Join me as I continue with my Guilt & Failure Series…
Failure happens. I realize that. This week, my heart has been set on the topic of failure, and God has really been working on me. I mean, I realize I do some things that you may not like. We all make mistakes. That’s life. Why this constant feeling of failure and the need to address it?
Again, failure happens. Failure knocks on my door all day long. Mom failures can happen all the time. I’m pretty sure they haunt me a couple times a week, if not at least once a day. Last weekend was no exception.
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A Weekend of Failure
My weekend was amazing, frustrating, and unexpected all wrapped into one tiny package. It was our annual Golden Leaf Adventure. I can see your face in my mind right now with a look of questioning on it. What in world is a Golden Leaf Adventure Katrina? Well, I’m so glad you asked!
I love FALL more than anything! We live in Colorado and have the most beautiful aspen trees that change a gorgeous shade of golden yellow during the fall.
WISH PLANNING A PARTY WAS A PIECE OF CAKE?
When you find a huge grove of them, it’s stunning! The trees can color a mountainside and it’s breath taking! My favorite thing to do in late September is head up towards the mountains. We attempt to find the golden leaves and hike around with my pup.
I Had My Phone Ready
We have our favorite spots. And, yesterday the aspen trees were absolutely breathtaking! Because I love the golden leaves with a deep passion, you can bet I have my phone ready to snap photos the whole way.
We started along our favorite hiking trail which starts at the top of an overlook. The view from the top is expansive and makes you feel so small – it’s awesome!
As we hiked down the trail I was anticipating the aspen grove that was about a mile into our hike.
It’s Worth Hiking Towards
It’s worth hiking towards – it’s this massive open area of all aspen trees that are bright golden yellow for about 3 weeks out of the year.
If are too early the trees are still there, but all green like everything else. If you are too late, the trees are just empty sticks – with all their beautiful golden leaves blowing around on the ground as they turn brown and die.
You have to get the timing just right so that you don’t miss God’s handiwork – and if it’s a slightly breezy day, which it was yesterday, the sound of the leaves blowing is like a gentle crackling noise. It’s awesome to see and hear in person! We hiked along and I was so excited. I stopped a few times on the way to take a few photos of some of the trees showing their leaves through the dense forest area.
All a sudden, we broke out of the forest area and into this open meadow with the the grove of aspen trees at the bottom and it was spectacular. I wanted to break into a run to get to the golden leaves faster!
The Trees Were Calling To Me!
The trees were calling me! Oh how I love this time of year and I love our family adventures! We quickened our pace and got right to the grove of gorgeous golden aspen trees slightly crackling in the wind! It was sensational!
Of course I told me family to strike a pose as a I grabbed my phone to take a photo – or at least I thought.
Failure happens. It's not always a bad thing. Share on XCamera Failed?
My phone gave me an error. CAMERA FAILED. What?????
This can’t be happening. Failed? How is that possible?
I tried again, and quickly because what kid loves to stand there and pose for too long? I pushed the camera button and it made the lense clicking noise like it was taking the photo and then the same error popped up. CAMERA FAILED.
Are you kidding me? How is this possible?
My leaves…my beautiful golden leaves.
I about cried. My kids gave up. My dog wandered off after another squirrel.
All my planning. All my hopes for the perfect Christmas picture were dashed.
How was this happening?! On all days to fail, why today?
How Could This Happen?
I was getting mad now. I opened my camera app again to just take a random picture to see if it would fail again. Not this time – I got a few photos. Good, I’m set – right?
I called the family back together. Got them all set up just right and this time I set my timer on my phone and was planning to join them in the photo.
WISH PLANNING A PARTY WAS A PIECE OF CAKE?
My kids whined. My dog didn’t want to sit still, she wanted to keep chasing squirrels. But, I fussed and demanded them all to look at the camera. I pushed the button and ran to get in the photo. I barely made it before the beep…”smile everyone”……nothing.
Failure Happens.
No noise. No click. No beep. Nothing. I waited a few more seconds demanding that everyone, including the pup, – smile. Nothing. Ok, now I was angry. I go check my phone – there was a giant error message again – CAMERA FAILED. See what I mean? Failure happens.
I cried. I really did.
My leaves.
Failed Family Tradition
My favorite family tradition. With no way to remember it. This is so not fair. And by now, my family was over it. They didn’t want to take any more photos or try again. Of course, they didn’t care if we got a beautiful golden leaf photo.
I asked my hubby if he had his phone. Nope. He doesn’t usually bring his, he never needs to, I always bring mine and take all the photos.
This was not happening.
I restarted my phone. Hoping it would help. It didn’t.
Then, I remembered my oldest son just got a new phone. Duh! How could I forget?! I asked him if he had it. Of course he did. What 13 year old goes anywhere without their phone?!
We Got Our Photo – Finally.
We all lined up again and got our photo.
It’s a stunning photo too! My golden leaves are brilliant!
The day was not a bust – it was just different than my original plan.
Failure Happens. It’s Not Always A Bad Thing.
But, the day taught me a lot about failure and how failure happens:
- Failure happens. It’s not always a bad thing.
- When life doesn’t go as planned, you keep trying.
- When you feel like you have tried and tried – you keep trying.
- When life throws you a curve ball, you come up with a new plan.
- When the unexpected happens you rearrange and keep going.
- You try, and try, and try again a different way.
- How you react to failure matters more than the failure itself.
You just keep going. Failure seems to be a big topic on my heart lately, so much, that I’ve started a new mini series on my blog all about Guilt and Failure.
I’ve also created a free printable quote that you can hang someplace in your house to remind you to just keep going. Sign up below and I’ll be happy to email it to you.
Trust me, I know there are a lot of days when you will want to throw in the towel and give up. I feel that way all the time.
With God’s help we can make it through anything, and Keep Going!
[mailerlite_form form_id=9]WISH PLANNING A PARTY WAS A PIECE OF CAKE?
More Posts In This Guilt and Failure Series:
Do you feel like you are failing right now? At what? How can I help? Can I pray for you? Send me a note, Katrina@FrugalFunMom.com and I’ll be happy to listen.
Failure happens. How you react to failure matters more than the failure itself. Share on XI just want you to know I understand. Failure happens. How you react to failure matters more than the failure itself. You can choose to embrace your failures or be ashamed of them. Learn from them or wallow in them. More often than not, I wallow in them. I’m trying so hard to pick myself up and just keep going, but for the big failures in life I’m still struggling with how I react to them.
Sure, when I’m attempting to take a family photo and it’s not working out, yes, I can keep trying and not give up until I get the shot I want. But, when I have just failed at something major in my life, it’s hard to keep trying. I just want you to know I can relate.
Looking To Laugh More With Your Kids?
Me too! All this talk about guilt and failure is hard to deal with. Most days I just need a moment to giggle and laugh with my kiddos! I’m always looking for fun ways to spend time with my kids – which means I have to get them off their digital devices! I’ve put together a list of 50 fun things you can do with your kids that are frugal too! Want me to send you that list? I’d be happy to – just sign up below and I’ll email it right now!
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