I love October. My heart seems to warm as the temperature drops. Change has a way of recycling the spirit that way. This month I dream of crunchy leaves, steamy drinks, nourishing soups, cooling running weather, watching football games from the bleachers, and homemade hot doughnuts from the apple orchard. 

For those of us who inhabit the blogosphere, we enjoy the annual 31 Day series hosted by the Nester. Last year over 1,200 bloggers participated! I did my own series two years ago and I’m so glad I did. Writing and publishing every day on one theme is a great exercise for writers. It also requires some significant commitment. 

But this month I’m saying no to my own 31 Days series so that I can be true to family commitments, my personal reading-writing-study commitments, and a project or two. I also wrote Being Cool About School, that rather in-depth series in September about finding grace and freedom for ourselves and others in our educational choices. 

Since I’m not posting every day this month, I am really looking forward to reading a few of my favorite folks’ 31 Day Series. Who will I be reading this October? Pretty much the same people I read on a regular basis that just happen to be doing 31 Day series. I doubt I’ll get to each and every post but I’m looking forward to the topics.

I’ve listed nine here. We’ll surely be savoring these well into November and beyond.

So those are the series I’m hoping to visit as I’m able to this month. Or next. Let me know if you have some favorite 31 Day-ers out there.

Though October is a full and scheduled month, I’m also looking forward to soul rest and renewal as I continue my study of Matthew and settle in with a couple of books. 

Speaking of books, feast your eyes on the lovely goodness that arrived in my mailbox yesterday… 

I am 10 shades of giddy. Emily is one of my favorite writers. I love her for many reasons, not the least of which is our same taste in clothes. 

She was one of the very first bloggers I began following six or seven years ago. She is relatable and wise, and her gentle words breathe grace. Always grace. 

I’ve read Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life three times now. I also have Graceful, the same message written for teenage girls. It’s a book I wish I’d had when I was trudging through my own try-hard teenage years. Emily’s is not a message of Christian fluff and feel-better-ness; she writes deeply of grace, of what it really means to live a life hidden with Christ.

But this book that released yesterday is different than her first two. I’d do it such injustice if I try to write about it with my own words so here’s the 90-second trailer. Take a peek? {If you’re reading this in bloglovin’ or another reader, you’ll need to click over to the actual blog.}

I’m thinking of calling in sick for the rest of the week so I can just hang out with the book. 

Each new season brings opportunities, occasions for yes and occasions for no. Even though I’m forty years old, I struggle with this reality. I recognize my personal need and my family’s need for margin, for prioritizing rest and worship. An array of good things call to us and to our children every time we turn around. Good things that promote fellowship, enrichment, education, and service. 

Sometimes it’s downright painful to say no to the good things. We’ve had to make some of these challenging decisions in recent weeks and it’s revealed just how tightly we cling to great opportunities, especially when it seems like “everyone else” is saying yes. 

Individually and collectively, my family has had to practice the concept of opportunity cost. My own heart has rebelled against certain decisions even though I know deep down that they’re simply not feasible or fruitful at this time.

As this new season brings change and opportunity, let’s remember that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Let’s be deliberate about the invitations we accept for this season and the ones we decline and save for another.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this concept of seasons and time, what yes means and what no means and how life-giving each one of those seemingly contradictory answers can be, all depending on the season.   

My next post is going to dig deeper into this very issue. I hope you’ll join me Friday.

How about you? Do you feel the pull to say yes to the many good opportunities that find their way into a single season?