In January I suggested we “write a book together” in 2024 and pitched the idea of assigning each month a chapter title.
So far, I’ve had:
- January – Steady: Finding Solid Ground After a Year of Drowning
- February – Busy (with Intention): Making Time for Things that Provide Joy, Energy, and Thrill
- March – Up and Down: Trying to Enjoy the View from Life’s Rollercoaster
- April – Spring Cleaning: Unpacking My Bags and Tidying Up (Oh, and Look At Those Pretty Flowers!)
- May – Reflection: Another Trip Around the Sun – Let’s Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
- June – The Murky Middle: Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
- July – Unexpected: When Plans Go Awry, Life Still Provides Happy Moments
- August – Summer Adventures: Seeing the World and Coming Back Home
September. I entered the month with so much hope and enthusiasm – and there were some really great moments – but it wasn’t quite the return to routine I was expecting. School drama and lingering illnesses took some of the shine off our month. But I was still able to have some fun adventures with the kids, host an epic party for our daughter, and enjoy a fabulous lunch date with my husband.
September – Underwhelming: Fiascos with Enough Fun To Stay *Mostly* Positive
Your turn. How would you label Chapter Nine (September 2024)?
Header photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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September: De Profundis.
Background music: I am not okay by jelly roll.
Let’s move along to a new month, okay?
Oof. That sounds like a very rough month indeed. It has been a tough year for you. I’m hoping a fresh monthly start feels both practically and symbolically helpful. But I’m sorry things are so hard; here’s hoping you get out of those depths very soon <3
Ha, I like “Underwhelming Fiascos.” I guess my title for September would be something like “Almost There.” As in, I ALMOST enjoyed fall and all the pumpkins, my running is ALMOST getting back to normal- but things weren’t quite what I wanted them to be. Well, onward! October is a new month.
Almost there! If feels like straining toward the finish line which is a wonderful feeling! You’ve almost made it, and without calf pain for a change!!!
I hope you get to see all the pumpkins your heart could desire.
I’m so glad you remind us to do this, Elisabeth.
January: It Happened
February: CBBC, Tornadoes, and Snail Mailpalooza
March: SAD Lamp Needed
April: Denial…It Ain’t Just a River in Egypt
May: On the Road Again
June: Rainy Days and Rainy Nights
July: The Hospital and The Olympics
August: The End of Summer Suck
September: Routinely Fine
We’re back in a routine now that students are back and everything was pretty good in September. I’m going to count that as a winning month since this year has been a bit stressful!
You know, sometimes, in the middle of a cluster of a year, it’s such a relief to just have routine and be fine. I don’t even need great…just fine. It’s 1000x better than awful!
This has been a hard year for you, so I am also counting fine as a win and the sign of good things to come <3
I would sum up September with: Anywhere But Home. We traveled every single weekend in September. Sometimes it was just a day trip, but still a lot of going places. Every trip included a college . . . I took Reg to look at a college in Minnesota, I took the two foster girls to tailgate at Notre Dame for the day, I drove 2 hours to spend the day tailgating with Mini at an away ND game, Coach and I drove 6.5 hours to spend the weekend with Tank at his college’s parents’ weekend, and then Coach and I drove back to ND to tailgate with Minin and friends before racing home to take photos of Curly for homecoming. We are out of town a lot in October again, but I’m home about half of the weekends and my house is ready for some attention.
Wow! That’s a lot of being out of your own space. I don’t know about you, but I find that EXHAUSTING.
That sounds like a lot of fun tailgating, though!
Chapter 9: In Which Nothing Goes According To Plan Causing Our Heroine To Fret
Fingers crossed Chapter 10 is more upbeat.
Oh Ally…this does sound ominous. Hoping Chapter 10 provides the perfect resolution for our heroine.
I am glad that your month had some fun in it, even if it was a bit chaotic!
Also, I just realized I skipped chapter eight! August was all about the Great Lakes for me, and September included more time off the bike than I have had so far, so…here are all of my chapters so far, including my two newest chapters!!
Chapter One – January: Everything Must Go!
Chapter Two – February: The Life Changing Event
Chapter Three – March: A New Beginning
Chapter Four – April: An Unquenched Hunger
Chapter Five – May: The Next Province
Chapter Six – June: From Freezing Snow to Burning Sunshine in Three Days
Chapter Seven – July: The Path Less Taken
Chapter Eight – August: The Great Expanse
Chapter Nine – September: Taking A Step Back
You should write a book – seriously. You already have the chapters sketched out for your book proposal…what’s to stop you?! I’d be first in line to read it!
I think I’ve already used this title for a month, but my month title would be “September: So. Much. Travel.”
That’s the theme of your year! I suspect it will only get easier as the boys get older and the parenting challenges diminish. You’re juggling a lot in addition to all that time away and the wear/tear that travel of any form takes on the body.
Thank you for this, Elisabeth!
January: Chapter One: Rest and Relaxation.
February, chapter 2: spring awakening+more energy
March, chapter 3: anticipation and je t”aime Paris
April, chapter 4: garden and community
May: overwhelmed + busy
June: convalescing and camping
July: rest for me, camp for kids
August: Bella Italia + Back to School
September: Over My Head
It was a rough month.
The return to school is so intense and you had so many big things thrown your way last month with the passing of Athena, T being away, the kids settling in to school, all the extracurriculars, and your busy return to work. Gah. I hope October has some moments for you to step back and take some deep breaths and enjoy some leisurely naps <3
I am so glad September wasn’t all bad… it’s good to always look for the highlights! 🙂
I’d label my September as… Ch..ch…ch…changes!
Yes! You have some big changes in your life. It’s exciting and overwhelming but I can’t wait for you to get settled and enjoy that extra space!!!
I’m late to this, but mine would be:
September: Busy, But Mostly Peaceful, and Here Comes Hockey Season!
Hockey season! I think being a hockey fan is ideal for North Americans because it can help distract us from the dark days of winter. Though, I suppose, in Florida it’s not quite so bad? Winter might just be your favourite season?