~ Home

My husband is traveling down south with my boys. 

He's been sending me pictures of places that were special to us as children, 

special to our families,

special to us as we were falling in love.

And quite frankly, I don't like it. 

It makes me homesick.

It's a familiar pattern for me.

I start missing my parents and my siblings and their awesome kids.

I start thinking about all the friends and family so far away.

I start thinking about all the holidays and birthdays and football games and baptisms and celebrations we've missed.

I start longing for those gorgeous mountains.

Today he sends me these pictures!

Now all I can think about is how beautiful that spot will be in a few weeks when it is painted with the colors of autumn.

Knowing I probably won't be seeing those mountains anytime soon, I decided to do what I always do when I get homesick.

I grabbed my camera and a thermos of coffee (o.k., actually it was creamer with a little coffee), and I took off in my car to remind myself why I'm happy right where God put me!

I might not have mountains anymore, but there's something quite special about this place I call home.

~ Goodbye Summer

There are moments when the sun is high

and the colors are vibrant

and everything is alive with promise.

There are days when the water invites you to linger,

the kids occupy themselves for hours,

and getting a good night's sleep doesn't seem quite so urgent.

There are moments when you stumble upon little treasures

and moments for tasting the sweetness of the season

and moments when the landscapes take your breath away.

And then comes that inevitable moment when we have to say goodbye to summer so we can say hello to autumn and all the wonderful things it has in store for us.

(I wrote this post back in August. I'm a little late saying goodbye to summer. We just got back from the beach in South Carolina. Now, it's official. Summer's over. I'm welcoming Fall with open arms!)

You Are Autumn

I walked into my kitchen today and it was glowing. There was a golden glow spilling in through my window. The big maple tree outside my window seemed to surrender to the inevitable overnight. Yesterday it was green. Today it is bright yellow. It reminded me of the beautiful words to Nichole Nordeman's song "Every Season". Enjoy! (To listen to the song, scroll down the page to my playlist and click on #16.)

every evening sky an invitation to trace the patterned stars

and early in July, a celebration for freedom that is ours

and I notice You in children's games, in those who watch them from the shade

every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder

You are Summer

and even when the trees have just surrendered to the harvest time

forfeiting their leaves in late September and sending us inside

still I notice you when change begins, and I am braced for colder winds

I will offer thanks for what has been and what's to come

You are Autumn

and everything in time and under heaven finally falls asleep

wrapped in blankets white, all creation shivers underneath

and still I notice you when branches crack, and in my breath on frosted glass

even now in death You open doors for life to enter

You are Winter

and everything that's new has bravely surfaced, teaching us to breathe

what was frozen through is newly purposed, turning all things green

so it is with You and how You make me new with every season's change

and so it will be as You are re-creating me

Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring

(Witten by Nichole Nordeman)

A Drive in the Country

Last week, I had lunch with a friend at her house in the country. Her house is beautiful and so welcoming. She had it all decorated for fall. I had decided not to do much decorating for fall this year, but when I left her house I was in the mood for a drive in the country. As I was driving, I passed bunches of little pumpkin stands. Some were at Orchards (pumpkins $5) and some were at people's farms. My favorite was this one.

I actually had to turn the car around to see if I had read the sign correctly. I love driving in the country. You never know what you are going to find. I had a five dollar bill so I picked the five biggest pumpkins (I'm not crazy!) I put my money in the little coffee can that was sitting behind the pumpkins and drove off feeling totally happy. Then as I continued my drive, I passed another little farm with a cute wagon out front full of pumpkins, gourds, etc...In front of the wagon was a basket that said everything 25 cents. It was full of large odd shaped gourds, some strange looking squashes and cute little round pumpkins. Of course, I dug through the change drawer in my car and came up with six quarters. Hey, a bargain is a bargain.

When I got home, I combined my little "gifts" with the gourds and Indian corn my neighbor had given me and the flat pumpkins I had previously purchased to fill my urns, and now this is what it looks like at my house.