The first day of Autumn...

...is a little over a month away, it'll be here before you know it though, September 22nd. Despite the thick humid air and unbearable heat that's pressing hard against my window, I sit here with the A/C blasting, dreaming of the change of seasons that's soon to come.

Ahhh Autumn: Crisp mornings
and breezy overcast days. Tree
lined streets that blend into a bright
beautiful medley of oranges,
reds and yellows, children playing in huge
piles of fallen leaves. Fuzzy, soft knitted sweaters that feel so cozy under my chin. Cold nights sitting around a fire pit, sipping hot cider, bone-numbing days that are warmed with a bowl of Chicken Soup and oven fresh bread....Mmmmm, I can smell it baking already...

Screeeeeech, slam on the brakes! REALITY ALERT! That's NOT what fall means down here in East-Central Florida....but it sure sounded nice...

Our humidity will drop quite a bit though, making it possible, even bearable to go outside between the hours of 9am and 8pm. I'll be planting my fall garden - the best time to grow in our area, it's almost like a good warm spring from September through January. Christmas will most likely be warm enough for tank tops and shorts, though I try to run that A/C to the ground just so I can wear something with sleeves. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to have my Christmas dinner on the back patio, but we usually end up getting a super hot week and it just doesn't happen...oh Florida!

However, all this doesn't stop me from dreaming and planning. I must've felt something stirring in the air this morning, because I got busy and made Pumpkin Muffins. The smell of pumpkin and cloves baking together in the oven started me thinking about decorations and gifts, menu planning, etc... Oh it's so fun, and very easy to get all wrapped up in the excitement of Thanksgiving and Christmas...they invoke thoughts of family, laughter, warm kitchens, silly dances (oh, maybe that's just me and Kim!), Turkey, pie, elaborate Christmas dinners, smiles on childrens faces, cookies, pretty giftsunder the tree....
Amidst all the hub-bub and fun, though, I have to check myself to be sure that I don't get caught up...Thanksgiving isn't about Turkeys....and Christmas isn't about gifts. Oh, to be sure, we always enjoy those things and have so much fun doing it. However, I remind myself, even in the middle of August to be Thankful for a God who allowed me to live in the this country where I am free, and thankful for those that struggled and died to make it so - AMEN! And to be thankful for a God who chose to come down to this earth and live among the filth and ugliness just to save my lost soul - AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Have a beautiful day!