Hey, hey comrade friends! Our September has shown up with some summertime temps. We had a few really lovely days and I flung open windows and the front door. The heat crept back however and…well you’ll see below I’m anticipating cooler days!

Also, shall we talk about the wind?! It’s gusted a little too gustily for me lately.

My monthly musings seem to be slipping further and further toward the end of each month and I can’t decide if that’s what I want to stick with or if I like it better toward the middle. Let’s be clear here. It’s not like I’ve had some well-laid plan. {I know…I probably should.} I liked the idea as a practice and because I enjoy reading posts and lists like this.
It’s slipped toward the end because of busy schedules + procrastination. A totally powerful combination! Teehee!

Let’s get to it…..

1. ANTICIPATE

I’m anticipating Hutchmoot Homebound coming up in October.
I’m anticipating cooler temps and windows open 24 hours.
I’m anticipating visiting a cave with my nieces.
I’m anticipating a women’s faith event in my local community.
I’m anticipating carving out some deliberate extra time for reading and journaling. {We’ll see.}

Do tell ~ what are you anticipating?

2. BEAUTY

Isaiah 32:17
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace, its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”

3. CREATE

“Hope and creativity are two of the most important things in the world.”
~ Emma Stone

And might I add beauty and gratitude?

None of them happen by accident. It takes intention.

Seeking. Sensing. Seeing. Savoring.

Breathing. Beholding. Beckoning. Beaming.

Praying. Pondering. Placing. Praising.

Where have hope, creativity, beauty, and gratitude whispered to you today?

4. DELIGHT

It delighted me to attend The Apprentice Gathering. A friend and I were there together in 2019. Obviously, the Gathering didn’t happen in 2020.
Thus, so delightful to attend in 2021.
The music is beautiful and soulful. The speakers are encouraging truth-tellers. I like the opportunity to deeper ponder the way of Jesus and what it means to have a soul and life shaped by Him and by practices that continue to form and mold us.
Plus, Eighth Day Books and IVP Press both set up onsite bookshops to browse.

Authors + Thinkers + the Way of Jesus + Musings + Books = What’s Not To Love? 🙂

At least for me! I resonate with it all. I know it won’t be everyone’s jam, but so far it has been mine.

5. ENCOURAGE

This month found me pulling out some favorite books and pondering what encouragers they have been in my life. I posted about them in my IG stories and in this IG post.

Their writing makes me feel at home.
It makes me feel encouraged.
It makes me feel inspired.
It makes me feel hopeful.
It makes me laugh.
It makes me see Jesus.

I would love to gather around a table for chips + queso + laughter + thought-provoking conversation with these delightful women.
.
Who would you love to gather around a table and chat with?
What authors and books make you feel at home or have been especially meaningful to you recently?

I have a post here called Hard Pressed But Not Forsaken; Frayed But Not Forgotten if you’d like a few more words of encouragement.

6. FAITH

The words of this hymn have been gripping me, lyrically encouraging me, melodically singing to deep places in my soul ~
Perhaps they might sing to you too.

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said?
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled.

In every condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
I, I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design
Thy dross to consume,and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.” ~ John Rippon

7. GRATITUDE

“Piglet noticed that though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.”
~ A.A. Milne

So Grateful For……..

sunsets with soft pinks and brilliant coral and flashes of orange
coffee brewing
all the colors and scents and textures of autumn
sending happy mail packages
a thinking-of-you text from a friend
knowing God doesn’t mind my questions
my phone…even though screens and devices have their pitfalls, dark side etc. etc. I love the good side and the friendships and prayer requests and Voxer conversations and books and blogs and stories and humanitarian efforts and learning + listening it opened up for me.
cheese
tees I love and wear for p.j.s
Jesus

CURRENTLY LOVING….

pink leather mousepad
chocolate chip cookie cupcakes
party mix….I always must fix this when September and October show up on the calendar
open windows
this post by Erin Loechner ~ she writes in the best way

Listen + Learn

This podcast episode was resonant and restful.
A simple, beautiful, soulful reading of Psalm 139.

L E A R N I N G
I was finally able to name a couple of things to myself about myself. I think it’s taken me so long because it feels “wrong” or “different” or “awkward”. Yet, truthfully, I’ve never quite fit in much of anywhere most all my life.
It felt like a beautiful epiphany to name how much I love thought-provoking conversation over coffee with a good friend with whom I feel safe.
It energizes me.

Equally, I absolutely do not enjoy large gatherings such as potlucks or a general gathering with no set agenda. I don’t enjoy forced small talk and the whole awkwardness of figuring out where to sit or who to talk to. I could totally be fine observing from a corner, but that makes me feel as if I stick out awkwardly then too.
I also love a conference with subjects or speakers I’m interested in and I love to attend a well-done play or show. But see? You don’t have to widely interact and there’s a timeline attached to these events.

Books I’m Browsing……

Get more out of your reading life.

“Books can be well-written and not be for you. This is about finding a book that feels like it was created just for you–and connecting with people who love reading as much as you do.”

~ ANNE BOGEL, MODERN MRS DARCY

My Reading Life: A Book Journal by Anne Bogel
Help! I’m Drowning by Sally Clarkson
Grace Upon Grace by Sophie Hudson
Learning To Be: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out by Jaunita Rasmus
Gratitude Mom Journal by Jenifer Metzger
You Were Made For This Moment by Max Lucado
Steeped in Stories by Mitali Perkins

It thrilled me to have Anne Bogel’s Reading Journal arrive. It’s delightful in all of its details. Book Lists. Questions to help you get more out of your reading life. And lots of pages to record the books you’ve read! I had pre-ordered a journal for myself and one for my daughter! Woohoo!

Sally Clarkson is one of my favorites and this newest book has not disappointed. I’m about halfway through its pages.

I purchased Learning to Be at The Apprentice Gathering. Juanita Rasmus was one of the Plenary speakers. The speakers/authors there with published books did book signings a couple of times. I was able to catch one and Juanita signed my copy of her book. I think it’s super fun to have signed books.

A last thought to ponder…..I’ve been thinking of this again….I wrote about it some in this post in 2019

“It is now generally recognized that the question ‘Am I Christian?’ can no longer be answered in any significant manner by citing denominational, ethnic, or national names or symbols. There are now 33,800* different Christian denominations on earth. Clearly, an adequate answer must go deeper than our religious associations. It must refer to what we are in our heart – before God, in the depths of our being, always the focal point of Christian spiritual formation.”
~ Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

{* 33,800 different Christian denominations according to Newsweek, April 16, 2001 pg 49. The irony is that each one of the 33,800 groups is “right”.}