Autumn Series - Intro

Now that I'm really getting going with this blog, I thought I would start my first series. I love Autumn so much, I think it borders on going even further than that. For whatever reason, I just seem to always feel more alive in the fall. It's the smells, the colors, the food, the activities, and maybe even the scarves. I don't know what it is about this glorious season that just makes me so unbelievably happy. But whatever it is, I am so happy to share my love for all things fall.

Here in Georgia, there seems to be so many activities this time of year, that there just isn't time to do everything. My sister loves soccer, and has been playing it practically her entire life, so with the new school year comes a new season of soccer playing. She's trying something a little different this year, and was blessed to be chosen to play for a select team, and thus we've been getting up early on Saturday mornings and chasing her all over the state to watch her games. It really is such a wonderful gift to for us (grandparents, daddy, sister, hubby and myself) to be able to all pile in my dad's expedition and spend the day in the car, sitting together on the field watching her play, and having an afternoon together afterward. So many people don't have the privilege to see their families even once a week, much less have guaranteed days to spend with them like we do when she's playing soccer. It's such a great blessing and we love that it's all with the purpose of allowing my sister to do something she loves.

In any case, while we maneuver around her crazy soccer schedule, we're trying to balance some fall-themed activities in our lives along with our other responsibilities, it just brings me to another reason why I love this season. Every thing seams possible in the crisp fall air. Yes we can go to an apple orchard and a pumpkin farm in the same day! Yes we can go to the corn maize and the apple festival! That'll be just after church or after lunch or maybe if we hurry we can get there just in time to catch the hayride. There's so much fun to be had. I'm glad hubby's on board to enjoy it all with me!

David and I are really enjoying this season of life. With two years of marriage under our belts, we can safely say that the newlywed phase is ending for us, and that we're settling into something new that is both fresh and familiar. We're those people that found the newlywed phase really difficult. We struggled with finances, clashing character traits, personal loss, and with deciding what kind of married couple we wanted to be - ones who were going to face this world downtrodden and alone or ones that were ready to follow Christ. As the bible says, we all have that feeling deep down, that knowledge of God - of his love and understanding. What so many of us struggle against is actually the peace that following his guidance brings. I'm so happy to finally say that our family (present and future) will be following and serving the Lord. It has been one of the most freeing and refreshing feelings - letting go of trying to over-control everything, and choosing to cling to our faith. Being raised as Christians, we always knew the way to go, what was best, but found ourselves caught up and lost in the jumble of today's society and expectations. Faith seems, more often than not, to be lost in the journey. I'm relieved to report that for us, we are no longer lost. We've found home in Christ.

What a blessed season marks this Autumn, and we are ready to celebrate!

Love,
Casey