If Summer was a symphony, September is a minuet.

I can not remember who said the above quote, but I am appreciating its reality this year. What a very long, short, busy, summer it has been.  I have never liked September before this year.  In the past it has meant the end of the wonderful bustle of warm weather activities.  After fair ends on Labor Day, September can feel like a let down after months of excitement.

This year though, September holds anticipation. The promise of cooler weather makes me think about getting out scarves and sweaters and getting some baking done.  I'll be returning to school work at the end of this month after a year's break, and Awana starts again in just one and a half weeks. I'm not sure what activities will all be included in my fall schedule, but the prospects have me pleasantly content to wait for them What a big change from my normal attitude of having to know what is going to happen far in advance!

The summer has been long and short at the same time. I could say that it has not been one of my favorite summers in some ways, but in the next breath I could just as easily say it has been the best summer of my life thus far. It has not contained as much "fun" as I had hoped (with the notable exception of the Russia trip). But God has enlarged my view of Him and His goodness. He has not changed since the beginning of the summer, but my appreciation of His love, providence, and patience has undergone a transformation. There was no life changing moment that I could point to to show this; just a million little examples of Him revealing more of His character to me through answered prayers, unnecessary blessings, and His obvious working through situations where I didn't even think to ask for His provision. He has truly allowed me to taste and see that He is good. I hope that this knowledge holds over into trials. It is easy to say "Praise You!" when the future looks bright, much harder when I have no clue where I am heading. I just feel like I am finally getting to see around the bend in the road after a year of peering through fog. By His grace, I hope I will not forget this summer's display of the Lord's love and providence.

So anyway, I am currently rejoicing in sunflowers, corn fields, and day dreams. God's in His heaven, all is right with the world.