September, I’m glad to see you go. I kinda have a love / hate relationship with you. I’m not swinging clear into the hate camp right now, but I’m glad you’re done and over with. You’re just such a busy month. I feel like I can’t catch my breath and I’m chasing deadlines and never ending to-do lists. All. Month. Long. Also, I always feel like you came in a little too fast, I wasn’t ready to let go of the deep summer of August yet. Sneaky, sneaky August.

The back to school and work rhythms of life are kind of nice when we meet you, September. Kids going to bed earlier. Knowing a bit more of what our weeks will look like. But settling into these new rhythms leaves me breathless. First, we have to be up early. Too early. We have to leave our house by 6:50 am to get these high schoolers to campus before the traffic hits. I am not a morning person, September. We both know that. This is gross. It’s just gross. Second, that means I should go to bed earlier. But there are all these papers the kids need filled out and signed and read over. A bunch of the back to school paperwork is automated and I did that way back in August. So why, September, are you still sending them home with papers. Let’s save some more trees, shall we??!!

September, beyond school you bring all of these activities and sports and clubs and stuff to do!!! I love that my daughter wants to manage the football team this year. And I love that she has been taking initiative to learn everything she’s doing. But her schedule is different every night! Add in my Bible study that started back up, it adds into the nights out along with meetings in the evenings and back to school curriculum nights. So many nights gone. I honestly don’t even know the last time I really cooked a meal for my kids. Not even kidding, September. I think if you took a blood draw from my son all you would get is frozen pizza. Last weekend I went grocery shopping. We were out of almost everything because I hadn’t even had time to go. I intentionally bought the ingredients to make my kids a nice pot of beef bourguignon that night. Then I got busy writing. And my son was more that willing to help. So I told him step by step what to chop and sauté and add and taste while I was at the kitchen island writing. So much for mom making a home cooked meal. Do I at least get half credit?! Well, then we consumed it in about ten minutes before running off to another activity. Dearest September, are you feeling my pain?!

Oh, and remember that I’m in full time ministry? September, please. I love you when we get to see all of our friends return from their summers around the globe. And I love that we’re back into our regular schedule of volunteers serving in classrooms. And I love that all of our life groups are starting back up and we’re back into building relationships with people. That also means that I have been working really, really hard to cultivate long range volunteers, long term planning, dreaming of new goals to achieve in our ministry, planning special events, leading trainings for volunteers, designing new environments in teaching spaces. I love it. I do. But September, you crush me when it all falls right here. Some ministries wait for a late September or even (gasp) October fall launch time. People are filling their fall schedules already though. So September, we’ll continue to do this.

The other love / hate, oh my friend, September: my birthday falls in you. I always look forward to it and want to celebrate in full joy, gathering friends and family around me. And everyone is busy. Too busy. I still remember one birthday as a kid when my “cake” was a floating flower candle in a bowl of water, squished in after dinner and before evening events. Everyone was busy and we had to celebrate my birthday on a different day. I understood. And it still sticks with me. I never know if I should plan a celebration for myself or let someone else plan something for me or just let the day disappointingly slip by. I’ve had them all, including the unfortunate RIP cake someone planned for me. <deep shudder> That was bad, September. And now, you remind me that I celebrate 29 into eternity. Love you for that….

The other thing about you, September, with your changing weather, decaying leaves, and cesspool of classroom germs, I’m always sick by the end of you. Last year you gave me the never-ending sinus infection. And I was flying south. It felt like someone was repeatedly stabbing me in the face. Awesome sauce. This year, you’re just under my skin making me feel “off”. Like when the milk is a bit “off”. Hmmph. Maybe I’ve celebrated 29 one too many times and I’m on the verge of spoiling. Thanks for that reminder, September. Sheesh.

I do kinda love you and some of the joys that you bring. By the end of you I’m usually ready for the beautiful fall colors you’re creating. I’m ready to settle into the beauty of your neighbor, October. I say goodbye, knowing so much of your psychotic craziness I’m not going to miss at all. So long September. Seriously.