Fall Things Number One

There is no doubt to anyone who clicks on this blog knows I love fall. 

Sure I love my summers off!

I love that first 70 degree sunshine day in June too. 

I love first snowfalls and biting cold Christmases.

But fall -- I love it so much I start preparing for it as soon as the calendar turns to August. 

Although we do a lot of fun things in the fall (click HERE to see apple picking this year) our big "It's Fall" kick off is really the week that Anna is home on college fall break (click HERE to see her homecoming).

Anna and I text the whole month of September planning out all of the fall wonderful things we are going to do when she is home on break. And I want to remember each one so they are here on this blog. 

Here is the first (although it's only one little picture) it was a merry, merry night indeed. 

When Anna came home on Friday evening we did our first Fall Thing: make homemade tea lattes. We have our own recipe that we've perfected over the years and we love it oh so much! 

After dinner that night we crafted our tea lattes, served them in Halloween mugs, and topped with with whipped cream and nutmeg... mmmmmmm! 

 

Anna's Home!

First time since she left in late August... makes us so happy! I literally walk around and stare at her, hug her, love her! 

This was Friday night: 

Waiting

 

Arriving

Running

Hugging

Joy-ing

A Lovely Day Off

We had no school yesterday (Wednesday) for the Jewish holiday. And with all three of us home we made the most of it! It was a rainy day (I really wanted chilly and sunshine) but it ended up being the perfect day off and the perfect day together!  

Here is what I loved about the day: 

1. Sleeping later than our school morning alarms

2. Going for hike/walk around a new area we'd never explored with the leaves just beginning to turn

3. Shopping at an antique store I love (no pictures but I did bring home a mixing bowl I've wanted to start a collection of - for only $2!)

4. Lunch and the best sandwiches at a cozy restaurant

I love our days together! 

Just This...

(music first)  

... just this place.

I love this place so much. A little corner tucked away in our living room. Not a fancy place. Not a fancy picture. 

I wonder how many, just how many hours,

how many prayers

how many longings

how many verses written out

how many pages turned

in my Bible time. 

Countless

I have no idea where my family would be without those hours pouring out to God, learning from His Word. 

I have no idea where my lovely, we are still in love, marriage would be without day after day there, year after year after year after year would be

I have no idea where my beautiful, strong, wonderful Chinese daughter would be without my years there

I have no idea with my fun, loving, compassionate teenage daughter would be without her mama pouring her heart out here her whole life long. 

I never want to know. I will meet with God there every single day I am alive. 

Pointing my heart to Him. 

Pouring out to Him. 

Loving and worshiping Him. 

Being held by Him. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow... 

Just the Fall I Needed

On Sunday afternoon it was cloudy, windy, cold and just perfect makings for a long walk. Abigail was knee deep in homework and we had been side by side with her for a while -- and she needed a bit of time to get some done on her own. So we walked. I picked up leaves along the way and a pinecone. It was just the fall I needed. 

I came home and arranged them in a little ironstone creamer (don't you just love it?!) and it's in my kitchen to make me smile.

{along with this teacup that I love so much} 

{and this night tea that seems just perfect for chilly October nights}

Loving October so so much! 

That fall cozy smell

I whipped this up today and it simmered on the stove all day. And our house? It smelled like fall -- so amazing. Give it a try if you can -- I promise you'll love it! Here's the recipe: 

1. 1/2 an apple, sliced

2. half lemon

3. 4 cinnamon sticks 

4. 2 tablespoons whole cloves

5. 1 teaspoon vanilla 

That's it (takes one minute to make) and just simmer it on the lowest simmer on your stove and you will love it! 

I plan on covering it and putting it in the frig tonight. Then tomorrow when I get home from school (and an appointment) I'll simmer again. I figure it can last one more evening. It'll smell so cozy and wonderful in here! 

 

Happy October First!

Oh goodness 🧡I was done decorating for autumn at the end of August but turning the calendar to October had me wanting to add bits of orange here and there... so I did! And it cheers my soul and makes me oh so happy! 

I hope your October is filled with pumpkin picking, hayrides, favorite fall movies with popcorn, candy apples, fall fairs, homemade apple pies... or whatever makes your heart happy. 🧡