September has been a month of celebration, challenges, and countless reminders of God's faithfulness. After the ups and downs our family experienced in August (you can read about that journey here), this month continued to teach me that life's beauty often comes wrapped in both joy and struggle, all held together by God's steady presence.

Family Updates and Prayer Requests

My Aunt is doing a little better, though the road hasn't been smooth. She's experienced several setbacks this month and has been discharged and readmitted to the hospital multiple times. We continue to lift her up in prayer, asking God for strength and healing as her family watches over her and cares for her needs.

The outpouring of support from friends, family, and even readers like you has been overwhelming. Your messages of thoughts and prayers mean more than you know. There's something powerful about knowing you're not carrying a burden alone—that others are standing with you in faith and intercession.

Celebrations That Fill the Heart

In the midst of challenges, we celebrated some beautiful milestones! My Dad turned 81, and my Daughter had her birthday too. We always celebrate their special days together since they're back-to-back on the calendar. There's something extra special about gathering around people you love, surrounded by cards, gifts, good food, and even better company.

And speaking of celebrations—we attended a baby shower for our upcoming Great-Granddaughter! She'll be our second Great-Granddaughter, and my husband and I are ecstatic! The shower was beautiful and so much fun. It's always a blessing to celebrate new life and all the hope that comes with it.

My first precious Great-Granddaughter also had a birthday this month. I can hardly believe it's been 5 years since she came into our lives and brought so much joy. Time truly flies when you're counting blessings instead of days.

Watching the generations unfold—from my Parents in their 80s to my Great-Grandchildren just beginning their stories—gives me such perspective on the brevity and beauty of life. Each stage has its own gifts, its own challenges, and its own opportunities to witness God's faithfulness.

The Art of Staying Connected in Busy Seasons

These past weeks have been extraordinarily lively. Between writing, family time, and multiple doctor appointments for Mom, Dad, and myself, sometimes it feels like I need to catch my breath and remember where I parked the car!

In the middle of all this activity, I've had to be intentional about spending quality time with my Husband. Fostering a loving relationship in marriage is a ministry within itself, isn't it? We try to make sure we check in with each other regularly so we're not just fulfilling tasks on the calendar. We do our best to carve out time for just the two of us, even when our schedules feel impossibly full.

This month, we managed to slip away to a local restaurant for a few hours—just talking, catching up, and being fully present with each other. We went during the non-busy times so we could linger without feeling rushed by the crowds. Those moments are precious to me.

Sometimes, the most ordinary places become extraordinary when you're with the right person. A booth at a local restaurant. A walk around the block. Ten minutes on the porch after everyone else has gone to bed. These aren't grand romantic gestures, but they're the threads that keep a marriage strong through busy, demanding seasons.

For anyone juggling caregiving, career, and marriage: Don't forget to nurture that primary relationship. It's easy to let your partnership slip into "logistics mode" when life gets overwhelming. But those check-ins, those stolen moments, those conversations that go deeper than "who's picking up the prescription?"—they matter. They're not selfish. They're essential.

Autumn Arrives with Its Own Lessons

The middle of September ushered in the beautiful season of autumn. I'm thoroughly enjoying the cooler weather! The leaves haven't begun to turn their vibrant orange and red colors yet, but I'm looking forward to the kaleidoscope of fall beauty in the coming weeks.

There's something about autumn that always makes me reflective. The change of seasons reminds me that life moves in cycles—times of abundance and harvest, times of letting go, times of rest and preparation. Each season serves its purpose, and each one is necessary for the fullness of life.

When the Unexpected Happens

Mom had a scary moment while she was getting her clothes altered at the seamstress. She hadn't eaten in several hours, and her blood sugar (she's diabetic) plummeted suddenly. The seamstress was absolutely incredible! She immediately laid Mom on the floor with pillows and provided snacks to help her recover. After about 15 minutes, Mom felt much better, and I took her straight home to rest.

Of course, this incident brought out the Nurse in me! But more importantly, it was an opportunity for both of us to review Mom's needs and establish better precautions to prevent this from happening again. Sometimes our wake-up calls come wrapped in grace.

I'm so grateful for that seamstress—a complete stranger who didn't panic, who knew exactly what to do, who treated my mother with such kindness and competence. It reminded me that God often places the right people in our path at exactly the right moment. Angels don't always have wings. Sometimes they have measuring tape and a kind heart.

God's Protection in the Storm

We have so much to be grateful for, even when circumstances could have been tragic. One of our Grandsons was involved in a car accident this month. His vehicle was completely totaled—a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change.

He was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but praise God, he was able to come home that same evening with only minor injuries. When I think about what could have happened, my heart overflows with thanksgiving.

The phone call about the accident sent my heart racing. But through it all, there was this underlying sense of God's presence, His protection, His faithfulness. Even before we knew the outcome, there was a peace that didn't make sense given the circumstances.

God truly is a safe haven for His children, protecting us even when we don't realize the danger we're in.

Reflecting on God's Faithfulness

As I look back over September, I'm struck by the beautiful rhythm of life. The celebrations and the scares, the routine appointments and the unexpected emergencies, the quiet moments with Hubbie, and the joyful chaos of family gatherings.

Through it all, God has been faithful. He's shown up in:

• The seamstress who knew what to do when Mom needed help
• The protection of our Grandson in a terrifying accident
• The reasons to celebrate new life and milestone birthdays
• The strength provided for my Aunt and her family during difficult days
• The ordinary moments that became extraordinary when we chose to be present

This is the kind of faith I write about in my novels. Not the sanitized, perfect-life version, but the real, messy, and beautiful faith that shows up in hospital waiting rooms and birthday parties, in scary moments and sacred celebrations.

How This Shapes My Writing

All of these experiences—the caregiving, the celebrations, the close calls, the ordinary moments of connection—are finding their way into my December 2025 novel. The characters I'm creating understand that faith isn't about having a perfect life. It's about having a faithful God who shows up in every kind of life.

They know that love is tested and proven in the everyday moments: the doctor's appointments, the scary phone calls, the intentional time carved out for each other, the choice to show up even when you're tired.

Real love, lasting love, faith-filled love… it's not just about the romance. It's about the whole messy, beautiful, sacred journey of doing life together, trusting God together, and choosing each other again and again.

Lessons from September

If I had to distill this month's lessons, here's what I'm carrying forward:

Life moves in rhythms - Celebrations and challenges, joy and sorrow, energy and exhaustion. All of it is part of the journey.

Presence is a gift - Whether it's being present for aging parents, for your spouse, for a baby shower, or in a crisis… showing up matters.

God's protection is real - Even when we don't see the danger we've been spared from, He's there.

Ordinary moments matter - A restaurant meal, a seamstress's kindness, time counting blessings with a five-year-old—these become the memories that sustain us.

Community carries us - Your prayers, the seamstress's quick action, family members tag-teaming care—we need each other.

What About You?

How has September treated you? Have you experienced any unexpected moments of God's faithfulness? Are there any celebrations or challenges you've experienced?

And if you're walking through a difficult season right now, please know I'm praying for you. God sees you, He knows your needs, and He's faithful even when the path feels uncertain.

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