumpkin pie on the windowsill

below, the scent wafting out

i run down the stairs

and grab my hat

and wrap on my scarf

and snatch my coat

and hurry outside

the door banging behind me

my leather boots bang on the ground

 the leaves scuttle beneath my feet

i rush down the road

my eyes searching ahead

and then i see it

and i smile

i rush forward

and push the swing

the old tire flying high

i laugh and jump on

as it swings down

and fly towards the sky

i feel like if i let go

and pushed off

my hands spread out far

that i could fly

up into the sky

towards a distant star

the tire swings down again

and i remember that i won’t fly

but i don’t care

i’m happy just as i am

i jump off the swing

and hurry down the road

just a little farther down

i glance at the sun

and i realize it’s almost time

maybe i shouldn’t

have dallied so long

but surely - i’ll make it on time

i rush back down the lane

and through the gate

and throw open the door with a smile

my family’s before me -

my father, mother, brothers,

sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles

grandfathers and grandmothers

and everyone else in between

my mother winks and beckons

and we head into the dining room

 the long table

it’s there, spread out before me

only coming out -

only on one day

 a special

one of my favorite days

we all gather around

the food’s on the table

i glance around -

so many happy, loved faces

i love today -

and every other day

thank you God,

for all of these happy days

i’m thankful for this day

and every day

it’s Thanksgiving.

\\

i love Thanksgiving - i can’t wait until it comes around again this year. fall is here upon us, and it brings me joy. drink your warm coffee and tea, wrap on your scarves, run through the forests on an adventure, and have a lovely, God-blessed fall. - Anna

look to God

i stood there

a cold wind on my face

a tear on my cheek

gone from that place

it was a long time ago

like a land far away

when i left this place

i remember that day

there are so many memories

a laugh, a smile

they cloud my vision

but in awhile

i see that that’s all gone now

the house is dark

the house is cold

against the white sky stark

i remember running and playing

laughing through the leaves

i remember running over the hills

and climbing the trees

i remember climbing to the roof

sliding down on the snow

i remember the dandelions

the ones i used to blow

there were so many happy memories

that i wish i could go back

sitting on the grass all day

eating apples out of a sack

i wish that this place was like it was

the way i remember

the way that i’d left it

that long ago December

but i can’t go back

though memories stay

so instead, i’ll look ahead

to a better, brighter day

because staying in the past?

that’s something that doesn’t work

we don’t appreciate what we have

this present life we shirk

we can’t ever go back

but we have something up ahead

there’s Someone bigger then us

down this life i’ve led

someone guiding us, the Bright Ones,

as we journey through this life

Someone who’s carried us

through darkness and strife

don’t stay in the past

but look to tomorrow

find the joy in Christ

give Him your sorrow

trust in Him for His Great Plan,

let Him be your Rock,

though you be tripped and trampled

and shamed and mocked

this house is just a house

this land is just a piece of earth

that smile and that laughter

were that moment’s mirth

things can’t ever be the same

but that doesn’t mean they won’t ever be great

we can’t change things in the past

but we can change now, before it’s too late

this will all rot away

but God will stand forever

doing His will is the only thing

that is the Worthy Endeavor

so take your eyes off the past

and put them on God

the Maker of the World

this round sphere of sod

look to God in trial

look to God in pain

God is here for you

His peace you will gain

so don’t look to the past

where you can’t change things and can’t go

but look to the One who makes the stars shine

to the One who makes the dandelions blow.

//

look to God, the Maker of the World.

brave

mine + please don’t pin

i get afraid. a lot. i’m afraid of new things. afraid of changes. afraid of things i don’t understand and don’t know. things that i’ve heard of. things. and then i was given something that is really quite amazing.

“To be brave, you must first be afraid.” - Anonymous

let’s just let this sink in for a moment. “to be brave, you must first be afraid.” wow. this is like... life-changing for me. mostly, i always feel afraid. and it’s through that, that i can be brave? that practically blows my mind. brave people seem so... confident. unafraid. fearing nothing. could they actually have a fear, too? could they just push it away, and take a step out into the darkness?

when i heard this, i realized just how true this is. we can be the most afraid we have ever been in our life, but if we take that first trusting step, reach out and grab God’s hand, even though we’re afraid, we’re showing bravery. brave people don’t always feel brave. most likely, they never feel brave. but they trusted God, and took a step of faith out into the darkness where they couldn’t see. God be might be asking us to go somewhere that looks like, to us, like stepping off a cliff. the other side is shrouded in mist, and we feel fear - what’s on the other side? what if we fall? what if we die? it takes bravery to step out.

we might be scared beyond belief, but sometimes you just have to push that side and take the plunge. we don’t know what’s on the other side, but God does. some of you may be familiar with this verse, but i’d really love to share it with you:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10-11

we don’t have to fear, because God is with us. He is our solid rock on Whom we stand. though everything else falls away, He will still be there.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” - Psalm 91:4

sometimes it feels like if you’re afraid and you step out, you’re going to fall. but God will always be there to pick you up again. don’t be afraid to be brave. don’t be afraid to be bold.

“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” - Psalm 138:3

when you feel like you’re going to fall, step out, call out to God to catch you, to make you bold, to make you brave. so today i urge you - be brave.

when the weight drops off

my photo + please don’t pin

have you ever

just felt

overwhelmed

and then stepped

outside

and felt the wind

and suddenly

the weight

it’s flying

flying away

and you just

feel

free?

God lets us soar on wings like eagles.

feeling free,

anna 

loud minds + saying opposites

made by moi + please don’t pin

“how are you?”

“good.”

i feel like i’m falling apart.

“what’s been going on?”

“nothing much.”

everything.

“everything ok?”

“everything’s great.”

everything’s horrible.

sometimes people

have the loudest minds

say one thing

and mean the opposite

they just don’t feel safe

telling what’s really

going on

you’re safe with God. talk to Him.

travel

via

travel:(v.) make a journey, typically of some length or abroad.

take a globe

close your eyes

reach out

and pick a place

“let’s go

you ready?”

hope

via

[story]

i stared out the window, a smile on my face, excitement in my mind, and hope in my heart. my mom leaned over the edge of the car’s seat, her face slightly perplexed.

“you know, we might not be able to get it today.”

i smiled. “that’s okay.”

“alright, but i just don’t want you to get your hopes too high.”

“i know we might not get it today,” i told her, “i know it might not be there, or something might happen, or we might not have room in the car. but i can always hope.”

she smiled at me. “yes - you can always hope.”

hope.

fly

have you ever felt

the wind

tugging and pulling

and felt

that if you jumped

up towards the sky

you could just

fly?

“stop that plane”

via

“stop that plane!” i rushed towards the gate. “stop that plane!”

“excuse me,” glared the stewardess, who was about to go on, “what on earth are you talking about?”

i gripped her hands. “you must stop that plane. don’t let it take off!”

“whatever’s the matter?” her brow was furrowed.

“just stop it!” i urged, taking off at a run in the opposite direction. “just stop it,” i whispered.

maya’s words came floating back to me - you have the power to do anything. i shook my head, running faster. she was wrong - i didn’t have any powers, not like her or any of the others. all that i was? a normal human girl. i couldn’t do anything to stop this. i couldn’t, as much as i wanted to. i ached with all my heart to be able to do something. but i just couldn’t.

yes, you can.

i ran faster, trying to outrun the voice, but i couldn’t.

you might not have any so-called “powers”, but you have your own power that no one else has. a power that could save the world. use it.

i had no idea what they were talking about, but i knew the voice well. i shook my head, trying to get her out, but i couldn’t. instead, i found myself speaking back to the mind-reader. you don’t understand, you just can’t! i’m nothing special like you guys! i’m just a normal human! i felt like crying even as i thought the words.

no. you are so much more.

“i am nothing more,” i whispered, thinking it at the same time.

you are tane leyman. as long as there is evil in the world, the good will combat it. tane, you are that good. you might think you can’t do anything, but there is always something that good can do.

my running steps halted. suddenly, i wished that the mind-reader, layla, would say more. layla? layla, are you there? there wasn’t a reply. but her words echoed in my mind, and i realized she was right - i could do something. i couldn’t just stand here and let evil triumph. i didn’t know what i could do, but i would try to do whatever it took to make sure that plane didn’t take off the ground.

i took off back towards the gate. the stewardess woman was heading towards the door. i pushed past her - “hey! get back here!” - and through the door. i ran across the tarmac towards the stairs that looked like they were just about to be taken away from the door of the plane. i raced towards them, yelling and waving my hands - “stop! stop!”

the men taking it away stopped, giving me a strange look.

“are you on this flight?”

“i need to be,” i told them truthfully.

they nodded and let me go up. i sprinted to the top, glancing around the seats holding the passengers. that’s when i spotted them, towards the back of the plane. quickly, before they could see me, i ducked up front into the front where the pilots were.

“young lady, you can’t - ” somebody started to say.

“just a moment!” i cried, jumping away from the co-pilot’s reaching hands. “you can’t let this plane leave the ground! there’s a major threat on board!”

“and why should we believe you, a girl?” the pilot raised a suspicious eyebrow at me.

“look, if anybody else was saying this, would you believe me?” i pleaded.

“what kind of a threat?” the pilot finally asked.

“it’s... um... a dangerous person,” i managed. “basically worse then a terrorist. i’d suggest that you evacuate the plane immediately and get them into the custody of the law.”

“young lady, if you’re...” the pilot started to say.

at just that moment, there was the sound of somebody getting punched behind us. one of the stewardesses came through the door, face pale.

“sir, somebody just went and attacked one of the passengers, and...!”

“quickly, get everybody off the plane!” he cried. “hurry!”

before they could say anymore to me, i hurried out of the cabin and saw the scene unfolding. maya, cameron, and a few of the others were there, finally putting Y-band handcuffs on zeen, his apprentice, zyn, and his Partner, sasha, and starting to escort them out of the plane.

“what is the meaning of this - ?!” the pilot came out of the cabin, staring at all of us.

“it’s nothing,” maya told him. “you may continue on with your flight.”

“yeah,” cameron agreed. he held up what looked like a government badge, having come from the pocket of his suit coat. “we’re part of the government.” as though it would help, he also pulled a pair of aviators out and put them on.

everybody was staring at us, and i could only imagine what they had to be thinking. i only smiled and maya. she leaned forward and whispered, “thanks for stalling the plane. we couldn’t have done it without you.”

“thank you,” i told her. “your words were part of the reason that i kept going.”

maya just smiled. before anybody else could say anything, we escorted zeen & co off the plane and behind the airport. jack then teleported us back to the base.

i realized, as everyone celebrated everything that had gone right, that i really didn’t have to have any powers or be anything amazing to do something amazing. i just had to have courage. and sometimes that meant a lot more then any kind of power. i smiled.

* * *

as kind of a little note, this is kind of partly a story idea i had that would go along with the unusuals, as kind of like a second series. thoughts?

you can't runaway

you can't
runaway
from your problems
you have to turn
and face them
but don't
worry
you won't be
alone
because there is
always
One
who holds your hand
and leads
the way

life comes pouring out

via

i remember when i used to post every day - sometimes more then once a day. blogging was new and exciting and something that i was just so happy about. and then sometimes life comes in, and you can’t do that as much. and i couldn’t. and i got busy, and then when i did get on the computer i was doing other things, like designing and answering emails and everything. and then, suddenly, i haven’t posted for several days. maybe a week. and then i finally get the time to just sit down and write something. and my whole life comes pouring out as i write what’s been going on, what i’ve been thinking about, things like that. it just comes like a tidal wave, and suddenly the post’s a lot longer then intended. and i suddenly realize something.

i’ve missed blogging. i’ve missed writing down things. things that just normally get stored in my brain and unshared. and suddenly i can write them out, and they’re staring back at me. and suddenly i almost feel like a weight’s lifted off my chest, because i finally got all of those thoughts out.

that’s one of the beauties and joys of blogging. we can write everything and anything we want to, and the thoughts are uniquely ares. they aren’t that person’s who has a million followers. they aren’t the person’s down the road. they aren’t anything by your thoughts, and that’s what makes them unique. because God has created each and every one of us differently, so beautiful and complexly. your thoughts are worthwhile and amazing, and sometimes that seems to get forgotten.

sometimes you just have the urge to write it, just to say it. and then suddenly, you look up, and there’s a blog post written.

the sun’s rising,
anna