I delight in the transition from summer to fall a little more every year. I love breathing in the crisp air, the transformation of the trees to crimson and gold, the crunch of acorns under my feet, and all the pumpkin flavor. The days get shorter, the nights get longer, and the indescribable beauty of God blooms every morning in the dramatic sunrises.  I get so excited when I walk outside, and the cool breeze reminds me it is time to pull out the sleeves from their summer hiatus.

The putting away of summer causes me to pause, to remember all God has done in my life since the leaves turned last year, and to remember the transformations that have happened in my heart and my family.  These transformations remind me to savor every moment with my family and friends because I will never experience another fall as a mother to a 12, 13, 18, and 20-year-old. May God give you pause this season to not waste a moment with your family and friends. Put away your distractions, grab a pumpkin spiced latte, and enjoy some sweet moments with your people.

 If you need some ideas, here are some of my favorite fall bucket list ideas:

• Go for a stroll taking some beautiful pumpkin pictures along the way at Autumn in the Arboretum. The Dallas Arboretum gets my vote as an excellent place for family photos. 
• If sports are your thing, fall is an enjoyable time to tailgate and to support your favorite team. Take your pick from high school, college, or professional sporting events. If seeing the game live isn’t for you, then make some nachos and hot wings for the family as you watch the game on TV.
• Fall is the best time for family fun runs. They are taking place all over the metroplex. Turkey Trots on the morning of Thanksgiving are a tradition for my family.
• Grab some blankets and chairs and head over to the Coyote Drive-in Movie.
• Explore a local bookstore to discover your next reading treasure.
• Take a hike at the Fort Worth Nature Center. If you enjoy a peaceful walk in nature, this might be your new favorite place.
• Get lost in the corn maze at Halls Pumpkin Farm. It’s enchanting!
• If you don’t mind a drive, visit the Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm in Midlothian. The entire farm resides under a canopy of trees and is the crème of the crop of pumpkin farms. This is a new family tradition worth starting.

• The burst of colors in the fall makes it the perfect time to schedule family pictures. Call your favorite photographer and schedule it now.
• Adopt a Monday night muffin ritual. Fall is the perfect time for healthy muffins.  The family gets a treat every Monday, and you can use the leftover muffins to pack in lunches for the rest of the week.  Involve the kids in the baking to make it a family affair.
• Plan a S’mores party. Use a fire pit in your backyard.  If you don’t have one, find a local park or lake that allows fires.
• Make every Sunday a soup day. Use your favorite recipe or find a new one. A Sunday soup meal plan means you have one less day to think about what to feed the family.  Taco Tuesdays also work well for meal planning.
• Have dinner on the patio. It’s charming and slows down the pace of family dinner.
• Pick a family to bless every week and anonymously drop off a bag full of blessings on their doorstep. Ring the doorbell and run! It is a blast to surprise another family, and it teaches your children giving is fun.
• Serve the homeless together as a family. Check out Love and Light Ministries  for serving opportunities. Be intentional about getting your children out in the world to serve.  It could change their hearts and perception.   
• Decide to take a short walk every day. Walking is good for your physical and mental health. You would be amazed at how often you have small pockets of time to walk.  If I arrive early to pick up my child from activities, I like to redeem the time by taking a short walk. 
• Read a book outside. Have the family grab their favorite book or magazine and spend some time reading in the backyard or at your favorite park.
• Practice gratitude with your family. This can be as simple as asking the question at dinner time, “what are you thankful for today?”, or as creative as crafting gratitude trees.  Check out Pinterest for more crafty ideas.

Choose three fall family traditions from this list that you want to do with your family. Use this card to post your bucket list items somewhere in your home. There is something magical about how writing things down makes them more likely to happen.

 Happy Fall Y'all!