Gratituesday: Cooling Temperatures, Emerging Color

Oh, how I am thankful for fall.  I know, it isn't officially here yet.  That's ok - this past week's temperatures assured me that it is just around the corner!  What do I love about fall?

• The crisp, cool air
• The scent of campfires
• The need for a cozy sweater
• The increased opportunity for wearing hiking boots
• The bees that are becoming drowzy
• LEAVES!  COLOR!  PILES TO JUMP IN!

Yes, here I am, 32 years old, and I still jump in leaf piles.  I take hundreds of photographs of the brilliant colors, capturing the change from the vibrancy of summer to the starkness of winter.

I grew up not too far from where we live now, but have spent 7 years in different parts of the country.  Four years were spent in Tennessee where the air just didn't quite get cool enough and the colors just weren't as bright.  Three years were spent in Nebraska where summers were intolerably hot and humid and winters were frigid.  We had approximately one week of spring and one week of fall before the drastic temperatures took over.  Brilliant fall colors were hard to come by.

Here we are, back in the northern Ohio valley with the glorious colors known far and wide.  What a blessing to be back.  What a blessing that God provides such immense beauty for us.  We deserve death but He gives us blazing beauty.

I am humbled.  I am thankful.

Join Heavenly Homemakers in a feast of thankfulness!