The world is so large around us we tend to forget the beauty that surrounds us. Look up. Look around or you just might miss it. The clouds nestled into the soft ridges of the mountains. The warm breeze rustling through the leaves with a symphony of cicadas and song birds singing to you. The heavy rush of water flowing down a creek. The slick river rocks are covered with moss, splitting the continuous flow of the water. The children laugh while crawdads leap from their hands and back into the depths of the underbellies of rocks. As the sun sets beneath the mountain ranges, the sky is painted like a blank canvas in an ethereal gradient of vibrant blues, pinks, oranges, and yellows. The mountains settle for the night with the nocturnal creatures waking for their busy night. Now the only light is from the glow of fireflies and a warm radiance of a lamp perched on the porch filled by family gathered together. The sound of laughter and love carried across the hills accompanied by the soft chirps of insects. Many generations all gathered together consisting of cousins, siblings, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, grandmas and grandpas. The children running around playing, the teenagers all gathered in a corner, and the adults sharing stories of their youth. As the warm breeze turns to a crisp wind blowing loose leaves across the way, the trees turn an array of beautiful colors resembling a fires’ embers. Once all the leaves are gone and the animals are hidden in the warmth of the earth, the sky brings the first snow. The snow becomes thick and settles on the ground. Children wrapped in winter garments, barely able to move their arms, run through the snow, leaving behind small footprints. Once their little noses and cheeks turn rosy from the howling wind, they all return to the warmth of their homes. Gathered by the fireplace filled with rolling flames, their small hands grasp large cups filled with fresh hot cocoa and a couple of marshmallows bobbing around in the rich, sweet liquid. The weather turns warm again and new buds are popping up on the earth. Spring brings decadent showers to feed the hungry mountains. The cycle starts again. Now, you have seen the joys of Appalachia.