So yesterday good ol' Debra got into the Christmas decorating mood. Finally.

It began when I drooled all over my computer keyboard while clicking through Myrna's house here. Gracious. The woman is a decorating artiste! Please do pop over there after reading this, ok? You'll love it.

Then afterward, Tom and I drove to the Big City, well, the Town of Niagara, and there at Dollar Tree, of all places, I actually felt tingles of creative Christmas merriment. (I know. At Dollar Tree?) But it was there that I found these lovely Christmas balls:

Aren't they nifty? Just five for a dollar. And I also bought the two tiny wreaths here in this photo and the door hanger in the top photo. Tom loved the things I found and when my Christmas-loving friend, Laura, comes by on Thursday (and Naomi and Carl on Christmas Day) at least our house won't appear so Hum-Bug-like. At least they'll know I tried.

Oh! And these amazing deer followed me home from there, too:

I think I'll keep them out all year long.

Of course, I gravitated toward all things autumnal in color. I noticed that. And here, before we moved to this farmhouse, I'd meticulously planned to veer away from autumn-colored walls and decor-- my dream was blue walls and white decor in nearly every room. I mean, for 14 years we'd lived in our "Autumn Cottage" and I was ready for something different. I wanted the glorious pastels I was craving online--all those adorable cottage-type homes in light blues and pinks.

But now I'm not so sure. Slowly, autumn creeps back into my home, as though I cannot help it. I mean, hey. You don't know this, but I've been searching for just the right shade of autumn-gold for the walls of our living room--and not having much luck because it's a bold color, yet those bright color paint chips downright frighten me. "Dare I go so bold?," I ask myself. 

Well, if you're still even reading this, what am I trying to say? Maybe this: Often in this Life, we must step out to find out. We must paint whole rooms before we discover that, wow! That's not me at all. Or we may need to become brave-beyond-belief and take some steps which scare us no end. But only after we jump out of boats or tip-toe down new roads or live in different houses or states do we finally know.

And that's why dreading and resisting change is an awful way to live. When I step out and find out, I learn ways to better maneuver around in this world--and discover what I love (or detest) in this amazing Life which God has given me. 

Heaven help me if I ever stop learning.



******