Fall (ing to pieces)

I love Fall, it really probably is one of my favorite seasons. Only because I love Winter as well, and Fall makes me excited to leave the gross heat of summer and enjoy the wonderful snow and cold of Winter. I know, all you summer/south/heat lovers now know for sure I'm nuts and probably dislike me greatly. Sorry, Midwest/Northern born and raised and love the cold. Okay, I don't love -30 below with -50 windchills, but I do love Snow and Sleds and Skis and Mittens and Winter and Christmas. So Fall is just an encouragement that those things are in fact coming. Plus I love hooded sweatshirts and warm fuzzy pajama pants. And when it hits 50 or so, out comes that sweatshirt. The ones that now still fit that is. I'm finding I'm needed slightly longer things now to cover my ever-expanding baby belly. That's another reason to be excited for Winter, we just have to speed through Thanksgiving and Christmas as usual, spend January preparing and counting the days, and boom, baby in our lives. That's my hope anyway, that it will go quickly like that and I won't have to count every day going "really baby, let's go!". Optimistic I know.
Anyway, that detail aside, I love Fall, I'm excited to see the leaves change and to wear my hooded sweatshirts. I love the smell of Fall in the air. I know, it's dead leaves and smoke, but it still smells good! I love the anticipation, the sheer joy of it all.
In high-school/college the Fall was usually my hardest time emotionally. For whatever reason, less light, less nutrients,whatever, it was usually the time I would fall emotionally and spiritually to pieces.
But like the other many blessings my husband has bestowed upon me, he evens me out. He really does tend to keep me more balanced (only by God's grace I know and am thankful for). Mostly because he's pretty even-keeled and I'm well, not. So I'll get all worked up about something and he calms me down and talks me down. And really, after 3+ years of this, I really don't get as high-strung to start with. Now, let me stop and say that's God's grace and mercy at work in my life too. I've had to grow up a lot, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, since being married, and God has used that to grow me in His image. At least, that's my prayer. And I do see growth in Him in my life.
So this Fall, I'm anticipating Winter, loving the beauty around me, being so thankful for my steady husband, and am in awe of a God and Creator who loves me enough to keep me close to Him and grow me up to be holy and white as the snow to come.