Hello Friends, Welcome to a new month! Just a few weeks ago, we began a new season, and now we are beginning a new month. September has been packed up, and October has taken its place. Which means… pumpkins, leaves changing colors, apple picking, bonfires, fall festivals, cooler mornings, and Halloween! Here in Oblong, it means the Annual Fall Follies event: food trucks, tractor pulls, costume contests, scavenger hunts, live music, marching band competitions, and the longest nighttime parade in Illinois. What do you like most about October? As you think about......

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Hello Friends, Welcome to the first Sunday of Fall! Can you believe that just last week when we met it was still Summer?! And now, the weather is cooler, the leaves are falling, the fields are becoming empty, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier and earlier. We are definitely in a new season. Are you happy that Fall is here? While driving around, I’ve noticed, besides the leaves and falling and changing colors and the many tractors out in the fields, that many people around here have been having bonfires.......

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Hello Friends, I hope you are doing well and have been able to enjoy the last remaining days of Summer! That’s right; Summer officially ends this week. Can you believe that? On Tuesday, September 22nd, Summer will transition into Fall. For a little over 90 days, we have been enjoying early morning sunrises, late evening sunsets, beautiful flowers, and taking mini-vacations over the weekends; and now, in just a few days, things will change. The sun will rise later, the sun will set earlier, mornings will be cooler and crisper, sweatshirts will......

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Hello Friends, Can you believe that next week you will have been in school for one month?! One month of waking up early, one month of doing homework, one month getting adjusted to a new routine, one month of going to bed early, and one month of absorbing new information, listening to lessons, answering questions, and following your dreams. How has the first month of school been for you? Today, I want to share something with you that took place in my life when I was about your age. Twenty-five years ago,......

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Hello Friends, How are you doing? Can you believe that you are now three weeks into school with the fourth just hours away? Not only that, but can you believe that September began last Tuesday… (Yikes!) Fall is only 15 days way! Are you ready for Fall? Cool crisp mornings, mugs of hot chocolate, leaves changing colors, and the smell of pumpkin spiced (everything) in the air? Oh, and we can’t forget the late night bonfires and the many hours spent in the tractor harvesting the fields. It’s a new month with......

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Hello Friends, How are you doing? The countdown has begun…. As of today, the season of Fall is only 22 days away, which means there are only 22 more days of summer. I know that probably doesn’t mean much to you since most of you are in school, but in the grand scheme of things it means a lot. For example, Fall is only 22 Days away, Halloween is only 61 days away, Thanksgiving is only 88 Days away, Winter is only 112 Days away, and Christmas is only 116 Days away.......

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Hello Friends, School is in session… one week down several to go! (How many days until Christmas Vacation?!) How was your first week back to school? Are you excited to be back: to see your friends, to learn new things, and to create memories? The first week of school for me was always stressful: trying to get adjusted to a new routine, making sure I had all my school supplies, trying to remind myself of when and where my classes were, and making sure I budget enough time in between classes to......

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Hello Friends, Before you get upset, take a moment to breathe because……. in just two days……. IT WILL BE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! (and the crowd goes wild!!) Are you nervous? Are you excited? Do you have mixed emotions? What are you looking forward to this year? As the school year begins in just a few days, signaling the end of Summer Vacation, I thought we could take a few minutes and ask Jesus to bless this new school year. For some of you, this may be your first time going......

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Hello Friends, Welcome to a new month! July has come to a close and August has opened a new door! Although the start of a new month is exciting and refreshing, I bet realizing that this new month is August is causing you some dread, since August is when summer vacation comes to a close and school begins–meaning early mornings, bedtimes, homework, and new routines. So, as August begins and the start of school gets closer, make sure to enjoy each and every day: laugh, smile, and go on adventures. There is......

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