Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
I can hardly believe we’ve made it to the final Thankful Thursday of November. This little weekly gratitude series has been such a sweet reminder to slow down and notice God’s goodness...not just in the big, exciting moments, but in the small, steady ones too. As we head into this Thanksgiving weekend, my heart feels especially full.
Here’s what I’m thankful for this week...
My sweet Mason,
As Thanksgiving approaches and the world slows down just enough for us to look around and take it all in, my heart keeps landing on you. I’ve been reflecting a lot lately, and I keep coming back to how thankful I am for you... for the boy you’ve always been and the young man you’re becoming.
Hi friends, and welcome back to another From the Front Porch reflection.
There’s something about this time of year that makes home feel especially sacred. The air outside has that cozy chill, the twinkle lights are starting to make their appearance, and the scent of something warm and comforting seems to linger in the air. It’s the kind of season that draws you in, where the world slows down just enough to remind you of the beauty right in front of you.
Happy Thursday, friends!
We’re heading into one of my very favorite weekends of the whole year...our annual Polar Express weekend! If you’ve been around Hall Around Texas for a while, you know how much this tradition means to our little family. Every November, we pack up the camper and head about an hour and a half southeast for a weekend full of Christmas cheer, small-town magic, and sweet family time. There’s something about that train ride under twinkling lights that takes me straight back to the wonder of childhood. It’s one of those traditions I look forward to all year long.
Before we hit the road, I wanted to pause and continue my Thankful Thursday series...a little space each week to slow down, reflect, and count the blessings that God has so graciously tucked into my days. Here’s what I’m thankful for this week…
I’ve been seeing so many adorable Bible DIYs floating around TikTok lately, and they’ve completely inspired me to add a little extra sweetness to mine. I’ve always loved making my own bookmarks for my Bible, but recently I’ve been wanting to do something a bit more. I think part of it is because our Bibles are so much more than just books… they’re living and active, the very Word of God. And for me, making them personal and beautiful is another way of honoring the time I spend in them.
Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a great start. We had such a good weekend and it truly went by way too fast. Isn’t that always how it goes? Even when we try to slow down and stay home as much as we can, time still seems to slip right through our fingers. We have definitely been in our homebody era and loving it, but the days still move quickly. This weekend was a good mix of going out and staying home. Anyhow, here’s a look at what our weekend looked like.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times of the year... a season filled with family, food, and all the cozy feelings that make my heart so full. But if I’m being honest, it can also be a season that gets loud, busy, and a little overwhelming if I’m not careful. Between traveling, cooking, cleaning, and trying to make everything “just right,” it’s easy for the peace and gratitude I want to feel to get buried under the to-do list.
There’s something about Thanksgiving that just feels sacred... a whole day set aside for gratitude, family, and slowing down long enough to remember how blessed we really are. It’s one of my favorite days of the year...the smells from the kitchen, the laughter of family, the coziness that fills the house.
But it’s also easy for Thanksgiving to slip into routine... the same menu, the same rush, the same checklist of things to do. So this year, I’m being intentional about creating moments that make it feel a little more meaningful... a little more memorable... and a whole lot more centered on thankfulness and Jesus.
Happy Thursday, friends!
We’re already into the second week of November, and I’m still amazed at how quickly this year is flying by. I’ve been trying to slow down a little more lately, to savor the cozy evenings, the cool Texas air, and all of the little things that make this season so special. It’s so easy to rush ahead toward the holidays, but I don’t want to miss what God’s doing right here, right now.
Like I mentioned last week, I’m spending each Thursday this month sharing five things I’m thankful for...a simple list, but one that helps me reflect and refocus my heart. Gratitude really does shift our perspective. So here’s what I’m thankful for this week...
Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope you're having a great week so far. We've been busy cleaning, decorating for Christmas, baking, cooking... all the things. It usually takes me a couple of weeks to fully decorate for the season. I like to pull everything out, look through it all, and decide what I’m going to use this year. Then I start placing things where they feel right. I move pieces around until everything just clicks. I also love to craft and DIY along the way...sometimes updating things I already have and other times creating something brand new. There’s just something about putting on Christmas music, lighting a candle, and getting creative with holiday décor that makes me so happy.
How long does it take you to decorate for Christmas? I always start in November because I love to soak in the season for longer than just the month of December. There’s so much joy and peace that comes with twinkling lights and cozy evenings at home, and I don’t want to rush through it.
Anyhow, it’s time for this week’s Hodgepodge... so let’s jump into it!
This fall looked a little different than years past... but honestly, it was exactly what our hearts needed. We didn’t check off nearly as many “bucket list” activities as we usually do...no jam-packed weekends, no rushing from one event to the next...but instead, we soaked up something far more meaningful: time together. The kind of slow, simple days that remind you what really matters.
Even though I love a good tradition (and y’all know I do!), I’m learning to find peace in letting go of the pressure to do all the things. There’s a special kind of beauty in just embracing the season you’re in...not the perfectly curated one, but the real, lived-in one. This fall was quieter, cozier, more intentional... filled with laughter at home, slow evenings, and those small, sacred moments that tend to linger longest. And truthfully? That’s more than enough for me.
There’s just something about fall that makes me slow down a little. The crisp mornings, golden sunsets, and cozy evenings on the porch invite me to pause, reflect, and spend more time in the presence of the Lord. For me, one of the sweetest ways to do that is through worship music.
Fall feels like a season of gratitude, reflection, and drawing near to Jesus...and the right worship playlist can set the tone for those quiet moments. Whether I’m driving Mason to hockey, sipping coffee on the porch, or journaling in the Word, worship music helps shift my heart from busy to still.
Today I wanted to share my Fall Worship Playlist...a mix of my favorite artists and songs that have been encouraging me in this season.
It’s the 10th of the month, which means another 10 on the 10th! November always feels like a month wrapped in gratitude...the changing leaves, family gatherings, comfort food, and a slower pace before the hustle of December. Today I’m sharing 10 ways I prepare my heart for Thanksgiving.
Fall always has a way of slowing me down... reminding me that just like the leaves, it’s okay to let some things go. It’s the season where God whispers in the wind, “Be still.” The world around me seems to hurry ahead...rushing into the holidays, making lists, decorating, planning...but my heart feels Him pulling me back to simplicity... to rest... to Him.
November always feels like an invitation to slow down, reflect, and make space for what truly matters. As the leaves turn and Thanksgiving draws near, gratitude naturally takes center stage. But I’ve found that gratitude doesn’t just stay tucked away in our hearts…it spills over into action. One of the sweetest ways we can live out thankfulness is by showing kindness to others.
The good news? Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures…a smile, a note, a helping hand…that make the biggest difference. This month, here are 10 simple, meaningful ways to spread kindness in your home, community, and beyond.
Happy Friday! I’m here with another edition of this little series I’m calling Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T. — a weekly roundup of different topics that change with the seasons. This week’s edition is Fall-themed with a heart rooted in faith. Think of it as a peek into my heart and home, kind of like sitting on the front porch with a warm cup of spiced tea, watching the leaves dance in the breeze, and catching up.
This week I am sharing what I’m Reading, Eating, Preparing, Obsessing , Recharging, and Trusting. Let’s jump in…
Happy Thursday, friends!
As the leaves keep falling and the days grow shorter, my heart feels extra full of gratitude lately. I don’t ever want to rush through this season without pausing to truly soak in the goodness of God and the blessings He’s tucked into my days. Big ones, small ones, the everyday-in-between ones... they all matter.
So, for the month of November, I thought it’d be sweet to start a little series here on Hall Around Texas... “Thankful Thursday.” Each week, I’ll share five things I’m thankful for...a simple, reflective list of moments, people, and graces that made my week a little brighter. Because even in the chaos, there’s always something to be thankful for.
Here’s what I’m thankful for this week...
Happy Wednesday, friends!! Just when I thought I was finally going to get caught up in this space... life got busy again! Isn’t that always how it goes? Between work, hockey, crafting, decorating for Christmas, and just the beautiful busyness of life, my days have been full. And honestly, any free time I do get lately has been spent in my Bible, crafting something fun, or tweaking Christmas decorations around the house. There just aren’t enough hours in the day! Still, I couldn’t miss out on one of my favorite link-ups...the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So, let’s jump right in!
Around here, “pumpkin spice season” is practically its own holiday, and our local coffee shops never disappoint when it comes to creative fall drinks. Whether you’re a die-hard pumpkin spice latte fan or just looking for something warm and cozy to sip while strolling downtown, here’s my Waxahachie-style round-up of favorite spots for fall coffee.
When you think of fall foliage, your mind might jump to the mountains of New England or the forests up north. But did you know that Texas has its own share of beautiful autumn color? While we may not have maples on every corner, certain pockets of the Lone Star State come alive each October and November with golden yellows, deep reds, and fiery oranges.
If you’re looking to plan a fall road trip or just want to soak up the beauty of the season, here are some of the best spots in Texas for leaf watching.
Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had the best weekend. We sure did...though, like always, it went by way too fast. Isn’t it funny how that happens? Even with both Nate and I off on Friday, it still felt like the weekend zipped right past us. We were originally supposed to have doctor appointments that morning, but our doctor had a family emergency and had to cancel. So instead, we decided to use the unexpected free day to get a few things done and spend some quality time together as a family. Here’s a little peek at what our weekend looked like…
This time of year feels like a gentle invitation from the Lord to stop rushing, to stop striving, and to simply be thankful. Not just thankful for the big, obvious blessings...but for the small, quiet ones too. The ones that slip by unnoticed when life feels hurried. The ones tucked inside ordinary days... the laughter around the dinner table, the sunsets that stop me in my tracks, the feeling of peace that comes from knowing God is near.
Hi, I’m Crystal — daughter of the One True King, wife to my high school sweetheart Nathan, and Mama to our 15-year-old son, Mason. I’m a proud hockey mom, homeschooling adventurer, wannabe homesteader, and Texas girl through and through.Around here, I share our life...the messy, the meaningful, and everything in between. From chasing dreams and thrift store deals to traveling this beautiful state (and beyond), to finding Jesus in everyday moments... this is our story. Welcome to Hall Around Texas!! I’m so glad you’re here!