“He knows that without risk we can’t grow. God didn’t promise us a safe life. Instead, He said He would give us a dangerous, courageous, and purposeful one if we’’ll take Him at His word and stay engaged.” -Bob Goff

When I read passages like the one above, something in me resonates with the truth that is there. It is a comfort to me. God doesn’t promise that if we believe in Him, that we will be immune to the dangers of this human life. He does tell us that He loves us, that He has a plan and that we can trust Him.

When people ask me, “How is Delaware? How is the East Coast life treating you?” I sometimes get a little emotional because I feel like the Lord has provided so well for us that I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Stepping out and moving our family across the county was a big step of faith for us, but we felt like the Lord had been leading us to that decision for a while. Every time I think about all the little ways that the Lord lead us here, I have to also say “thank you” because it was been the best decision for our little family, and by responding with a “yes,” we have been given so many opportunities to dive into this life wholeheartedly.

I tend to overthink commitments.

I don’t want to say “yes” until I know I can really engage.

This has kept me from joining a church as a member, joining a community group, joining a bible study, joining a mom’s group, etc.

Since moving to Delaware, I have decided I want to say “yes!”

I still take into consideration that commitment level and whether it is right for my family and me, but over all, I have realized that as I make things a priority, my priorities also become more clear.

That being said, I feel like being engaged doesn’t always have to be super serious. I started seeing “Fall Bucket Lists” floating around and if any of you know me at all, you know I am the kind of girl that puts all the Fall bucket lists together and makes an ULTIMATE FALL BUCKET LIST!

The stage of life I am in at this point is very much wrapped around an important daily event called “nap time.” If this event is missed, all the plans I have made for the day may very well be missed as well. I know that even though I used to pride myself on getting “all the things” done in a day, I no longer see that as the goal. My mom-life goal is to keep my child alive and to raise him well and hopefully be able to get a few things on my list done throughout the day.

So, I have realized the importance of making a shorter list with more valuable things on it.

Enter: the condensed but very important Fall Bucket List

By making a realistic list, I am putting a priority on family and friend engagement in our community in a way that is less stressful and more doable for us. We may not be able to check all of them off, but I guarantee we will do more this way than if we never made a list at all! #intentionality!

I want to challenge you to make a list for this season as well; a list that fits your family.

Here is ours!

The Dyer Family Fall Bucket List

• Go apple picking

• Make an apple crisp with those apples

• Treat ourselves to an apple cider donut

• Go on a hay ride

• Go to a fall festival

• Go on a drive to see the fall leaves

• Jump in a pile of leaves

• Go to a street fair

• Go to a beer or Oktoberfest

• Have homemade mulled wine

• Go to the pumpkin patch

• Bake pumpkin seeds from our pumpkins

• Carve Pumpkins

• Spend a rainy day watching movies

• Wear a cozy sweater

• Watch a football game with family and friends

• Decorate our home for fall

• Do a random act of kindness

• Try a new pumpkin recipe

• Drink a pumpkin spice latte (or 100)

• Snuggle by the fire

• Splash in puddles

• Make a crockpot stew

• Read a book by the fire

• Light fall candles

• Read the fall issue of a magazine