Fall is My Happy Place

Day #18 Finding Joy in the Little Things::  Fall

Wow, I really slacked on this 31 Day Challenge!

Honestly, we've been doing a lot of family stuff lately and I haven't been spending too much time in front of the computer. I think this is a good thing, though. So, instead of trying to make up for days I've missed I'm just going to jump right in to the day the challenge is on.

I love, love fall. There is something about October and pumpkins and chilly mornings. Oh, and the color orange. We've already done a several fun fall things as a family including my very favorite fall activity, going to the Pumpkin Patch. We've actually been twice. Hoping to go at least one more time.

My simple joy in going to the pumpkin patch is finding the perfect pumpkin. Which of course I take way too seriously. This year, though, the pumpkin I wanted was over $20!

What????

I know.

And as much as I love picking my pumpkin at the patch, I just couldn't pay $20 when we had grown some lovely little pumpkins of our own in our back yard.

So I opted for these adorable white pumpkins instead.

They are just pumpkins; but they make me so happy. It's a little joke in our house about how much I love them.

What's your one fall activity you and your family must do??

Perfect Potato Soup

Day #4 Finding Joy in the Little Things:: Perfect Potato Soup

It's just a little thing really. Dinner. We eat it every day.

Sometimes it's a score. Sometimes it's a major fail. Usually it's just "fine". Nothing to sing about or post on Facebook.

But sometimes making the perfect meal (that didn't require days of prep, hours in the kitchen or a special trip to a fancy grocery store), well it's just perfect.

It all started when I happened to be browsing on Rhee Drummond's blog, The Pioneer Woman. Really, I don't why I don't use her recipes more often. Every one I make is delicious.

I had just made a potato soup in the crock pot that was "Meh."

As I scrolled through the directions and looked at the pictures I literally began to drool.

Just at that moment my 5 year old, who was supposed to be fast asleep came padding down the hallway. Instead of scolding her (gently) for being out of bed, I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed tight.

"I am SO going to make this soup. It's going to be amazing!"

"You're hurting me, mom."

"You're supposed to be in bed. Don't complain. And I'm so happy I found this recipe. I just have to squeeze you!"

Did all the hooplah live up to well, the hooplah?

You Betcha. It was Uh-Maz-Ing.

It was just dinner. Just a little thing. Sometimes, it's just the little things.

Try out a new recipe this month. Nothing fancy just new and cozy-like. It is October after all. Bless your family with it.

Here's the recipe. Perfect Potato Soup. I had the left overs tonight and it was just as good.

A Small White Lamp

Day #3 Finding Joy in the Little Things:: A Small White Lamp

I have a thing about lamps in the kitchen. I love them. I think they look so cozy.

So the other day I walked past our kitchen counter and saw this small, silver lamp with a simple, plain, white shade sitting there, ever so innocently.

For a moment I thought the Hubs was letting his inner designer diva out. I was about to be impresssed.

"Where did that come from?"

"I'm selling it on Craigslist."

To whom and for how much?"

"A lady. For 10 bucks."

Someone had given us the lamp and Andy was going to make a little cashola off it.

This little gem was an Autumn miracle I tell you! We had recently taken out the fall decorations. I was carefully beginning to place my beloved fall items around the house.

This was going to do very nicely......yes, very nicely indeed.

"Do you want to keep it? It was only 10 bucks."

"Yes, and move it just a tad over. Perfect."

Perfect. Cozy. Small. Simple.

Pick just one thing to add to your house to give it that cozy feel. Something small; Something simple. It could make all the difference.

A Little Note

Day #2 Finding Joy in the Little Things:: A Little Note

* Sidenote: This is the 6^th day of October and I should be on my 6^th day of my 31 days of writing challenge. I am not, though. I'm hoping this week goes better as far as being consistent. If you    want to read my first post about the 31 Days Challenge click here.

Sometimes your husband needs to know he's a hero.

If you don't have one (and maybe don't want one!), it could just be someone in your life that is special to you. That has inspired you. Helped you. Or has just been there for you.

That someone was my husband. He started a new job last week. The night before his first day, I wrote him a letter. The letter just let him know how proud I was of him and how much I appreciated him.

Nothing fancy. Just handwritten on blank, white paper.

He's not my hero just because he got this job. Though, he's worked towards this job for years. It hasn't been easy to come by. There were many bumps and detours along the road that led him to where he is now. He never gave up. He never wavered. He persevered. Yup, I'm just a wee bit proud!

He's my hero for so many more reasons. That's what I wrote about to him.

Does someone you care for need to know how special they are to you? That they've made a difference in your life? That they are your hero?

It doesn't need to be expressed in skywriting or rhyming couplets. Just a simple little note will do.

31 Days: I'm Taking the Challenge

Day #1:: The Why

I'm taking the challenge of linking up with The Nester and writing for 31 days straight! Even though I got started a few days late, I'm determined to do it.

Why take this challenge?

I'd love to be more disciplined as a writer. So feeling the pressure to write for 31 days straight may be really good for me.

Why choose joy as my topic to write about for 31 days (minus a few)?

To be honest. It's something I struggle with and it's something God has been really been teaching me a lot about lately. So I thought writing about it would be perfect for me and hopefully anyone who happens to read my posts.


To be a little more specific, I'm challenging myself to find joy in the little things in my life and to bring joy through the little things to other people's lives. I'm pretty excited to take this challenge. I'm hoping I'll be consistent about posting everyday, despite my very tardy beginning.

If you'd like to read all my 31 Days Challenge posts, click below. I'll be adding them to the list as I write them.

Day #2::  A Little Note 
Day #3::  A Small White Lamp 
Day #4:: Perfect Potato Soup 
Day #18:: Fall