It’s that time in the month to look where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing. I enjoy this exercise very much. It keeps me accountable to myself, in a weird way. September was an interesting month. Up’s and Down’s and a few all-around’s but now that it’s “in the books” I can see it in black and white and overall it was a great month!
Loving: the change of Season. I know this post is about September but since I’m writing this today I’ll share with you that October is my favorite color.
Reading: the New Testament, magazines, and Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi.
Shopping for: I need some tops to wear with leggings. I need LONG tops to cover my fat booty.
Excited about: Selling our house. It’s on the market, for sale by owner.
Trying to: Choose JOY every.single.day. My daughter, aka my hero, makes it a verbal choice every morning to live with joy.
Working on: Write 31 Days. Using the Five Minute Friday word prompts, black and white photography, and writing a haiku poem. Great fun.
Enjoying: the cooler mornings – although I despise it being dark at 7 a.m.
Using: I put the Keurig away – actually, I gave it away and got out the GE coffee maker. Finally, a decent cup of coffee. Please put in the comments – WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRAND OF GROUND COFFEE?
Wearing: Leggings – good grief these things are the most comfortable item of clothing to have in the drawer. I need tops, warm, long tops.
Planning: Oh my word, you’re going to love this: a birthday trip to Bald Head Island off the coast of southern NC. My friend is a caretaker at a resort and has invited us to be the guests of the resort. Be still my heart. This island is accessible only by ferry and the only mode of transportation on the island? Golf carts. YES, LORD. I’ll give a report in November’s L.I.S.T.
Singing: I haven’t been singing. But, I DO sing at praise and worship at church – and, well, the music has been extraordinarily awesome this past month. I’m sure part of the reason being my grandson, Simon, now plays guitar on the praise team. Woo-hoo!
Needing: Tops for the leggings!
Learning: I knew this but it was confirmed on Labor Day weekend, cousins, our very first “friends” in life, are simply THE BEST. The eldest cousin’s daughter got married on September 2nd in Charleston SC, and three of us (cousins) met in Charleston, with our husbands for the big celebration. IT WAS MARVELOUS. We didn’t get that much time with the “elder” cousin since she was a bit preoccupied with the wedding, reception, etc., but we three couples had the best time. Our husbands all get along so well and we had a memorable, fun, good, and perfect weekend together. Hubs and I left there feeling blessed and “full.”
Listening to: Right now? My ears ringing. I sure wish there was a cure for Tinnitus. UGH.
Wishing for: I don’t actually “wish” because I PRAY…and I am praying for many people, things, illnesses, events. The list is long and I find myself being awake at night praying.
Doing: My daughter (GOD BLESS THIS WOMAN) has been helping me de-clutter and stage the house fo
r ‘lookers’. We have thrown out, donated, so many things. It feels good – we feel lighter. Ready to move on.
Dreaming: Selling house. Buying new house. Travel trailer. Going places. Being skinny (just kidding, but I wanted to see if you were paying attention.) I’ll never be skinny again!
Hoping for: the return of prodigals. Favor.
DIY project: Just the house right now. MAIN FOCUS. I did do a little Fall decorating.
Not crazy about: The rampant evil in this world. The devil is a thief, liar, and murderer –
A few extra’s from my planner:
- I am grateful that all my loved ones came through IRMA unscathed. They prepared, didn’t panic and all of them are fine.
- We have a new pastor, Tim, and his vision is exciting, and, I love him and his beautiful wife, Theresa, and their five children.
- We traveled to Anderson SC to look at property, we took our daughter and grands with us. The property was disappointing but we stopped in Greenville and enjoyed an outdoor lunch on the sidewalk and a great walk-about in that beautiful downtown.
- We had TN girlfriend day and went on a road trip to White Pine TN to visit friends from church who have moved away. It was a beautiful day all-around.
- Hannah is doing very well in her third year at Liberty University – she is planning for, and hoping to go, to Rwanda with “L.U. Sends” on her Spring 2018 break.
- Simon is doing fabulously on the praise team at Grace Covenant Church in Statesville. We are very pleased and proud.
- My hubs has ended his employment and is going to learn how to be retired. Pray, okay?
- Our pastor for the last 15 years, Ron, has retired. He and his wife, Nancy, are going to be enjoying some travel time. These two are our dear, dear friends and we are so happy for them.
What’s on your L.I.S.T.? Please share at least 2 things!
Cousins!
Charleston & more! (we will never learn how to take a selfie!)
Handsome lad, Simon
Hannah and half of Simon!
This week I’ll be linking up with Inspire Me Monday, Tea and Word, Porch Stories, Messy Marriage, Coffee for Your Heart, Jennifer Dukes Lee, God-Sized Dreams, Tune In Thursday, Dance With Jesus, Fresh Market Friday, Glimpses of His Beauty, Heart Encouragement, Thought-Provoking Thursday, Counting My Blessings, Seeking God, Glimpses of His Beauty.
So enjoyed your September events. Looking forward to your October comings and goings. Mine not so good. Could use prayer for myself and my aunt who is in the hospital not doing so well. My “ pushed back” rotator surgery set for Oct 20th if I pass next weeks stress test. My NC family cruise is Nov 11 and not sure I will be able to attend. A few bumps in the road but praying all will work out for the best. I guess I was “right on” as to what you were up to with your house photos. Good luck with sale and hubs retirement. Keep writing, you keep me grounded.
What a sweet thing to say! My writing might keep you “grounded” but make sure Christ is your “Center.” I know He is!!!! xoxo Prayers, friend.
I enjoyed your September “doings” ever so much! Thank you for sharing yourself and your life with us! I think you have my Zuchinni soup recipe already, but if not let me know and I will email it to you!
Please email it again. I also have 3 zucc’s in my basket to use!
My Labor Day weekend with friends left me feeling full too. What a great thing. I love your monthly recaps. Love you too.
“Full.” did I get that expression from you?
Enjoying: reading your posts. And getting our new home settled, decorated for fall, organized. Praying your move-from selling your home to packing to settling in a new place is blessed from start to finish.
Working on: Writing #write31days, 31 Prayers for Your Home.
My favorite ground coffee is Sumatra, but it’s hard to find in the grocery store, so what I buy most often is Peet’s House Blend Dark Roast Decaf. My pot is a thermal one, so I can carry the pot with me to my office while I do devotions and write every morning.
Loved: your post today! ((Hugs))
Peet’s…hmm. Will be looking for it. Thanks, Debbie.
I always enjoy these posts. Sounds like September was a wonderful month. October is sure to hold much in store for you as well! Praying for you this morning, xo
Joanne, you are a dear, dear friend. Hoping that “surprise” arrives before Fall break. xo
So excited for you with the house, etc.
Praying with you for the prodigals.
And two things:
Women’s ministry kick off this month.
Finishing up with the garden.
Thank you Michele. Nothing beets great, faithful online friends.
Hi Susan,
There’s so much I want to say about this gorgeous (and amusing!) post but first coffee! I have been buying brands I drank in Italy and must say I’m loving Kimbo (I buy through Amazon) but maybe it’s because it was part of the Rome welcome stash of goodies our host laid out for us! 🙂 I might have missed a post but are you moving to SC? I went to school in Greenville and it is a lovely area. 🙂 I’m also connecting with you on losing a pastor as the beloved pastor of my church retired after 32 years and I’m feeling bereft without hearing his amazing insight. I hope you find your legging toppers 🙂 and am loving a cool breeze to the FL air too! xoxox
Valerie, no mystery I am a fan of YOUR’S. I like when you visit and I’ll be over soon to see if there is new content on Grace… We are not moving to SC. We have no idea where we are moving. This should prove to be an adventure!!! Our new pastor is young and awesome! My daughter (aka my hero) tells me we are going to Target this weekend because they have a lot of long, flowy tops. She is not only my stager but my shopping expert! We will visit FL in late February – do I dare wish for a lunch meetup? xo
Absolutely! Would love to meet up if you’re in the area in Feb! It would be a delight to meet you! xo
Yay. We will exchange numbers as the time draws closer!
As I read through your list, I thought, “Ooh! I want to answer this and then I want to answer that . . .” But now I can’t remember any of them except what coffee I enjoy – Target’s brand “Buttery Caramel.” It’s the only coffee that I love drinking black. And the aroma, like a heaven-sent breeze swirling in my kitchen. Hugs to you, Susan!
Like a heaven-sent breeze wafting in the kitchen. Makes me want to try it. Going to Target this weekend. See my comment to Valerie!!!
I enjoyed reading about your September. Your 31 Days idea of photos and haikus sounds like fun! I am also working on Write 31 Days, though not with the prompts, and I am excited about going to my first ever writing conference this weekend and getting to meet some writing friends in real life!
Lesley, do LMK what you thought of your first-ever.
I love your list – it encourages me to live more! October is also a favorite. I believe October is welcoming us to fall as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ! Oh, and my favorite brand of ground coffee, Breakfast Blend!
The Fall starts us in our season of Hope! The Spring is the second act!
Susan: Zulilly! Check them out on line, they have a huge assortment of longer, flowy tops….so comfortable and great prices! Coffee..coffee..coffee.. we live in the Northwest, the land of coffee. I love Tully’s and Pete’s coffee, usually avoid Starbucks. (for a Washingtonian that must be an unpardonable sin, right? Anyhow, the trip to the resort sounds like a gift from God, have fun! BTW, my focus for Write 31 is Create. Art from the Heart, I’ll post a link the next time you ask.
Zulilly – yes, I see their advertisements. I do not like Starbucks either. Yes, the resort? A GIFT from HIM. POST THE LINK please.
Always enjoy reading your posts looking back over the month. I really should do the same. 🙂 My favorite coffee is roasted in Greenville – West End Coffee and my favorite flavor is Jamaican Me Crazy – a blend of hazelnut and caramel. We also enjoy Leopard Forest which is roasted in Traveler’s Rest. And a new to us brand we like is Charleston Roasting Company which, of course, is roasted in Charleston. 🙂
Blessings to you! Would love to have you move to SC! We don’t plan to leave the area, but we probably do need to sell our house because it’s too much for us to manage.
Gayl, thanks for the coffee tips! I’m writing them all down. I understand that comment about too much to manage!
Are you in need of long tops with leggins? Ha! Me too….to cover my fat booty. I may never be skinny again either, but I can dream. Love you!
Ya know, when I write these? I feel like I’m talking to my best friends!!!!
What a wonderful list…so many exciting things happening and just as many blessings – all in one month! Thanks for sharing! Let me know if you find those long (cover the backside) tops! Praying your house sells in the just the perfect timing. Finding a new home is always so exciting!
Hope that October is just as full for you!
Jennifer, my daughter is taking me to Target this weekend she says they have the tops. I’ll LYK.
My favorite coffee? Well, it’s anything that my husband has just roasted fresh with his small home roaster! That’s our treat time together, but not easy to find on the store shelves. 🙂 I love your lists, reading them gives my tired self a fresh jolt of mental energy! Have fun shopping!
BettieG… aren’t you blessed? Home-roasted coffee beans by your loving hubs. YOU are seated in HEAVENLY Places!
Have you heard of LuLaRoe leggings? I never thought I’d be the leggings as pants girl but I totally am. And I might have a slight addiction to LuLaRoe clothince–leggings and the perfect tops to go with them.
They are so pricey?
I enjoy your reviews so much. Excited for new things for you and praying that God leads you to the perfect spot to settle into retirement. Blessings friend.
Patti, your prayers are so kindred to mine – I am blessed to call us friends. xo
Hope your house sells quickly and to someone who will fall in love with it. When we had to sell my parents’ home (my childhood home), it was really hard. But we felt much better when we met the buyers and saw they were such a sweet family.
I’m enjoying the cooler temps with this fall weather also. I wish we could stay in this season and not have to head into winter. 🙂
Lisa, ME TOO. I don’t do winter well.
Dear Susan, after reading your September recollections, I came to only one conclusion : you have no problem sharing your many blessings with many people. Also, the blue dress looks fabulous!
Alice, you are a dear. Thank you. The blue dress was a bit out of my comfort zone, but wear it I did!!! xo
Enjoyed reading your September list so much! My husband and I visited the Isle of Palms on our honeymoon and I am ready for a return trip.
Oh – then I stirred up some happy memories for you. Always a good thing.
I LOVED Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi. Your trip to NC sounds just lovely. I lived in Greenville for 14 years – one of the nicest cities I have ever been in.
I keep thinking of doing this at the end of the month but just haven’t gotten it together yet. I thought about it end of September but just couldn’t do it then – I hadn’t thought I could wait until a few days into October, so I am encouraged to see that you did. (I guess on our own blogs we can do them whenever we want, right? 🙂 ) I do kind of a weekly round-up with “Friday’s Fave Fives,” so I didn’t know if a monthly one might be redundant. But I enjoy reading these on a number of blogs, so maybe I’ll try for the end of this month.
Barbara, it keeps me grounded looking back at the month.
It’s only taken me DAYS to get here. We had a crazy-busy weekend, but I kept wanting to get over her and read your fun post, Susan. 🙂
As for coffee: We love Boyer Brothers and Dunkin’ Donuts.
And decluttering? It makes my heart happy and light. I’m so glad you’re getting rid of stuff. It feels sooooo GOOD.
Your cousins weekend sounds delightful. All of my cousins live everywhere. I rarely see them. You. had a true gift getting together with everyone that wedding weekend.
Such a fun post, my friend!
Jeanne, I’d wait for you however long it takes – to share a good cuppa!!