Perfect day with my Family

 anxiously awaiting the parade....

today was just a great day, all day long.  we woke up early and headed to the rice festival parade.  it has been an annual tradition.  the weather was gorgeous.  tori called her bff and their family came too.

it was obviously sunny, but nice and cool...

since we no longer have our folding chairs, we sat on blankets...and that was fun

we got lots and lots and lots of candy...this is my biggest bowl

 then we came home and rested awhile...tori went to hang out...with her friend...guess they no longer "play"...it is now "hanging out"

all week as i have weaved through the construction home, I have passed this church that was going to do a fall festival, never really thinking about it.  and then on our way home from wally world, i thought that would be fun.  after all, it is fall and my favorite time of year.  so we went and got tori and told her bff family and they came as well.

we had a great time.  and josh had some friends he knew.  we even got to go on a hayride a couple of times.  the kids won a cake and got MORE CANDY.

it was great.  i know we will make new memories and new traditions over the next 5 years, but it is enjoyable right now just to enjoy my family in the familiar.  i am thankful that i knew God's plan for over a year now.  it has given me a chance to truly appreciate these things that i have taken for granted. 

i sometimes am still a little nervous about what our new life will hold, but i am also excited.  i am excited that God chose our family, that He trusts us.

Now, to pray with my kiddoes and get ready for bed myself.  We will all sleep well after such a great day.

Its almost my favorite time of year

I LOVE FALL....

It is by far, my favorite time of year.  I grew up in rural New York State.  My birthday is in October so every year for my birthday, I got a new winter coat.  And I usually already needed it by my birthday.  I remember playing in the woods with my siblings.  I remember picking up millions of apples and filling my dads truck, then taking them to the cider place for them to turn our apples into cider.  It was so much fun.  And I still love cider to this day.  But it is never as good as ours in New York.  I love the pumpkins and squash that are ready this time of year.  As a little girl, we used to set up a little stand in my little red wagon to sell all our excess veggies in the fall.  Oh, and I love little red wagons too.  I still had mine when we got married, but it finally was time to get rid of it a few years back.  I remember, after our first year of marriage, we took a pastorate at a church in Ohio.  We went up for the interview on my 20th birthday, October.  It was beautiful.  The woods looked like those above.  We took many walks in those woods as a newly married couple.  And I screamed in those woods when it was taking a little too long for us to have a baby...and then I walked with a baby in a front carrier in those woods and thanked God for my blessings.

I love the fall.   I love the memories.   I love all the things that come with fall.  Spending more time with our families.  The weather getting cooler.  Wagon rides where you get covered in straw.  Getting darker earlier.  Kids playing in the leaves.

For the past several years, fall has been very busy for me.  I was in charge of the Fall Festival at our church.  And this was no easy undertaking.  Last year, we had about 1000 people in attendance.  It consumed my September.  Planning every detail.  And the dissappointment for me was that I never got to actually ENJOY the festival.  I was just too busy.  In fact, the past two years, my in-laws have come and taken care of my children and taken Erika around to all the fun things I planned.  But it is okay.  It was a joy to serve and see so many people blessed.  And it was a joy to go to sleep the night after the Fall Festival was over:)  This year, I am so looking forward to just enjoying the Festival.  Strolling around with my kids.  Being able to visit with the other families. 

To everything, there is a season.  This is my season, not to plan events, or be in charge, but just to enjoy.

I LOVE FALL:)