I know I often say that the week or the month passed by quickly. But, wow, September set a record for going by in a blur.
I’m thankful fall is officially here. It’s finally starting to feel like autumn.
We had a couple of quiet weeks, then attended a craft show, the Tennessee Valley Fair, and celebrated Grandparents Day all in one week. My youngest’s birthday was the following week.
Of course, this last weekend we dealt with the edges of Hurricane Helene. Thankfully, we didn’t lose power or suffer any damage except for some of our plants, which were nearing the end of their season anyway. We’ve heard of downed trees, roads closed, and bridges washed out as well as more serious damage between here and FL.
Creating
Can you tell what my youngest son’s interests are? 🙂
The background paper and game controller stickers were from a scrapbooking packet of boyish interests, though girls are gamers, too.
Reading
Since last time, I completed:
- Be Hopeful (1 Peter): How to Make the Best of Times Out of Your Worst of Times by Warren Wiersbe.
- Help for the Hungry Soul: Eight Encouragements to Grow Your Appetite for God’s Word by Kristen Wetherell, nonfiction. Excellent.
- Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens, fiction, audiobook. Not my favorite of Dickens, but I am glad I finally read this novel exploring the many ways selfishness can manifest itself.
- Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham, fiction. This will be one of my top ten books of the year. It’s a split-time novel, with one timeline taking place in the Biltmore house, particularly the library, in 1915, and the other in Asheville, NC, in modern times. To save the bookstore her grandmother established, a young woman must look into her grandmother’s past. One of my favorite places, a great story, and lots of bookish references.
- Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance, memoir. Mixed emotions about this one.
- Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden, fiction, audiobook. Just finished this and will review it later this week.
I’m currently reading:
- Be Alert (2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude): Beware of the Religious Impostors by Warren W. Wiersbe
- 2 Corinthians for You by Gary Millar with our ladies’ Bible study
- Write a Must-Read: Craft a Book That Changes Lives—Including Your Own by A. J. Harper–still chipping away at this one.
- What’s a Disorganized Person to Do? by Stacey Platt–just reading a small section at intervals
- The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 3: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy, 1950 – 1963, compiled by Walter Hooper. I’m taking this in small bits as well.
- Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate, fiction
- Mrs. Tim of the Regiment by D. E. Stevenson, audiobook
Blogging
Besides the weekly Friday Fave Fives, Saturday Laudable Linkage, and book reviews, I’ve posted these since last time:
- Believing What We Don’t See. Much of what we believe is unseen but not unfounded.
- When Trying to Avoid Pain Creates More Pain. God allows suffering for many reasons, but we make it harder when we stiffen against it.
- The Most Important Thing. Many distractions assail us, but the most important thing in life is knowing God and making Him known.
- Freedom to Lament. We try to fix other people’s problems with pat answers, but sometimes we need to just sit and weep with those who weep.
- God’s Grace for This Moment. We can feel overwhelmed with small and large concerns. But we only need grace for this moment, and God’s grace is sufficient.
Writing
I have not done much on this front but hope to next month.
Looking ahead, October is usually a quiet month for us, a nice rest between “birthday season” and Thanksgiving and Christmas. We do have a few more social occasions on the calendar than usual, but they are all things I’m looking forward to.
How was your September? Is there anything you’re looking forward to in October?
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
I agree that September flew by! I was just thinking this morning that it’s been over a month now since we returned from London. CRAZY — I love fall too! What a cute card for your youngest. Smart move of the company to make video game paper/etc. since that’s such a popular thing these days! Wishing you a restful and beautiful October 🙂
Yes–I wish there were more gamer-type materials for cards. There are pages in that packet for football and other things that we’ll likely never use. 🙂
You certainly did have a busy September! I agree that the month just rushed by. I’m looking forward to October. That is month is a birthday month for me along with November. A son, 2 grandsons, daughter in law, son in law. . . . and me!
Have a great week and I look forward to our lunch!
We just finished our “birthday season,” and yours is coming up! I am looking forward to lunch, too.
Wow! What a busy month. Your reading is outstanding! I am not a very fast reader but I enjoy reading. Recently decided that a book was not worth the effort after 5 chapters. I am reading through the library. If it has a cross or dove on the spine I check it out. This is the first one I have quit.
Hope your have an enjoyable October!
I don’t quit books often, but I also don’t want to spend time on books that aren’t interesting to me when I have so many others stacked up to read. I have some in my stack that I am thinking of getting rid of as I am not much interested in them any more.
September certainly did fly by! I’m glad it’s autumn now too. Our high today was 65 and rainy most of the day.
Glad that October will be a quieter month for you.
We’re still getting up to the high 80s in the daytime, but I trust that will change soon.
You are SO prolific!
And I smiled as I read your book list because I had the same response to the books we have in common.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who missed September…
I love that gamin card! I often tried to make cards for my boys that were themed either after their gaming consoles/remotes or their favorite games too. Glad the storm wasn’t all that bad where you were!
Oh, good. You’ve been on my mind these last days, wondering how much rain and winds you might’ve gotten from Helene.
How appropriate to be reading about the Biltmore amidst devastation in that area of Asheville.
I totally agree! I have never seen a month fly by as quickly as September did! I feel sad, like I almost missed out on it entirely. I really enjoyed your post. Many blessings to you!
I totally agree! I have never seen a month fly by as quickly as September did! I feel sad, like I almost missed out on it entirely. I really enjoyed your post. Many blessings to you!
I always love reading your reflections. September really did go by fast for sure.
Thanks’ so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & friend’s this month sweet friend.