It’s been a great summer! For many of us, there has been downtime, traveling, fun in the sun, and lots of crazy good times. Likely there’s been some difficulty, frustration, and troubled days too. Perhaps there have also been a few more than normal ice cream cones and trips through the fast food lane. No worries. We’re not perfect, nor are we health-nut-Nazis.
But now that Fall is upon us, who’s ready to settle into a nice routine? Who’s ready to get some healthy food prepared ahead of time, get the house more organized and manageable, fine-tune the budget, start exercising regularly, get the natural medicine cabinet stocked for winter – any or all of the above?!
I always feel this way when September hits. I super-love the flexibility of summer. But I’m ready for routine, I’m ready to find more organization in my days, and I’m ready to breathe in a fresh breath of all that this season offers.
Who is with me? Let’s hit the Restart button!
Through the entire month of September, we’ll be hitting the restart button together around here. We’ll have new recipes, freebies, sales, rockin’ giveaways, tips and ideas, and encouragement. Hey, I’m doing this for me as much as I’m doing it for you. Actually, technically, you’re doing this for me. Sharing these ideas refreshes me – so thanks for the kick. Bam. Smack that Restart Button! Here we go.
First off – let’s start with a giveaway. All the books, eBooks, and eCourses in my shop are geared toward making your real food journey easier. They’ll help you hit the restart button – so how about we give some away? Leave a comment on this post sharing what you’re most excited about this fall as you hit the restart button. Wednesday, September 3 I’ll draw 5 random winners who will each win a $10 gift certificate that can be used on any downloadable product or eCourse we carry. Let your comments begin:
I am most excited about getting back on track with cooking. I miss the homemade meals.
There is something so comforting about routine. Healthier eating again is something I’m looking forward to also! We indulged in a lot of ice cream this summer – totally worth it, but it’s time to get back to normal. Thanks Laura!
Because I bake for our local farmers’ market (your no-knead yeast bread is a best seller by the way!) I don’t bake a whole lot of extras for our family other than the list for market. I am looking forward to trying out some new recipes for US – many of them coming from your website!!!
Also, starting school with my son. He is so excited about kindergarten. Books are on the way!!
Because I bake for our local farmers’ market (your no-knead yeast bread is a best seller by the way!) I don’t bake a whole lot of extras for our family other than the list for market. I am looking forward to trying out some new recipes for US – many of them coming from your website!!!
Also, starting school with my son. He is so excited about kindergarten. Books are on the way!!
I’m ready to get back into a regular exercise routine & meal planning.
I am definitely ready to get back into my exercise routine and the daily routine of homeschooling my kiddos!
I am excited to get back in a routine!!! ugh! Its been a crazy summer but a fun one! So excited for this year of homeschooling as well;)
I’m excited for it to be cool enough to go outside for walks!!
I’m working on getting into a housework routine. I’m tired of slacking off an then having a huge mess that is overwhelming. Also looking forward to starting our official homeschool journey as our oldest starts kindergarten. :)
I’m looking forward to the benefits of routine and am hoping to make walks a regular part of each day. Also, I teach high school English part-time at a wonderful Christian high school and am venturing into homeschooling for the first time with my youngest in preschool. It will be a great adventure! I realize now that I should have bought Learn Your Letters when it was on sale for your birthday.
May God continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for your blog!
Ah, the crispness of Fall will soon be in the air!
We are welcoming baby girl #3 in our home in early September and we will definitely be at home getting in a great routine with her. Being home means I can spend extra time with my two bigger girls (4 and 2.5 years old), as well as getting to know my new girl. And we can spend some time in the kitchen, prepping freezer meals and cooking together (with the bigger girls of course!). There will be tons of outside play and getting into better eating habits. The summer and being pregnant have definitely put us in more fast food lines and ice cream cone days than I’d care to admit! :)
But, like you said, let’s hit that restart button and get back into good habits!!!
I’m looking forward to the return of routine; return of purposeful academics; the return (or even initial institution) of a cleaning routine; and just a general change of pace. Summer has been fantastic, but we’re ready for a new season!
I am excited to start our first year of ‘more serious’ homeschooling! Out first grader is ready to do a bit more seat work and a broader range of subject studies…so it is more of a start than a restart, but regardless we’ll be settling into a routine in a couple of weeks. (Grandma starts chemo and a family vacation are taking up the first two weeks of Sept, so we are easing in until the third week of Sept.). This will be great to follow!
Baking some healthy snacks instead of buying prepackaged healthy snacks to save money and to push the restart button on our budgeting practices since we have been slacking.
I’m excited for the house we’re building to finally be done so we can move in!
I am so ready to hit that “Restart Button”!!! My freezer is empty of all the make ahead meals, the house has been neglected, the budget has been tossed to the side and I’m wearing an extra 10 lbs. It’s time to get back in control. Lead on……
Restart for sure! We are looking for a new Church fellowship. I want to find ways to serve as I am no longer homeschooling. We are adjusting to our kids living 1200+ miles away at College. I am relearning to cook for only two. I am excited for this Fall! (And missing my kids…)
This fall begins a new chapter in my like. I am having a baby :)
Pumpkin… I know, nothing to do with a restart but with fall, and fall colors and smell. We have hit the restart button on homeschooling already; we are excited about all our subjects with great books!
I’m excited to get back in a routine and to give homeschooling a try with my preschooler.
Cooking soups and stews and stick to your ribs fall food
I’m most excited for a new home and breaking in my new oven with comforting fall baked goods! But I can’t forget about a fresh start to the homeschooling year, to remedy some of last years mistakes!
I am excited for the fall events….apple festivals, fall foliage rides, etc. Time to energize before the holidays.
Get back to eating healthier and exercising . Thanks
I’m excited about cooler weather coming…sweaters, fall decorations, fall foods. thx
I’m excited that we have begun our homeschooling year. I’m looking forward to making pots of soup and homemade muffins with my family.
I am excited for homeschooling routine, homeschool co-op to begin, and make a head meals. I need to make exercise a habit too.
Ah, yes, I love the change of seasons. This one, however, I wasn’t quite ready for. Our summer got off to a late start so fall felt like it came way too early.
The kids have been back to school for a week and I have come to enjoy the new routine.
I am excited to start harvesting my tomatoes and making salsa and sauces!
I can’t wait for the routine and getting some meals in the freezer!
(Side note…my husband wrote a song that your post reminded me of. “…and You pressed restart and You changed my heart and You made my life a work of art…” We live/work at a Christian camp so we sing a lot here!)
I am hoping for cooler weather so we can get out and do more walking. I am also going over my favorite cookbook; Oh, For Real, for more recipes to try.
I am excited to start homeschooling my son and getting into a routine.
Going for brisk walks in crisp air then coming in and smelling fresh baked deliciousness wafting from the kitchen………..Autumn is my favorite season.
Character building and my kids thinning down!
I am ready to RESTART this fall by re-adjusting my life without any children at home. My youngest just started college and lives away from home. Cooking for two is an adjustment, since I love to cook and bake so much! I am so ready for a little bit of a slower pace this fall. Summer has been busy and FULL of activities. The Lord blessed us with a bountiful garden and now lots of homecanned goodies! RESTART button this fall also includes making the best choices on our eating habits and time.
I’m excited about cooler weather so I can use the oven, and fall activities with my kids: apple picking and pumpkin farms!
I’m ready to get back into the swing of things with cooking–and working on stocking my freezer.
Feeling overwhelm right now we are doing homeschooling for the first time this year. She in 8th grade but I want to restart eating healthy. I got myself a nutrimill with my work schedule I haven’t had change to use it. My house needs a good scrubing and I want routine in my life. I get more done that way and work not sure about that I may end be able to work. Last night was the first night we ate as a family in three weeks and I missed that the most.
I am looking for the new normal. One just started college and a job, so just 3 to cook for most of the time around here. I have to figure out what works in the new normal.
Probably hitting a good stride in out homeschooling!
My littles are not in school yet. To me, fall is the end of temps over 100 and more time outside.
I’m ready to hit the re-start button! Time to get the kids dressers and closets organized for school and start preparing more food at home! :)
I thank God for restarts and new mercies everyday! Thank you for being such an encouragement to me from afar.
I am most excited about restarting healthy living…summer and it’s heat gets me into bad habits and I want to get back to what I know makes me stronger and healthier….and happier!
I am looking forward to the cooler days making being in the kitchen more enjoyable.
Feeling it in the air here too in CO. Excited for books to come, regular lessons to dive into, enrichment classes to enjoy, etc. Would love it if you did tutorials on making homemade cold remedies (elderberry syrup, gummies for echinacea, astragalus, others) Here’s one we do: harvest and dry (or order) mullein leaves. When a phlemmy cough is present, make a tea with about 2tsp mullein with lemon juice and a little honey, really is soothing and breaks up the mucous without all the chemicals and dyes, and is an expectorant.
Hi Laura, i SO identify with your post! Here in GA we start school pretty early, so we’re already hitting restart. My testimony is about MARGIN! YES! We’ve been part-time homeschoolers for 5 years, but this year we are 90% on our own. We’re three weeks in, having been miraculously carried by God each day. Like you, i also LOVE the flexibility of summer. i love the freedom to come and go without a lot of school-related obligations or responsibilities. i REALLY love just being ‘Mom’ and not being the teacher, too. However, here we are back in school. i’m finding the routine to really be comforting…probably like a swaddled newborn…the confines provide a measure of security. And lo and behold…MARGIN! School wraps up, and we still have an hour or two or even three before time for dinner prep or soccer practice! My house is CLEANER now than during the summer. WHAT? Nothing short of a miracle! (Oh and in October, we’ll be tackling “Teaching Your Kids to Cook” as our mid-semester break from social studies. Wahoo!)
I am ready for cooler weather to come around during so I can get back to baking and cooking meals that require the oven. Also ready to turn all of the berries I froze into jams, syrups and pie fillings!
I am so excited for the daily routine again. I love sleeping in and letting my kiddos run, but am so ready to have a full schedule again.
Great Idea! I always love the routine of that fall brings with school back in. This past summer was my busiest summer ever. I had a daughter get married, a son go away to college for the first time and I put my 2 younger children in public school for the first time. So in 21 years I do not have a child at home in the daytime. All 5 of them are gone during the hours of 8-4. I would love to be motivated to start doing a LOT more healthy cooking. Thanks for the boost!
I’m looking forward to the change in seasons especially some cooler weather! I am also ready to have a healthier, more organized meal/cooking routine for my family.
I just told my husband and little girl the other day that I was so excited about the coming season…we started harvesting the other day so that helped put me in the ‘fall-mood’. I’m lookin forward to fall decorating and finishing some projects around the house and getting the rest of my post-baby weight off!! And of course all the fun-to-cook fall foods :) Here’s to a rejuvenating FALL!!
We have started getting into routine again. Lots of hard work with homeschooling a 4th and 5th grader and having a 1 yr old in tow. But it makes our days full and rewarding.
I’m looking toward to starting another homeschool year with new, fresh curriculums … Sign language & auto mechanics!
The pumpkin patch and our favorite cold weather meals :)
Fall is my favorite time of year. I am most looking forward to days of baking, cooler weather, fall leaves, homeschool routine, the peace that settles over our home in the fall. I could go on and on! :)
I am so ready for a re-start. With my kitchen undergoing a remodel, there has been far too much take out/processed food and I crave real food. Salads have made a major comeback for us, seeing how you get an assortment of veggies to go with the hotdogs or takeout. Baking has vanished completely. But a re-start is coming! Oh, your Bacon Avacado Egg Salad sounded gross, but I totally LOVED it. Thanks!
I was pregnant and really sick last fall, so I’m excited about everything! I’m really looking forward to all the pumpkin and apple recipes.
Organization, and structure as we begin anther home school year! Summer was fun, I am excited to get into our home school routine.
I’m excited for a more solid routine and starting our homeschool year again. Our house is so much more organized and clean during the school year. But summer was definitely enjoyable!
Also, I’m honestly most looking forward to a break from daily milkings as I dry up the cows in late November.
And cocoa. Have to be looking forward to that!
Bring it on! I feel the same way about September; much more so than January! Summer was a refreshing change but fall brings hope for improved habits, I think. I especially love the cooler weather that makes yummy casseroles and warm bread from the oven so much more enjoyable!
Okay, this is going to sound a little weird maybe, but the thing I’m looking forward to the most this Fall is the smells and the crispy air. The smokey, pumpkiny, crispy air smells make my tummy do happy little flip flops that change my entire mood in a matter of seconds. :)
Ahhh, the irony. We actually eat better in the summer as veggies and fruit are plentiful at the farmer’s market and WE are in control of what our kids eat. We literally made till the middle of August, with no candy, processed food/snacks, etc. Until 2 of my girls started school this week. On the first day, my oldest got Lucky Charms for a snack and Skittles for an ice breaker activity. All this from a school with a healthy snack policy in place.
Our house on the other hand, is in need of a through cleaning and reorganizing. It should be a little easier to accomplish with 2 less kiddos underfoot.
I am starting graduate school in seminary. Masters in Christian Leadership here I come. :-)
Starting today I am restocking the freezer with soups and chili because I am tired of sandwiches. We just took over the managing of a cattle farm so it’s been go,go, go and and we are just getting into a routine with cattle, hens and gardens. It’s been a huge change from ” corporate America” and worth every minute. I’m also making salsa, sauce, burritos, shredded chicken and whatever else I can squeexpze in this weekend to get a head start.
I’m a cold weather cook. Meaning I love all the comfort foods that come with the cold weather. Can’t wait to be making soups and stews and all those nice fall and winter comfort foods.
Excited to get back into a routine! Also, looking forward to my Monday night Bible study starting up again!! And baking…love all the fall pumpkin stuff! I know I can make it year round …but it is just better in the Fall!!
I’m enjoying the new school year and the new Girl Scout year as we are getting back into the daily routine. I am also enjoying our new “get healthy” routine of eating smarter.
Fall is my favorite season , the cool weather, beautiful colors of the trees, the warm cozy look and feel of my home ,and the wonderful aromas coming from my kitchen, soup, stews chili and fresh bake breads and other tasty treats. Oh yes, I’m ready for fall!
Excited for fall weather and the wonderful fall foods.. and also for all the icky outside days that let me feel it’s a good thing to stay insode and crochet or spin or.. well you get the idea! Can’t wait to see all the ideas that come though. I’m enjoying today as one last day of summer with a girl’s day out and concert today with my three daughters. Tomorrow I’ll hit the restart button before I crawl out of bed!
Julie
So ready for cooler weather and time to make soup again!
Getting back into a routine after summer is always good for my family. The kids are back in school, and I started a new part time job, so I need to find a new routine to include that.
Looking forward to learning and growing with my kids as we homeschool together.
I am in a different season of life than most of you here. As empty nesters we don’t have as many markers in our year. So, mostly what I am looking forward to is cooler weather and some trips that we have planned for this fall.
Please don’t use “Nazi” lightly. I am german and do feel offended by this way of using it. It is not to be taken lightly. Thanks.
So pumpkin probably doesn’t fall into a reset mode, but I am so excited for pumpkin steamers!! Along the lines of reset, I’m looking forward to more effective routines resulting in a cleaner house. Ha! Pumpkin is more exciting, while a clean house is more calming. :)
I’m looking forward to the new study year. I am down to 2 kids now as opposed to 4 last year, 5 the year before and 6 in years prior. I’m thinking things will be a bit slower.
I am excited to re-fill my pantry and my freezer. When I restart, I always go back to this website and your cookbook. It is predictable, yummy, and healthy.
Looking forward to another school year, 6 in school this year plus a 1 and 3 year old. Life is busy, God is good!
I am ready for cooler weather and the cooking and baking that goes along with that!
I am going back to college to finish my degree! With 2 kids at home, this should be a wild ride! =)
I love fall! I’m looking forward to cooler weather and some rain. I live in East Texas. We have had a hot, dry August. I also look forward to baking more pumpkin bread and muffins!
I’m looking forward to harvesting apples and making applesauce and dehydrating them. Also going on walks with my kids and dog when the weather is cooler.
Fall for me is like Jan 1st for others. Time to plan and map out my fall, winter and spring.
There are so many things I am blessed to look forward to-but learning along with my kids is probably my favorite. We have a stack of classics that I can’t wait to dive into, or for my kids to dive into, I should say!
Looking forward to routine!!!! My little guy is back in school so i am hoping to get some fall cleaning done and get some freezer friendly meals made!
I’m looking forward to being back on a regular schedule, knowing who will be home and at what time so I can plan some good, healthy meals. Just re-read “Oh, For Real!” and got some great breakfast ideas, too.
Fall is our favorite season and this year we are anticipating two grandchildren – one in September and the other in October. God is good!
I am looking forward to having our 5th child join our family sometime in the next few weeks. Then just finding a routine that works for us. This will be our first time to have a new baby during the home school year.
Re-Start, perfect! We relocated to the midwest this summer and are settled enough to get back to our routine. I’m excited for this re-start! Thanks for the giveaway!
Just like you, I have enjoyed a relaxed summer, but for whatever reason, I crave routine. I am looking forward to getting back to our homeschooling schedule and a more regular meal routine. Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m looking forward to once again seeing God’s hand on this season. The colors of fall and how God controls every bit of beautiful! The Feast of Tabernacles is in the fall and I love seeing how God provides for our every need. He is so gracious to us.
I’m looking forward to a new year of homeschooling, the persimmon harvest in a few weeks and getting a menu plan organized again.
I’m excited to have a routine around here again and do a major toy purge!
I’m excited about cooler weather! It’s been in the 100s… low 90s today. I could use a re-start.
I’m looking forward to cool fall evenings with leaves turning and a warm pot of soup!
I am looking forward to having a more consistent routine for each day this fall. I love the cooler fall weather too!
Glad to see you back, Sometimes you just need to step back, assess, regroup and restart.!!
Can’t wait to catch up on many things that didn’t get done because we were gone so much this summer!
I am most excited about the apples at the farmers market and using my crockpot:)
I am looking forward to having my kids help pack their lunches, they have great ideas to mix it up and keep it crunchy!
Looking forward to cool weather, cooking and a regular routine.
I am excited to get into a routine of eating better and excersizing on a regular basis.
Having just completed an international move (Turkey to Georgia, the state) I am excited to get everything back to some sort of routine – home, school, food, you name it. It has been a long 12 weeks and once the rest of our stuff (and car) get here, we will finally be settled. However, my kitchen stuff is here and I am done with fast-food and hotel living. Bring on all the nutrition – I miss it.
I am ready to get back to the routine as well! Better prepared with dinners, workouts and lose some weight! I am ready for a restart too! :-)
Getting back to homeschool, cooking, and regular football Sunday nights!
I love the fall season and as I read your reasons to hit the “re-start” button, many applied. I am just delving into essential oils so I hope they expand my healthy medicine cabinet. I definitely need to attack weight gain and exercise more. I know that with back to school and the activities it brings necessitates a routine and organized home. Shall I go on? Looking forward to your posts!
A ‘re-start…exactly what I need. We just headed back to school and I need to revamp menu plans, cleaning schedules etc. For the next few years I’m working at the school to pay off debts so fall is the perfect time to get routines working for me. Looking forward to reading this series.
Totally unrelated to getting back to a routine, but I am looking forward to a friend’s wedding in October that will give my husband and I two nights away from home and a black tie reception to go to! It’ll be our first time away together since our daughter was born 4 years ago!
I am ready for a routine. Home organization, exercise and preparing meals and lunches ahead so that I am not wondering the next day what is for lunch and dinner.
I’m excited for a start on canning garden tomatoes! It’s a little later in Washington than in other parts of the country!
I’m ready for home organizartion and homeschooling!
I’m ready for regular exercise time and a clean house.
Getting back to a routine and good healthy cooking.
I love being able to start using my oven again and baking again!
We are a military family that moved to South Korea in April. Life has been crazy and unorganized since arrived, then the hot, humid summer hit and my main focus what finding some place to keep cool and still explore our new surroundings. I’m excited for fall because of cooler weather so that I can finish getting our home in order and making a weekly menu so I can enjoy cooking for my famy again.
We’ve had storms this summer that put all our other projects on the back burner when necessary clean up from falling trees…on our wood house became top priority since we live in the snow belt. Now that things are closer in hand, i’m looking forward to getting the sewing room set up, the place where we yoga made convenient & the freezer stocked with plenty of soup makin’s for cold winter days. The season of sewing grandkids pj’s is upon me :)
I love to cook but I need a restart button in meal planning. I would love to peruse your meal planning 1 2 3 book. And I could use some help in the breakfast category. I would love to win a coy of breakfast out of the box cookbook.
Everyday is a fresh start and I love that part of the day.
Thanks for the resources to help us get started again!
I am ready to get back into a routine and to start menu planning again. We’ve been flowing lately but it really stresses me. Can’t wait to restart!
Yes! Definitely ready for routine and less hectic days . Is that possible when school starts?!
I’m ready to start freezer cooking healthy meals and exercising regularly. I love your resources and recipes! Thanks so much!
I’m looking forward to start seeing the neighbors again as we come out as the temp. stars cooling off. we live in thr Phoenix metro-plex area. meals are sort of chaotic with a vegertarian, 1 meat loving man, a chicken eater, and lastly a pre-teen only wanting STARCHY food. your meal planning 1 2 3 book might just help all of us have successful, HEALTHY meals. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
I just had a baby on 8/25, so I’m looking forward to getting some more sleep (or at least a better routine than the first week), extra cuddles, and enjoying having my 3 yo out of daycare for extra mommy time until my leave is through!
I’m excited for hot tea, and yummy pumpkin goodies, healthy ones, of course.
Wow, so fun! I am most excited about our new home being ready for us. We are in the final stages of building our home and will close on it the end of Sept. We can NOT wait and are beyond excited to hit that RESTART button on a new home! Let the fun begin!
One canning season is over, I’m looking forward to getting back to a regular exercise routine. And replenishing the freezer meals I’ve used up in order to survive canning this season!
Thanks Laura!
I love the fall and getting back into a routine. Especially getting back to healthier eating and a healthier lifestyle.
We moved over the summer and I am very much looking forward to baking my own bread again as well as getting the freezer stocked with some good easy to reheat breakfast foods!
My youngest just turned a year in August… Looking forward to getting serious about daily exercise and dropping the baby weight along with
Better menu planning with healthier meals!
We will restart home school in September, but we also just moved back on our sailboat. I can not wait to restart that adventure as a family again.
Most excited for kids to start school!
We just started our school year at home and that is always exciting. Looking forward to getting our routines in order–so we definitely need a re-start button for that! Thank you for all the things you have planned for us. Looking forward to see what is coming next.
I am so ready for a re-start. Even though we are on our fourth week back to school we have yet to settle into our routine (although we are making progress). Once our extra curricular activities begin I’m looking forward to better planning of time, menus, and money.
I am hitting the restart button on my new apartment and getting systems in place. I moved 2 weeks before I left on vacation and barely had time to find my suitcase and underwear. Now that I am back and nursing a kidney stone I am going to put systems in place to get organized and stay that way. Restart my life in my new and bigger place.
Ah, fall! What I think I am the most excited about is that the cooler weather is just right for lots of baking – bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, pie – all those yummies that I just don’t feel motivated to do in the hotter summer months.
I am also excited about some of the benefits I see in my family with essential oils – planning on more study there.
Homeschool and the joys of learning new things to a first and second grader is such fun to shepherd.
I’m actually excited about vacation. :) Guess the opposite of most people. I’m looking forward to cooler weather and pre schooling my little ones too!
Starting homeschooling for the first time and digging up my potatoes!
Definitely routine. I love to know what is ahead for the day.
The beautiful Arizona weather and home school consistency! Lego robotics and dance are starting up.
We moved a month ago and we love our new little place. After living with family for 20 months we are very excited for this new adventure with our boys. Fall through Christmas is my favorite time and I always think of September 1 as the start!
I’m one of those people who dream of being perfect, keeping a perfectly clean house, planning perfectly balanced food on a budget, organizing the perfect homeschool subjects and schedule, having perfectly obedient and balanced kids, being perfectly healthy, being involved in the perfect ministries. And life, of course, is trying to teach me that perfect is a myth. :) So, I’m trying to set some small goals for our family in the transitioning season. A more productive family schedule, some decluttering, and some meal planning. Hopefully, keeping it real means I won’t crash and burn by October. I’m really excited about Apples though. I miss them!
I’m looking forward to cooler weather, pretty leaves, getting more organized, and making home made bread.
Most looking forward to cooler weather, and God-willing RAIN here in California! :)
I’m excited about learning how to make tortillas from scratch with the Totally Tortillas ebook I recently purchased. I’m of Mexican decent and we eat A LOT of tortillas.
Cooler temps and college football!!
After a busy summer, I’m looking forward to cooler weather and bonfires. Looking forward to doing some family camping too :-)
I’m looking forward to routines, apples, and cooler weather!
I’m most looking forward to cooler weather as I watch my oldest boys play football and my middle children play soccer. I’m also hoping for a trip with the family to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard!
I’m looking forward to filling my freezer with meals to get ready for baby 3 in the fall!
The last three years have been crazy with 5 moves in 2 years, a child in the hospital for 9 months, numerous surgeries, doctor’s visits, and therapies. For the past year, things have gradually calmed down, and we are all catching our breath. (My youngest is a miracle and doing amazing now. It was all totally worth it!) I am looking forward to a school year of recovery, refreshment, and relative normalcy!
I’m looking forward at resetting my menu planning and drive. I’ve been in a funk (cooking funk) and need to get back into it. Just bought an upright freezer and looking forward to filling it up again with prepared meals.
I am looking forward to the changes a new season brings…cooler temperatures, toddlers, increased time in the kitchen, and an increase in the time spent with family.
I am looking forward to sitting at the dining room table each morning doing schoolwork with my children. Seriously! Probably sounds crazy, but summer life has been such a whirlwind of activity that making time to just sit down and enjoy doing schoolwork together sounds very pleasant!
I am glad September is here. Growing up and going to public school, we never started school before Labor Day. When I had my first daughter, she started after Labor Day. But things have changed and public school starts before Labor Day now.
In my mind, (living as my carefree, childhood summer days) summer is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So my children starting school before for my Labor Day has always thrown me for a loop. But last year I decided to take my youngest (and last in public school) out of public school and homeschool her. In doing this, I went back to my childhood days – we start AFTER LABOR DAY!
I love it. My daughter loves it. While everyone else is rushing around to get supplies, and ‘things ready’, I keep taking summertime at an easy peasy pace, up to and through Labor Day. So my Re-Start Button is all about new tasks, organizing, and more of routines and meals ready to eat.
Fall is the season I love. The crisp air, leaves changing colors, yummy smells from baking more, hearty soups and stews, bazaars, apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides. I must say I am blessed to live here in New England. Although I will never see a palm tree, or oranges growing on trees – I do see the beautiful colors of God’s majestic landscape in mountains,oceans, color changing leaves and snow. And in all of this ‘re-starting’, helping my daughter with her December wedding.
Feeling Blessed,
Susan Parker
(p.s. I hope I win, because Sept. 3rd is my birthday and would be a great gift) :)
I’m most excited about a new start in my own life/career, as after ten years of being a teachers’ aide in a Christian school (ie. doing a little of anything and everything), I was not rehired. As much as in my flesh it hurt, I realize that this is God pushing me out of the nest and on to the next season he has for me. I won’t lie and say it won’t take some time and healing to move on from this difficult, yet rewarding time in my life, but I trust that God has not only my best interests in mind, but those of my family. He is already opening doors for me, and I’m hoping for a schedule that will allow me to take care of myself and my family a little bit better. Thanks for sharing.
I am looking forward to cooking/eating better, and exercising on a more regular basis. I am hoping my family will JOIN me, too. ;)
Looking forward to the structure of school & activities again. And baking. :)
Looking forward to the school routine and catching up on much needed house work!
I am looking forward into getting back into a routine to our days and the joy of learning together as we homeschool.
Sorry -looking forward to getting back into
We are hitting restart… and moving from TX to IN. It’s a leap of faith, as we don’t have all the details worked out. We are trusting that God does though, so we will just go and pray that the house and job all come together. God is good.
Structure in our days with homeschool, watching my baby take her first steps, being able to go to the playground mid-day without fear that the slides will be too hot.
I am looking forward to the fall colors and smells and cuddling up with my little ones under a warm blanket. I am also excited to watch my kids learn and discover new things as we start out our school year together.
I am looking forward to the days being more structured. I am also looking forward to making applesauce.
I’m looking forward to my daughter’s wedding September 13!!!!
I am looking forward to the Daughters of Scotia convention in Hartford, Connecticut. I am the delegate so will be representing my Lodge. Then after convention I am taking another week with a friend and exploring the area. I have never been there so thought this would be a great opportunity. The it is back to the Phoenix area and hopefully cooler weather. I love the heat, but by this time I am looking for opportunities to be outside and enjoying the beauty of Arizona.
I am excited about the routine and pattern. But I am going to miss the free time. For my family summers are busy but we have less commitments. As soon as school starts we have daughters tae kwon do practice two nights a week, sons basketball practice 2 nights + games Saturday, volunteering at church 2-3 times per week + school work, work, and everything else that happens in life.
I love this challenge to restart. I need to restart my schedule and adjust it to meet this new phase in our lives.
I’m looking forward to getting back into the routine of (home)school and restarting my personal healthy living journey. I’m trying to lose weight and get my body in (some kind of) shape before my 10 year anniversary next year. :-) I love your blog and the inspiration and encouragement you give. Thank you!
Hello! I’m looking forward to settling into a routine this fall and homeschooling my oldest child. We’ll be using the curriculum you created, “Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve”! I’m excited and a tad bit fearful but I know God has everything in control. Thanks for the opportunity to win. God bless!
Definitely the cooler weather, changing of colors, and RVing with family. Thanks for this offer! Happy Fall!!
Restart in Setember? Great idea!!!! I am most excited about hitting the restart button on getting back to a routine & schedule…and getting back to our treats/desserts on the weekend only. ;)
I’m excited about just restarting in general. For the past several months I’ve just been letting it all go. It’s nice to get back on track and move forward to a more healthy life.
I am looking forward to the triumphs & challenges homeschooling brings. Also, getting back to a routine where I am spending more time with The Lord and getting me right on the inside. All while I work on working out physically to get the outer body right. I know with God all things are possible and I’m looking forward to the possibilities ahead!
I am looking forward to seasonal colors, cooler weather and trying new healthy recipes. Also want to make exercise a priority.
I’m starting back to work after a year of maternity leave, and at a new school to boot (I’m a high school teacher) so my routine is all new! I’m very proud of myself for how well I’ve been staying organized and planning ahead in order to try to maintain good work/family balance, and I’m looking forward to more of that!