Autumn is Here!

It's here! It's here! Autumn is my favorite season of the year and I am so thrilled that it is finally here! The temperatures have dropped and I have begun to pull out my cozy sweaters, thick socks, and throw blankets. We've spent two afternoons at one of the local apple orchards here and have come home with thirty-five pounds of apples. Some of those apples are simmering away on my stove as I type this, well on their way to becoming my first batch of applesauce. The trees in our neighborhood are just beginning to turn and I get excited every morning as I take my first peek outside. Since this is our first autumn in our new house (and because I am not a gardener- YET!) I don't know what our trees will look like in a couple weeks. It's a play that is slowly unfolding each day and I'm the captivated audience.







This morning I had a wonderful time at the park with my girlfriends and their children. While the kids ran and played, we were able to sneak in some much-needed adult conversation. After a picnic lunch, we took a basketball over to the basketball courts and played HORSE. The sun was out, the sky was blue and without a single cloud, and the trees all around the court were turning golden. As I stood there, breathless from chasing the ball and from laughing with my friends, I took a mental picture of that moment, placed it in my heart, and praised God. I praised Him for these budding friendships, for the beautiful children running all around us, the gorgeous day, and the ability to see and enjoy it all.



In this modern age of internet and cell phones, it is so easy to stay in touch with people that are far away. I love that I still feel connected to my best friend even though she lives six hours away. But it is really easy to become isolated. Making new friendships here has really been a blessing to me. I'm getting out of the house more, relating to other moms, and through these relationships, growing closer to Christ. We hold each other accountable. We encourage each other. We lift one another up. Sometimes we cry. We laugh. We share our struggles and temptations and weaknesses and fears. We are held together by the faith that we share.