Septembering

We're Septembering this week.

It's back to school in these parts, and all the backpacks and cameras and littles waving from wagons is a reminder that time goes by too fast and we've got to do everything we can to make each moment of Newbie's little years count.  All too soon he'll be the one waving in front of a too-big-backpack off to new adventures. So we're Septembering and soaking up every last drop, baby.

We've got a front row seat to the school bus stop, and Newbie loved watching the big yellow bus from the window today. Something about all the back-to-school of this week just begs for routine and order and ABC's and "Wheels on the Bus" and a roast in the oven.

And its time.  Because we lived hard this weekend and enjoyed every last dwindling bit of summer, including but not limited to...

Getting a new bike:

A brownie batter licking fiesta:
(Sidenote: Did you know you can use a tablespoon of ground flax mixed with three tablespoons of water to substitute for an egg?!?  Its my go-to lick-this-batter-without-contracting-salmonella trick. ;)

And a backyard campout:

(Helping Daddy put in the stakes.  "I need it my hammer, Daddy.")

(Pretty flowers are still blooming in Jubilee's garden!  Did you know sister has a garden?  She does. I'll write about it sometime.)

We kissed summer goodbye with a backyard camping, hot dog feasting, s'mores roasting end-of-summer party.  Just me and my people, and it was a good time. Newbie was a huge fan of helping his daddy pitch the tent and munching down the campfire goodies.  Brother loves "chalk-it" (chocolate), so the s'mores were a win.

We sent summer off with a bang, and are welcoming the change in seasons.  Because I'm learning that change is hard, but change is good.

Which brings us to September.

September is my pull-it-together, Francine.  Its my get-out-of-the-maternity-pants, teach that boy some ABC's, walk around the neighborhood every night, plan some wicked delicious dinners, sign up for Bible study, steal away for some date nights, send Newbie off to "big boy church", host a dinner party, come right on outta that hole, month.  And I'm really looking forward to it.


This summer was delicious and sweet in its own, soft, sunshiny, carpe diem way, but after losing Jubilee and spending the summer blindly stumbling my way through my first experience with deep grief, I'm craving getting back into the game.  Routine.  Library visits.  Walks.  Football.  Dinner.  You know, the usual. =)

My heart is still sad and aching, that's just a part of it, but I'm looking forward to the next season of healing.  Which I'm kicking off with a roast in the oven, fall decorations, and an exciting trip at the end of September.

Want to hear about it?  It so totally rocks.

My sweet friend's mama and aunt have hugely blessed me with the gift of a weekend away in Washington to attend a Love and Loss Conference. A weekend away across the country to get for real and dig into my heart and the hearts of other women and just love and be loved.  Whaaat?!  I can't tell you how excited I am to sneak away for a bit and spend time with my heart and other women who have been there.  And my laptop.  Bring on the writing, baby.  I can't wait to sort through the billions of thoughts I've held onto since May 2.  I have so much to share, and my fingers are ready to tap it out on the keys. I'm also looking forward to the in-flight Coke (I'm of the opinion that a Coke tastes the best when you're up in the clouds) and the reading time on the plane, but that's just a bonus. =)  A massive THANK YOU to fun Aunt J and D for the incredible gift!  xoxo

So friends, here's to September- the back-to-schooling, the squirrels and acorns, the trips to the library, the enormous bounty of pumpkin spice donuts and cream cheese icing, the routine, the everything- to all the beauty of a new season and another step forward.

Let the Septembering begin!

(Cheers!)