The first hint of fall can make everything feel a little different. The mornings become cooler, the sunlight changes and, before long, the leaves begin turning shades of red, orange and gold. Kitchens smell like cinnamon, baking bread and soup simmering on the stove. Fall does not quietly wait for us, though. It arrives, puts on a spectacular show and disappears before we realize how quickly it has passed.

After months of Missouri heat and humidity, that first cool morning feels like an invitation to step outside and breathe a little deeper. We begin looking for sweaters we have not seen since spring and remembering where we stored the extra blankets. The windows can finally be opened, and ordinary chores feel a little easier when accompanied by crisp air and the sound of leaves moving across the yard.

This year, I do not want to simply watch the season go by. Let’s go to that festival we have talked about, pick apples from an orchard, walk through a pumpkin patch, play in the fallen lea…