Today we welcome the first day of Autumn. The equinox has arrived, and with it comes that gentle turning point of the year when day and night balance, just for a moment, before the light slowly fades into longer evenings. I always feel this day deeply. It’s as if creation itself is whispering, “slow down, prepare, rest is near.“
We are still in the process of turning our new house into a home. Every season here is a “first”, and Autumn feels like the perfect time to root in a little deeper. Decorating has been part of the rhythm this year, and while it looks different than it has in the past, I’m grateful for it. We’re thrifting what we can, gathering pieces with character and story, and saving up for others. It’s a slow process, but I’ve come to cherish that. Every basket, quilt, and candle feels intentional—layered with meaning as we settle into this safe space.
Preparing Our Home
With Autumn’s arrival, home naturally becomes the center of life again. Where Summer kept us outside until long after sunset, Autumn draws us in. The kitchen feels warmer, the couches feel cozier, and the evenings stretch out like an invitation to gather.
Preparing our home doesn’t have to be elaborate. For me, it looks like:
Bringing out cozy quilts and keeping them close at hand
Setting a bowl of apples on the counter as a nod to the season’s abundance
Clearing away summer’s clutter and giving each room space to breathe again
Lighting candles as the daylight fades
In these simple, ordinary acts, our home becomes a haven. A place of rest, nourishment, and gathering close as the season shifts.
Preparing Our Heart
But as I’ve learned over the years, Autumn isn’t only about preparing our homes—it’s about preparing our hearts. The trees don’t cling to their leaves; they release them. And in their letting go, they remind me to ask myself: what do I need to release in order to step into this season well?
For me, it often looks like:
Setting aside the hurried pace that summer tends to carry
Carving out time for prayer, journaling, and simply being still
Leaning into family rhythms, like evening walks and dinners around the table
Trusting that rest is part of God’s design—not wasted, but necessary
Autumn is an act of trust. It is the season that tells us it’s okay to slow down, to prepare quietly, and to rest in Him.
Leaning Into the Quiet Rhythm
On this first day of Autumn, I feel the shift fully. The air carries it, the light reflects it, and my heart longs for it. Preparing our home with small touches of comfort and preparing my heart with prayer and reflection feels like a way of joining in the rhythm God built into creation.
So here’s to Autumn—the season of gathering, of slowing, of trusting, and of preparing. May our homes be places of refuge, our hearts steady in His presence, and our days filled with the quiet assurance that every season has its purpose, and every moment is held in His hands.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
