Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
-Jesus
Matthew 11:28

Last Monday I read Emily’s invitation to join in on a “31 days” series for the month of October.

The idea is thirty-one days of writing. In a row. About one topic.

It sounded completely daunting and terrifying, but for some reason I couldn’t stop thinking that maybe I should join in.

But as someone who averages maybe three posts a week, the idea of writing something every single day almost made me feel like hyperventilating.

And besides, I had no topic. What on earth would I write about for that length of time? How could I possibly have anything to say about something that would matter enough to focus on for a whole month?

Then I remembered this post, and my fears.

And I just couldn’t stop thinking maybe I wanted to try.

Later that day when a topic came into my mind literally like one of those light-bulb moments you always see in old cartoons, I knew I just needed to try.

So here I am. Telling you that I’m going to try to write about one topic, every day, for the next thirty-one days.

I’m sure you’re ready to hear the topic, right?

Rest.

It’s a small word that has been of massive importance in my life in recent years.

I’ve shared about it a bit before.

But I feel like there’s just so much more to say.

In my experience the commonly held view of rest is that it sounds so wonderful, but completely impossible.

I’ve been learning that’s not necessarily true. That rest is much more possible than we tell ourselves. And so much more necessary than we acknowledge.  

A gift that’s ours for the taking. And when we pass it up we are missing out on something precious.

Maybe you’ve already learned the beauty of rest.

If so, I’d love for you to stick around for this month and add your thoughts.

Or maybe you think rest is just a nice idea that can’t ever be reality.

If so, please stick around and consider what I have to share.

I used to think rest wasn’t an option.

Now I can’t imagine life without it.

In a culture where busyness is a fetish and stillness is laziness, rest is sloth. But without rest, we miss the rest of God: the rest He invites us to enter more fully so that we might know Him more deeply.
-Mark Buchanan

To see all entries in the series just click on this image

If you want to see more 31 days themes, visit Chatting at the Sky.

I think it was around the third or fourth day of September where I just had a moment of thinking this month is going to fly by.

Of course, it has.

I've snapped pictures here and there of things I want to remember and share, but when evening comes and all is finally quiet, honestly, I don't want to do anything. Even something as simple as upload photos off my camera.

Tonight, knowing the month is quickly coming to a close, I felt the need to get over that and catch up.

Because I really wouldn't want to forget things like this. The road snaking it's way across our backyard. Built meticulously by a girl who wants to make sure that all those giant red ants are safe as they travel their daily path.

She sat and observed them for days, learning every little curve in their pilgrimage, until she was confident she could predict exactly where they would go.

Now I'm left with the dilema of despising the ants, but not wanting to wipe out all of her devoted work.

These were a thrilling find. Something new and exciting for everyone that kept us all occupied on a sick day.

We explored a beautiful trail for the first time with some friends. If you ever get the chance to go don't pass it up!

With a slowed down schedule, we've felt a little more free to make naps optional. Some days it's just fine. Other days I end up with a little girl sitting straight up in my lap while in a dead sleep.

I really don't mind.

We're learning new things and enjoying all of the fun ways we can try to cement all of that information in our brains.

The fall decor is coming out and we're having fun adding to it with every new pumpkin that ripens in the garden.

My favorite quilt is back on our bed. Makes things feel cozy.

We had an empty calendar this week. Four whole days in a row at home. (The girls and I are real excited to go out tomorrow and be with other people!)

The thrill of the quiet days at home has been a week of school fully complete without any rushing, cramming or adjusting of the lessons. 

This is rare. I want to really appreciate it.

Another perk of the slow week: I've had time to make this newly discovered and completely delicious dessert.

Twice.

(Don't worry, we made people come over to help us eat it.)

We're all excited to have our favorite daily snack, fresh from Grammy's trees.

And as we head into a new month I'm so happy I've found two new reads that I'm totally loving. One for when I need to refocus my thoughts, and one for when I just need a little diversion so I can catch my breath.

Tell me about all the little things in your September.

You are irreplaceable :::too many cares in this world tear our focus from loving our kids and just hanging out with them.

Think of the Rock ::: Is it not better to be thinking of the Rock, not of the feet that stand upon it?

Stop Complaining ::: We are blessed!  Be grateful!

Civility in the Christian Home ::: Many of us have wrongly defined our homes as places where parents are to be respected rather than as places where everyone is to be respected. 

Things are growing every second of the day. It's just that most the time I don't notice it.

Like my little girl. It seems like she just always needed a push on the swing, until one day she didn't anymore.

It appears that it happened all at once.

Because I can't see the moment by moment growth that is happening all day every day. I only see the big jumps. Not the in between.

The same thing happened with my middle girl. She couldn't read and she couldn't read, and it was so much work and we weren't getting anywhere. We took summer break from school. And when we started back two months later…she could read! Not because we'd practiced even once all summer. Just because she could. And it seemed all of the sudden, because I wasn't able to see the growing that went on in her all summer long.

My biggest girl with her long legs. I secretly fear that she'll never stop growing. Those legs will stretch a mile long and just keep on growing forever. But again I can't see it. I don't even realize it's happening til her pants get too short.

All this growth going on around me. Seemingly all by itself. Only it's not.

For more, visit the Gypsy Mama.