There's something magical about autumn here along Colorado's Front Range that makes my heart happy every single year. The green lawns tended by sprinklers begin to slow their growth, the leaves of our ash and aspen trees surrounding the house turn yellow, orange, and amber dance in the breeze (or huddle up in the winds!), and the fields surrounding our home receive their final cutting and baling offering little growth due to the shorter days. I love stepping out into those crisp morning hours when the air bites just enough to wake you up completely, yet by afternoon, a warm breeze drifts through as if summer is winking and saying, "Hey, I'm still here!" Maybe it’s because September has always been associated with the beginning of school and a whole new regime of learning but my brain comes alive with inspiration to write, to create, and to begin again.

This fall marks a special new beginning for me – I'm revamping my website and returning to regular blogging to share more glimpses into my life, my writing journey, and the incredible stories the Lord has placed on my heart. While summer blessed us with fresh garden vegetables and long outdoor evenings, I'm already anticipating the cozy shift toward winter squashes, roasted kebabs, sweet apples, and that first cup of pumpkin spice coffee with a generous dollop of chocolate. The cooler weather also means Dobby and Ollie, our two Welsh Pembroke Corgis, can finally return to their favorite pastime – racing through the harvested fields around our home without me worrying about losing toys (or Corgis!) in the tall crops.

As I settle into this season of change and fresh starts, how about you? What draws you to fall – is it the colors, the flavors, the relief from summer heat? Or maybe that sense of cozy anticipation that comes with shorter days and longer evenings by the fire? That’s the romance writer in me talking, LOL.