Welcome to Families First Monthly

From The Heart

As I type this we are on the threshold of autumn and sometimes by November and Thanksgiving winter makes a grand entrance. The door opens to apples, pumpkins, squashes, cinnamon, vivid colored leaves, football, Homecomings, Halloween, and Thanksgiving celebration. My check list to ready the outside for impending cold is fairly long: Paint wrought iron porch rails, plant 2 trees and 7 shrubs, trim back flower and veggie garden, remove morning glory from the arbor, and say goodbye to the yard ornaments by packing them away.

To celebrate fall in this issue we feature Fam & Ily spending time with a Lord of the Gourd creation, Jackie Bojarski’s fictional story about a lumpy pumpkin, autumn aromatherapy, and Time Out For Family is all about apples. Mark Lindsay captured the beauty of fall (see his photo on page 14). There are baby related stories including area baby pantries in our Community Spotlight column. Susan Gibbons wrote an inspirational story ( This Girl Can ) on page 5 about a young girl who is raising money from cans and bottle returns to gift bikes to area children in need. It is amazing what young people can do so we must not discount them. They can imaginatively stand for many causes because they believe in a world that can become. It’s natural they would want it to be the best possible place. Remember when we were kids? We could change the world too.

And often times we did.

Have a beautiful bountiful fall to winter transition and fill it to the brim with all you love.

Thank you for reading Families First Monthly.

Laura Lee Kalchik