Fallmost is my own personal continuous holiday between Labor Day and September 23. It's a time where I can breathe a little more as summer eases off my insecurities, and I can look forward to a season where life is a little easier.
Fall brings regular routines against the laxadaisy life of summer that sends me on a mental roller coaster. Fall brings cooler weather against the dry, mean heat of Sacramento afternoons. Fall calms my brain, my kids and the dance studio's a/c bill.
I celebrate Fallmost in a variety of ways - lighting autumny candles and making crock pot soup, deluding myself into thinking it's NOT 100 degrees outside still. I start to dream up Halloween costumes Sam and Charlotte won't agree to, wander through the fall decorations at Hobby Lobby, and plan Apple Hill trips.
Fall is my happy place.
However, something changed this year. Fallmost took me by surprise. Instead of summer being my arch nemesis, it became my....for the sake of using as many ridiculous words in this post as possible.....my frienemy. This was a big step for summer and I.
For the first time, I enjoyed summer nights - the way Sacramento is absolutely lovely after dusk for frozen yogurt, the drive-in and late night chats on a porch swing.
This was the summer I found myself surrounded by consistent, godly girlfriends who notice when I'm missing and are happy to keep me laughing.
Summer blessed me with a fighting (although sometimes faltering) spirit that slowly taught me God does not hold me responsible for all the broken people in the world.
We swam this summer, played board games this summer, made mentos & soda rockets this summer. I truly went to the state fair for the first time and learned how to needle felt a gnome. I found new, unexpected ways to connect with my husband and appreciated my creative mind that came up with some very awesome bedtime stories my children now request over Goodnight Moon.
This summer, I learned to say positive things about myself. I still may be my own worst enemy, but the war is slowly dying down.
So, Happy Fallmost. In the midst of my dreaded summer, I found hope.
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