Fall is here and doesn't it feel nice? Not too cold and not too hot! The leaves on the trees are beginning to change colors. We will soon see a colorful array of orange, rust, red and other earth tones decorating our landscapes. Leaves fall gently to the ground for us to rake in big fluffy piles. Children will run and make flying leaps as they land in the piled leaves. Some people think Fall is a dreary month with bare trees, rainy, cold weather and a reminder that winter with all of its cold temperatures and blowing snow is on its way. To me, Fall is a time to get rid of the old and get ready for the new.

I love Fall and everything about it! This is when family and friends sit outdoors with a warm fire glowing in a fire pit. I was born in the Fall! My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving! Fall is the time for harvest, as all the crops are brought in. Vegetable gardens are done producing for the most part and those who can, get to admire all of their frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. Fall is a time of celebration and thanks for everything we harvest, whether gardeners or the hard working farmers who work diligently to harvest corn, soybean, or other crops from their fields. When you stop to think about it, isn't it amazing how much our earth provides for us? Sometimes I wonder if we give anything back – or to say the least – give enough back?

Someone once told me that they did not care about a piece of land. They said that God had something better for them when they passed away. How selfish and narrow minded! Indeed God has something better for us if we are lucky enough to enter his Kingdom, but he also gave us a paradise here on earth. If we think we are going to a better place, does this mean that we abuse the paradise we live in now? Do we ruin the beauty around us, so that there is nothing left for the next generation to enjoy? I love our Country and I love this earth! I want to be able to ride my horse across the many scenic trails where I live. I want to be able to hunt my dogs in a forest. More than that! I want to see my children enjoy the outdoors as I do – and I want their children to do the same.

Let’s make a point to do something to preserve our paradise on earth now – so that our kids, grand kids and all others born after us can enjoy what we enjoyed during our life time.