Goodbye Summer, Hello Autum

Last night John and I went to a Hawaiian Wedding. A Friend I knew from taking Hula classes together got married. It was fun to see all my Hula sisters again. Some of them performed at the reception. I love all things Hawaiian and Hula! (I think I was born in the wrong state! The stork must have been too tired to fly all the way to Hawaii, so stopped in Arizona. :) I should be near the beach not in the dessert!) Anyway, it made me miss doing Hula. It's just so beautiful and fun.

Some of the Hula Dancers

I told John, dressing Hawaiian, and seeing Hula again, that this is our Aloha to Summer! It was an outdoor wedding and 107 degrees, in late September! But, that is Arizona.

John and I

We lived in Michigan for over 8 years. And came to love the Fall, we had never experienced before in Arizona. The Beautiful color the leaves turn, the cooler weather, the smell in the air of leaves burning. It was such a fun time of year. Visiting the Pumpkin Patch, and picking our own pumpkins to carve and bake the seeds. Eating warm cinnamon doughnuts with hot apple cider! And most of all, fall is the anticipation of Christmas! (The one thing I love even more than the Hawaiian culture)

I know this one is a little blurry, but I wanted you to see my dress!

This got me thinking about seasons. We always want to be in a season we're not yet in. In the middle of winter, we can't wait till Spring and summer, when the sun will shine again! In the heat of the summer, we long for the cooler day's of Autumn when we can get out our sweaters and boots, etc.

The Hula Dancers performing for the Bride and Groom

It's the same with Parenting. When our baby is born, we can't wait till they say their first word, or start walking. We think how much fun it would be to watch our kids play sports, if they were just a little older. Then once they start school, we wish they were younger again. And long for the days we could hold our babies once again. We're never satisfied with the season we are in. Weather it's in life, or a phase our kids are going through. We're always looking forward to the future, or back to the past.

Sometimes we just need a reminder, to slow down and enjoy the season we are in. Enjoy our kids at the age they are now, instead of always anticipating the next stage, or wishing for the past one.
There is Fun and Joy (and yes, challenges) in every season of the year, and in every stage of life our kids go through, enjoy each one, before it's gone, and we're on to the next season.