Fall is in the Air!

Guest Blogger: Laura Williams

**I have known Laura since I was 15 years old. We met in Biology class and soon became very good (if not BEST) friends. Laura lives an amazing life: traveling, homeschooling her two beautiful children and truly living out her ideals. I am so proud of her and I hope you enjoy her post!

 
The song says that the Christmas Season is the most wonderful time of the year… I beg to differ- for me it is Fall!


That first cool, crisp morning…what a welcome reprieve from the harsh, oppressive heat of summer. It usually comes to me unexpectedly. I walk out and realize I could really use a jacket, and when I can’t remember where I packed it away in the spring, I just deeply inhale that autumn smell, enjoy the coolness and smile because I know Fall is just around the corner!



The smell in the air…ahhhhhh…what is that smell anyway? It is kind of like wood burning, but nice, not smoky… I like it!

The sound of Football games in the background…but I like for it to stay in the background. I am not much of a football fan, but the sounds of the game and the spirit and excitement of trash-talking…it takes me back to a much more simple time of life where everything revolved around Friday nights at the high school stadium.

The transformation of my closet…the hoodies, sweatshirts & denim jackets take dominance and crowd out the t-shirts & short sleeves- but I can still wear flip-flops! Life is good.


I begin to watch daily for the beautiful colors to appear as the trees turn. I admit, I get a little giddy when I see the trees transform into a rich, warm, prism of color! My favorites are the trees that turn deep, deep purple… no, bright crimson red… maybe brilliant orange…ok- I like them all!

Apples begin to immerge as a culinary staple of our home…and most specifically - Honeycrisp Apples. In my humble opinion, they are the crowning jewel of the apple world! Apple oatmeal, salad with apples & pecans, fried apples, apple dumplings, apple pie, apple crisp, mulled apple cider, apples with caramel dip. Johnny Appleseed’s birthday was even in September… it must be a sign…

Could there be anything more simplistically fun than a trip to the pumpkin patch? Then there is the search for that PERFECT pumpkin…He must be a nice, rich shade of orange, the dirty spot where he laid on the ground to develop must be on the bottom or a place you can turn to hide it, he must be short and squatty, and he MUST, ABSOLUTELY MUST have a nice, curved stem. Yes, I have Pumpkin OCD…

In the spectrum of life, what does autumn represent? Spring reminds of us of the immergence of new life - birth- beginnings. Summer represents that time of life when there is growth, strength, & vibrancy. Autumn is in all actuality the foreshadowing of the decline to come, the beginning of the end… the cold death of winter. All that was once so rich and vibrant begins to wither and dry. The warmth that once was so welcomed in the spring is suddenly replaced by a chill that makes us aware of all the changes occurring around us.

No, I am not morbid. But death isn’t always bad.

As a Christian, it is very precious to me to realize that Jesus was willing to come to earth and suffer a horrendous death, but His death was not in vain.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

It was for the purpose of life…eternal life, that He was willing to die. This was the loving plan of God to remedy the sin problem of mankind. Jesus so willingly paid the price for our sin, so that we wouldn’t have to.

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Why go through life with doubt, bitterness, strife, guilt and all that robs us of the joy that could be ours? Jesus offers us both a life now abounding in hope & peace and an eternity beyond all we could imagine.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord… Acts 3:19

Where I live in northern Indiana, it seems like this simple, whimsical time of year passes so quickly. Join with me wherever you are by taking some time to slow down, notice the beautiful colors around you as the trees turn, enjoy (or endure) a football game, eat an apple dumpling, and consider the price that was paid for your sin and the gift of eternal life offered so freely by Jesus Christ!