when finally set free: fall

Friday, September 27, 2013

embracing the season

The other day I tweeted about how I want to live in a place where I could experience actual seasons. Being a California native, I generally have only experienced about one season: summer. Year round, temperatures don't drop much lower than 70 and can reach up to degrees of 90, even 100.
I've always loved this about living in the Golden State.
I hate being cold, and have always claimed summer as my favorite season.

Until now.

This has been such an incredibly hot summer. While most of the country is bringing out their scarves and hot cocoa, we're still wearing tank tops and drinking iced coffee. I don't know if it's because I am getting older, but I am definitely over this heat, and ready for the season to change. I'd never be excited about the weather being in the low 70's, but today I got so excited!
I dusted off my tights and brought out my lace up shoes. I'm feeling good today :)

This will be our first fall as a married couple. I know Jamey loves this season, and that makes me want to enjoy it even more. This time last year, I wrote a blog post about creating traditions. I am excited to experience those traditions again this year, as a wife.

Here is my fall bucket list (so far) :

Go to a pumpkin patch
Carve pumpkins while watching a classic horror film
Make our home decorative for the season
Dress up for Halloween
Pass out candy on Halloween night
Learn a few pumpkin recipes
Stay the night in a cabin (if not for the fall, the winter)
Start working on my first home project: the patio

I am sure this list will grow the more and more

I am inspired by the wonders that fall brings, but for now this will do.

Last year at our first pumpkin patch!

That's my husband, looking so good! :)

I think another reason I want to live somewhere I experience actual seasons, is because I see so much beauty within transition. Season to season, there is warmth, or coolness; the springing of flowers, or the build up of snow. There's a constant reminder that grace is around the corner, and mercies are new each morning. I suppose for now, as we live in California, I can just imagine the seasons drastically changing. So to you, 79 degree weather, I will ignore you and drink hot chai and keep my tights dust-free.

XO,

Brenda

Friday, October 19, 2012

creating traditions

Being engaged is the most exciting season I've experience yet. There's always something new to discover, or new to discuss. At times it can be stressful, but God has been using these events to draw Jamey and I even closer than we were before. Wedding planning can be exhausting, even though it is such a beautiful season. One thing we have committed to since we started dating, and we've carried through engagement, is weekly date day/nights. In the midst of planning, working full-time and having outside lives, finding time to get together can be so difficult. But, we find it to be so vital to keeping us strong, so we make it happen!

This last week, it was my turn to plan a date night, so I made it a surprise! We have been wanting to go to a Pumpkin Patch for a few weeks now, so I thought that would be a good idea. I researched some local Pumpkin Patches in Orange County, in hopes to find the best of the best. I read great reviews about the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, so that was the winner! We had SO much fun! It was so neat walking around looking at all the little kids and their families, and they had it set up really well. We searched for the perfect little pumpkins to take home with us to carve, and we of course, used it as an opportunity for some awesome photos!

I just kept thinking how awesome it was to use this time to create traditions for the two of us. We are engaged to be married, and what that means to us is that we are months away from beginning our own little family. That brings so much joy to my life!

So, here's to continuous seasons of joy, new traditions & the fall season.