Falling for Fall all over again...

My favorite time of year is almost here.  I love the cooler temperatures, the journey of the setting sun across the horizon hinting at shorter days ahead.  I love the sweaters, the warm socks, the cocoa and tea in the evening, throws on every chair to curl up and get comfy.  I love the changing leaves, the fall rain and early frost on the lawn.  And of course, pumpkin EVERYTHING!  The colors are breathtaking!

I love the Halloween and fall decorations already being set out at Dollar Tree, and you know they're making room for tinsel and lights to follow close behind.  Memories of fun Halloweens with my kids and their costumes pop into the front of my mind. And actual 'trick or treating'.  Yes, it was a real thing!  My birthday is in October - another year of grace and blessings for which to be grateful!  

But for me it's got to be Thanksgiving that fills my heart with the greatest anticipation and excitement!  I love it most of all!  As a child, we had the most amazing Thanksgivings with family.  Sometimes they were in Missouri, and sometimes at our home.  But they were epic.  At least in my mind that's how I remember them.  They were simple and humble, but filled with the love of family.  The menu was the typical fare you'd expect and always included Mama's homemade egg noodles and "idiot's delight".  I have my own version of a similar side dish called "pink stuff".  It's at every family gathering.  Every. Single. One.  We made an 'orange' version of it this year and it was a real hit!  So pink might have to change to orange for Thanksgiving this year. 

Typically, I tend to get a little nostalgic around this time of year and this year is no exception.  But there's a lot of change that's happened for us recently and I can't help but feel clinging to the familiar is a mechanism of processing through it all.  Oh, the change isn't bad - but different is still different.  Our days are a lot less hectic and a lot more restful - something we've both been needing for a very long time!  And I'm grateful for it all. 

I feel our lives are a little like a tree.  We are created from a seed, we need the proper tending to grow and mature.  We experience the seasons of life.  Each one different from the other, but at our core we bear the marks of past years within us, like the rings of growth on the tree. We weather the storms of life and yes! they sometimes can change us forever. The wind, the rain, the ice and snows of life.  After many years, our exterior shows the season of change.  Hair color, a few more wrinkles, etc.  But even the old tree still bears the wisdom of its lifetime and isn't useless.  Its canopy can shade the young shoots under it from the blazing sun and allow it to grow and mature to some day take the place of the other.  We are still a part of the circle of life that takes place year after year.  

We don't know the length of this life we live, but each day should be treasured as a precious gem, whatever season it may be for us.  Because it is.   May you be blessed, and may you gratefully appreciate the gift that is today. 

Until next time......

kellie