Friday, October 24, 2008

The BIG Countdown!







Okay, today marks 63 days until Christmas! By this time the house has been readied to meet the Autumn. Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin Patch has officially arrived on every table, mantle and nook and cranny. This is such a magnificent time of year that we can't contain the celebration to a single day or even a week! At our house we begin the celebration by welcoming the harvest. A trip to the mountains inspires us to bring the glorious color of fall inside. The picture to the left is on the way to Grandfather Mountain, NC. The leaves are just breathtaking and the foliage isn't even at it's peak in this picture!

Just like Mary planned and prepared for 9 months to birth the Promise, we begin planning and preparing long before the big day actually arrives. Okay, maybe not 9 months early!

I officially started my plan 10 weeks out. Sitting down with pen and paper to sketch out tablescapes, tree placement and color schemes. I start by decorating for fall. A nice seasonal change out for accents, pillows, accessories and some wall art prepares us for what is to come. Every year I try to introduce a new twist to an old tradition.
Many people get so caught up with Christmas that they gloss over the wonder of Autumn. What is so wonderful about it? Here in North Carolina, the mountains are filled with glorious color - orange, rust, yellow, red, green and gold. Colors that will later be refined into brighter, more vivid shades and used to celebrate CHRISTmas. We also reap a bountiful harvest of the good things from the earth - corn, pumpkins, squash, gourds of every type and color. As we take in the fresh air, enjoy the coolness of a fall day, we are reminded that "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him." (Psalms 24:1) As we chronicle these next 63 days let's not forget to celebrate each day for it truly is the day the Lord has made. Thank him for the harvest of blessings you've received this year.

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful picture of the changing of the colors. I want an Autumn, too!
    Although, I do have news for you that our season looks to be changing. But I'll have to tell you by phone instead of by blog.
    Isn't blogging fun?!

    ReplyDelete