Fall Fun

This year, I am happy to report, that our fall days have been the proverbial big pile of freshly raked leaves and we have been indeed jumping in and having a fabulous time. Although we've been busy, I am so thankful as I look at my exhausted babies asleep in the van going from one event to the next that we are making some pretty grand memories. I love everything about fall. I love wandering the school supply aisles at Walmart, I love pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, I love candy corn and I love almost feeling like I could wear a sweater.



My husband and I very often speak in movie quotes to each other, and this is one of our faves. In the spirit of autumn, I offer this sentiment to you as well:

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms. (You've Got Mail)

Fall mornings mean different things to different people, I know. For instance, to Erik it means waking early to take a brisk bike ride with his friends on a Saturday morning. For me, it means making doughnuts and coveting the homes on This Old House in my PJ's. To each his own....

This year we also roasted our own pumpkins to make pumpkin puree. Let me tell you, two small pie pumpkins make a pretty massive amount of puree. For me, this itch has been satisfied and I can check off 'make pumpkin puree' from my life list and go back to Libby's puree in a can. We were able to make two pumpkin pies and pumpkin whoopie pies which are, if I do say so myself, de-lish. Statistics say most Americans gain 7-10 pounds in the holiday season. We're over achievers, we're going to see if we can top that record.

To aid in our weight gain efforts we went trick-or-treating and brought home quite the haul in our homemade trick or treat bags. We had a match fit pair this year - a hippie and a sailor. They walked around the neighborhood protesting each other....totally kidding. We had an awesome time and even met some of our neighbors who are looking for a church. Yes, Halloween can be an outreach opportunity.

Our season also included a Fall Fest at the park and an old-fashioned pumpkin carving party complete with apple bobbing. These events are proof it doesn't take fancy gadgets, expensive bounce houses or lots of money to have some good clean fun. And, can I just say, I love my girls' affinity for simplicity? When we arrived at the carving party there were all sorts of intricate patterns for pumpkin carving. My kids would have none of it and stuck with triangles and toothy grins, despite some pretty heavy pressure to go all fancy-schmancy. I am beyond thrilled that they still love an old school jack-o-lantern. And, although their stubborness can make me want to pull out my hair some days, I so admire their tenacity and their strong sense of self. I marvel at them everyday.

So that just about wraps up fall for us. My sister's wedding is this month and I can't think of better way to celebrate my favorite season than by celebrating love. And, of course, Thanksgiving looms ahead. But, as I'm not hosting this year, I'm simply looking forward to the parade and food I didn't prepare. Does anyone else still watch the parade? Erik is convinced I'm the only one left who insists on watching it in its entirety. I'm such a sucker for a good parade.

In His Service -

Autumn Perspective

I've been tormenting myself every morning by watching the weather reports on the Today show and coveting the fall weather in other parts of the country. The worst part comes when Al Roker puts up the map colored in red, orange and yellow to show the peak of fall foliage so we can plan our trips to see the colors change. Then, I look at my neck of the woods and it's still mostly that awful brown color which translates to: I'm sorry, you need actual trees to see the tree leaves change color. But that's okay (I tell myself) one quick 2 hour drive north and I can have fall. Now, if I could just find a way to box it up and spread a little around here....

As is our norm, we have tried our best to create fall in our home. The pumpkins are out, the scarecrows hung up and the leaves spread around. Admittedly its a little disappointing to look past the vibrant reds and golds of our faux fall to see my children swimming, still, in stinkin' October... But I know come January and 65 degree temps and sunny days, I will hear my husband say, "This is why we live here." And, I will have to admit that he's right, as he is almost always.

Despite the fact that my complaints seemed to have peaked with the fall foliage, this fall has been full of reminders of how good our God is and how abundantly He blesses us. This was no more clear to us than on September 26, 2010 when Erik, Emma and I had the honor of baptizing Jilly. And, if I'm honest, although Erik and I were in the baptistery too, it was overwhelming to see my daughter baptize her sister. It was a glorious day shared with friends and family. The memories of this once in a lifetime event are forever etched in my mind and I am truly thankful for each and every one of them.

The family we were honored to build a house for - Miguel, Cynthia and Anna.
Our fall continued with a trip to Rocky Point, Mexico. We went on a mission trip with the high school ministry to build houses in the barrios with an amazing group called One Mission. This was a trip Erik and I decided not to go on earlier in the summer. We decided that we could not afford the trip with the registration fees and the passport I would need. We decided that we would, instead, spend that weekend as we had planned at a Jack Johnson concert. The tickets were a birthday present from Erik and the concert is something we have always wanted to do. End of story, our minds were made up. We had decided and planned and were totally comfortable with our choice. Right....Well, you can see how much deciding we did and you are probably laughing about as much as God did during all of this planning. I went to lunch with a friend who shall remain nameless, and Kristina Harbour challenged me to rethink my decision and pray about the trip. Pray? Ask God what He wanted me to do? Hmmm, novel concepts and so crazy they might just work. So, we did. We talked and prayed and prayed and talked. I would like to say at this moment the sun broke through the clouds, we had our ah ha moment and realized we should go to Mexico. But, no. We decided we were not going to be guilted into going to Mexico. I'll pause here while you finish laughing....OK? Then, we went to church. The entire sermon was about getting out of your comfort zone and into the faith zone, taking risks, obeying God..really? Are You serious right now? By the end of the sermon Erik was squeezing my hand so hard I knew we were going to Mexico. But, just in case we needed confirmation, as we stood up to leave, the music they played on the speakers? You guessed it: Jack Johnson. Sometimes God whispers, and sometimes He shouts. We heard Him loud and clear.



Sweet Anna

And? Mexico was amazing and totally worth giving up my Jack Johnson tickets. We spent three days with awesome high school students building houses for really amazing families. The bonds formed between those of us in the ministry, the fellowship with the families, serving God - all of this was great. But none of it compared to what Emma said as we pulled into our driveway after the trip - exhausted, dirty, beat....She said, "Oh my gosh. Our house is like a mansion." Perspective was perhaps God's biggest blessing of that weekend.

Perspective is something I am lacking when I sit in my air conditioned home and complain about the heat. Perspective is what I lack when I stare at a pantry full of food and lament that we have nothing to eat. Perspective is missing when I think money is tight simply because I cannot afford to go to a museum this week. I have never been starving or homeless. I do not know what it is to want for anything. I gained perspective. I'm not sure I could have walked away from a concert with a gift like that.