The MOST wonderful time of the year

Without a doubt there are many wonderful times during a year. But to this gal, none of them come close to fall. When the low fronts settle in and the winds shift to the north--the leaves become crunchy and a little browned and begin falling gracefully to the ground. The vibrant colors come alive. In the south the humidity lets up and gives sweet relief from the last few weeks of unbearable stickiness. It's wonderful.




The air is crisp and fresh with a hint of cool. The skies are the bluest blue you've ever seen. The cotton fields are ripe with cotton and sunshine is abundant. There's nothing better than a good ol' southern fall.



We open windows and watch our curtains blow in the breeze (and not to mention watching that electric bill go down, down, down!) We sweep front porches daily and bring plants indoors in anticipation of that first frost.

We rake leaves and scatter leaves. 'Cause everyone knows the only good reason for raking leaves is just so you can jump in them, right?









We dream of bonfires and roasted hotdogs and toasty s'mores. We pull out the hoodies and sweat pants and nose dive into fall face first. We kiss it hello and beg it to stay a while. Because we all know that all too soon the nice temperatures will steadily decline and we will soon be huddled in our houses bundled up fighting the bitter cold.



For now we enjoy. We light the pumpkin scented candles and decorate our front porches with the seasonal mums. We carve our pumpkins and stay outside as long as the weather permits. And look! Argyle socks. Yep, they've been beckoned from their tucked away places where they hibernate during summers.



We plant ourselves in front of our TVs on Saturdays for SEC football and scream and sing and trash talk all day long. And yes, we even occasionally throw things but only when necessary, of course. ;)



Yes, this is the MOST wonderful time of the year.







Well, hello Fall! Won't you please stay a while?

Refelcting

Tonight as I edited pictures pulled off of my memory card I had the opportunity to reflect on just why I love a small town.

I love small towns for SO many reasons but this past week I loved my small town for its annual festival. Although not the same small town I grew up in, I relocated to an equally small town. Well, with the exception of 2000 or so college kids but that small town feeling is just the same. People come out of the woodwork for the annual Bar-B-Que Festival. The smell of BBQ wafts through the air in a 10 mile radius it seems.

Set up for the festival begins on Wednesday.

The mobile concession stands roll in.



The bleachers are assembled on the front lawn of the court house along with numerous bounce houses that will house many a giggle just a few hours from now.



Roads are blocked off and detours marked while Main Street is becoming populated with vendor tents.





The pick up trucks are parked beside the courthouse and the cookers are moved in and the men in town arrive as early (or earlier) as 6 am to begin cooking and pulling pork.







The smoke from the cookers rises and your taste buds begin anticipating the deliciousness that is undoubtedly about to follow.



Soon the BBQ stand will be covered up with crowds of people. People who are willing to wait in line for over an hour to get a taste of what's been cooking. But, lets face it. In a small town an hour doesn't seem like long at all because you are standing in line with your best friend's mom or a dear friend from church or an old high school buddy that made it back home for the festival.





And the crowds roll in.



And we join.



And we dine. We spread our quilt on the lawn across from the courthouse as we do every year. And these are good times.





We visit my favorite of all time favorite booths and I indulge on my once-a-year treat: the legendary fried oreo. And I delight in watching others enjoy their first bite, whether two years old or 76 years old.







And we buy over-priced light-up light sabers because they bring boundless joy to a certain group of boys. And we sit beneath that tree and take it all in. After all, this only comes once a year.







We stay out there until dark and watch as the tents light up. And life is good.



Yes, I'm thankful for this small town. I'm thankful that my boys will grow up with memories of weekends like this and hope that it will still bring them as much joy when they are grown. I may be obsessed with the awesome-ness of places like New York City and may even secretly (or not-so-secretly now!) want to live there for a month but I will always be a small town girl at heart and I know without a doubt I am RIGHT where I belong!

Saying Good-bye!

Tonight we bid farewell to summer. A little saddened and hesitant to let it all go but, great things are in store just around these next few corners. Things of vibrant fall colors. Trips to the mountains. College football games and excursions. Report cards. Pumpkin carving. Our annual fall family clean-up day outside our house. Halloween costumes. Crisp fall air. Sipping hot-chocolate and anticipating a wonderful Christmas seen through wide, sparkling eyes. Ahhh, yes. Great things are in store.

But first, a recap of all the delicious things our summer graciously bestowed upon us:

A trip to the "Land of Enchantment" or more commonly known as New Mexico. Seven passengers crammed into one mini van packed with luggage for eight days! Talk about closeness!

But New Mexico, you were so totally worth it. Beautiful landscape. Wide open sky, and mountainous backdrop. Sunsets that looked as if the sky was on fire just over the hill. The beauty of our creator every direction we looked.





Fabulous reunions with family we rarely get to see. And my grandparents getting to meet their great-grandsons (at least the younger two) for the first time. Such beautiful moments.



We celebrated the birthdays of two of the most spirited little blessings God has ever placed on the earth. The oldest one got to experience his first real sleep over. A house full of giggling little boys (and even the occasional "big boy" too!) has never sounded more sweet.




We enjoyed many a late afternoon in our own Utopian back yard while the sun sank below our favorite tree and beamed lazily through it's perfect shady branches. We colored with chalk and blew countless bubbles and laughed at the many layers of dirt that were later peeled away from faces at bath time.












We enjoyed late night movies and no set bedtimes and curling up on the couch late at night together because we wanted "just a few more minutes, mom!" :) Even Jag, my cuddle bug came up with only the best excuse ever to NOT go to bed. And I quote: "But mom...I just don't want to be away from you when I sleep...I'll miss you!" I say if you could say no to that you have no heart. Ha.


We didn't worry with dressing all cute-sy and just allowed little boys to be little boys. They pretty much picked their own clothes every day of the summer. And whether they chose a green shirt with red pants and looked like a Christmas tree mattered not. I didn't even argue when they requested to wear Sponge Bob slippers to the grocery store. We paraded those things like it was nobody's business. :)


The late summer allowed a trip to our beloved Neyland for the season opener. My happy place. I mean, where else on earth can you go and sit beside 102,000 of your closest friends and sing Rocky Top in unison as your heart pounds in your chest with great pride?




This summer gave the promise of a new sister and nephew. Yes, my brother is engaged and I'll add one more fabulous sister to the one fabulous one I've already got. And check it! Chick looks good in orange, too!! ;)




This summer showered down on us the most perfect little rain storms where we traded in our tennis shoes for rain boots and pulled out the umbrellas and danced in the rain until we were forced to come in. And those perfect little showers left behind perfect little rainbows. Has God smiled on us? I think so!






One last thing I'll mention about the summer is this man's dedication to making a better life for his family. He works so hard and this summer decided to go back to school. He studied so hard and EARNED his first college "A". I'm so proud of him!


So, what's next? We say good-bye to a fabulous summer. We carry it's warm memories through the cold months ahead. We soak up every ounce of what the next season has to offer. Because, although different, what's ahead is sure to be amazing, too!