This was a very long month...

We celebrated a birthday in my house.

It flipped back and forth between hot, cooler, very hot again, a bit cooler, and now has almost finally settled to a tolerable, "maybe it's fall soon" temperature.

I got lost in my Bible study plan.  I normally follow the Bible Hub Chronological plan until it reaches the Gospel and then I flip to Blue Letter Bible Chronological for their Gospel plan.  This year I had the "brilliant" idea to work from a list that I made.  Which would have been fine if I hadn't made said list while all h*ll was breaking lose and I forgot several days and then didn't realize it until a week or so later.

I got caught up in my Bible study plan.

I read a book that makes me feel like I wasted my time reading it.  I didn't like that.  And it was Christmas themed.  (Highland Holiday by Kasey Stockton)

I read a book that made me sad.  And I was already sad, so it made me very sad.  (The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz)

Baked the first loaf of pumpkin bread.

Ate cake.

We typically spread out birthdays and holidays (really any kind of celebration) so that the highs and lows and pressures of the day are muted, but still there to enjoy.  Over the years I have learned to celebrate over an entire month or more.  

This year  Fridays are/will be (into 2027) the celebration day.  

Everyone loves Friday.  

Daddy's last work day (BEST day of the week!), the weekend is ahead, and so it just makes sense.  

Drank a LOT of decaf mocha.  Like once a week.  Normally I only have one every once in a while.  But recently we have had a looooot of appointments, so when I travel, I grab one.  And they have been really good.

Took a few weeks off of checking the news daily and deleted my inst*gr*m app.  Anxiety and dread immediately improved.  I will be back on inst*gr*m soon, because it is almost time for Brighter Winter (cannot wait!!!!).

I am missing Buddy.  

I miss him when I wake up and he's not snuggled up against either me or one of the girls.  

I miss him when I fix breakfast and his isn't there to be prepped.

I miss him when I have to make a dreaded phone call, he isn't barking.  (one of the only time he ever barked repeatedly)

I miss him when we go somewhere and it is hard (& it's usually always hard) and he isn't there to come home and scoop up, and bury my face into.

I miss him as I clean up email and see the monthly appointment reminders.

I miss him as I get to calendar reminders that I forgot, reminding me to renew meds or heart guard or a blood test was due.

I miss him.  SO. very. much.

I am so sad he is gone.