November and December may very well be my favorite months of the year - for two reasons. 1) my birthday and 2) the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite holidays and, lets be honest, Thanksgiving is really just a warm-up for Christmas. My family is already enjoying colorful lights, frosted sugar cookies, Christmas carols, and cozy Christmas movies. 

If you are a regular follower of my blog (or if you happen to know me in real life) you may notice that I talk a lot about "busyness." It seems to be a recurring theme in my life, and one that deserves an entire post all to itself. 
But today, I am popping in between a crazy school schedule, music lessons, winter prep, and NaNoWriMo, to leave you with a few practical bites of encouragement that help keep me smiling even in the busyness. 

Autumn is my absolute favorite season. Scarlet sunsets, crisp breezes, sweet apples after a frost, and a sudden sweep of golden color through the trees as if God just went after the hills with a paintbrush - even just standing outside breathing in the cold Fall air gives me a thrill. 
Most North Dakotans I know see Autumn as the first foreboding step towards winter. To me, it looks a little different.

What happened to August?!
I don't know about you, but summer went by way too fast for my liking, but I filled it up with all sorts of fun and memories with all of my favorite people. 
I officially graduated homeschool, attended my very first writers conference, met new friends, took senior pictures for my sis, and just plain enjoyed life!

​I stared at an empty computer screen for a long time today, wracking my brain for something to write. Usually, a quote will inspire me or a verse will leap off the pages of my Bible and I'll know just what to write about. 
Not today.