September’s Simple Joys

Even though it’s not technically Fall yet, these are my favorite Autumn days. (The first day of Fall in 2026 is Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:05 PM, PDT, based on the Old Farmer’s Almanac). But early September is such a special time. The long weeks of rain haven’t started yet and the sun still shines brightly. It’s warm enough to open the windows and let the fresh air in. The apples and pears are ready to be harvested, and the Fall coffee flavors are in the coffee shops. Seriously, what’s not to love?

If you are struggling to find things to love about September, may I offer a few suggestions?

READ A BEAUTIFUL BOOK

I love to check out children’s books from the library. The illustrations are so beautiful, and they get me and the kids in the mood for a new season. My grandkids love Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. The little fox is adorable.

DRINK SOMETHING COZY

One of the best parts of Fall is the cozy drinks! Whether it’s pumpkin spice or hot chocolate, add whipped cream on top to make it extra festive.

GO FOR A LONG GENTLE WALK

I’m not talking about a power walk. Instead, meander through the neighborhood or a park and look at all the changing leaves. They’re gorgeous this time of year.

BAKE SOMETHING

Fall is just meant for home-baked goodies. Not a baker? Grab some rolls from the grocery store, add extra cinnamon and pop them in the oven.

Ann Kirsten

WATCH A SWEET FILM

This is not the time for hair-raising action movies. Instead, watch a quiet story that feeds your soul.

BUY YOURSELF FLOWERS

Mums, anyone? I can never resist the beautiful varieties that are everywhere this time of year. Pop the whole pot into a container of water for an hour. Afterwards, water them from the bottom.

VISIT A CAFÉ

I love people watching in a rustic café that serves simple foods. I much prefer that to a gourmet spot.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

Have you listened to the music that was popular when you were a teen lately? Do it! You’ll be amazed at how it energizes you.

LIGHT A CANDLE

I love the spicy Fall scents of candles! I just bought myself a soy candle that smells of clove and cinnamon.

PICK FALL FRUIT

Apples and some varieties of pears are ripe and ready to be picked. Or buy a box of them from a farmer. You can make pies, crisps, cobblers, sauces, and cakes. There’s so much to make with apples.

Ann Kirsten

WATCH A SUNSET

This one is simple. There are some beautiful sunsets this time of year. My friend, Suanne, took this one from her window. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Photo by Suanne

STEEP A NEW TEA

Many tea companies come out with Fall flavors. Caramel Apple by Republic of Tea is one of my son’s favorites.

SWAP COFFEE FOR APPLE CIDER

Try this at least once! You can order one at a coffee shop or make it at home. Simply warm some apple cider in the microwave, top it with whipped cream and drizzle a bit of caramel sauce on top. Yum!

PICK SOME LEAVES

Collect the last of the garden blossoms and the most colorful leaves you see. Press them in the pages of a book or put a branch of them in water.

Ann Kirsten

READ A BOOK

Check out a cozy Fall mystery from the library. There are lots to choose from and they have the cutest covers. Download our Harvest Bookmark!

PUMPKIN PATCH

Visit a pumpkin patch. Even if you don’t plan on carving a jack o’ lantern, pumpkin patches are such fun places to visit. They often have mazes to try and delicious food to buy.

Ann Kirsten

As you can see from these ideas, September is a month to be celebrated. I am in awe that God made something to celebrate in every single month of the year.

Have you ever done a simple search for “harvest scriptures”? You will be amazed at how many there are to study. Wouldn’t it be fun to use a scripture in your fall decorating? A framed calligraphy version, an embroidered sampler, or even a verse painted on a pumpkin would be a wonderful way to honor the Lord this time of year.

Here a few verses to get you started:

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.“
Matthew 9:37–38 states: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Proverbs 10:5 states: “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”
Leviticus 19:9 – “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.”
Exodus 23:16 – “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
Jeremiah 5:24 – “They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.”
James 3:18 – “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Galatians 6:8 -“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
Matthew 13:30 – “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Leviticus 26:3-4 – “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”
Revelation 14:15 – “And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
Genesis 8:22 – “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”