Fall Friday

Childhood memories of fall . . . trips to the pumpkin patch, wandering through a corn maze, and going on hayrides. There's something delightful about seeing the bright orange and white pumpkins dotting the greenery. There's something heart-warming about sitting on poky hay bales and laughing in the slight fall breeze. There's something beautiful about enjoying the harvest with loved ones. And these are some of the main reasons I love fall!

Last year was difficult for me. For someone who loves fall and spending time with family, it was hard being away at school, missing out on all of our wonderful traditions back at home.

But my parents and my sister came to visit me in the middle of the season last year, and we created a new tradition. We decided to go to the HarvestFest at E.Z. Orchards here in Salem--and we had a lovely time! It wasn't exactly the same as our experiences at home, but it was something new that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite parts (besides the overall atmosphere) was listening to the bluegrass band while sitting on hay bales. (Bluegrass music is so beautiful to me, and I'm so excited to be celebrating it later this month with a couple of wonderful and talented guests!)

Now, I'm away from home for another fall. But my parents are coming up to visit me this weekend, and we're planning on heading back to E.Z. Orchards and making more fall traditions and memories together. The love of family doesn't change, no matter where you are, and the season of fall can be delightful even while away from home. I'm so thankful for God's blessings of people to love and His creation to enjoy!

This would be a great note to end this post on, but I thought it would also be good to talk once again about autumn in the seasons of humility--because that's what season I'm in right now. This week has been fraught with emotional turmoil for me. I've cried about so many different things, and I've been having such a poor attitude.

And then Wednesday it really hit me--almost all of the things I've been upset about are due to my own lack of humility. I haven't been trusting in God about my future . . . I haven't wanted to hear criticism or obey my parents . . . I've worried more about how grades would make me look than about what I've been learning. I'm at the very beginning of my poem once again, looking at my broken dreams littered on the ground like dead leaves. I keep wanting my own way, rather than God's way.

It hurts. It's not easy to let go and to trust God. But I've seen the fruits of my pride and my selfishness, and I long for a proper perspective again--an eternal perspective. I need to reorder my priorities, putting God first and seeking His will, because He truly does know what is best. He can see what I can't, and while it's hard, following Him is always rewarding in ways that I could never begin to imagine and are far better than any of my own dreams.

So I encourage you to turn to your Friend and realize that He truly loves you and has a purpose for you. We must trust in His timing and in His plan--something I'm learning the hard way right now, but something I'm very glad to be learning, as well.

In that regard, I'll probably be posting less often for the foreseeable future, posting only on the scheduled days (in the "Normal Weekly Schedule" in the sidebar) except for reviews or special events ("Sightseeing by the Seasons" off and on and the "Bluegrass Festival Weekend," for example). I have been rather obsessive about my blog recently, and I need to remember to seek God first and use the time and blessings He has given me wisely (which includes taking full advantage of the great education I am getting). I appreciate your understanding, and I'm so thankful for all of you!

Well, I'm off this three-day weekend (Friday is "Study Day" for our school, so no classes!) to make more fall memories with my parents and to take time to think and re-order my priorities. May the Lord bless you as you walk with Him! I'll leave you with this thought, something that wise Solomon discovered and something I need so desperately to remember:

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
~ Ecclesiastes 12:13