September

September is always a busy month it seems with school starting and fall sports' seasons beginning. There are lots of birthdays and anniversaries and this year a wedding, too. Plus a surgery and appointments will make the days pass quickly. There is a deck to finish and sheep to breed. The grandkids await the sheep showing finale next weekend and our vacation is planned after that. It makes me tired just thinking of it all.

Our oldest grandson is out for cross country this year instead of football. He ran miles and miles all summer long to be ready and had a successful first meet last week. He has several meets this month hopefully while the weather is good. It's a sport that requires endurance and challenges the mind. It requires constant self talk to overcome the fatigue that sets in. And it is an individual sport where you have no one else to blame for the outcome.

Our youngest grandson started preschool this week. What an exciting new world is open before him. With new teachers and probably some new friends he will prepare for a lifetime of learning in school. Learning within more structured times will be a new challenge for him and I imagine there will be some long exhausting days ahead. He was ready with a new backpack and a smile.

The other grandchildren are also back in school. New grades and new teachers, and new subjects for the high schoolers. What excitement and change. I'm hoping they are blessed with friendly and compassionate teachers who spark the love of learning in them all. Paige begins a new year of high school rodeo competition, something she loves. How quickly they grow and develop!

"For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning and let the discerning get guidance--for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise" (Proverbs 1:2-6 NIV).