I didn’t intend to take the entire summer off of blogging, but looking back, I’m so thankful I gave myself that grace. This summer has been filled to the brim with happy moments, new rhythms, and gratitude.

We joke in our household that summer is a bit of a junk drawer for everything that gets put off during the school year. Yes, it’s absolutely wonderful that Matt has so much time off, but that time is quickly filled with car repairs and appointments and music goals that have been placed on hold for the last nine months. By the time we’ve pulled out our calendars, they have already filled up with all the things we didn’t have time for during the year.

The past eight weeks have consisted of gym workouts, smoothie runs, VBS week, a road trip to the mountains, college ministry, birthday celebrations, early morning runs, play dates, library trips, homeschool planning, date nights, water parks, and creative goals. Matt wrote a worship song and I have been working on a book I hope to release in the next millennia. It has been busy, but oh so full.

Matt’s summer ended Wednesday, returning to work to prep for the upcoming school year and I always find it ironic how Fall semester begins in the hottest part of summer. It feels like we should be planning trips to the pumpkin patch and pulling out apple cider recipes, but truthfully, we are just over here trying not to die of heat strokes from opening the front door too many times.

My preference may lean toward October, but I am determined to embrace all things summer for now, not rushing into new seasons before they have arrived.

August is such a tricky month to categorize. It’s like the red-headed sibling to June and July. I struggle scrolling past Instagram posts highlighting fall decor and “sweater weather” vibes. Not because I don’t long for those days, but because I don’t want to long for days that aren’t today. My preference may lean toward October, but I am determined to embrace all things summer for now, not rushing into new seasons before they have arrived.

Before we know it, Fall will usher itself in with all the energy of a marching band and homecoming parade. Our feeds will be consumed with kids in cute Halloween costumes and coffee mugs. The colors will change to mustards and browns and the leaves will rain down in a crescendo of hues. We will break out our favorite soup recipes and stock up on pumpkin spice. But for now, summer seems to have run out of magic and we find ourselves asking what’s left for us here?

In the meantime, let’s work to be present to August. It’s hot and awkward and gets a bad rap a lot of the time, but it is here now for us to take hold of. Consider it a slow transition into a busy and flourishing fall. A time to re-establish long forgotten disciplines, to find ourselves back around the tables in the evenings talking about the day. In our family, we are turning off the tv a few minutes earlier after the boys go to bed in exchange for more time to read and catch up on the day. We are setting our alarm clocks earlier to greet the day with intentionality and focus. And we are easing into our homeschool year with fresh ideas and low expectations.

For many of you, August is just August. Summer break hasn’t been a part of your world in a long time and the heat drags on in a monotony of endless blistering days. To you I would say this—it’s okay to create your own transitions. The month of the year or the temperature outside may not have any bearing on your work schedule or daily routines, but it’s never too late to begin new rhythms.

Instead of wishing for a time-machine to skip ahead, let’s find new ways to celebrate August. Let’s keep the sunscreen nearby and not be so quick to pack up the beach towels and goggles. September is coming, but let’s not miss August while it’s right in front of us.