Ode to Fall

Before I get started on one of my favorite topics, autumn, let me address some of the goofy issues I’ve had with my comments.  Now that they ARE working, they’re still in a weird place - at the top of each post, not the bottom.  It’s related to the template I chose, and I’ve tried to fix it, but it won’t be fixed.  So, I’ll ditch this template soon, and design something different, but that task won’t fit on today’s ‘To Do’ list.  Until then, you’ll just have to scroll back up to leave a comment.

Now, onto the fun stuff!  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I begin daydreaming about fall (or autumn - whichever you prefer to call it.  I like both names!) way back in August, okay, maybe even as early as July.  I am so glad that God created our world with such a variety, but of the four seasons, fall is by far my favorite!

Some of my family's fall fun

Why is it my favorite?  For the simple reason that it LOOKS GOOD, FEELS GOOD, SOUNDS GOOD, SMELLS GOOD, AND TASTES GOOD!  I really think that autumn (see how I switched up which name I used - keeping you on your toes!) is a smorgasbord of delights for all of the senses.  In case you’re not convinced of this yet, or you just like to muse on how wonderful fall is also, I’ve brainstormed everything that I love about fall and broken them down into the categories of our five senses.  Maybe this list will stir you to enjoy something new about autumn this year!

Looks Good

• Leaves - Turning amazing colors of gold, orange, and red
• Pumpkins - They’re just plain adorable.
• Home decor - I love decorating with natural things, like pumpkins, gourds, leaves, acorns, indian corn.
• Flowers - Mums and other fall flowers add nice touches of color indoors and out.
• Bright green grass - The grass is so brilliantly green this time of year, love it!

Feels Good

• Fresh cool air - After the sweltering heat of August, the crisp cool air is so refreshing!
• Warm fires - If you get a little chilled, the best way to warm up is next to a fire.
• Socks - I love sandals, but slipping warm socks on again in the fall feels really good.
• Sweaters - Same thing goes for sweaters; I love pulling them out again, so cozy!

Sounds Good

• Crunching leaves - Who doesn’t love that sound?  I purposely kick them up with my feet when I walk through them.
• Crackling fire - One of life’s simplest pleasures!  Wasn’t it good of God to make a source of heat that cooks food, looks pretty, smells good, and sounds good (this one fits many categories!)?
• Wind - I love the sound of the wind rustling through the trees on an autumn day.
• Rain - I hear some groans on this one, but I love the sound, look, and smell of rain.
• Beautiful music - This is a good time of year for pretty instrumental music, Celtic music, or romantic jazz.

Smells Good

• Candles - I love the smells of spices and pumpkin, not to mention the glow (personal favs: Yankee’s Pumpkin Spice, Autumn Leaves, and Fall Festival (apparently Yankee has the same dilemma I do between 'fall'/'autumn'))
• Wet leaves - I know they stick to your shoes and get tracked inside, but they do smell good!
• Fireplaces/Firepits - I know, I’ve covered this already, but I LOVE sitting by a fire.
• Damp morning air - I just think the air this time of year smells amazing!

Tastes Good (if you weren’t convinced that fall was great before, this list should do it for you!)

• Apples - Pies, crisps, cider, cider donuts, caramel apples, apple pancakes; need I say more?
• Pumpkin - Pumpkin pie, bread, scones, pancakes, ice cream, soup, and crisp (yes, crisp. I have a great recipe for Pumpkin Crisp that I’ll have to post)
• Spices - Cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, cloves; they all taste and smell great!
• Maple - Maple syrup (real, not Mrs. Butterworth’s) is always yummy, but especially now.  Try it over homemade oatmeal, in vinaigrettes, or on bread pudding!
• Pecans - Pecan pie is my personal favorite, but pecans are great in salads, breads, pancakes, etc.
• Pork - I love pork with fried apples, applesauce, or sauteed peaches!  Add in some mashed potatoes, and you’re set!
• Coffee - Pumpkin latte, Maple latte, or Cinnamon Dolce latte anyone?

If I missed one of your favorites, please let me know!  I'm always looking to enjoy fall/autumn as much as possible.

Some visual reminders of autumn's joys!

Extraordinary Wishes for the Ordinary Day

Maybe you’ve got it all together (although, I like to think that nobody really does).  Or, maybe you’re in good company with me, wishing to be a female superhero of sorts, but finding that when you wake up and look in the mirror in the morning, your cape, spandex, and superpowers are missing. (Okay, maybe the missing spandex is a good thing!)

I guess it’s a good reminder that I wasn’t made for this world and that I’m going to struggle with my flesh each and every day.  Jesus put it this way in Matthew 26:41:

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In my weakness, I struggle everyday to face life with the spirit God wants me to.  My wish list for each day of my life looks something like this -

Everyday, I wish that

• I woke up with energy, to a clean house, with the coffee already made 
• I could always think of the perfect thing to have for dinner
• I had a little more of Martha Stewart and the Pioneer Woman in me
• I knew how to handle every disciplinary moment with my kids
• I looked forward to exercising
• I had mandatory nap time
• That just glaring at weeds made them shrivel up and die
• Doing dishes was considered a heroic deed
• I felt like changing diapers
• That saying “Bibbity-bobbity-boo” was all it took to transform me from my housework look into something presentable
• I enjoyed doing laundry
• My kitchen came equipped with a sous chef and a clean up crew
• I dealt with my children’s whining/crying with more patience

When I struggle with these feelings of weakness, it’s an opportunity for me to thank God for the following promises:

II Corinthians 12:9 - And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

I’m glad that I’m under God’s grace and that He’s not finished working on me yet! When I struggle to be the kind of woman God wants me to be, I have to CHOOSE to walk in the Spirit and obey God’s Word.  The result isn’t only a clean house, dinner made, clean laundry, no weeds, a happy husband, etc, which all make me feel good.  The result is joy in my heart, because I’m fulfilling the very purpose I was created for - to glorify God by living in obedience to Him!