Yes, I am Crazy.

How do I know fall is finally here?  Is it the cooler weather?  The changing color of the leaves?  Or is it the school buses that plague my drive to work everyday?

Believe it or not, none of the above.  Here are the top ways I know it is fall..
1.  My laundry is piled on the poker table instead of neatly folded in drawers.
2.  Dishes from Sunday night are just making it into the dish washer.
3.  My bedroom looks like all the clothing revolted and violently flung themselves out of the drawers.

Fall in our house has always been a time of new beginnings. 

This year, we totally over did ourselves.  With Elyzbeth turning 5 in October, we decided it was a good time to find out what "sports" she would like to try out.  This summer we tried soccer, which was a total blast.  And now we are trying tap/ballet.  So, our Saturdays from now until May are spent at Dance lessons.  As much as she loves the class so far, I am a little nervous about scheduling EVERY SATURDAY for the next 8 months!! YIKES!

And if that isn't enough, our church AWANA program started tonight too.  And of course it is NOT enough for us to sign up Elyzabeth, I volunteer to teach as well.  This will be my 3rd year of teaching, and at the end of each year I say "I am not teaching again next year."

But sure enough, I get the email from Church (2 months later) and I think of all the amazing kids i get to work with, and before I know it I am signing up again to be a Cubbie Bear Leader (3-4 yearolds).

So now, Wednesday nights are also booked for the next 8 months.  And don't forget Tuesday night Bible Study.  And October begins 10 weeks of swimming lessons.

 I ask myself (as you may ask me as well) "Why do you do that to yourself?  Are you Crazy??!?!?"

And well, yes, I am crazy!  I LOVE doing things that my daughter loves.  Dancing is the highlight of her week right now, and I can't wait to see her smile when we walk in the door Saturday at the dance studio.

And I love my bible study. The people in my bible study have been so good for me.  They support me, challenge me and make me laugh.  They also have such passion for their faith, I am constantly inspired.

And I love the little Cubbie Bears in my Awana group.  I love when I walk into Church on Sunday kids run up and give me huge hugs and say they miss me.  I LOVE listening to them discover their faith, and their own love and passion for Christ.  I LOVE how completely they believe and how innocently they understand all the things that hangs me up as an adult.  How simply they see the word "forgive" and how uncomplicated forgiveness is.  And Most of all, I LOVE how they TEACH me to see the world through a child's eyes.

So yes, I am crazy. And my kitchen is a mess, my laundry isn't done and don't even talk about how my yard looks!! 

But... I am happy.  The fall has started and my heart is full to bursting!  I am truly blessed.

Laundry will get done when I have time (or run out of underwear).  The dishes will wait (or i will go buy more paper plates).  The snow will eventually fall and no one will know I haven't weeded the gardens in months.

In the meantime, I will enjoy what I have committed to, and hopefully survive it at the same time!