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Being Thankful for Fall in Florida

It is the time for sweatshirts and jackets, pumpkin patches, and walking your dog with your feet crunching the red, orange, and gold leaves. I have always loved fall - the crisp air, the smell of fireplaces and bonfires, and sipping on a hot pumpkin spice latte. It is probably my favorite time of year, weather-wise. I wonder then, how I found myself in Florida. Now to be fair, the days are cooler. Mornings are a nippy 72 degrees and the temperature has only gone up to a high of 85 degrees of late. Trust me, that is a blessing after the hot summer. However, there is no need of bundling up on strolls around the neighborhood. I wish that I could experience a Minnesota, or Colorado, or Idaho fall right now (these are the states that we have lived in the past five decades). They are all known for stunning displays of fall leaves and the aforementioned blissful experiences. We are in Florida, quite simply because God put us here. It is the right place for this time of our life. We are surrounded by people who are available in times of need. Rich is part of 7 or 8 men who go out to breakfast every Saturday morning, while I enjoy fellowship with a group of ladies (the numbers vary each week). We enjoy having friends over to our place after church on Sunday morning for Swedish pancakes quite often. We walk or ride a golf cart to visit my sister or sister-in-law for coffee or a chat. Family and friends stop by to visit on a regular basis. It is such a wonderful community. People serve one another in love and with a caring spirit. We try to do the same thing. I am thankful for fall in Florida even without the autumnal atmosphere. Philippians 4:6 & 7 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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