a poem for fall

i stick my head out the window

and close my eyes

and take a deep breath

the wind blows through the trees

blowing through the autumn leaves

and whipping my hair

off my face

the leaves rustle high above

coloring the sky

red and orange and yellow

against the brilliant blue

like a sea high above

covered in boats of leaves

there’s a pumpkin pie on the windowsill

below, the scent wafting out

i run down the stairs

and grab my hat

and wrap on my scarf

and snatch my coat

and hurry outside

the door banging behind me

my leather boots bang on the ground

 the leaves scuttle beneath my feet

i rush down the road

my eyes searching ahead

and then i see it

and i smile

i rush forward

and push the swing

the old tire flying high

i laugh and jump on

as it swings down

and fly towards the sky

i feel like if i let go

and pushed off

my hands spread out far

that i could fly

up into the sky

towards a distant star

the tire swings down again

and i remember that i won’t fly

but i don’t care

i’m happy just as i am

i jump off the swing

and hurry down the road

just a little farther down

i glance at the sun

and i realize it’s almost time

maybe i shouldn’t

have dallied so long

but surely - i’ll make it on time

i rush back down the lane

and through the gate

and throw open the door with a smile

my family’s before me -

my father, mother, brothers,

sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles

grandfathers and grandmothers

and everyone else in between

my mother winks and beckons

and we head into the dining room

 the long table

it’s there, spread out before me

only coming out -

only on one day

 a special

one of my favorite days

we all gather around

the food’s on the table

i glance around -

so many happy, loved faces

i love today -

and every other day

thank you God,

for all of these happy days

i’m thankful for this day

and every day

it’s Thanksgiving.

\\

i love Thanksgiving - i can’t wait until it comes around again this year. fall is here upon us, and it brings me joy. drink your warm coffee and tea, wrap on your scarves, run through the forests on an adventure, and have a lovely, God-blessed fall. - Anna

look to God

i stood there

a cold wind on my face

a tear on my cheek

gone from that place

it was a long time ago

like a land far away

when i left this place

i remember that day

there are so many memories

a laugh, a smile

they cloud my vision

but in awhile

i see that that’s all gone now

the house is dark

the house is cold

against the white sky stark

i remember running and playing

laughing through the leaves

i remember running over the hills

and climbing the trees

i remember climbing to the roof

sliding down on the snow

i remember the dandelions

the ones i used to blow

there were so many happy memories

that i wish i could go back

sitting on the grass all day

eating apples out of a sack

i wish that this place was like it was

the way i remember

the way that i’d left it

that long ago December

but i can’t go back

though memories stay

so instead, i’ll look ahead

to a better, brighter day

because staying in the past?

that’s something that doesn’t work

we don’t appreciate what we have

this present life we shirk

we can’t ever go back

but we have something up ahead

there’s Someone bigger then us

down this life i’ve led

someone guiding us, the Bright Ones,

as we journey through this life

Someone who’s carried us

through darkness and strife

don’t stay in the past

but look to tomorrow

find the joy in Christ

give Him your sorrow

trust in Him for His Great Plan,

let Him be your Rock,

though you be tripped and trampled

and shamed and mocked

this house is just a house

this land is just a piece of earth

that smile and that laughter

were that moment’s mirth

things can’t ever be the same

but that doesn’t mean they won’t ever be great

we can’t change things in the past

but we can change now, before it’s too late

this will all rot away

but God will stand forever

doing His will is the only thing

that is the Worthy Endeavor

so take your eyes off the past

and put them on God

the Maker of the World

this round sphere of sod

look to God in trial

look to God in pain

God is here for you

His peace you will gain

so don’t look to the past

where you can’t change things and can’t go

but look to the One who makes the stars shine

to the One who makes the dandelions blow.

//

look to God, the Maker of the World.

brave

mine + please don’t pin

i get afraid. a lot. i’m afraid of new things. afraid of changes. afraid of things i don’t understand and don’t know. things that i’ve heard of. things. and then i was given something that is really quite amazing.

“To be brave, you must first be afraid.” - Anonymous

let’s just let this sink in for a moment. “to be brave, you must first be afraid.” wow. this is like... life-changing for me. mostly, i always feel afraid. and it’s through that, that i can be brave? that practically blows my mind. brave people seem so... confident. unafraid. fearing nothing. could they actually have a fear, too? could they just push it away, and take a step out into the darkness?

when i heard this, i realized just how true this is. we can be the most afraid we have ever been in our life, but if we take that first trusting step, reach out and grab God’s hand, even though we’re afraid, we’re showing bravery. brave people don’t always feel brave. most likely, they never feel brave. but they trusted God, and took a step of faith out into the darkness where they couldn’t see. God be might be asking us to go somewhere that looks like, to us, like stepping off a cliff. the other side is shrouded in mist, and we feel fear - what’s on the other side? what if we fall? what if we die? it takes bravery to step out.

we might be scared beyond belief, but sometimes you just have to push that side and take the plunge. we don’t know what’s on the other side, but God does. some of you may be familiar with this verse, but i’d really love to share it with you:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10-11

we don’t have to fear, because God is with us. He is our solid rock on Whom we stand. though everything else falls away, He will still be there.

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” - Psalm 91:4

sometimes it feels like if you’re afraid and you step out, you’re going to fall. but God will always be there to pick you up again. don’t be afraid to be brave. don’t be afraid to be bold.

“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” - Psalm 138:3

when you feel like you’re going to fall, step out, call out to God to catch you, to make you bold, to make you brave. so today i urge you - be brave.

when the weight drops off

my photo + please don’t pin

have you ever

just felt

overwhelmed

and then stepped

outside

and felt the wind

and suddenly

the weight

it’s flying

flying away

and you just

feel

free?

God lets us soar on wings like eagles.

feeling free,

anna 

loud minds + saying opposites

made by moi + please don’t pin

“how are you?”

“good.”

i feel like i’m falling apart.

“what’s been going on?”

“nothing much.”

everything.

“everything ok?”

“everything’s great.”

everything’s horrible.

sometimes people

have the loudest minds

say one thing

and mean the opposite

they just don’t feel safe

telling what’s really

going on

you’re safe with God. talk to Him.

travel

via

travel:(v.) make a journey, typically of some length or abroad.

take a globe

close your eyes

reach out

and pick a place

“let’s go

you ready?”

hope

via

[story]

i stared out the window, a smile on my face, excitement in my mind, and hope in my heart. my mom leaned over the edge of the car’s seat, her face slightly perplexed.

“you know, we might not be able to get it today.”

i smiled. “that’s okay.”

“alright, but i just don’t want you to get your hopes too high.”

“i know we might not get it today,” i told her, “i know it might not be there, or something might happen, or we might not have room in the car. but i can always hope.”

she smiled at me. “yes - you can always hope.”

hope.