Hello September

September is finally here and i could'nt be happier. I cannot wait for the cool breezy mornings and crisp fall air. Unfortunately, while my home state of New York is leaning into cooler weather, California is still hanging on to the heat. Hopefully soon all my cold fall days dream will come true.

The last couple of months have felt like a whirlwind, i blinked and spring tuned into June and i found myself franticly trying to end another school year smoothly. By mid June i was back east prepping for the arrival of my family from the United Kingdom, and a few days after their arrival we were knee deep in Disney gear and making our way hot and sweaty through the Walt Disney World parks.

I look back over this summers travels and i cant complain, well maybe i can about the humidity, but ultimately it was a good summer. It was another summer spent with my family, the summer i finally finished my manuscript and sent it off to my editor, and it was the summer i realized that i am growing and along with that growth would come much needed changes.

Now, as summer is behind us (almost) and we roll into the fall, i am excited to see where God takes me. This morning i meditated over Matthew 6:33, which will most definitely be the text i lean on as the year rolls on. Jesus encourages his listeners to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness and all these things would be added unto them. If you aren't familiar with Matthew 6, or the verses before verse 33, Jesus is teaching about not worrying about life, about our basic needs and trusting that our heavenly father will provide all things. The "all these things" mentioned in verse 33, refers to the basic and sometimes not so basic worries of life. That ultimately peace will come when we prioritize Jesus christ and his kingdom.

Like everyone else on this planet i have worries, and i tend to lean heavily on worrying about whats next or what will happen. I recently made the tough decision to withdraw from my doctoral program. Through the encouragement of my family, friends, therapist and the peace i felt after i made that decision i know i am moving in the right direction.

My hope for you and for myself as we go through the remainder of 2024, is that faith will triumph in our lives. Faith in the decisions that we have the wisdom to make, faith that everything we worry so much about will work out, and faith that through the work of Jesus christ in our hearts and the community we have with us, that we can thrive and not just survive in this world. As a new season approached, now is the time to pay close attention to not just the changing of the leaves and weather, but to the positive changes happening in us daily, and the grace that we are freely given to rest from our worries.

Happy Fall :)