Can you feel it? At least here in Oklahoma, the seasons are finally noticeably changing. My calendar tells me that we have been in October for two weeks, but it wasn’t until this morning that I felt that refreshing fall chill when I woke up and opened the back door to let the dogs out. I think I appreciate fall more and more every year.

I know many people bemoan that Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year. The commercial aspect can get out of hand. However, especially with us expecting our first child, I am just really looking forward to Advent. And with the chilly weather this morning, I felt like I was getting ready for Advent (or adventing Advent, if you will).

Halloween is two weeks away, which brings back great memories of Trick or Treating with my brother. (We literally ran from house to house to get as much candy as we could.) And once Halloween is over that means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means that Advent and Christmas are on the horizon. And all this comes with the weather changing, leaves turning brilliant colors before they fall, and then someday the first snow of the season blanketing the ground – which is always a grace-filled moment for me.

Today, I am especially thankful for God’s grace and God’s goodness. I just love this time of year.