A Few of My Favorite {Autumn} Things...

1. yummy fall scented candle - You can find this vanilla pumpkin marshmallow 3-wick one at Bath & Body Works.

2. jewel-toned & earth-toned nail polish - These colors just feel like autumn to me.  Find your faves at your local drug store.

3. cozy fragrance spray - Another Bath & Body Works pick, this scent is a warm blend of birch, argan, vanilla, & rum - so cozy!

4. warm throw - You can't go wrong with a snug/soft throw, like this popcorn knit one from Target.

5. floppy wool hat - Keep your hair in check on those blustery fall days.  Walmart has some super cute options for around $14!

What's on your autumn faves list?

Gifts // Vol. 18

1,165. how he said, "You're precious to me," & wrapped his arms around me this morning

1,172. that he laughs at my crazy

1,173. the blessing of employment

1,178. a dusk into dark walk by the lake - complete with lightning bugs

1,185. Your patient love & overwhelming mercy with Your daughter, O Father God

1,206. that You answered ours prayers & my uncle's family is safe in Puerto Rico

1,213. butterflies

1,221. a husband who drops everything & comes rushing in to hug me close when he gets home, because he heard my fears on the phone earlier

1,237. picking wildflowers at the park

1,245. that it's fall ❤

Heart + Soul Check-Up

I notice something when I haven't been writing down the gifts - all the rich blessings tiny, big, & all the in between that I began when I first read Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts a couple years ago now...  My mind & heart focus on all that has gone wrong & is wrong & will probably be wrong or could possibly be wrong, & deep inside the troll cave I've turned into my mind I'm alone & overthinking every little thing & stuck in the muck that I over-analyzed & zoom-magnified into... & it is dark & scary & devastating & I am broken there & I forget who I am in Christ, & that Christ is in me.  Let's soak that in for a mere moment {or a thousand}: Christ is in me.  Thus, can't I do all things {Philippians 4:13}?  Hasn't He given me what I need through the gift of the Holy Spirit {2 Timothy 1:7}?  And with prayer - not worry - can't I talk to Him about what is hurting my heart {Philippians 4:6}?

Sometimes I just need to do a gratefulness heart & soul check-up to see where I'm laying the focus in my circumstances.  To see if I'm counting up the gifts or the fears & worries.  To see where I'm fixing my gaze.  To see if I'm fixing my eyes on Jesus who gave it all for me {Hebrews 12:2}.  Who better to trust my life with, than the giver of every good gift {James 1:17}?  Who better to look to when the doubts start piling up in my noggin?  He is the truest source of joy {He created it, after all} that never fades in this temporary, passing life, & sometimes the best place to start remembering that is to start looking around with new eyes & counting every gift.

This girl definitely needed that check-up tonight, too.

Happy Friday!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

-L.M. Montgomery

3 Sentence Love Story

Recently I came across the idea of the 3 sentence love story, & I thought today would be the perfect day to share ours {just 'cause}...

It started with prayer + fingers on the keyboards of our computers - even though I had kinda told myself fiercely I would not do the online dating route.  

"Novel e-mails" began between us, then phone calls, then visits to each others cities, & all the hard + beautiful stuff of long distance like growing into love.  

You asked for me forever beside the tree where you carved our names, & we both promised a covenant of a lifetime outside on a sunny beauty of a day in September, & today we are living it out with all the messy truths + hardships + amazing-ness that comes with reality in this world where we choose to lean hard on our savior Jesus.

That's our story in tiny form... & the beauty is it's still unfolding into more.

The Big Bad "D" Word: Debt

I am one of the thrifty.  You may well laugh at us & our frugal means.  Coupon clipping & waiting until movies have been out long enough that they move 'em to I what I affectionately dub "the cheap theater" {I hope your town has one}, checking out books {& DVDs!} from the local library instead of buying, & the like.  But, laugh all you will, I never had one iota of debt.  That is, until I got married & inherited my husbands'.  Student loans & personal loans & credit cards had all snowballed into a pretty fierce & ultra-scary snow monster!  My husband's debt was a tough thing for this debt-less girl to handle.  Of course, I knew while dating that this snow monster existed in my then-boyfriend's life, & my entire relationship was bathed - no, drenched - in prayer, & I felt God say yes.  {In the end, all us imperfect ones {ahem, everybody}, we all bring baggage into marriage (monetary, emotional, & otherwise).  Thank You, Jesus, for being able to carry our loads & free us up to love {again, imperfectly, & through Your power}!}

Now that we're fighting this bad debt dude together, it's definitely proven true Ecclesiastes 4:9 {in so many areas of marriage/relationships, in fact}! {FYI, this verse is an even dearer example.  Jesus + Dan + Laura = mighty power in Him!}  What has really been a tremendous help to us is implementing the Debt Snowball Calculator from the faith-based organization Crown Financial Ministries.  It's a free resource that lets you plug-in your current debt + interest rates + what you currently pay {& if you have any extra moola each month to add in} & it calculates perfectly how long it will take to pay off  + how much you need to pay each month to get to that amazing place of debt freedom.  It includes printable charts of exactly what you should be paying every month to reach your goal in said amount of time.  We've been loving being able to pay above & beyond {Thank You, Jesus!} what it says some months & seeing the numbers on those loans & cards shrink down drastically!  God is so good!

In the debt boat with us?  I hope this tool will help you, too!  Not in debt?  First off, congrats!  Secondly, there are even more helpful calculators & tools at Crown.org.  Give 'em a visit!

Currently {October 2017}

💮 Enjoying... the crisp chill in the air {it finally arrived here in the south}, picking wildflowers on park walks, the yummy smell permeating our apt. from our pumpkin pecan waffles wallflower fragrance bulb {Bath & Body Works}, & the joy in the now + the hope of the future.

💮 Watching... the newest episode of the Star Wars Rebels cartoon {because my husband is the biggest SW fan ever + he won me over} & Extinct {we've just started this one, but I'm already intrigued}.

💮 Wearing... my tall boots for the 1st time this season + tights + warm/cozy stuff.

💮 Excited... to make our 1st homemade couples costume {we're gonna be an Oreo cookie} + help in our church's fall festival at the end of this month.

💮 Praising Him... for safe travels while visiting my family in TN this past weekend + His patient forbearing love that still just plain blows my mind daily.  Help me to be more like You, dear Father, I pray.

💮 Eating... the Mystery Oreos.  Very interesting...  I think I like 'em!

💮 Working on... finishing cleaning up our apt., pumpkin decorating, & beautifying/restoring my heart {the last one's the most important & while only God can bring the beautiful full restoration work needed, I'm working on my part along with Him}.

Honeymoon // Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is hands down my favorite Disney park.  It speaks to the Disney princess dreams of my childhood {&, let's be honest, my adulthood, too}!

What We Got to Do/See:

• Astro Orbiter {1st ride of the day, 'cause it was a super short line}
• The Barnstormer {we rode this one in the rain}
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Country Bear Jamboree {I have to say, aspects of this show seems utterly bizarre to me}
• Haunted Mansion {twice!}
• "It's a Small World..."
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain {Dan solo}
• Splash Mountain
• Stitch's Great Escape
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland's People Mover
• Under the Sea: The Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
• The Hall of Presidents
• Electrical Parade
• Wishes Nighttime Spectacular Fireworks Show

Magic Kingdom Favorites:

• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress {love this classic ride}
• Haunted Mansion {Dan had never been on this one & we ended up riding it twice (it's always been a top fave of mine & he loved it, too)}
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• "It's a Small World..."
• Dole Whips
• getting a special seat to see the Electrical Parade

Where We Ate:

• Aloha Isle {three words: Dole Whip floats}
• Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
• Liberty Tree Tavern

Honeymoon // Hollywood Studios

This place turned my husband into a giddy little boy & I will never forget all his smiles.  Dan really is the biggest Star Wars fan ever & Hollywood Studios was like a dream.  We are eagerly anticipating the new Star Wars Land coming in 2019!

What We Got to See/Do:

• The Great Movie Ride
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster {Dan solo}
• Star Tours - The Adventures Continue {2 or 3 times}
• Star Wars Launch Bay
• Star Wars Launch Bay Theater
• Toy Story Mania
• Beauty & the Beast Live Show
• For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
• March of the First Order
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Fireworks Show

Where We Ate:

• ABC Commissary

Hollywood Studios Favorites:

• The Great Movie Ride
• Toy Story Mania
• Beauty & the Beast Live Show
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• seeing Dan's face light up at all the new Star Wars stuff
• getting to meet Chewbacca & Kylo Ren {After meeting KR, we exited the private photo meet-in-greet area behind a curtain, we weren't sure which way to go - & I guess we took a little too long figuring it out - because all of a sudden Kylo Ren sweeps aside the curtain & comes at us all menacingly {like a guy who would kill his own father} & I push Dan {& {just} maybe let out a small terrified shriek} & we go into hyper speed to escape!}

Honeymoon // EPCOT

A little over a year ago, Dan & I spent a magical honeymoon week in Orlando, Florida.  EPCOT was the 1st park stop on our trip.  I hadn't been since I was a little thing {but it's amazing how I could totally remember the smell in the Spaceship Earth ride (&, you guys, it smelled the same)}.  Dan's favorite ride, Mission Space, is also found here {which I had no desire to get on (cough, cough - too chicken), but he rode twice (or maybe 3 times) solo}. 

What We Got to Do/See:

• The American Adventure
• Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
• Ellen's Energy Adventure {2 words: don't go}
• Frozen Ever After {1st ride of the day}
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Cabballeros
• Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land {slow & restful ride}
• Mission Space {Dan solo (2 or 3 times)}
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Soarin' {my new fave}
• Spaceship Earth
• Test Track {Dan solo}
• IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth Fireworks Show {this is so well done & beautiful & I literally almost cried}

Where We Ate:

• Biergarten Restaurant

This German buffet was our EPCOT food splurge + Dan's pick.  You are seated "German style" with other guests at longer tables & a lively traditional German band serenades & entertains while you dine.

EPCOT Favorites:

• Soarin'
• Frozen Ever After
• Spaceship Earth {such a classic}
• Figment
• the fireworks show
• getting to "walk" around the world

Little Letters // October 2017

Dear Fall,

I know the calendar + stores say you are here, but when, oh when, will the forecasters say it?!

Signed,
Way Too Hot

✉ ⏩

Dear God,

Thank You for Your constant love for me & mine.  I am Your girl forever.

Love,
Your Daughter

✉ ⏩

Dear Target Baby Clothes,

You are the cutest things ever!  Thanks for making this already baby fevered woman even more so.  I hope you're around in God's perfect timing, which Dan & I are currently waiting on.

XOXO,
Me

P.S.: Do you come in adult sizes, too?

✉ ⏩

Dear Husband,

Thank you for your constant love.  For every little & big way {& all the in between} you show me your love & win my heart again & again, I thank you with all of me.  I am your love forever & you are mine.

Love Always & Forever,
Your Wife

✉ ⏩

Our Honeymoon Photo Book

This was an anniversary gift to Dan in honor of our very 1st year.  It being a honeymoon album, it obviously took me about a year to finally get it done... #procrastinatemuch?

Hope you enjoyed a peek at a few of the pages!  Be on the lookout for some more trips down memory lane as I look back on our honeymoon trip in the coming days.

Random Rambles {10.11.2017}

▶ God's love + grace are utterly astounding... & that is the biggest understatement I know.  I pray it brings us to our knees.

▶ Sooo, we already went & got our Star Wars tickets late Monday night impromptu-ly after watching the new trailer.  Did I mention I married the biggest Star Wars fan ever?  We will likely see The Last Jedi in theaters a minimum of 3 times.

▶ We've decided to dress up as an Oreo cookie for our church's fall festival!  This will be our 1st time dressing up together for Oct. 31st!  Hopefully, I'll get the tutorial up on the blog sometime next week.

▶ Pumpkins always make me happy.  "Jesus + you + me + pumpkin everything" is currently written on our kitchen chalkboard & those 2 pretty mini gourd pumpkins {in the pic} currently reside on our dining table.

▶ Dan got me a blanket ladder as an early birthday gift & I'm enjoying it's cute rustic charm.  Thanks, my love!

▶ Living in another state from my loved ones is especially tough as birthdays & holidays approach.  

▶ I have really fallen out of reading & want to get back to it.  Any suggestions?

Arizona Anniversary Adventure // Part 2

Here's some more highlights from our 1st anniversary Arizona trip...

{Read part 1 here.}

We traveled to the Grand Canyon on a mini day tour & visited some pretty spectacular view points + had lunch perched right on the wall outside of Bright Angel Lodge & dodged some very unafraid/hungry squirrels + ran a ways down one of the trails, carefully avoiding mule doo-doo, out of breath + laughing.  Honestly, you could spend days upon days here.  Dan already wants to go back.

We drove our rental car all the way up to the city of Page & toured Antelope Canyon X - one of Arizona's extraordinary slot canyons + hiked to Horseshoe Bend!  We almost hit a coyote in the road somewhere in the endless miles of the Navajo Nation + we stopped by some more Native American ruins on the way back near Sunset Crater.

My Autumn Bucket List {2017}

⬜ Tromp through a corn maze.

⬜ Buy pumpkins + decorate them all up.

☑ Dress up for Oct. 31st.  {We're going as an Oreo cookie!}

☑ Host a gathering at our place.  {Star Wars movie night + dinner!}

⬜ Make our birthdays special. {Dan & I both celebrate autumn b-days!}

☑ Visit my family back in TN.

Date Night Ideas // October 2017

💑 Go to a pumpkin patch together & pick out the perfect pumpkin to take home with you.

💑 Find your way out of a corn maze together.

💑 Decorate a pumpkin!  You can paint it, carve it, cover it, sticker it... the possibilities are pretty endless here... just do it together.

💑 Have an honest talk about your fears, from the sillyish stuff {like creepy clowns & humongous hairy spiders} up to the real hard stuff {like abandonment & trust}, be brave & speak openly together.  If married, remember you are/should be each other's safe place.  Work on strengthening that this month.

💑 Go on a drive &/or walk to enjoy the beauty of God's autumn handiwork.  Take a selfie or 2 together {be sure to include the fall foliage in the backdrop}, to remember He is doing a beautiful work in your relationship & changing you both to be more like Him.

💑 Gift each other your favorite candies + enjoy them while cuddling with a movie-night-in.

Monthly Recap // September 2017

➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴   ➶   ➴

➵ Finished up my long term subbing job as a music teacher.  It was a pretty enjoyable gig, I must say.

➵ Took our 1st airplane trip together from Atlanta to Phoenix.  The flight was so overbooked we couldn't get seats next to each other & had to settle for sitting right behind/in front of each other.  Thankfully, the flight back had us side-by-side!

➵ Celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary in Arizona!  We stayed in Scottsdale + drove our rental car all over the state.  We even were all traditional & ate a couple slices from the top tier of our wedding cake {that had been frozen all this time}, that I carefully packed in one of our carry-ons.

➵ Played around the "ghost town" of Goldfield + went on a mine & mystery shack tour + train ride + viewed the legendary Superstition Mountains from way up high via a zipline {twice}!  We also toured the Superstition Mountain Museum + saw the mysterious Peralta stones!

➵ Experienced real desert for the 1st time + the mighty saguaro cactus!

➵ Drove up & around the majestic red rock town of Sedona, where we visited the Church of the Holy Cross {built right into the red rocks}, strolled around, did a mini hike up to the top of one of the high perches, ate McDonald's at the only turquoise-colored arches I've ever seen, & star gazed after dark {I'd never seen so many stars before}!

➵ Enjoyed the Desert Botanical Gardens {where we actually got to see quails & some beautiful butterflies (which I was excited about)} + loads of amazing cacti.  We strolled around in the morning & then came back again at night.

➵ Traveled to the Grand Canyon on a mini day tour & visited some pretty spectacular view points + had lunch perched right on the wall outside of Bright Angel Lodge & dodged some very unafraid/hungry squirrels + ran a ways down one of the trails, carefully avoiding mule doo-doo, out of breath + laughing.

➵ Traveled on the beautiful scenic drive known as the Apache Trail,  22 miles of which is a winding/bumpy/narrow dirt road!  Stopped by Tortilla Flats, Canyon Lake, Roosevelt Dam, + the cliff dwellings of Tonto National Monument.

➵ Got dressed up all fancy & ate at Scottsdale's superb Preston's Steakhouse.  {We highly recommend their butter cake for dessert!}

➵ Drove our rental car all the way up to the city of Page & toured Antelope Canyon X - one of Arizona's extraordinary slot canyons + hiked to Horseshoe Bend!  We almost hit a coyote in the road somewhere in the endless miles of the Navajo Nation + we stopped by some more Native American ruins on the way back near Sunset Crater.

➵ Wandered around the shops + galleries of Old Town Scottsdale.

➵ Took a little day trip to Macon, GA to explore the mounds at Ocmulgee National Monument.

➵ Started a Star Wars movie night with friends, where each couple is hosting a night + showing a couple of the films, until we've seen them all {hopefully before the new one comes out in December}.