Fall Foliage!

This has been such a lovely Autumn!
We've actually had two really wonderful color events! A rare phenomenon brought on by the droughts and then the rains from Hurricane Rita.

My dear friend called me yesterday to tell me that the colors were in abundance again- at first, I really couldn't believe it! But, she was right! The mountains in Hot Springs were really putting on a show. So- I got two drives over the mountain this weekend and both times I was in total awe of the majesty of the foliage. It reminded me of Isaiah 40:8 "the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever." The really beautiful thing about this spectacle was that even though these leaves are dying and fading; they have what is called dying grace! And, it is a lovely and poignant event! It reminded me of some women I know that have been very pretty in their youth- and in their mature years they GLOW! What a wonderful kindness God grants us; that we can observe and appreciate the beauty of His creations in all seasons.

The same DF emailed me these pics tonight from the courtyard of the hospital where she works. The rain was just beginning as she snapped these and I thought they were worth sharing- enjoy the fading beauty that is both stunning and fleeting.

S