“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.’ --John Donne
As I clean the yard in preparation for winter and lay grass in bare areas the drought distressed, I prepare the ground for another season of rest. It will be another couple of months before we have any seriously cool weather, so I know the grass will take root and be ready to grow for next year. We have decided to sell our home and downsize, so with much sentiment, I cover the garden areas and gaze out over the area that I have worked for almost eleven years now. I took out the pumpkins I planted as they would cause a terrible mess in the yard and I need for it to look neat and simple. I wasn’t guaranteed to have any by Halloween anyway, so I made the cut. Oh how hard that was! I haven’t even left yet and I already miss my roses, elephant ears, garden, and dreams of late that never came to pass. At the same time I am very excited for my next venture, hoping we can sell quickly so that I can realize new dreams early this spring. Undoubtedly they will include planting roses, elephant ears and a garden.It’s September, fall starts this weekend and I have gotten into the spirit by putting up some fall décor and buying a few little pumpkins to grace my desk at work. I am looking forward to the fall festivals and Halloween. I am lamenting over whether to go to a party I was invited to or stay home and spend it with the grandkids and give out candy, our last season to do so at this home. Guess I am a little more attached to this place than I thought. I believe seeing the grandkids will win out for plans, I just have to see their sweet little faces in this year’s disguise; I’ll act like I don’t know them, of course.
Have I ever mentioned how I love fall? Oh yeah, I guess a million times. This year the weather has cooled off earlier than most; the rain blew in a few days ago and brought with it 80 degree weather. That is downright chilly here in central Texas and it is pure bliss. For years I have been thinking about having a pumpkin carving contest. I had been planning a fall garden party, so I may have to combine the two, have everyone bring a pumpkin and celebrate the season.
Have I ever mentioned how I love fall? Oh yeah, I guess a million times. This year the weather has cooled off earlier than most; the rain blew in a few days ago and brought with it 80 degree weather. That is downright chilly here in central Texas and it is pure bliss. For years I have been thinking about having a pumpkin carving contest. I had been planning a fall garden party, so I may have to combine the two, have everyone bring a pumpkin and celebrate the season.
I can feel that peace and contentment that warms my heart at this time each year. The brutal heat is gone and now it’s time for a rest. As I sit back and reflect on all I have done in the garden this year, I understand that rest is such a good thing for all living things. God knew this after he created and planted a garden here on earth. He rested on the seventh day and took in all that He had done and he was pleased. I guess I feel just a tad bit of that satisfaction as I look back over the year. I am so grateful for the feelings and emotions that God gave me. While they may bring me sorrow at times, more often they bring joy and the awareness of how good God is and how much he loves me. I can feel it; down deep…there is no mistaking it.
“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.” – Genesis 2:2 NLT
