Dear Fall,

Welcome back! After a long hot summer, it's about time you came. Bring on the colored leaves, fall photo shoots, new clothes, and pumpkins galore. I'm not looking forward to freezing cold winter weather, so feel free to stay around for awhile.

Like any season, you have your ups and downs. I love sweater weather, and showing off my new fall wardrobe is great fun. The smell of pumpkin spice takes over. I can get to class without breaking a sweat because of the heat, and I don't have to carry around a heavy coat just yet.

Now, all these things are great. But why, oh why must stinkbugs exist? It's not your fault, but the stinkbugs seem to take over the world when fall rolls around. Also - I love walking outside, hearing the satisfying sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet. Catching falling leaves is like a handshake with God. The one complaint I have about this is the necessity of raking. But I guess even raking leaves is worthwhile, so long as I get to jump into a pile of them afterwards.

You're a beautiful reminder of endings. Which is bittersweet - it can be hard to watch the leaves fall, leaving trees standing bare. But with every ending comes a new beginning. It's okay to let things go, having faith that a new beautiful thing will come. And how lovely it is, to walk along a path covered in leaves. You provide a sweet sense of surrender that no other season brings. So thank you, Fall.

Apples, boots, s'mores, sweaters, bonfires, pumpkins, scarves, leaves, crisp air - I could go on and on. For a girl like me, you certainly provide ample opportunities for photo shoots.

It's during fall that I love being outside. There's a certain peace to watching the trees change color and fall off, one by one. There's a beauty to you that no other season has. God paints the world in reds, oranges, and yellows. Everyone notices the beauty of creation just a little bit more during this time of year. I guess I could say people truly fall for you, Fall.

The chill in the air, the comforting breeze as it flows through the trees, falling leaves. What a beautiful time of year. A time God reminds us that there are seasons in life that come and go, but each season has a unique beauty to it.

So thank you, Fall. Thank you for the cool weather you provide, so we're able to snuggle up in warm sweaters and boots. Thank you for the beautiful colors that paint the world. Thank you for the calming smells that stir up happy memories. Thank you for the falling leaves that remind us of the beauty of changing times. Thank you for showing us there is hope in both endings and beginnings.

Even when you go away, I know you'll always come back.