Autumn List..and apples.

Perhaps it was one too many drives past the apple tree,

the bright red apples hanging cheerfully.

Maybe the cooler temperatures we had a night or two,

or the anticipation of September coming,

freshly sharpened pencils,

holidays looming,

a little more sparkle and cheer,

but something stirred my mind, body, and soul about this upcoming autumn.

An excitement.....a twinkle in my eyes.

Autumn is coming! 

We are bursting with excitement over the arrival of a new season around here.  We've embraced and enjoyed summer to our fullest capacity...as far as autumn goes, I think more than anything we're excited that this year won't be a repeat of last.  From this month on (this time last year) I became a crazed, crazed list-maker.  I made a list, then made a list for that list, and so on.  I even had a whole notebook for lists!  There was one for Brett's 30th birthday, one for Christmas decor, a list for Christmas presents, etc, etc, etc.  It's embarrassing really.  I wanted things to be perfect before Betsy Grace arrived.

And she arrived, and our house was decorated and I'd still sit next to the beautiful Christmas tree and cry every single night as 5 o'clock rolled around and the darkness loomed until the next day. I'm a sunshine kind of gal.  Add pregnancy/new mama hormones to the arrival of dark evenings and it just wasn't a lovely sight.  Nothing rosy about it.  It was sad and long and hard.  I knew every night I'd have to set up camp in our bathroom and be up for hours with tiny Betsy.  

But remember that verse about joy coming in the morning?

This autumn is our morning.  :)  I still don't care for the early darkness and gray colors that come once winter arrives.  But, instead of giving into the seeping gloomy thoughts, we're fighting it , Brett and I.  We've decided to live intentionally each season, planning some things ahead so we embrace what each season has to offer, instead of dreading it.  Our goal isn't to make list after list and plan the fun right out the door.  We hope to make sure dreamy moments occur often, and aren't an afterthought. 

A rich life given top priority........so here's a peek at our Autumn List so far. 

I'm sure we'll continue to add things as they pop into our minds. 

Doesn't it look exciting?! All that wonder and possibility up ahead...

bring on the dark evenings :)

{What would YOU add to this list?}