Autumn

Although spring is always my favourite time of year, I really enjoy each of the seasons and I feel very grateful for them because they bring change. When we arrived in Taunton 9 months ago it was winter - the trees were bare and it was cold. We were greeted with snow, which was very unusual for the South West so everyone was quite excited about it. Just as we arrived in winter, we will also leave in winter, so watching it slowly arrive is exciting but sad at the same time. Taunton is starting to look like it did when we first saw it.... which also brings some funny memories back - our first trip to the supermarket, our first time at church and learning to drive along these very narrow roads. As I watch the leaves fall from the trees I can see change coming and I know that soon our lives will be very different, it's sad but I guess it feels right.

We went to Killerton Gardens a few Saturdays ago to take some photos in the Autumn leaves. It was so peaceful there and such a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon together. I have been to Killerton a few times before with friends, but Mick had never been. It's only 20 minutes away.

{More shadow fun!}

{Some family photos with the camera timer}

{The English country-side really is beautiful}

{Em was funny here, she just went and sat on the wet grass!!}

This is Lani having a little moment. She takes a few minutes to sulk to herself and then comes right again like nothing ever happened...

... like this!

There is something very special about autumn and the way each leaf falls individually when the time is right. It makes me reflect on life and how things happen to each of us at different times. Each leaf has to go through a colour changing process before it can fall, some fall quickly and some hold on tight until the early days of winter. Some don't even make it through their complete colour change before a strong wind comes and blows them down. We all live different lives, we all face strong winds, and sometimes we don't get blown to where we really want to be, but that's the challenge of life. We are all different, but we are all equal, we all face different challenges and we all experience different joys, but no life is worth more or less than another. So in a way we are all the same. We each experience ups and downs, we do some things right and we do some things wrong. I'm glad that life has its seasons, and even though each leaf eventually falls... so does each bulb spring back up.