An Autumn Epistle: Thoughts, Favorites, & Seasonal Shifting...

I can now truly say "Happy Fall, y'all!" 🍂✨ 

And oh, what a beautiful, delicious fall it's been!  

A cool southeastern wind blew steadily for over 2 days recently and blew life and energy over me as the temperature lingered in the loveliest range of 55 to 78 degrees.  

Here, as I sip on a warm mug of coffee as the rain patters down and a soft autumn wind blows, I feel a peace that differs from any other season. A peace that comes from letting go. Letting go and letting God.  

Image by Emmi Nummela from Pixabay 

That's what fall is about when you really think about it. Releasing, letting go of things that you have been holding onto this year.  

The trees have to do this before they can rest during the winter.  

Is it too difficult to think that the same applies to us as well? That before we can truly rest, we must release the worries, cares, and troubles that are weighing us down?  

I saw a quote at a local Amish store last month that said, "Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go." It brought tears to my eyes, for I've been slowly learning that very fact myself throughout this year.  

And as a matter of fact, Release was my word of the year, and now I can say that God has allowed me to let go in all areas of my life, though not exactly in the ways I imagined starting out.  

I pray that each of you are enjoying Autumn and may God bless the rest of your year. Remember that He is with you always. ❤ 

Bible Reading... 

My goal to finish reading through the Bible in one year is still on track, though I am a little farther behind than I hoped.  

I started a Bible reading program late last year described by Rose Weiner in her book, Mightier than the Sword - the Pen.  

Basically, you divide up the Bible into 5 sections, starting with Genesis (law), Psalms, Proverbs (poetry), Isaiah (prophets), Matthew (gospels-Acts), and Romans (epistles) and read a chapter from each section every day, continuing on in this order.  

For reference, at the moment, I am reading Joshua - Esther - Song of Solomon - Hosea - Revelation. 

Since I finished the Gospels first, I started 1 Chronicles and went on from there because there were so many books between Genesis and Psalms! (If I did not have the goal of completing the Bible in a year, I would have started the Gospels over again once I finished John, doing the same with the Psalms and Proverbs section.). 

Because the Bible is the Word of our Living God, I wanted to share a few verses to remember and reflect this season. May they encourage and bless you to read them.  

Psalm 136:26 - Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever. 

Proverbs 3:7-8 - Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 

Isaiah 30:15 - In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. 

Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. 

Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

Colossians 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

Books... 📚 

'Tis the season for book reading!!  

I just read through the whole series of Anne of Green Gables with a dear friend who had never read it before, barring the first book, and all 8 books are so delightful!  

Also, I'm in the middle of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat and oh! Favorite cooking book ever!  

Books on my list for the rest of Autumn and the year include:  

• The Iliad by Homer 

• The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp 

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte  

• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott 

What books are on your reading list for the rest of the year?  

Music... 🎶 

Music stirs the emotions of souls. I love playing background music while doing school, cooking, cleaning, or writing - basically any chance I get, I'll put on some music.  

Here are some beautiful ones that are my especial favorites right now. - All links are from YouTube. :)  

Crazy Love (Calm Instrumental Worship) from Dan Musselman -- Dan's instrumental worship music is so calming and relaxing. He has a gift.  

a comforting classical playlist (for relaxing/studying/reading) from Ophelia Wilde --  

I LOVE Ophelia's playlists! 

Upbeat Music from Satisfyingly Relaxing Ambience -- love this one for when I need energy to work on a project or chores. :)  

HEALER - Soaking worship instrumental from Central Record -- so peaceful and beautiful. 

Recipes ... ☕ 

As it grows cooler, I have been loving warmer drinks. There's something so comforting when you hold a toasty mug between your hands on a chilly morning. *Sigh. 

Here are a few recipes I've been enjoying recently.  

Homemade Chai 🫚🫖 

**Disclaimer: I don't measure anything, so no batch is exactly the same, and that's why I love it! -- The measurements are estimates --  

To 3 cups of water in a saucepan, add:  

• 1 cinnamon stick 

• 2 tsp orange peel 

• 2 tsp rose petals 

• 1 tsp dried ginger 

• generous pinch of each:  

  • fennel 

  • whole black peppercorns 

  • clove 

  • fenugreek 

  • rose hips 

I don't always add everything listed above - a batch I made yesterday only had cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, fennel, peppercorns, and clove - with an additional ingredient of cut and sifted ashwagandha root.  

Bring to a boil and lower temp to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes. I usually let it simmer until it's reduced by a third.  

If you'd like to add black tea, do that at the end when you remove the pot from heat and steep for 3-5 minutes.  

Then strain and add milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, or anything else you'd like!  

You may also add spices such as nutmeg and cardamom to the pot - or anything else you desire - this recipe is just what I've been making recently.  

Enjoy this warming, fragrant tea!!  

Pine Needle Spice Tea 🌲✨ 

This is a recipe I came up with last year when I discovered that our pine tree needles are edible and high in vitamin C.  

**Do your own research and make sure that if you harvest your own pine needles, they are edible!  

To 3 cups of water in saucepan, add: 

• Handful of freshly picked pine needles  

• 1 tsp clove 

• 1 tsp ginger 

• Optional:  

  • fennel 

Simmer for 15-20 minutes, strain and add a splash of milk and sweetener if desired (clove is a bit bitter, so I enjoy a little honey in mine).  

I know this recipe looks similar to chai, but personally, it has a very different flavor and feel - but I love this just as much as I love chai!  

My Favorite Coffee ☕ 

I don't often have real coffee, but today with the rain I craved coffee over anything else. Usually, I'm a latte sort of a girl, but this recipe has cream rather than milk! :)  

My favorite coffee is simple:  

A mug of black coffee to which you add:  

• splash of cream 

• 1/2 - 1 tbsp sugar (or maple syrup)  

• 1 tbsp collagen 

• a dash of vanilla extract, if desired.  

Ahhh, so simple, yet delicious.  

I don't have meal recipes to share with y'all, but we've also been loving soups, stews and sourdough bread. - I have a batch of focaccia and sourdough bread-sticks in the oven as we speak!  

Writing ... ✍ 

I made a list of journal prompts for the whole month of November and committed to answering every single one!  

I am one day behind at the moment 😅 but I'll catch up! I've never done journaling prompts for a whole month, but I am loving it!!  

Also, am sticking with daily habit tracking in my bullet journal, along with a sleep log and mood tracker. (Love bullet journals!)  

Seasonal Shifts... 🍂 

With the sun setting earlier in the day now, and longer evenings (yay!), I've been enjoying adding more winter projects to my evenings - so far that has been journaling and story writing and editing.  

My other evening projects include:  

• Crocheting and finishing a blanket I started this year 

• Letter writing by candlelight 

• Scrapbooking  

• Writing in my commonplace book 

• Calligraphy 

• Watercolor 

I love this season of shifting inward and indoors. Oh, I absolutely love spending time outdoors - my barefoot walks amidst the autumn leaves are a must everyday - but I also love this natural slowing down and the desire to do quiet work that is often forgotten (at least for me) during the outside-focused summer months. Isn't it beautiful that God gave us seasons with different areas of focus?  

🍂 Autumn is letting go, releasing, turning inward, gratitude, pumpkin, soups, vivid reds and earthy browns, apples, oak trees, skirts, sweaters, a mug of chai and cookie, academia, a pile of leaves, chilly breeze, reading a book on a rainy afternoon 

❄ Winter is hibernation, rest and restoration, patience, drawing closer to God, icy mornings, frosty breaths, icy blues, silvers and pure white, pine trees, hearty stews, wool dresses, thick socks, icicles, a mug of hot cocoa, reading a book while toasting before a crackling wood fire  

🌸 Spring is life, thawing, emerging, expanding, energy, joy, pale green and delicate pinks, fragrant apple blossoms and wild cherry trees, salads, green or herbal tea, feminine blouses, flowers budding, bees buzzing, birds rejoicing, reading a book in a field surrounded by wild flowers 

🌳 Summer is growth, fullness, fruition, fresh, peace, vibrant green, thick, lush grass, sweet magnolia and sycamore trees, a red rose, tea parties, flowery dresses, walking barefoot, rich soil, juicy, sweet watermelon, a ripe tomato, sourdough, thunderstorms, reading a book under the shade of a maple tree 

There is so much beauty in each season.  

I truly want to know - what are your personal favorites from each season of the year?  

God bless you and may you live to His glory today and always. ❤ 

🩷 Leah Beth