I have a love-hate relationship with August. I love the last days of summer and all the charm they bring. But at the same time I always feel anxious for summer to end and for fall to begin with all its glory.

If you know me well, you know I love the fall but it’s more than just the season. It’s the routine. The rhythm. The chance to re-adjust, re-calculate, re-focus.

This year I feel the need to re-focus not just in my family life but also in my writing.

A question went through my mind this week that I simply can’t ignore. Am I a blogger who writes or a writer who blogs?

It may seem like there’s not much difference between these two statements, after all, writers write. What does it matter where and how my time is spent?

But for me it does matter. As you may or may not know I’m in the middle of writing a book. It’s a story that means the world to me. I’m passionate about it. I long to share it with you.

And while I LOVE this blog and you, my readers, I’ve come the realization that it’s become a bit of a hog. Week in, week out, it hogs my writing time. It steals my focus. It keeps my book simmering away on the back burner.

Bottom line: In my heart I know I am first and foremost a writer, an author, not a blogger.

So what does this mean? Not much, really. I love this blog and I love each of you far too much to quit. But I do think it’s time to make an adjustment.

My goal is to make my book, not my blog, the priority of my writing time. You’ll still see my posts on a weekly(ish) basis, but I’m giving myself freedom and grace for there to be sometimes a little bit more and sometimes a little bit less.

As is always the case I know I’m not alone. Whether you’re a writer, a mom, a teacher, a nurse… whatever it is you do, life comes with seasons, and with each new season we’re given a gift.

With each new season we’re given a moment to pause, to think and reflect. To ask God, and family, and friends for guidance. We’re given a chance to collect our bearings, to change what needs to change, to keep what needs keeping.

Whenever I do this, whenever these moments come, a line from one of my favorite movies, The Patriot rings true in my mind. When Benjamin Martin becomes discouraged and is tempted to forsake his fight for freedom his son, Gabriel, reminds him to “stay the course.”

And that’s what I find the Still, Small Voice reminding me to do now. Stay the course. Finish the book. Loosen the grip on the blog.

And trust.

Trust in whose you are. (God’s)

Trust In what you are. (Capable, loved, and extraordinary)

Trust in what you’re not. (Perfect, super-human or Martha Stewart)

And trust in the work you’ve been called to do. The kingdom work worth fighting for.