So That Was September

It's almost gone already, my favorite month of the year. There's just something about September. It comes with arms full of blessings, and countless heartaches. It's been a full year since my sweet friend's husband passed on and I followed her home to Florida. It's been a year since I waited out Hurricane Helene and made my way back north to home. September has marked the passing of birthdays, an anniversary (ten years for Hannah and Sergio!), and my father's trip "home" 16 years ago. (How has it been so long?)

It's been another month of stretching and growing. After the heinous assassination on September 10th, I had two former friends lash out at me, one asking if I thought the murder "justified." Honestly, I am speechless. I'd heard his name prior but never listened to him speak, didn't know his face, or anything about him and his perspectives. How could anyone ever think something so horrible would be justified? Our country is writhing in anguish. I pray we can heal our wounds and find it in our hearts to love our neighbors, forgive our friends and family, and live in peace.

This past Saturday Hannah and I packed up the kids and went to the Rochester Public Market. I was comforted to see people from a variety of ethnic groups all together in one place. It healed a little piece of my grieving heart. We bought corn and potatoes, tomatoes, apples, a bottle of olive oil from the West Bank, a couple of donuts, and two empanadas. It was a beautiful morning.