Autumn is a very welcomed and refreshing time of the year, particularly here in South Korea where we just finished the hottest summer on record. I am welcoming the cool breezes in the evening and paint brush strokes of oranges, golds, yellows and browns. It's an added bonus that my husband and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary amidst the fall splendor.
September always brings reflection for me. It is like an early thanksgiving. Here are 10 things I am grateful for and/or looking forward to over the coming months.
1. Our 20th Wedding Anniversary. It is a double anniversary because it always represents 20 years living in South Korea. I wouldn't have imagined 20 years when I first got here, but I have more than lived it now!
2. Hot mugs of beverage. Tea. Hot chocolate. Hot Cider. Mulled wine. . . I could go on. These are best enjoyed, of course, with a book. . . on a porch on a fall afternoon.
3. New Books, of course! Book girl by Sarah Clarkson arrived just the other day. I am also interested in reading Anne Bogel’s charming and winsome I’d Rather Be Reading. Might I suggest either as an ideal read for an autumn day?
4. Back to school. It's a new semester for this English language professor. New beginnings, new students, new school supplies, new pages to be turned on brand new books. And I should mention that I love encouraging my students to pick a book and read it just for the pleasure. New beginnings, and new routines. LOVE it.
5. Autumn sweaters and sweatshirts. In fact, I was just thinking about pulling on a big, warm sweater and grabbing that warm beverage to sit outside this morning.
6. Long walks. Autumn walks without the heat and humidity give me time to clear my head, to ponder what I’m teaching or writing, and to enjoy the fresh air. Throw in crunchy leaves, and I’m especially thrilled. I loved this when the boys were little and I love it still now.
7. Apples, peaches, pumpkins, autumn harvest. This area we live in in South Korea is blessed with great apples, stunning peaches, and amazing pumpkins. I love the fresh fruit, but this is the time to enjoy an apple, peach, or pumpkin pie. This, of course, should be done on a day when I am not teaching or writing. A creative baking day to get all my own creativity flowing.
I also love the fall displays. I love the way pumpkins appear on front stoops and entrances to store fronts. A hot drink, a warm sweater, a porch with pumpkins, and a book. Ahhh!
8. Early sunsets. This time of year, I love watching darkness crawl in earlier and earlier each evening, and likewise, I love the way the changing light makes these early sunsets more orange, somehow smokier. Darker evenings have always felt like prime reading time to me.
9. Manuscript finished! For those of you who have been cheering me on, I have finished an Advent Book that goes through the named trees in the Bible. I'm excited about finding some beta readers (message me or email me if you are interested) and working with my illustrator. I also took the advice of Hope Writers and will work on making this a printed book.
10. The Great Slowing. My way of being, on my best days, is slow and deliberate, and fall is a season of intention. I am slowing, reflecting, and enjoying.
Just writing this list gave me joy. I cannot wait for that first crack of air cool enough for me to turn back around and get my cozy sweater and sit outside with a book. Oh, autumn, I do love you.
Thanksgiving is always words fitly spoken.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11(NRSV)
Are you interested in Hope Writers? Check this webinar out!
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/10210/L2GbuERH
Hope Writers has been a wealth of information and support while I have been teaching and writing. They only open the doors twice a year so you won’t have another chance to join until next year. If you’ve dreamed about writing a book, growing a blog, or just getting your words from out of your head and onto the screen, this is the member community for you.
Click here for general information:
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/10106/L2GbuERH
Click here to learn more and join today!
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/8310/L2GbuERH
Are you interested in an early Advent reflection from my book? Please sign up for the mailing list on this site and I will send it to you.
Grace and peace beautiful people!
September always brings reflection for me. It is like an early thanksgiving. Here are 10 things I am grateful for and/or looking forward to over the coming months.
1. Our 20th Wedding Anniversary. It is a double anniversary because it always represents 20 years living in South Korea. I wouldn't have imagined 20 years when I first got here, but I have more than lived it now!
2. Hot mugs of beverage. Tea. Hot chocolate. Hot Cider. Mulled wine. . . I could go on. These are best enjoyed, of course, with a book. . . on a porch on a fall afternoon.
3. New Books, of course! Book girl by Sarah Clarkson arrived just the other day. I am also interested in reading Anne Bogel’s charming and winsome I’d Rather Be Reading. Might I suggest either as an ideal read for an autumn day?
4. Back to school. It's a new semester for this English language professor. New beginnings, new students, new school supplies, new pages to be turned on brand new books. And I should mention that I love encouraging my students to pick a book and read it just for the pleasure. New beginnings, and new routines. LOVE it.
5. Autumn sweaters and sweatshirts. In fact, I was just thinking about pulling on a big, warm sweater and grabbing that warm beverage to sit outside this morning.
6. Long walks. Autumn walks without the heat and humidity give me time to clear my head, to ponder what I’m teaching or writing, and to enjoy the fresh air. Throw in crunchy leaves, and I’m especially thrilled. I loved this when the boys were little and I love it still now.
7. Apples, peaches, pumpkins, autumn harvest. This area we live in in South Korea is blessed with great apples, stunning peaches, and amazing pumpkins. I love the fresh fruit, but this is the time to enjoy an apple, peach, or pumpkin pie. This, of course, should be done on a day when I am not teaching or writing. A creative baking day to get all my own creativity flowing.
I also love the fall displays. I love the way pumpkins appear on front stoops and entrances to store fronts. A hot drink, a warm sweater, a porch with pumpkins, and a book. Ahhh!
8. Early sunsets. This time of year, I love watching darkness crawl in earlier and earlier each evening, and likewise, I love the way the changing light makes these early sunsets more orange, somehow smokier. Darker evenings have always felt like prime reading time to me.
9. Manuscript finished! For those of you who have been cheering me on, I have finished an Advent Book that goes through the named trees in the Bible. I'm excited about finding some beta readers (message me or email me if you are interested) and working with my illustrator. I also took the advice of Hope Writers and will work on making this a printed book.
10. The Great Slowing. My way of being, on my best days, is slow and deliberate, and fall is a season of intention. I am slowing, reflecting, and enjoying.
Just writing this list gave me joy. I cannot wait for that first crack of air cool enough for me to turn back around and get my cozy sweater and sit outside with a book. Oh, autumn, I do love you.
Thanksgiving is always words fitly spoken.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11(NRSV)
Are you interested in Hope Writers? Check this webinar out!
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/10210/L2GbuERH
Hope Writers has been a wealth of information and support while I have been teaching and writing. They only open the doors twice a year so you won’t have another chance to join until next year. If you’ve dreamed about writing a book, growing a blog, or just getting your words from out of your head and onto the screen, this is the member community for you.
Click here for general information:
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/10106/L2GbuERH
Click here to learn more and join today!
https://www.hopewriters.com/a/8310/L2GbuERH
Are you interested in an early Advent reflection from my book? Please sign up for the mailing list on this site and I will send it to you.
Grace and peace beautiful people!
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