In case you haven’t noticed, I am a summer girl. 

I love the sun.  I love being outside.  I don’t even really mind the heat. 

The fact that my number of freckles multiply by seven every time I step outside doesn’t even deter me. 

(Cute story by the way…a few nights ago when we took the girls out to look at stars, Miss E said “There’s so many stars, I can’t even count them!  Like Mommy’s freckles on her face!”)

Anyway, I have been mourning the loss of summer like the loss of a dear friend.  I keep telling myself she’ll come back, but it feels so far away…

The thing is I don’t mind fall.  There are some things about it I actually really enjoy.  My problem with fall is that it leads to winter.  And that I mind big time.  (This captures my feelings perfectly.  Except, oh yeah… I live in the dessert!  So I really shouldn’t be complaining)

But whether I like it or not, the seasons will change.  I realized the other day that I can resist the change and drag my feet to avoid it as long as possible…which I will do in some ways…like not giving up my flip-flops until there is snow on the ground.

Other than the shoes though, I know that the change of seasons would be much more joyful for me and everyone else if I just embraced it.

That is why we are going to start having “Fall Fridays”. 

Once a week I’m going to find something beautiful about this season to take notice of and enjoy.  I know some of you could a write a sonnet about your love for fall every single day, which is nice.  That doesn’t come so naturally to me, but I want to try.

So here’s how I think this should work.  Whether you love fall or you don’t, we’re all in this together, so every “Fall Friday” I want to see comments from you sharing your favorites about the season.  Or if you have a blog and want to share a link in the comments that’s great too.  Just please, SOMEBODY leave me a comment!  I don’t want to feel like I’m talking to myself.  I know I have a few friends out there who live for pumpkins and mums, so I better hear from you!

And now…for the first edition:

For inspiration I read: this, this and this.

Then the girls and I got to work bringing out the fall decor. 

We don’t have a lot, but too much might drive Hombre out of the house.

I love decorating with stuff from nature.

My girls tend be drawn more to the knick-knacky kind of decor.

With some stuff I decided that even if I don’t love it, my girls do.  So what better place to use it for decorating than their bedroom?  Everyone’s happy!

The newest addition to our decor came from Grammy, and is everyone’s new best friend.  Sid the Scarecrow.

So that’s my start on embracing fall. 

Now tell me about you.  Is there a scarecrow in your backyard?

Today was fun.  A good family day.

But by dinner I was tired, and ready to be done.  So ready.

We sat outside while the girls played, which is always relaxing.

Then Hombre brought out the guitar.

It’s something we always talk about doing, but never do.

Until tonight. 

And it was great.  So great.  The girls danced across the patio and Hombre played and sang old songs that used to be our favorites. 

It was just fun. 

I love watching my girls dance.  Because they can’t really dance at all.  But they don’t know that yet, so it’s really cute. 

And it made a dreary night feel like a party.

Now I know why Pa always brought out the fiddle during those long nights on the prairie.

A little happy music just changes everything.

I was reminded of the Man in black…

Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Yes a jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
It’ll shake all the trouble from your worried mind
Get rhythm when you get the blues

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, let me sing to God all my life long, sing hymns to my God as long as I live!
Oh, let my song please Him; I’m so pleased to be singing to God.
~Psalm 104:33-34
(the Message)

Thinking about these words today…

Temptation is not something we can escape; in fact, it is essential to the well-rounded life of a person. 

Beware of thinking that you are tempted as no one else–what you go through is the common inheritance of the human race, not something that no one has ever before endured. 

God does not save us from temptaions–He sustains us in the midst of them.

~Oswald Chambers

We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.

He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all–all but the sin. 

So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. 

Take the mercy, accept the help.

~Hebrews 4:15-16
(the Message)

For Today… September 21,2009

Outside my window… the morning’s are starting to be a bit chilly…I don’t mind this, but I’m dreading when it shifts to actual cold mornings.

I am thinking… if I worked for 24 hours straight I still don’t think I could cross everything off my to-do list.

From the learning rooms…  a five year old who wants to write so badly, but when we practice, things come out backwards and sideways.  hmmm….

I’m thankful for… a relaxing church picnic yesterday.  Sometimes picnics end up being too much work to be worthwhile, but this time it was just fun.

From the kitchen… our new favorite macaroni and cheese recipe….I had to add more milk than it calls for, but it’s so good. 

I am wearing… pajamas…with such a long to-do list I think it’s definitely the day for a lazy morning.

I am reading…  nothing much…time to start something new.

I am creating…  a fun fall decoration I will share soon.

I am hearing… Miss I telling me how she is protecting the precious birthday balloon from the ceiling fan.

Around the house… purging and organizing is desperately needed.  If only I could find the time…

A few plans for the rest of the week… Going on our first official “field trip” of the school year.  Looking forward to that.  And Women’s Bible Study starts tomorrow…also excited for that.

For more daybooks, or if you’d like to participate, click here.

Or leave me a note in the comments… I’d love to hear about your day