fall at merlin drive

i love fall.

it's my favorite season.

things are cool and crisp.

sweatshirts have been pulled out of the basement boxes.

fall decor is up - starting with halloween.

we had fun pulling things out.

all made it safely from the move.

the inside.

this sun room is one of the reasons we purchased this house.

we love the light in this room.

i've enjoyed decorating this mantle thus far.

i've tried to keep things at a minimum.

i didn't want to compete with the view.

i already had the wooden box on this mantle but for fall i added faux leaves, sprigs of color and real pumpkins.
i like how it turned out.

i added this banner last year.
thank you dollar bin at target!

i made this two years ago.
still a favorite and my girls love the bling.
the slice of wood is from our backyard at the old house.
love it.

my grandmothers old bible and pumpkins.

 my new purchase this year.
not from the target dollar bin.
but from target $7.
fell in love with it.
it's fun on my coffee table.

fun with candle stands.
again, my girls like the blingy owl.

this scent.
yum.

now outside.
the front door.

mums and more mums.
art loves these and brought home four.
our tree stump that art worked so hard to bring down to the wood.
this was fun to move.

my kids have outgrown the little red wagon but...
the big pumpkin will be the one we carve as we get closer to halloween.

this scarecrow.
wouldn't be halloween without him.
my sister made him.
he's sporting a new shirt from goodwill this year.
he's so fun.

one of the mums, closet up.

and today i'm making my banana muffins.
no not pumpkin, banana because grace has been asking for these for awhile and it's perfect weather for warming up the oven and indulging.
here's the recipe.
the next batch will be pumpkin.

we're ready fall.

bring it on.

another volleyball post

we had a busy weekend

it was the lutheran middle school tournament

there were 8 teams from the area competing

we played some tough teams

we won some

lost some

in the end we got 5th place which the girls were happy about

grace received one of the "all around" tournament medals for her team.

it was funny because at first she didn't think it was a big deal until it was explained to us that throughout the tournament, coaches from the opposing teams would watch and vote on the team members that overall stood out in their playing.  that made my girl turn red and quietly giggle.  it was sweet and fun to watch.  art and I laughed along.  

we're super proud.

volleyball brings confidence for my girl and this team has been so great for her.

club was a good experience but there's something about playing with her bff's at school that makes her really click and shine.  at least in my opinion :).

i love how the 8th graders are supportive and encouraging to the lower class man.

it shows me we are in the right place for my girl.

grace got to see her friend who transferred to a new school this year.  

we sure have missed katie.

we got there and katie's team was already playing but as soon as it was done and the coach set them free, grace and katie were hugging.

they ended up playing each other, it was tough but in the end katie's team won out.

friends forever though.

once the tournament was all said and done grace and h er teammates ended up hugging on their friend again and congratulating.

look at those faces.

i almost cried.

such good girls.

i felt very blessed, again to be in the right place for my girl.

way to go eagles.

you shined this weekend.

i loved every moment of it.

where's fall?

this happy guy came home with me
he and his twin brother that is
my mind is on fall
we've had some cool temps but i'm ready for more
i love this time of year
can't wait

drama

my girl came home tonight with a note from a friend saying she didn't want to be her friend any longer.

ugghhhh....

i need a parenting manual.
something to help me navigate tween and teenage girls and their feelings.

i get it, been there, done that.
i was even able to share some moments from my childhood that were similar.
it helped her.

big tears came.
big talk followed after.
i listen and try to see the other side of the story.

my advice came down to... "show love, to all at all times."
it's what Jesus would do.

so i will pray as i send her off into school tomorrow.
i pray this will all be a fading memory and friendships stay intact.

Lord Jesus, be with my girls and their friends.  let their hearts be true to each other. let them show love and kindness at all times.  let them be a strong support group.  lead them together, closer to you.  calm my girls heart, surround her with your presence.  create a pure heart in her and her friends.  help heal her tender heart.  thank you for sending the friends you have in their lives.  i pray blessings over each and everyone of them and their families.  amen,

so much has happened this summer

we've moved.
it happened.
we weren't planning on it however God made us aware it was needed.
we lived in the car more than our house in the big woods.
it was tiring and took its toll.
we prayed, purged, cleaned and put the house in the big woods on the market.
three weeks later it was sold.
we were amazed and somewhat ready for the next adventure.
the girls were reluctant to the change.
all they had known was the house in the big woods, oh the memories we had made there. wonderful memories.
moving day came. we had our final walk through.  we stopped and prayed. tears came pouring out of us. it was all so bittersweet.
we left and like a scene in a movie, we watched the house in the big woods fade as we drove away.
kind of surreal for all of us.

God had his hand in it all and now we are here getting settled.
there are still boxes to unpack and will be for awhile.
there is a honey do list a mile long.
but we're home and we're already seeing the benefits to living closer to all the things we do and love.
the girls still question the change at times but being able to decorate their new rooms has been a plus.
with each new box we open they feel more and more at home.
God brought us to the house in the little woods.
i'll share more as we go along. some of the things that made art and i fall in love with the house in the little woods.

for now, here's a glimpse.

i have 7 more days of 12

grace is almost 13.

almost.

i held art's one year old niece this weekend while we celebrated this and found  myself reminiscing.

she was once that size, my one year old with cute pigtails that shot straight out from her head because i pulled up whatever hair she had to create them.

she came out bald with a red birthmark on the back of her head you can't even find now.

she's changed so much and become quite the young lady i wished would never come.

i'm learning to be a mom of a teenage girl. 

it's not an easy journey for sure but she's worth it all.

love every ounce of her.

her freckles.

her smile.

her laugh.

i have 7 more days of 12 and i'm holding on to them tightly.