Fall is officially upon us. Our part of the country is already experiencing the vibrant change of colors followed by the slow flutter of leaves. The air is brisk as we wake up each morning. I've already made myself a few mugs of hot chocolate and gotten out my fluffy slippers. The kids are already thinking about the upcoming holidays, and I start thinking of decorating the house. Something about this season always makes me want to do something creative... the find seasonal crafts and special projects for myself and the kids. From pumpkin carving to handprint turkeys, there are so many ways to celebrate the season.
Strangely enough, we seem to spend more time outdoors than we do in the summer. The bicycles come out of the garage and we take family walks around the neighborhood. The boys are make piles of rocks outside, imagining they are the humble beginnings of a mighty fortress. Piles of leaves add to the allure of the outdoors.
I love how our even our palettes seem to change with the seasons. Gone is our hankering for the taste of mint and citrus. This is the time of year when we crave soups and stews, warm bread from the oven, sweet potatoes and squash. Maybe there is something about fall food that reminds us of home, of meals around the kitchen table, of thanksgivings and homecomings.
As I think about what I love most about fall, it is that it is centered around home. Summer is made for roaming, and we take off like birds in flight, eager to explore something new and unchartered. But fall brings us back home. We are grounded again, brought back to stay for awhile, kept by books and school and schedules to maintain. My soul welcomes the routine of home. We will hunker down as a family and enjoy our time together with our mugs of cocoa and our warm slippers...until Spring comes again and awakens in us our sense of adventure.
Image Credit: Karen Lidbeck-Brent.
