Hello, September! [printable calendar]

New month, new wishful thinking! Over the last few weeks, we’ve finally gotten our typical Mississippi summer heat with temperatures in the upper nineties. It’s a sharp contrast to seeing Fall merchandise showing up in all the stores, and the fun of football season beginning. When I think about September, I always think about acorns. I have a vivid memory of my mother cutting out a big acorn to put on the bulletin board in her third grade classroom, signaling the beginning of the new school year. That was back when we actually started school in September! Now, we’re already a month into our new classes and routines, and wishfully thinking of fall and its fun (and cooler!) days. SO, I decided to lean into the wishes with this month’s calendar download!

It’s September, and I’m ready embrace the coming of fall… in a month or so – ha! The new month may surprise me with some bluer skies and cooler breezes. Regardless, we can wish, right? For me, fall is always a season to gather close – treasures, memories, and people.

I’m starting again in my exploration of the Psalms, and hoping to revive the “Drawing Near” series I started last year. I will likely only write about my meditations every couple of weeks, but I’m looking forward to it. The verse in this month’s little cut-away artwork is from Psalm 3, and I hope to share more from it in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, we have a few fun things on our “happy list” this month…

• Starting out with a long weekend at my parent’s home (followed by a short school week!)
• Family celebrations of Baby Girl’s birthday, and maybe a friend party too!
• The kick-off of Travis’ Robotics team and the opportunity to jumpstart his creativity
• Football season! High School is already underway, and I’m enjoying having Travis help me with GarageBand music for some spirit animations for my client, the Starkville Yellow Jackets. And, of course, our beloved Mississippi State Bulldogs take to the field this weekend!
• The first Starkville Symphony concert of the season happens later this month, and I’ve been so excited to work on new branding for the organization.
• Our season tickets for the MSU Lyceum Series (the one that brought us B.B. King) kick in this month with the Dallas String Quartet.
• A month of family date nights and family cook nights
• Plans to build a fire pit back in the “tree room” of our backyard (call Pinterest, please!)
• A late start to one school day in the middle of the month – which might be a pancake moment
• Prep for our October trip back to the mountains

So many opportunities to gather in those great experiences together – the highly publicized, as well as the every day special days!

I hope you take time this month to gather closer to the things and place and people who bring your life joy, embracing the wonder of changing seasons. Please download this month’s calendar here, and pass along the cut-away verse of encouragement! Happy September, y’all!