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I love living in the South! Unlike some places, down here, we are actually able to enjoy the changing of the seasons. Some say it would be ideal, but for me, living in such a temperate climate that you hardly notice the arrival of spring or the changing colors of fall would be just terrible!

Now, that’s not to say that I always love the weather. During the dog days of summer, when it’s 105 degrees in the shade and even a tall glass of ice cold sweet tea isn’t enough to cool me down, I lament the fact that the heat and humidity seem have taken up permanent residence. That’s what makes this time of year so wonderful!

When I step outside early in the day to enjoy a cup of coffee in my rocking chair, the morning air is refreshing rather than oppressive, and I can almost feel the crispness of fall right around the corner. As much as I love summertime fun, I really can’t wait for it to be here!

It seems as if I’m being teased everywhere I look. Local stores are freshly stocked with school supplies, reminding us that children’s days will be filled with studies instead of play time. I have always looked forward to stocking up for my kidlets, and have even been known to fill a vase or two with pencil bouquets.

Soon, closets and attics will be visited so home decor in deep, rich shades of red, yellow and orange can be readied for display, and before we know it, Friday nights will once again be the glory day, with folks packing the stadium for the Knights’ football games.

Fall festivals will abound, and Halloween costumes will be made, leaving children everywhere with a sugar high and parents with sore, aching feet. The scent of fresh apples and the spiciness of pumpkin pie will make homes seem cozier, and Thanksgiving cooking will be right around the corner.

I will relish all these signs of the fall season, but deep inside, my excitement will be ever growing in anticipation of what is soon to come – the Christmas season. With cards and gifts to make, trees to decorate, candy to make and carols to be sung, the time will just fly by, leaving me wondering where the time went.

That’s all right, though, because as I then settle in for the rest of winter, my mind will soon wander to one of the greatest joys of the coming spring – gardening. I will spend hours pouring over seed catalogs, trying to decide how many varieties of tomatoes I can get away with planting and wondering how much squash I can convince my family to eat.

I can practically feel my excitement growing now for all the new plants that will surely find a home somewhere in our yard, the birds that will hatch and grow up in our trees out back and the lightning bugs that will dance through the dark.

I can already imagine the joy that will show on my sweet granddaughter’s face as she celebrates her first birthday and I can hear our laughter ringing through the house as we watch her reduce a beautiful cake to crumbs.

I feel truly blessed to have so many wonderful traditions to enjoy with each of the seasons, but as I sit and imagine how wonderful they will all be, I also remind myself that I need not wait until fall, winter or spring to celebrate the many joys in my life. There are here around me each and every day. I pray I will never become so focused on what is to come that I fail to live fully for today.