Rich red, bright gold, deep brown: the main beautiful colors against a beautiful blue sky. The beautiful colors in the fall remind us of the color we can find in our everyday lives.  I used to dread the coming of fall knowing that what was to come after all the splendid color of autumn there would be a dreary death of the color.  Most of the living plants and trees would hibernate or die as the season would usher old man winter in.  What I wasn’t focusing on with each season was the new beautiful color and meaning that each season brings to the earth and what it can bring to my life.  What I also neglected was feeling gratitude for all seasons.

As the leaves fall from the trees and are swept around in swirls by the wind over the road or in the backyard imagine it as a letting go process.  Fall cleaning can also be a cleaning up of all things that need to go in your life.  What is causing stress, chaos, or frustration?  As the leaves fall and are swept away allow these obligations, unwanted responsibilities, and extras to leave as well.  I often ask my husband to go over my schedule and help me cross off three things that he knows should go but for whatever reason I’m still clinging to.

Along with the seasonal changes in nature Thanksgiving comes at this beautiful time of year.  What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving?  For many it’s probably food or gathering together for celebration, right? Maybe even the pilgrims and Indians.  This year let’s change our focus.  We’ve challenged our family to focus more on gratitude for each blessing and also to focus on being grateful that we are alive and have this beautiful earth to live on. 2 Cor. 9:11 tells us: “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”

Astronauts viewing the earth from space have stated how breath-taking it is and how alive it appears. United States Senator Jake Garn wrote of his experience in space: “It is impossible for me to describe the beauty of the earth. It is a breathtaking, awe-inspiring, spiritual experience to view the earth from space while traveling at twenty-five times the speed of sound. I could also look into the blackness of the vacuum of space and see billions of stars and galaxies millions of light-years away. The universe is so vast as to be impossible to comprehend. But I did comprehend the hand of God in all things. I felt his presence throughout my seven days in space. I know that God created this earth and the universe. {letter to M. Russell Ballard, 3 March 1988}

“Life is a wonderful adventure. Experience it deeply. Get involved. Record it in your journal. Live it all the way. Make friends with the seasons. Experience snow in your face. Breathe the spring, and press petals of summer; caress a baby’s softness, but stroke the wrinkles of age while marveling at the plan of life.” Says Elaine Cannon. {See “What Season Am I In?” article}.  

Here’s to enjoying each experience for what it is, each season for the changes it extends us, and all of the beauty this life offers to each of us.  Now, that is a cause for Thanksgiving!

Shiloah Baker

Editor-in-Chief

This month’s Deluxe Edition Emagazine issue is packed with articles including these topics: adoptions, getting through the rough days, friendships, historic homemakers lives, recipes with the produce in season and so much more.  If you aren’t a subscriber yet, don’t miss any more life changing, inspirational, and informative articles…subscribe today!

If you are logged in you can see the featured articles below.

If you are not a subscriber, join us today!