“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Many of us right now are in a season of waiting and trusting God in the unusual circumstances of this year. For me, ironically, this year has been passing way too quickly, and way too slowly at the same time. While some days seem to have dragged on, the months have been going too fast.

Under normal circumstances, we would have taken a few trips, visited family and friends, and enjoyed the different seasons more fully. Although Florida’s seasons aren’t very different, we usually get to experience spring, summer, fall, or winter up north while visiting family.

Since I had a lot of time to think, I started remembering some of the special things that I liked about the different seasons while growing up in a northern state. This time I decided that fall (autumn) was my favorite season.

Autumn has such wonderful sights, smells, and sounds, as well as some great memories for me (outside of often getting a throat or chest cold as the weather was changing). So what are some of the things that I have enjoyed about the fall season up north?

Of course, the brilliant colors of the leaves (golds, browns, oranges, red, and rust-colors) especially the maple tree leaves as the weather grew colder

The flavor of fresh pure maple syrup (that wasn’t very expensive up north)

One of my favorite fall activities was to rake up big piles of leaves as they fell off the trees, climb the trees, and then jump into the leaf piles. I liked to feel and hear the rustling of the leaves.

I was one of those unusual kids who really liked school a lot, and I really enjoyed getting new school supplies, a pair of shoes, and a few new outfits for school each year. I also enjoyed the times that we were assigned creating a leaf project for science class. (Perhaps that is why I chose teaching as a career)

Apple season- fresh crisp apples, apple cider (hot or cold), apple pie, and fall spices

Harvest time- especially fresh corn on the cob and pumpkins

Clear night skies with so many visible stars and full harvest moons

Warm days and cool nights to enjoy hot chocolate or herbal teas (with an occasional visit from Jack Frost)

Fireplaces and wood stoves on cold nights

Corn Mazes and fall festivals, and the beginning of football season

Birthdays (mine, my sister’s, my mom’s are all autumn birthdays)

My favorite Holiday- Thanksgiving (especially because of the big family reunions with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. that we had every year while Grandpa was still living), and some of my favorite foods (pumpkin pie, nut breads, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course, turkey)

Other holidays like Labor Day (last day for our family picnic before school began), Grandparents Day, Columbus Day (I loved all the school projects), Veterans Day

So what is your favorite season, and why?