“The earliest autumn coloring along the country roads… except here and there a fiery maple bough. The cornflower is in bloom, the goldenrod is passing, the asters are at the height of their glory. In our garden the chrysanthemums are just coming out.“
– David Grayson, “September” in The Countryman’s Year
Good gifts in September:
Bottling honey orders from the harvest we did in late August; carrying a basket of jars with me to church to hand out
A pair of new Muck boots
Our last Sunday with the good people at Vesta Baptist Church, sad but sweet
Church members full of smiles and tears, dear saints who were some of the first people to welcome me to Arkansas
Walking to the fence line one last time, Jared and I, taking in the sunset on the pasture, ending where we began that first day Jared drove me out to Vesta to see the church
Quiet, cloudy September Monday, Jared out in the bee yard, windows open and packing for a week away to visit my family
Fog in the mountains and homemade breakfast sandwiches on our morning drive
Dinner downtown for Dad’s birthday
Jared reading The Berenstain Bears to all the nieces and nephews at the picnic table outside
Big family dinner to celebrate Papa Jay’s 90th birthday, including all his favorites: burgers, hashbrown casserole, coffee & dessert
Graduation day from the Author Conservatory, such a joy
Meeting my classmates, Jaquelle, Brett, Diana, and so many other friends, mentors, and co-workers—people who have shaped me and cared for me over my three years in the program
Joel and Natalie’s new home, with coneflowers along the fence in the front yard and a view of rolling farmland
Tim’s 4th of July fireworks (in September)
Early morning walk and conversation with Janaya
Making a stop at College of the Ozarks for lunch and a walk around the campus on a lovely day, students studying in the grass, touring the library, and coffees to-go
Bringing home the typewriter that belonged to my grandparents, the one I started writing on
Game night and homemade chex mix with Jared’s parents
Setting up Jared’s new church office and trying out the Keurig on a Wednesday afternoon
Visiting baby Theo
Making pizzas for pizza night with the dominoes group
Early sunrise drive to Conway, Bible study at a coffee shop while Jared met with local pastors for breakfast, resale shopping, and Grace & Truth Bookstore
Our Sunday School class and study of James; suffering and joy
Phone call with Jill and grabbing a notebook because she has so much wisdom on being a pastor’s wife
Jared bringing home mums
Quiet evening to plant fall lettuce
A good, new dentist
The old man at Wal-Mart whose cart was overflowing with pumpkins, and who helped me pick out the best ones
Jared making French toast to celebrate one year since our engagement
Getting up early to put soup in the crockpot and bake sourdough
Morning run
Sitting beside Poppy’s grave and watching the sunset together, held in the grace of God
Getting milkshakes and driving Skyline Drive for fun one evening
Fall cleaning, gathering wood, spraying the windows and patios
The Reagan movie
Having our new church over to our house on a Saturday evening, everyone visiting under the shade tree, getting to know folks’ better, kids running around our backyard, and seeing so many people fill up our kitchen
Open windows to an evening thunderstorm
Lunch with Joe and Jill, and how she took home a few of our big acorns
Getting the guest rooms ready, buying chalk and toys for Brian and Taylor’s family visiting
bethanyjlincks.com 