Fall Fun

(None of these gorgeous pictures were taken by me.I take credit for none of them.)

Fall is in full swing, complete with fiery treetops reaching into gray flannel clouds that fall around the sky in warm folds, plump orange pumpkins resting on porches, a nip in the air worthy of woollen sweaters and socks, crunch and crackle of leaves under foot, candle light dancing on darkening early evening walls, smell of spices wafting through warm kitchens, calling hungry families to tables set with love and hope . . . pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks.

It is all so good!
And, with this change of seasons, the anticipation of nearing holidays is dancing in my heart. Thanksgiving menus and activities and Christmas lists and cookie recipes are all swirling around my head. We will observe Advent this year, and I am already preparing for that. I think it is so important, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, as much as I love it, to remebmer what it all means, to focus on the reality of what we are celebrating and why. To live our faith.
I love this time of year.
We've made several trips to the pumpkin patch already this year, and I would love to go again at least one more time before they close. They are only open through October. It would be fun to check out other pumpkin patches too. We took our annual school trip to the patch on Monday, the 12th. It was Isaac's last year to go with the school. Next year, he will be in seventh grade, and will not be joining us. A fact I was painfully aware of the whole time we were there. We had such a good time, but for me, it was tinged with the beautiful sadness that accompanies the realization that your child is growing up. Not just getting bigger. But growing up. There is a difference.
Isaac's football season is coming to a close. Saturday is his last game. He has played so well, and I have been amazed to see him out there on the field in his uniform. He looks so big, all suited up. Same growing up stuff applies here. It is thrilling to see him, little man, out on that field. And, to a mother's heart, it is also, in a sense, tragic!
Josiah is growing so big too, and he is quite the comedian! He loves to tell jokes. But under all that clowning, he is a very sensitive little man who loves his brothers deeply, and takes such good care of Daniel. It warms my heart to see him care for others. My mom always tells him she thiks he will be a doctor or a pastor, someone who cares for people. I think he will be those things no matter what he chooses to do.
And Daniel. He loves life. He is exploring it with a verve that amazes this old mother's heart. It makes me feel young again. (Okay, younger. I'm not that old). He loves farms and tractors and owls and Little Bear and reading books and singing songs and "crakers of cheese" (which is what he calls Cheese-its) and chocolate milk. When he gets a boo-boo he asks for a "dan-dade." He also likes to do things himself, and is very sure of what he does and does not want to do. Yeah, he's two. In every sense of the word. But he is my two year old!! That makes all the difference.
There is so much in life to be thankful for. Life itself is a gift. And we are living it.
And here is a shout out to my grandfather, who turned 83 yesterday, and who continues to be, as always, the man of my dreams!! Love you, gramp. Many happy returns.
Thank you, God, for the gift of today. For the beauty of it. For the love in it, Yours, the greatest of all. For the opportunities to be realized in it. For the simple pleasures to be found in it. Thank you.