The Schlaiss Family

I can't wait to start working on some Christmas projects!

1. Pumpkin - I adore anything and everything pumpkin. There are so many delicious treats and desserts that taste magnificent with pumpkin.

2. Holiday decorating - This is my first year as a homeowner..well technically we owned the house last year, but only Andrew lived here, so this is my first official year for decorating. I love all the fun, creative ways to make a house seem festive and cozy. I could actually probably spend hours in decorating stores getting ideas. My current weakness for everything decor is Hobby Lobby.

3. Cool weather - I feel like this summer has been abnormally hot or maybe just the fact that Andrew and I don't like hiking up the bill with running our AC constantly. I am so ready for the nice cool breezes that the fall brings. I can't wait to enjoy going on walks or riding our bikes again.

4. Jackets - Jackets are so delightful. I love the nice, big cozy sweatshirts or the cute, sophisticated trench coat. I always get cold in restaurants, even in 115 degree weather, so it will be nice to look around the dinner table and see other people wearing jackets and not just me.

5. Candles - I am ecstatic to have the holiday scents back. I have a current obsession with candles and my favorites happen to be the ones that only come around during the holidays.

6. Amazing food - For some reason really good baking and cooking just doesn't happen during the summer. Its always too hot to turn on the darn oven! Pies, turkey, stuffing...the list really just keeps going...

7. Candy - There is a little holiday that happens to occur during my fall celebrations. I could really care less about the dressing up aspect of Halloween since I don't have children, but I do appreciate and enjoy the candy aspect. Halloween is a great excuse to stock the house with candy AND there are always awesome deals on leftover bags of candy on November 1st. Clearly a win-win.

8. Bonfires - Bonfires are a great way to hang out..especially on a cool fall night. A bonfire, friends, and possibly some smores = an evening well spent.

Obviously you can see the fall is awesome. Case closed.

The study is based upon the Song of Solomon. I never realized how amazing this book is once you understand all the complex references based upon that time period. Andrew and I agreed that we wouldn't read this book together until we were married and I am so glad I waited to truly read it until this exact study. Reading it as a married woman makes this book of the Bible far more important and meaningful to me (although it is still applicable to single woman as well). I love that it is classified as one of the "wisdom books" of Bible. There is an enormous amount of wisdom that can come from studying the Song of Solomon. It is not only the greatest love story ever written, but it also provides so many applicable lessons for marriages today. I could seriously go on for hours about the cool things God is revealing to me through this Bible study. I know it has only been a few weeks since this class began, but I can already tell a difference in my marriage. Its not like our marriage has ever been rocky (its only been less than a year so I hope not!), but I feel as if our marriage is growing stronger day by day. Who would've thought that such small little signs of affection, adoration, kindness, respect, etc. could make a such difference?! Not only does it bring Andrew joy, but his joy as a result is contagious and strengthens our bond as a couple. Love, while not always easy, is sacrificial. It is about giving when sometimes that person isn't so lovable or when they are :)

"A great lover lets her husband know in no uncertain terms that although life presents problems for everyone, she adores being his wife, she longs to be with him and is content in his arms even through the storms. She speaks kind words of adoration and affection especially in the midst of life's difficulties."

- One of the many quotes from our study that I am loving this week