Fall Beauty

Well, I'm sad to say that while I am writing this, I'm sad about the almost bare trees that line my yard.  When I intended to do this post, the trees were ablaze with reds, golds, and orange.  I wanted to post these pictures mostly for Tim since he is missing fall this year.  However, once I started taking the pictures and took the time to look back over them, I was amazed at how beautiful this season truly is.  It's just sad how quickly all the leaves fall and the trees become so bare and cold looking. 

Fall has, however, brought new play opportunities for Isaac.  His new favorite outdoor activity is stamping through the leaves and hearing the satisfying, "Crunch!"  It just so happens to be my favorite fall activity too, so we've been having lots of fun.  I don't believe in raking, so we haven't done any jumping in big piles of leaves, but he belly laughs when I throw a big bunch of leaves up in the air and they all fall down on him. 

Unfortunately, fall also brings unwanted creatures into your yard.  I have posted one example of this.  This tarantula was in my yard sitting right below the last step of the front porch when it was discovered (thankfully by my mother).  And before all of you arthropod lovers get all testy....had it been outside the perimeter of the yard, I would have been more than happy to let it live, but I have a strict policy of no living creepy crawly hairy gigantic spider things inside the perimeter of the yard.  Therefore, it was a clear infringement of the law and his punishment was deserved.  It's too bad I don't have any rules concerning already dead animals. 

A few days ago, I realized that it was getting cold and I know how our dogs get in the cold...WIMPY and I'm a big PUSHOVER!  So I decided, you know, if they're going to be inside a lot, I'm going to go get them checked out by the vet and get them bathed.  Well, took them to the vet, not all good news...Goldie is too heavy and was ordered to go on a diet because I leave her food out all day.  Yeah, I know...Pet Owner of the Year Award, right here.  Well, anyway, both dogs got a much needed bath and I brought them home to become "inside dogs".  Ahhhh, I was so excited...I had pictures of us all sitting in the living room with Chewy resting in my lap and Goldie slumbering away in the corner...HA!  As soon as we got home, what did they do??  Well, they went and dragged a deer head (YES A DEER HEAD) into the FRONT YARD and sat there and chewed on it.  And of course, Goldie had to roll all in it too.  Anyway, it was more than I could take and it quickly ended my "inside dogs" idea.  Probably wasn't a good one anyway.  However, NEW RULE...No dead animals allowed in the perimeter of our yard! 

The Christmas bug has hit me early this year.  Probably because of Tim coming home around Christmas.  But, I'm determined to get my shopping done and can't wait to start reading Christmas stories to Isaac and listening to Christmas carols.  I have a goal to get all my shopping done by the middle of December.  Since a lot of my shopping this year is online, I feel that my goal is more than reasonable.  I'm very excited about it!

Tim is doing well.  He is starting to send in resumes when he sees a job opening and we are still fervently praying about an open door which I'm sure that God will provide.  They are beginning to pack up and are expecting the new group in any day.  Which is music to my ears!  Guys, we've almost done it!  It's almost over!  I say "we" because it has taken a lot of family and friends to get through this deployment, and we have LOTS of people to thank for their help, prayers, encouragement, care packages, etc...the list just goes on and on.  It's amazing how much we are loved by so many.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We love you all.