Fall is days from turning in its papers for the year but between the early sticking snows and arctic blast I nearly missed it. And not only its existence–I almost missed its gifts. Fall is my favorite season but it just didn’t look like its typical self this year.

Neither did its gifts. Normally my list would include the stretch of glorious, crisp, sun warmed days of October. Not this year. The few we had moved by so fast I barely noticed.

That has been the nature and challenge of this fall—moving fast. Our kids are getting older; their lives are busier and so are ours. The season’s gifts have been lifelines that God has graced my ordinary days with and I am grateful for each one.

1. The occasional game: Monopoly. Scrabble. Killer Uno. Short rest stops on the highway of life.
2. Gratitude. Our oldest two express their thanks for our time and help. Their words encourage me to keep moving forward. I could learn from them.
3. Eye contact. Face to face conversation about the stuff of life.
4. The crock pot and take-out pizza—specifically this recipe for Crock Pot Mac & Cheese. My kids love it.
5. Leaves floating on the surface of the pond.
6. The scent of wood burning in the stove.

Have you faced new challenges this fall? What lifelines have been gracing your ordinary days?

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Linking Gifts with the writers at Unforced Rhythms.