And Can It Be

The end of September already?

Where did this month go?!

The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. The fields are getting combined and the geese are flying south. The leaves are turning gold and red, and the flies are getting slow and stupid.

Autumn is upon us and I hesitate to say that I'm ready for it.

I'm ready for the forced routine of church activities and work schedules.

I'm ready for the crisp, cool air.

I'm ready for the mosquitoes to be done.

I'm ready for soup and stew weather.

I'm not yet ready to put away my shorts and sandals, or for the necessity of refrigerator grade boots, but I'm ready for summer to be done.

There's still a sense of strangeness around here, it being our first school-less September in twenty years, which may continue as we prepare for our "summer" vacation in October...

But as summer dies, there are myriad autumn joys to anticipate: Pastor's & spouses retreat for happy reunions and reconnections, holiday time with our Little Girl, the return of our Big Girl from a year away in England, cosy evenings by the fire with faithful friends from the bookshelf...

After a blessing filled spiritual retreat last weekend, I feel more ready than ever before for whatever this next phase of my life will bring.

There's a growing sense of anticipation and excitement as the autumn breezes blow summer away.