Cozy Seasons, Grateful Heart 🍂

There’s something about fall that always stirs my heart. As soon as September rolls in, I can’t help but pull out the bins of pumpkins, cozy blankets, and little touches of autumn décor. My house instantly feels warmer, softer, more welcoming—as if it’s loving the season right along with me. I light my fall candles, and suddenly the air is full of apple cider and cinnamon spice. Even on a busy day, that small flicker of light and fragrance reminds me to pause and soak in the simple joys.

This weekend, I’m planning to do some baking. Fall practically begs for it. I can already picture banana bread cooling on the counter, pumpkin cookies filling the kitchen with their spicy sweetness, and maybe even an apple crisp bubbling in the oven. Baking in fall feels less like a chore and more like a celebration—it’s as though the season itself invites us to gather, to share, to create warmth for one another.

And then there’s football. Crash’s games are on Saturdays, which means my cozy pajamas get swapped out for jeans, a proud football Mom tee shirt, and a folding chair. I am usually cheering until my voice is hoarse, and praying my boy doesn’t get hurt. Being a football mom is a mix of nervous heartbeats, proud smiles, and a whole lot of snacks.

When the sun goes down, I love that fall is also football season on TV. There’s something comforting about the sound of a game in the background while I’m curled up on the couch. And let’s not forget—fall is the perfect season for a Gilmore Girls rewatch. I swear Stars Hollow is the coziest little town that ever existed, and somehow their leaves look brighter than mine. Maybe it’s Lorelai’s coffee magic. Either way, fall nights are made for football and Gilmore Girls marathons.

But beyond the decorations, the candles, the football games, and the baking, fall teaches me to slow down and be grateful. The colors changing outside remind me that change—even when it’s hard—can be breathtakingly beautiful. The cool air carries a quiet peace, the kind that makes you stop and breathe a little deeper.

One scripture I’ve been holding onto lately is from Doctrine and Covenants 59:18–19: “Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.”

Isn’t that exactly what fall is? The beauty of the leaves to please the eye, the smell of cinnamon candles to gladden the heart, the taste of apple crisp to strengthen the body, and the laughter of loved ones around the table to enliven the soul. Fall is a reminder that God loves us so personally, so tenderly, that even the seasons are gifts meant to bring us joy.

So this fall, I’m grateful. Grateful for Crash out on the field, for Saturday football games, for the way my house glows in candlelight, for Gilmore Girls reruns, and for the colors painting the world outside my window. Mostly, I’m grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who gives us seasons to remind us to slow down, to notice, and to give thanks.

Fall is cozy, crisp, and full of blessings—and my heart is full. 🍁