Really, is there any season better than fall? The smell of leaves and bonfires, the feel of jeans and a sweatshirt, the crisp but not yet frigid air, the tastes, the full hearts and gratitude. We drink it in, clutching the remaining days knowing that soon enough the earth will sleep again and we will be forced inside biding our time after the initial novelty of the snow wears off until spring makes things come alive again.
The other day we got a taste of fall in the air and we headed out for a quick exploration of a place we've passed by hundreds of times but had never actually stopped. It's mostly a town soccer field but off to the side is a walking path that has always intrigued me.
Brian is away for the weekend leading an Into the Wild retreat for about a hundred other men. (Pray for them, please?) Normally, when he has to be out of town I am deliberate about not planning too much and I usually find it easier to manage if we just hunker down for a few days and limit our trips out but the other day I just had to get us out to enjoy this perfect weather. We were only gone but two hours and it was enough to fill my heart again with reminder after reminder of how blessed I am and how much we are loved. I watched my boys running to find treasures, exclaiming at each turtle and dragonfly, examining the "poison berries" and the skunk cabbage, fascinated by the blue heron and the tall reeds and the cattails and the fallen trees. I watched my nine year old stop to jot down notes on the plants he was finding with the notebook and pencil he thought to bring all on his own. I watched little Luke toddle down after his big brothers and stare into the water enchanted by the fish. Just thinking about their wonder and innocence can bring me to tears sometimes. They are so good. So so good. I've learned to savor moments like these when things are just right. They get you through those other moments, the ones that feel like all is wrong. You have to learn to see them and have the determination to calm the strenuous schedules, the frenetic activities and quiet the other noise. It is then that those moments multiply and shine and we remember again that this life is so very good and these moments so very fleeting. And it is then that you remember to drink it in.
(Not a great picture but John Paul was thrilled to recognize the very full pollen sacs on this little guy.)
The pictures are beautiful! You must live in a really pretty area.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny because this place is hidden amongst a bunch of normal suburban subdivisions which is why we never really took the time to stop but I'm glad we did!
DeleteThe pictures are so beautiful. It makes me sad that I don't live somewhere with a real fall. Houston is still full on summer for now. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking how jealous I am of people who have a real fall too! This is my second Florida "fall" and I think I'm developing some kind of reverse seasonal affective disorder where you suffer depression because there is no fall or winter. Fall is my favorite, favorite time of year and missing it just seems so wrong!
DeleteOh, I'm so sorry! I can't imagine not having fall! I think that is one of the few redeeming things about where we live. We at least get to experience all the seasons (even though the proportions might not be what I like!). That and no major natural disasters. But come February I will be DYING to live somewhere like you do!
DeleteI was just thinking yesterday how September is my favorite month...we still have summer weather here (and we usually do in Sept), but knowing the cooler temps are on there way is somehow comforting. I just try not to think about the rain that is coming.
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