Life is a revolving door of change. As I’m sitting here on this crisp fall day with the sun bringing a touch of warmth, my mind wanders to a place and time where we and all of our friends were participating in each other’s weddings in one way or another. We were bridesmaids, groomsmen, maids of honor, vocalists, accompanists, and guests. We were holding baby showers, and taking each other meals and gifts upon arriving home with our newborns. We were attending Bible study with babies and toddlers tugging at us. We took up a donation each week to pay some precious elderly ladies to watch all of our children. It afforded those ladies the opportunity to go out for lunch afterwards, and afforded us, as young moms, a time to breathe with other adults and pray for each other. We have watched each other grow through the ups and downs of crying infants, to busy teenagers, to adults creating their own lives. We have now come to a season where we are going home to quiet spaces, watching our children marry, holding the blessings of grandchildren, and sitting beside the hospice beds of our parents and spouses. There have been many lessons learned and wisdom gathered along the way. At our home, we are now on a journey to make do with less of what we thought we needed, and enjoy more of what is truly meaningful. All the bells and whistles in our homes, our lives, and even our churches are merely distractions from the pure, simple joys of life that God gives. We’re choosing to refocus, and it makes my heart glad. I want the autumn of life to be bursting with color!