fall bucket list - recap

This post should probably have been written two weeks ago, followed by a charming Christmas/winter bucket list. But that would require me to be on top of my game, which is just not the story around here lately. So forgive me for being late to the party, but cheers to fall!

> pumpkin patch  - Yes, indeed! I love how our family photos turned out!



> pumpkin spice latte - Do you know what I discovered? I think I'm over pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks. (Say what?!) I only had one this season, and it just wasn't that exciting. You know what is delicious though? The salted caramel mocha. Yum.

> decorate pumpkins - I passed on carving this season, and opted for a couple of different pumpkin decorating ideas. I thought they turned out pretty cute.



> make baked-pumpkin-something - I made this tasty banana pumpkin bread to take to Waco as a hosting gift/snack to share. It was delicious.

> pumpkin beer - the Mister kept a log this season, and we tried seven different pumpkin beers! Our favorites were Harpoon's Pumpkin UFO and Karbach's Krunkin' Pumpkin. Do you have a favorite?

> cook ALL THE FALL RECIPES - I can definitely check this one off the list! The Mister and I made this delicious butternut squash soup a couple of times. We also tried charred Mexican zucchini, honey mustard quinoa, and this tasty salad. And of course, there were plenty of sweet potatoes!

> Make chili - We did score some of Mom's chili during the week of Thanksgiving, and made our own this past weekend. Texas comfort food.

> Baylor football game - Homecoming was wonderful. It was so great being back on campus and catching up with dear friends.

> finish closet detox - Ha. Remember how this was on the short list? Nope. I have been utilizing a capsule wardrobe for fall, but I haven't actually cleaned out the pieces that didn't make the cut. One step at a time, I suppose.

> camping - the Mister and I did get to escape to the woods for a short weekend trip.

> bike to Cypress - Nope. We basically ran out of free Saturdays. I'll have to schedule it in one of these days!

I loved having a bucket list for fall. It was a great way to keep track of all our traditions and the memories made this past season. I've got some great ideas for a winter bucket list, but we'll see if I can get that posted before spring. Just kidding! No, but really.

Homecoming

This past weekend was Baylor's homecoming, so the Mister and I headed up to Waco to meet up with several of our old friends. We visited some of our old favorites and explored the new additions.

Food for Thought - one of my favorites for Waco eats. And the crossword puzzle? The Mister and I used to do them together every day. Adorable, I know.

New stadium! Exciting times for good ole Baylor.

Baylor has the oldest Homecoming in the nation, so there are lots of traditions! We have a bonfire Friday night, the parade Saturday morning, and the homecoming football game later Saturday. All the while there are events all over campus - reunions, Pigskin Review, tours, and just a whole lot of Baylor love.



The best part of Homecoming this year is that we were there with a group of the old crew. There is something truly special about the friends you make in college. Even though I hadn't seen some of these ladies in years, it felt like we could pick up right where we left off. We reminisced about our college days, caught up on life lately, encouraged each other, and laughed a lot. We laughed all weekend long, the kind of laughter that is balm to the soul.

"Homecoming" is such an accurate term for last weekend's festivities. Baylor and Waco are such a part of me now; my heart knew I was home when I walked onto campus. College was a time of such growth. I learned so much about myself and the woman I want to be. I met some of my dearest friends and experienced so many things for the first time. I grew so much during those years in Waco, and Baylor is part of who I am.

Then when the weekend is over, we packed up the car and came home to Houston. We stopped in Cypress to pick up the pupsqueak before driving into town to our apartment. That route takes me through the place I grew up, and lands me in the place I am now. Houston, of course, is home to me. I love this city. We have so many adventures here. I am learning to navigate this great big world, and Houston is such a big part of that journey.

My heart calls both places home. Both places are precious to me, and both places are part of who I am and who I am becoming. But loving both as home reminds me that I don't know what all God has in store for my life. There will be other places I call home. I want to be open to change, and I want to keep my heart open to every place I go.

After all, my true home is with Jesus.

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
-2 Corinthians 5:1

While I hold my home-places close to my heart, let me always be willing to go where called.

What places do you call home?
How have the places you have called home formed you?
How do you keep your heart open for the next adventure?

pumpkin patch

Even with all the fall love bouncing around the internet, I was having a hard time feeling like fall was here for me. Tax busy season had me mostly confined to my cubicle when people started drinking pumpkin spice lattes, decorating pumpkins, and wearing their flannel, boots, and scarves. The 85+ degree weather that has been holding here in Houston hasn't helped, either. (Just change, weather!)

Well I'm happy to report that FALL IS HERE! (No, the weather has not changed. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.) But I have finally started to check some big items off my fall bucket list. The Mister and I escaped to the woods Friday and Saturday, for some much needed R&R. On Sunday, we went to the pumpkin patch! We picked out some beauties for decorating and took our yearly family photos. Enjoy!



Sean and I have been taking photos together in this pumpkin patch since 2007, minus a few years we were away at college. Continuing our tradition this year really made me feel like we were celebrating fall, rather than just letting the season change around us. I want to engage in the current moment. Finally, I feel like fall has arrived!

Or perhaps I have finally arrived in fall.
Carpe diem and seize the season!

What is your favorite fall tradition?