The Wonder of it All

The brilliant leaves were here so fleetingly, and I wanted to enjoy them more.  I wanted to take my family on leaf hunts and pumpkin picking excursions to fully breathe in the essence of Falltime, but Fall has already exhaled.  The leaves are all gone and tomorrow is Halloween (which somehow always seems like the climax of Fall.)  Next year will have to do.

The other day, I sent my two boys off to school and work and when I opened the shades to wave goodbye to the bus, I was struck.  I have rarely seen so radiant a sunrise--it looks as if it were a sunset.

Watching a sunrise is one of the most splendid ways to start a day.  And this life of mine has been one gigantic sunrise as of late--a rising of new ideas and traditions and perspectives.  It's as if I've been living my life all blurry and I finally found the focus ring on the camera.  Everything in my life has come into crystal clear focus.

Yesterday it snowed and stuck for a few hours.  Tate had been doing a puzzle upstairs and hadn't seen the snow yet.  When he started walking down the stairs, he looked over the railing and exclaimed rather emphatically, "Look Mommy!  The snow covered the whole town with SNOW!!!"

And when I went to get Maylie from her crib, I opened her shade as I always do and walked over to her crib to pick her up.  For a second I was a little confused because instead of smiling and running to me, she just stood there, rooted in place.  Then she stretched out her little arm, pointing outside, and breathed a reverent, "Wooww."  It was her first sight of snow because last year she was too little to remember.

I of course had to call my mom and relate the incidences and we spoke about childhood wonder and why we are supposed to become as a little child.  Instead of complaining about the cold and the snow, we should be struck with awe at the beauty of it all.

Even Easton came home all excited that it had snowed all over his school and playground.  I told him it snowed all over here too.  Then he said, "But it snowed even more than that at my school!  The snow went up to here!" (pointing at his shin).

The Lord created each season for a very special reason and I have learned that the best way to live a life of contentment is to follow the natural rhythm of the seasons.  There is a season for doing and becoming, and then there is a season of stillness.  That season is winter.  It's a time to reflect and ponder and gather your family close around you.  It's a time for music and stories and the warmth of fuzzy blankets and hot cocoa.  It's a time to rejuvenate all of one's empty reserves.  It's a season to step back, sit down, and just. be. still.

Last year Winter was loved for the first time.  And this year, she will be loved even more.

My Very Own Autumn

Last month at this time I was completely and utterly dreading Autumn...not because I dislike the beautiful leaves and crisp air, but simply because I am a summer girl who loves warmth and sunshine...not to mention how awful it is to look ahead apprehensively for a stressfully busy Christmas season and then even worse, the winter blues that descend upon me with a terrific crash in January.

So I've pondered a lot on what I can do about my seasonal mood swings and I determined to ask my dear, sweet friend Savanah for some wisdom in this regard.

With her usual insight, she replied with some ideas that changed my whole outlook on the months of September, October, November, and December.

1.  Try to find things that are beautiful amidst the dreary winter.  Like watch the sunrise make the freshly fallen snow sparkle.  Or wear a black pair of gloves and catch the snowflakes on them.  The black makes it so that you can see each individual snowflake beautifully and you can admire their each unique shape.  I find that when we make a conscious effort to look for the good in everything then we find it.  So make it a goal to each day find one thing new that you can enjoy about winter.

2.  Make a goal for the end of each month.  Have something exciting and fun to look forward to.  Like a pedicure or lunch out with your grandma or something.  If you have something fun to look forward to, than the months won't seem to drag on too slowly.

3.  Try wearing bright colors.  Even when everyone else is wearing the seasons dark and drab color scheme, try wearing spring colors to lift your spirits.  You could also try adding bright colors to your home decor for the winter season to try and brighten your home.

4.  Learn something new.  I thought that a fun hobby would be to learn to crochet cute winter hats.  My mom made some last winter that had an adorable flower on the side, they were so stylish for a homemade hat.  Those might be fun to learn to make in order to lighten up a winter day!

5.  Make memorable winter moments.  Make a snowman with your boys or curl up in a big blanket with a cup of hot chocolate, warm popcorn, an old movie and your little family.

And finally....today I found a wonderful idea in the Ensign.  There was an article about a mom who memorized "The Living Christ" and then tried to help her family memorize it.  I know that our kids are too young for that just yet, but what if you tried to work on memorizing a part of it each day.  It will uplift your spirits, invite the Holy Ghost into your home and no doubt prepare you for the Christmas season.  Before you know it, winter will be half over and you won't even have had time to think about it!!

And so because of her inspiration, my Autumn has become something different this year.  It's not just a time to notice the dropping temperatures or dread the foreboding winter.

It's a time of change.  And of preparation.

It's a time to settle down and make home a comfortable haven for soon wintry days.

It's a time to put away the summer and put on the fall...including soft sweaters. (Of course, I'm going to continue wearing summer colors on occasion. ;)

It's a time to stop and pause and look how far this year has taken me...and how far I still have to go in order to reach my goals and become the person I want to be before the end of December.

It's a time to recommit to pushed aside projects and procrastinated ideas.

It's a time to make apple pie and pumpkin spice bread.

And cinnamon rolls...we had those last night.

And last week when the boys and I drove down to my Mom's, I glanced off to my right to see a little bunch of fiery red trees clustered on the side of a mountain.

It was a sign to me that Autumn is officially here...and surprisingly, that thought did not make me cringe or even sigh.

I smiled.

When winter comes along, I will be ready with Savanah's tricks up my sleeve.

"Come what may, and love it!" as Elder Wirthlin would say.

I guess my goal for September can be checked off.

I am LOVING Autumn.