I was sitting in my office/ bedroom this morning looking out the window at the Trees and the leaves changing colors. As I did I began to think about fall, and my mind goes straight to the leaves. Those beautiful oranges, golds, and browns, the leaves falling from the trees, and the memories of being a child when we would go outside, rake up the leaves, and jump right into the pile. Do children even do that anymore? If I could I would. What about you?
It seems like so many children today spend their time inside on their phones or playing on their game systems. Now, before anybody gets upset with me, I’m not saying that’s wrong. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a game or using technology. But why couldn’t we get outside today? Why couldn’t we walk through the leaves, look at the beautiful fall colors, and enjoy the world the Lord has given us?
Sometimes I think we get so caught up in our everyday lives that we forget there is a whole world waiting for us outside our front doors. And that got me thinking about fall family traditions, the memories we make, and the little things that make this season special.
For me, fall is about those warm colors that make a house feel comfortable and inviting. The oranges, golds, and browns are calming and relaxing. I love the way they make a room feel, especially when the weather starts changing and we begin spending more time at home.
Unfortunately, I put my fall decorations away earlier than I wanted to because David wanted to get the Halloween decorations out. Do I regret putting my fall decorations away early? Yes, I do! But it isn’t to late to get them back out and dedicate a corner to Fall. Would you want to help me?
I miss seeing those beautiful fall colors around the house. Halloween decorations have their own fun, and I understand wanting to enjoy that season, too. But there is something about fall decorations that makes me want to settle into my favorite chair with a cup of hot tea and a good book.
Sometimes I think we rush through one season to get to the next one. We barely have time to enjoy the pumpkins and colorful leaves before we are already thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. What if we gave ourselves permission to enjoy fall right where we are?
We don’t have to spend a fortune decorating our homes. A few colorful leaves, a pumpkin, a favorite fall candle, or a pretty arrangement of flowers can make a room feel special. Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that bring us the most happiness which I’m grateful for.
As I sat at my desk thinking about fall this morning, I started thinking about food, too. Fall makes me want to cook something comforting. But it isn’t quite cold enough for soup and sandwiches, although sandwiches sound pretty good to me. Then I have to think about what everybody in my house can eat.
Somebody says, “Oh, I can’t eat that. It’s not gluten-free,” or explains that something bothers them, and suddenly figuring out dinner becomes a little more complicated. Does anybody else ever feel like planning dinner is a full-time job? That is why I think I will have a plain ol’ Peanut Butter Sandwich. Would you like one?
I can start out thinking about something simple, and before you know it, I’m trying to figure out how to make something everyone will enjoy while keeping everybody’s food needs in mind. Still, there is something special about sharing a meal with the people you love. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be a huge holiday dinner with a table full of dishes.
Sometimes a sandwich, a few snacks, and time spent together are more than enough. Maybe that’s another tradition worth keeping: finding ways to enjoy a meal together without making ourselves crazy trying to make everything perfect. Can you help me figure out how to do that/
This morning, as I sat at my desk, I decided I wanted to look online for a fun book to read. Not because I didn’t have work to do. Goodness knows there is always something that needs to be done when you work from home and have a website to keep going. But sometimes you need to stop for a minute and think about what would make you happy.
I started thinking about getting out of the house for a little while. Nothing elaborate. No expensive tickets, no big plans, and no need to drive all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area looking for something to do. I live in North Richland Hills, Texas, and sometimes the things we need are right here in our own neighborhoods.
That’s when I thought about Linda Spurlock Park. The park is only about five minutes from my house. I can’t walk there because it is too far for me, but I could ask someone to take me. And there is a duck pond! Which if you know me I love Ducks and yes, I promise not to bring any home or do I. LOL
Now, tell me, why do I need to go somewhere far away and spend money when I could enjoy something close to home? There are ducks to watch, trees to look at, and a little fresh air to enjoy. There is a shopping center right across the street, too, so I could venture into a few businesses and see what is happening in the neighborhood.
Who knows what I might discover? I might meet someone interesting, find a new local business to feature on Greatful Moments, or stumble across something that gives me an idea for another article. And if I happen to stop and talk to the ducks, well, that could give me plenty of material for the blog! LOL
I can just imagine explaining to David and Charlie that I went to the park to gather information for my website and ended up having a conversation with a duck. You never know. That duck might have a better story than I do. Plus, Charlie and David know me so talking to a Duck wouldn’t surprise them since they’ve seen me sing to my dog Pheobie at times.
While I’m in the area, I could also stop by Linda Marie Bird’s and Joseph’s house in Diamond Loch, which is right across from the park, and check on them. Sometimes getting out of the house is about more than seeing something pretty. It is also about making time for the people who matter to us.
And that is what family traditions are really about, isn’t it? Spending time together, checking on the people we care about, and making room for little moments that become memories. Of course, if I am going to head out for a little fall adventure, I need to pack a bag.
First, I need a light jacket. This is Texas, after all, and the weather can change at the drop of a hat. You might leave the house feeling comfortable and discover that the breeze has other plans for you. Next, I need a pen and paper. You never know who you are going to meet, what you are going to see, or when you might need to write something down.
I might have an idea for Greatful Moments, hear something interesting, or discover a local business that deserves a little attention And yes, talking to the ducks might bring plenty of new information for the blog. I’m not making any promises about the quality of their reporting, but I’m willing to give them a chance!
I also need my phone and a charger. Because apparently, nobody can go anywhere anymore without making sure their electronics are ready to go. Charlie and David will want to know they can get hold of me whenever they need to. I will probably want my phone for pictures, too, especially if I see something pretty or come across an idea I want to remember.
Lord have mercy. Sometimes I think we are all tied to our electronics, but I suppose there are worse things than being able to call home when you need to. Just ask ET. I would bring my step tracker, too. If I actually get up and walk around the park, I can see how many steps I manage to take.
Notice I said if I walk around the park. I might find a comfortable bench by the pond and decide that watching the ducks is enough exercise for one morning! And what’s a day out without snacks? I would pack something to nibble on because you never know when you might get hungry.
I might even pack a lunch so I can sit outside and enjoy a meal instead of eating at my desk. I would also bring a blanket. That way, if I find a shady spot under a tree, I can spread it out and settle in for a while. Now, I should probably point out that at sixty years old, I might get down on the ground and discover that getting back up is a whole different adventure. But I might decide to sit on the ground anyway. Sometimes you just have to live a little!
I would check the park rules before bringing anything to feed the ducks, because I certainly don’t want to make them sick. Watching them paddle around the pond, visit with one another, and go about their day might be entertainment enough. So come and join me. Bring your lunch, pack your snacks, and let’s sit under a tree. Bring a blanket, too, because we might decide that sitting on the ground is exactly what we want to do. Just don’t expect me to pop back up like I did when I was a kid!
I think we sometimes make family traditions more complicated than they need to be. We think we have to plan a big trip, buy tickets to an event, spend money on decorations, or create the perfect day for everyone to enjoy. But what if we simply went outside?
What if we walked through the leaves, watched the ducks at a neighborhood pond, packed a lunch, or spent an afternoon reading a book together? What if we called someone we hadn’t seen in a while and stopped by for a visit? Those little things matter, too. Let’s go.
Remember not every memory has to come from a major holiday or an expensive family outing. Some of our favorite memories can come from ordinary days when we decide to slow down and pay attention. And sometimes plans don’t go the way we expect. The weather changes, somebody doesn’t feel like going, dinner becomes a challenge, or we decide that staying home is what we really need. That’s okay.
We can still find something to be grateful for. We can enjoy the colors outside our windows, make a simple meal, pull out a favorite book, or sit quietly for a few minutes and thank the Lord for the day He has given us. I know I don’t always stop and do that as often as I should.
There is always another article to write, another email to answer, or something around the house that needs attention. But I don’t want to get so busy documenting life that I forget to live it. I want to make memories with my family. I want to enjoy the seasons instead of rushing through them. And I want to remember that the little things are often the very things we miss most when they are gone.
As I sit here thinking about fall, I keep coming back to those leaves from my childhood. I remember the beautiful colors, the fun of being outside, and the simple happiness of jumping into a pile of leaves. I wish more children had the chance to experience those things.
I know technology has its place, and I am not saying we should give up our phones, games, or computers. But I do think we can make room for both. We can enjoy a favorite game and still go outside. We can watch a movie and still take a walk. We can spend time online and still look up at the trees and notice the beautiful colors God has given us. And we can create new family traditions, even when our children are older and our lives look different than they once did.
Maybe this fall, we will pack a lunch and visit the duck pond. Maybe I will find a new book to read. Maybe I will bring home a story about a local business or a funny encounter with a duck. Or maybe I will simply sit under a tree, enjoy the breeze, and be thankful that I took the time to get out of the house.
Whatever happens, I want to remember to be grateful, thankful, and blessed. Because fall isn’t just about the leaves, the decorations, or what we make for dinner. It is about the time we spend, the people we love, the memories we create, and the little blessings we sometimes overlook while we are busy making other plans.
So here’s my invitation to you: find one simple thing to enjoy this fall. Take a walk if you can. Sit outside if walking isn’t an option. Read a book, call a friend, pack a little lunch, or watch the leaves change colors. You don’t have to go far. You don’t have to spend much money. And you don’t have to make everything perfect.
Just make a little room for the season and the people who make your life special. And if you happen to meet a duck with a good story, please let me know. I might need to interview him. LOL Until next time, remember to be Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed for the day the LORD has brought us.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
