empty-leaves
Throw caution to the wind and just do it.
-Carrie Underwood

Our red maple dropped her leaves overnight and we woke to a yard covered in some crunchy goodness.  Seriously, it felt like a snow day!  And I’m sure my neighbors would much prefer we rake and bag them, but we happily ignored that notion. 
kestan-in-leaves
We did in fact get out the rake, but that was only to, as Kestan put it, “rake the biggest pile of our lives!”
Kestan-leaves-2
And that’s how the story goes.  Life, like the dropping leaves, surrounds us with ever-changing beauty. There are times for cleaning up the mess, disposing of the piles, and seeing what lies underneath.
laying-in-leaves
And then there are those times when you throw caution to the wind.   
raining-leaves-2
When you are ok with imperfection. 
playing-in-leaves
And when you know that messing up the piles is exactly where you need to be.
ashy-in-leaves
Today, I thanked my beautiful boys for sharing their playfulness with me.
lauren-and-kes
And I thanked our babysitter for continuing to play in the leaves with them so that I could enjoy some quiet time in my art studio.
Later, after the boys finally came in the house to warm up, Kestan ran and gave me the biggest, sweetest hug “of our lives,” which was his way of thanking me.
Your Personal Reflection: Let it go, embrace the change, and be ok with the mess.  Go ahead…jump in the pile with both feet first.  See what happens when you throw caution to the wind and just go for it.
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