Amid numerous walks this year with baby girl, watching the autumn chill drain the color from the world was like watching a master painter in reverse. Each and every perfectly shaded petal faded to monochrome by the tiniest increment every day, beautiful long after full bloom just as God intended.
As I write this post, mid-November, we are still patiently awaiting the first snow of the season. There’s a persistent chill in the air and the ghoulish Halloween decorations are being replaced by cheery lights and candy canes. However, for several weeks, our neighborhood was ablaze with colors like this. It was a blessing to watch the trees rain down their fiery foliage in Indiana this season.
Sometimes, immersing ourselves in nature’s loveliness is as easy as leaning in for a closer look. As the air turns cold and the leaves rain from the trees, I’m remembering blessed summer moments like this.
There will never come a day when I don’t miss the majesty of the mountains where I grew up, a place where it was always possible to stand on top of the world and marvel at the beauty and vastness of it. Although my current home comes with considerably less epic hiking opportunities, Indiana affords its nature enthusiasts every reason to look up, especially in the golden, glowing month of October. I hope everyone is able to fully celebrate this week as we honor and pray for our beloved dead.
Throughout our childhood my mom seeded her German roots into our lives with little phrases or terms of endearment like this one. We were her little butterflies and I hope to pass on the tradition and the title to my own kids. While out for a sunny afternoon walk, my own little schmetterling and I enjoyed chasing the butterflies.
I’m happy to report that thus far we are successfully raising an adventurous hobbit to loves to be outside treading new paths even more that we do. She is constantly crying for fresh air and sunshine and long walks under in the shire like landscapes of Northern Indiana. Thanks be to God.
The brilliant pinks and purples or spring and summer blooms are giving way to the burnt red and golden hues of autumn. The temperatures have begun to drop and with them the veggies ready for picking from our little garden. We finally nailed down a date for our annual apple picking adventure at a local orchard (a first for our baby girl) and we’ve had a quiet week of cozy rainy days. What a blessing to savor each season in its’ turn.
Although we minimize our trips into Chicago as much as possible, it is always entertaining to spy the city floating over Lake Michigan on a clear day while hiking at the Indiana Dunes. Only faintly visible in the blue haze it stands like the lost city of Atlantis, making you question if it’s even there at all. God blessed us with many sunny days like this one throughout the summer.
Although afternoon strolls through the neighborhood are now a daily occurrence for me, there’s a new sense of urgency about them to keep the stroller moving. On this particular sunny day, baby girl was fast asleep so mommy got to stop and smell the flowers. Indiana summers are truly blessed.
This year the hubby and I tried our hand at a small veggie garden, and it was far from a fruitless labor. We spent the entire summer passing cucumbers and tomatoes out to all of our neighbors which turned out to be an excellent way to break the ice with some folks we hadn’t spoken to much before. Who knew fresh vegetables could also aid in growing new friendships. It was a summer full of blessings.
Blessed in the Midwest 