Welcome to August! While fall does not “officially” start until September, it feels like summer
has concluded and the season has changed or at least almost transitioned to the next. Not only am
I feeling the shift of seasons in terms of the calendar, but also in relation to having two high-
schoolers and one in her final year of elementary school.

This is the time of year when I start receiving e-mails that open with, “If you are receiving this e-
mail…” and as soon as I read those words, I am confident I have not won any prizes. Better yet, I
have probably forgotten to turn in a form or complete an administrative task. As the activity
schedule picks up and the day-to-day demands increase, expectations and excitement for the start
of a new season can be uplifting but it can also leave us discouraged. So, I cannot think of a
better month to talk about the thing that each one of us needs—encouragement. It is the thing
that inspires your soul with courage, spirit and hope. Encouragement has the ability to:
*Improve your mood
*Accelerate your personal growth
*Increase your motivation
*Boost your confidence &
*Release happy hormones in your brain

This month, I am excited to encourage, equip, and learn from this community by exploring the
following questions:
*How does Encouragement relate to Identity?
*How does Encouragement relate to Purpose?
*How does Encouragement relate to Direction?

Because most of life is lived in the “in-between”, let’s enjoy this not yet fall month together!

Thriving Together,
~Erin