Time to Decorate for Fall!

Last night my husband pulled out my fall bins from our storage room. I worked on it a little last night and wanted to share some of the photos with you. There's a lot of things I didn't get out yet. Some things I wait to pull out until the night before Thanksgiving when I'm getting the dining room table ready for the next day. That is one of my favorite moments of the whole year! I am never happier than when I'm getting ready for the holidays.

This is our living room mantel.

And this is a shot from our kitchen.

The lanterns were found at a local furniture store. I found the garland at Pottery Barn a few years ago. I usually try to go there just before Thanksgiving. In the past, they have marked fall decorations down at that time. Speaking of Pottery Barn, my husband and I came up with a great knock-off of one of their holiday decorations for much less. I'll be posting that one a little later.

And just in a little while, this guy will be making his appearance on our deck.

Hope you're all having fun this magical time of year! Blessings!

Linking up to www.impartinggrace.com   and www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com as well as www.atthepicketfence.com  virginiasweetpea.com

The Simple Things

I haven't written a blog in awhile. There hasn't been anything big going on. We have just been doing our daily routines of home schooling, cleaning, cooking, etc. That list goes on and on sometimes. I have been reading a lot of other moms' blogs, though, and enjoying every minute. I read one yesterday and was so touched by her writing, that I put it on my facebook. If you get a moment, check this blog out:

www.memoriesoncloverlane.com

It is a beautifully written post about staying home with your children when they are little. I hope you can take the time to read it.

It makes me thankful and oh so grateful, that I have been given the wonderful blessing of staying home with my kids from babyhood on. Even when we were living and working at a ministry called Teen Challenge (and money was tight), my husband was always on board with my staying home and taking care of each and every sweet baby.

Now my last "baby" is seven years old, but what fun we've had together!

Yesterday, my 15 yr.old was finishing up a long day of school work. I saw her sitting at the dining room table and felt the Lord speak to my heart, "Take her to Starbucks and get her a little treat." It was a rainy day, but we dashed out the door and had so much fun together.  We even squeezed in a few minutes at TJ Maxx before heading back home. (We had a good laugh when I discovered - as we were leaving the store -that I had forgotten my jeans were rolled way up at the bottom. I was totally oblivious to that fact the whole time I was window shopping).






It's a rainy day here again, but sometimes I like those days the best. Don't you love the look of yellow leaves blowing across the sidewalk? The whole world feels cozy to me on days like this.

The day is beginning and it's almost time to pull out the books again before having a couple days off for the weekend.

Wherever you are today, I hope you have a blessed and happy day!

Linking up to www.impartinggrace.com   and www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com  and www.atthepicketfence.com  kellyskornerblog.com

A Wink From God

If you know me even a little, then you know that I am in the midst of my most favorite time of the year. My daughter and I drove to her orthodontist appointment yesterday and my heart was just so happy the whole drive there. The trees are in their autumn splendor here up North and every turn of the road seemed to show an even more beautiful sight.

That evening, my daughter and littlest boy and I drove down the road a little ways because of a sign that read, "Pumpkins $3.00".  I was over the moon! It was like God gave me a little wink and said, "I know how much you love this time of year, so I surprised you with a field full of pumpkins right by your house." Well, that is how I like to think of God. He loves giving us delightful surprises.

My little boy wasn't in the picture taking mood at this moment.

His good mood has returned!

Of course, I had to drive back there a few minutes later. This time big brother joined us.  Here they are giving us their rendition of "Waiting for the Great Pumpkin". It did seem like Linus and Sally should be sitting out there with them.

And now the front of our home looks like this.  I just need to add some yellow mums.

Happy October everyone!! There's joy all around - maybe even down the road from your house:)

Linking up to www.impartinggrace.com     and www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com    and www.atthepicketfence.com