Thanks for the seasons

It's November first, and you know what that means! 

(Thanksblogging!)

We had the elders over for dinner tonight, and they shared Ecclesiastes 3 with us, which is a lovely poetic ode to the variety of feelings and experiences we go through. 

Side note, I remember the first time I really thought about that famous chapter, which was when the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by the Byrds was featured on my video yearbook in seventh grade. (Shoutout Clifton Cubs)

I have been thinking about seasons this year in particular, because summer went by WAY too fast. I was grumpy about fall coming, but it's been a spectacular fall so far. The trees are brilliant orange, yellow, red, purple. The skies are bright blue, and the sun has that pale, fall-specific tint.

Ida is working furiously on college applications. Theo is working hard on his mission. Lars is dropping seconds off his 5K time. Polly is surprising me every day with new skills she's learned. This is a season of big changes for the trees and for our family.

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.