This past month has been so very full. Bountiful, even, when I really think about it. Since Labor Day weekend, we have visited, explored, loved, celebrated, shared, welcomed, pondered, and worshipped. We have gathered, rested, prepared, prayed, planned, dined, laughed, held and cried. What’s more, we’ve delighted, swapped, harvested, decorated, photographed, listened, whispered, leaned, hoped, anticipated and loved. Life feels abundant, and it is.

I’ve not intentionally strayed from blogging in this season, but in the midst of the fullness of things, blogging has inadvertently strayed from me. This is temporary, of course. It’s just that sometimes, I really need to take a step back and take everything in for a while before I can write about it. I have a sneaking suspicion that it won’t be long before the flood gates open again and I am here with the regularity and familiarity that I was just a month or two ago. Meanwhile…

I put pumpkins in the center of the dining room table today, and plugged scents of Autumn leaves and freshly picked apples into the wall. (It’s amazing how so small a gadget as a wall plug-in can evoke memories and feelings–can imitate real life and change the perception of things, cozy-ing up a space in a matter of minutes.) The little orange “BOO!” sign went up in our front yard. This weekend, we’ll rake a little, pick the still-growing veggies from our bright little garden and trim back plants for winter. It’s October 7th today, and all afternoon it was 70+ and sunny.

I’ve never been one to coax winter along, nor to rush the chilly air into existence, but oddly, I’m itching for Fall and the change it brings at this time of year. I’m realizing that after an action-packed Summer and a very full September, I miss the settling that happens when the leaves begin to turn. Tonight, after visiting with a friend over dinner, I poured myself a second cup of tea, ate a candy corn (or two) and sat down in a very quiet house to the beckoning of a very lonely computer. I perused the usual suspects at first…email, Facebook, our bank account. And then, it happened. I settled in enough to want to cozy up right here, on this page, filled with thoughts. I started dreaming again, about the things I want to do or say–about more than just tomorrow’s task list or next week’s appointments, but rather the things that really fill this life up and do it well. The contents of my September, and the beauty in the memories of every little detail amidst the silence. The sound of settling, and Autumn.

I love May, June, July, August…but there is an incredible sweetness about this time of year. Especially now, in this moment. And I’m in awe of the abundance.

May you be filled up, as I am, today.

mm