Feeling Fallish

Fall is my favorite season of the year. What's not to love about crisp air, red leaves and orange pumpkins? I thought it would be fun to share some of my autumn decorations and celebrations with you, and I'll even share where I bought them!

I bought this wreath for my front door at Wal-Mart! (Shhh. Don't tell!) I've looked at a handful of places for autumn wreaths, and this was the prettiest one I've seen.

This black shirt is one of the only collared shirts I own that actually looks decent on me. I don't know why, but collars don't typically work on me. However, I love this shirt, which I also bought a couple years ago at Wal-Mart (shhh!). My sister has opened an embroidery business, and she did this cute pumpkin applique for me. I decided to go for gray and green tones instead of orange, because I figured that would let me wear it beyond Halloween, up until Thanksgiving.

Live pumpkin. Local supermarket.

Ceramic pumpkin decor. I found this at Kohl's for a really reasonable price, and bought this one, along with three of its various-sized brothers and sisters to give my house some autumn charm.

I've found that being a first-time home owner comes with a lot of one-time purchases that you make throughout the first year (ie. seasonal decor). But the good news is that these will be things I can bring out and enjoy in my home every year for years to come.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

National Blog Posting Month

It's that time again--November is NaBloPoMo! And since I'm in serious need of some blogging inspiration...I'm in! One post for every day in November.

I have two books I'll be using as blogging inspiration: The Book of Myself and The Book of Us, which I've mentioned before here. As I write on my blog, I plan to record the same stories by hand in the books, which I hope I'll enjoy reading as I get older, and perhaps my kids and grandkids will enjoy reading them one day, too.

Let the fun begin!!!

Introducing Starshine Photography!

First it was a dream, and now it's a reality--I've stared a photography business!

Feel free to browse my website, and definitely feel free to tell your friends in the Houston area about Starshine Photography!

Here's a little snippet from my "About" page:

My stepdad gave me the nickname "Starshine", and I absolutely love it! He always encouraged me to follow my dreams and wanted my star to shine brightly.

Each of us has a unique personality and we all bring something special to the world we live in. My job is to capture the light of your spirit shining through as I photograph you and your family.

The best photos, after all, are about so much more than just a pretty face. They are the ones in which your personality shines through and the world gets to see YOU!

I look forward to sharing more photos with you on this blog, as my business takes off. I would especially appreciate your prayers for much success and thank you for them ahead of time!

A Spiritual Heritage

Today, I attended church in my hometown. The church was celebrating its 30th anniversary, so there was special music and a slideshow as families that had been in the church for years talked about its history and what God has done over the past three decades.

My mom was singing in the choir today, along with several other women who are mothers of my friends. Tears of joy and gratitude filled my eyes as I watched them sing, reading their sheet music through their bifocals. These women, who were once the mothers of us high school-aged kids, are now all grandmothers. And we, their children, are the next generation of mothers and fathers to young children.

It was really special to pause and notice the spiritual legacy that is being passed down from generation to generation, and I'm very thankful to be a link in that chain.

He Hearts Me!

And oh, how I love him, too!

Not only does he know who I am, but he now understands that I am "Tia"! Being a part of his life (and him being a part of mine) has been one of the greatest blessings of moving back to Texas. He is one special boy!

Summer to Fall in an Hour!

When I checked the outdoor thermometer at 9:25 this morning, it was 85 degrees outside. A little while later, the sky started to turn gray and I noticed it had dropped to:

A storm was a-brewin'!

It started to get REALLY windy...

...and then came the rain!

Soon the storm was over, and autumn had officially arrived:

That's just how the weather in Texas rolls!

Pumkin Patch--Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum

I mentioned in Wednesday's post that our friends M&M took us to the Dallas Arboretum, where they were celebrating autumn! Thousands of pumpkins and other squashes were were lining the sidewalks and decorating other corners of the pumpkin patch. It was so beautiful-art with vegetables!

The four of us were all so taken with the beauty of the landscaping. Isn't lining a trail with live pumpkins inspired?! So brilliant to create something beautiful using God's own beautiful creation!

"M&M"

One of the highlights of our weekend in Dallas was getting to meet up with some old and dear friends, M&M--a couple I've know since I was in high school. They treated us to a lovely afternoon at the Dallas Arboretum, which I'll post more about on Friday.

I've been wanting Brian to meet M&M since before we got married, because they remind me a bit of the two of us. Like Brian, he has been a pastor. Like me, she is passionate about acting. I couldn't resist posting this series of photos I took of them at the arboretum. If Brian and I have a marriage as lovely as theirs 20 years from now, we will be blessed indeed!

Aren't they adorable?!

Sweet Baby "J.J."

Brian and I spent the weekend in Dallas with his birth family. Time with them is always special, but this visit was extra sweet because we got to meet our four day old nephew. He is precious, and we love him!