Considering we live in the city I’m always suprised by just how many trees we have in our community, very mature trees at that.  On one road in particular that I go down to get out of neighborhood, this past week there’s been an awesome transformation of the trees on that street.   The road is covered w/ orange, brown, red, some green still leaves that have fallen. Above the remaining leaves on the trees look as if a painter has taken to them w/ an array of bright colors.   I tend to do my morning prayers once I am out of the house w/ the kids nestled quietly in their carseats, esp. now w/ Dean gone I”m getting up way before the sun so theres no much quiet time in the mornings elswhere.  So the other day as I was praying and came to that street w/ that beauty nestled between a street filled w/ rowhomes and just a short distance a way a busy road, I was reminded of the same transformation that takes place in spring.  That the weather warms up and suddenly everywhere we look there’s an beautiful display of blooming spring flowers.   In the summer time the weather gets warmer and the sun hotter and while there’s no other “bright” color in the summer per say in nature other than the sun, the weather itself usually is a breath of “fresh air” and everyone is excited it’s summer.   how many people do you know that say as they enter the frost filled morning that they are glad that fall and in turn winter is arriving?  well I love fall.  I love the changing colors, the cool blowing breeze.   Fall time always reminds me of the semester Dean and I spent in PA at college, nearby there was a beautiful park we would go to where you could sit closeby and watch deer run by or just watch them graze and you could see the changing of the leaves all around.   Today as there’s a chill in the air and I know winter is just around the corner I know that soon I’ll be bundling us all up every day, but more importantly winter usually means spending afternoons and evenings nestled warm inside, instead of outside playing as the fall did.  the question is will we be nestled inside beside our new fireplace or elsewhere?   this changing of seasons means more to me this year than changing colors and temps.  It means changing homes, family and friends that surround us.  We’ll be leaving the “warm” comfort of our church community and the “cool breeze” we get when spending a refreshing evening visiting with or playing games with friends.   but what will it be like in our new “season”  of change.   some things around us stay the same, our family is still our family, some will be farther away from us, some closer.  Our friends are still our friends, I thank God for email and internet, which will be my lifesaver as I adjust to being away from my best friends and support system that means the world to me.

but one thing I was reminded of as I drove by and enjoyed the changing scenery, that just like I have favorite things I see everyday around me(people including) that God has new and changing things in our environment that HE changes and in turn we learn to love what He’s done for us.   He has created a masterpeice for us, whether it’s the portrait of the changing leaves here or the picture of our family nestled warmly in our new home enjoying each other.   He knows whats in store for us, HE has handcrafted the plan for our lives.  As we wait for the photo to develop, we anxiously await for what beauty and color the photographer has captured in this new environment.   I know this, that whatever it looks like, we’ll constantly be amazed by his touch in our life.  I thank God for the subtle reminders that he’s in the big and small things in our lives.

Please pray Dean makes it home safely today, his flight leaves at 2:30 or so this afternoon.   Caleb was too excited that for the first time since Dean’s left he said he didnt  want to go to school.   I convinced him we werent doing anything fun today and that if he stayed home the day would seem longer than if he went to school.  in the end seeing his friends was his motivation…a little girl in his class told him she loves him.  on the playground after school none of the boys play w/ caleb, instead all of the girls call and chase after him.  there was one little girl who I thought for sure was the one catching his eye the way he played with her, but then later that day he told me about the other girl.   I think we’re going to be in trouble with this one….must be due to his good looks and big heart…just like his daddy!