I was off to such a great (consistent) start, then Friday night I got hit with some kind of flu bug, which resulted in sleeping 38 of the next 48 hours! Some day I will learn not to promise daily columns! But I am BETTER now (see how I worked that in there?) and will try to catch up a bit over the next couple of days.

As always, being sick for a day or two reminds me how much I take NOT being sick for granted. Given the level of abuse that I inflicted on my body for an extended period of time, I am, in fact, ridiculously healthy, and so very grateful that I am here, alive, and present, to take in all that God offeres this time of year…

The colors of the seaon… brilliant blue skies, puffy white clouds, a rich carpet of reds and golds as the leaves turn….

The smells of the season… wet grass, brats on the grill (football season), the beginnings of cinnamon and nutmeg as the holiday goodies start to appear…

The sounds of the season… gentle breezes, leaves crunching underfoot (well, not quite yet down here in the south, but any day now!), greetings as friends come and go…

The feel of the season… cool morning weather that calls for fuzzy sweaters, sunny afternoons that make us wonder why we brought coats to work, early darkness that invites snuggling by a fire with a mug of something warm…

The tastes of the season… football food, red cup drinks at Starbucks, turkey sandwiches and pumpkin pie…

May I always be grateful for the ability to see, smell, hear, touch, and taste the bounty that God has provided. Have a great day everyone!!