November

an attempt to see it all, the bitter and the sweet

My favorite time of year

brings crisp air,

falling leaves and warm colors,

sweaters and beanies.

And pumpkin spice lattes, of course.

Nature itself makes us pause to ponder

how the ending of things can be so beautiful.

As leaves fall and branches bare

we are captivated by it all.

My first son’s birthday starts the month.

Always a beautiful reminder of

my growing life as a mother,

his life in this world,

one of my favorite days of all time.

In contrast, I remember the life of my dad, 

who went to Heaven a year ago this month.

The lingering threads of his influence all around me

like wisps of air I am grasping at when I miss him.

With this brings peace, too.

He’s whole and healthy,

no longer suffering.

I can breathe easier now that he’s there.

As thanksgiving approaches, 

my eyes are constantly searching

for all that is good, beautiful, and true.

Let me catalog it all, 

a work in gratitude and joy.

I hear the voice of my 6 year old son

as he wakes in the morning, 

playing and reading in his room.

His imagination astounds me.

I see his creativity abounding

in coloring, writing letters,

making lego creations.

His enthusiasm for school and life

bring a smile to my face.

Our younger son says new words everyday,

and beckons us to

“Come see, Mommy!”

“Come see, Daddy!”

His sweet voice and toddling feet

I want to bottle up forever.

This phase of big emotions and meltdowns

also brings with it cuddles and thumb-sucking.

I feel the arms of my husband,

around my waist and tickling me constantly.

A reminder of what a privilege it is

to share life with someone else.

The simple joys of playing outside, 

boys running and hollering in the new treehouse, 

built by their strong Daddy.

Sorry, neighbors, for the noise!

#Boylife, right?

I wake up early to read,

light candles,

and watch the sunrise.

Colorado colors never get old.

They seem to shout the glory of God

in a weary, dark world. 

I know life isn’t always sweet

for me or anyone else.

News headlines scream around us

that all is not yet well.

Yet the hard and bitter

can make the sweet all that much more so.

So I am looking, 

always looking, 

for what is good.

November is when I write it down,

savoring the year and storing up for the next.

My favorite time of year.

Photo by Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Mellifluous".*