Fall 2011

This tree is outside my hotel window in Napa the blur is the cars passing on the freeway.  I'm surprised to see such a beautiful fall tree in what I imagined an always green state.  When driving in I could see the leaves on the grapevines had turned yellow just as they have at home in Missouri.

I'd like to go on record to say that this has been the VERY best fall of my life!  The weather has been gorgeous!  I've had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the season, get outside, take day trips, have bonfires, lay underneath the stars and spend time with friends.  Yes, many years from now I will look back on the significance of the fall of 2011 and how it changed my life. 

There are seasons to all of our lives, and I'm particularly happy about the one I'm in.  Some think Fall is the death of the leaves, but I like to think of it as a burst of joy and vibrancy that comes only after the green has worn off.  Even as winter approaches, the warmth of fall will stay with me.  That's one of the best things about living in the Midwest we get ALL the seasons, and the trick is learning to enjoy them for what they bring to our lives!