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i miss autumn

Today is rainy and cooler. I say cooler instead of cool because it was in the mid 80s yesterday and in the 70s today. I'd like it cooler but it's a nice change.

I'm really missing the changing of summer to fall right now. My Taste of Home magazine came in the mail yesterday and it's full of T-giving foods plus cozy soups and warm breads. I'd love to really need a sweatshirt (I wore one this morning but didn't really need it) and feel a crispness in the air.

This morning when I saw the rain coming down outside the window and as I put on my slippers I wished that I could go sit on my in-laws screened in porch and drink coffee. I love cool mornings on a porch with coffee. I'm sure it's a little taste of the joy of heaven. CS Lewis says that when we have longings like this we're actually longing for heaven. I can see that.

On our walk I picked up a few leaves that had changed to yellow and red. This is by no means to imply that the trees are changing like they are in the states. They are not. It's more like a few dead leaves that happened to have color. But, I'm happy for them and I'll probably make a little "Welcome Autumn" sign for the front door with construction paper and the leaves. I'm sure our neighbors will wonder who we're welcoming and why we have dead leaves on our door. Good question.

It's sad and weird to think that we won't have what I'm longing for for at least 4 more years. I've never been in Xi'an for fall or winter so I guess I really can't say that but I don't imagine it's much different than here. I'm not really down or depressed about this although it might sound like it. I'm actually feeling quite cozy and content right now. Tonight I'll make a beef stew with dumplings on top and if we need to we can always turn the AC units on full blast and bundle up!

Happy Autumn.

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