Fall was her favorite season.

October brings about a lot of change in the country. Crops are harvested, leaves turn colors and fall from the trees, the grass dies from the lack of rain, the temperatures cool. For me, especially as I get older, the fall transition is bittersweet. I have lost a lot of loved ones during this season, the most significant being my grandmother.

Fall was her favorite season. Every year when harvest was over, my grandpa would take her for a drive through the changing trees to get fresh pecans for the holidays. She loved the change in the weather, the colors, and the excitement of upcoming holidays, and I loved her enthusiasm. After her passing, this was a difficult season for me until my daughter was born.

They say children change everything, and that is far from an exaggeration. As she grows through the years we have started creating our own traditions and making family memories that I know make her smile. We love our annual trips to the local pumpkin patch, collecting leaves that have fallen, carving Jack-O-Lanterns, and planning Halloween costumes. We also enjoy our own drives through the colors of fall to visit Silver Dollar City.

So, what does October mean to me? October means change. It brings an opportunity every year to celebrate fall in a way that would make my grandparents proud. It means birthdays, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. After a particularly challenging spring and summer this year, October presents an opportunity to acknowledge my upcoming milestone birthday and to celebrate my new perspective on life. This year, I can't wait to see what my October holds!

Ashly Bishop

Thank you Ashly for your sweet story and #31DaysOfOctober post!

Check out Spellbound: Secrets, Spells and Tales for your new favorite Fall read!