The Forgotten Month of November

“It was November--the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”

- L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Halloween has passed, and most people are now switching gears toward the Christmas holiday. There are multiple homes in my Des Moines suburb brimming with outdoor Christmas lights already, while my orange-turning tree is just starting to drop its leaves.

It's quite easy to go straight from October to December, all the while forgetting November. We are surrounded by retail and the pressures of others telling you to get your Christmas shopping done now, get your Christmas cards prepared now, get everything done now so you're prepared and accomplished long before December 1 even arrives.

I've been taking a strong stand against the forgetting of November, and now that I have a blog, I've decided to use my platform to defend all that is good and true in the month of November! My husband calls this one of my more unique principled stands, but hey, someone has to do it! :)

Reasons why November should not be forgotten:

1. Election Day.

Our Founders were so insistent that this day should happen in November, they placed the date in the Constitution. It is a great opportunity for Americans to use their constitutional right to vote their candidates in or out of office.

2. Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving.

This holiday is in my top 3 of most favorite holidays, outside of Easter and Christmas. Last year, I read "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience" by Melanie Kirkpatrick. It is a great compilation of historical facts prior to our nation's founding, how football became the ultimate Thanksgiving tradition, and quotes from many famous Americans about the precious day of thankful reflection we are allowed to have.

3. Turkey Trots.

Feasting needs its antidote, and for me that is jogging outside in the cool, but hopefully not cold weather while wearing my turkey hat. Need I say more?

4. Thanksgiving Music.

There are some charming classical music pieces that would be simply ignored if we did not have a month dedicated to Thanksgiving. Here are a couple:

5. Advent

So this is not quite true every year, but on a few given years, Advent begins at the very end of November. Advent is a wonderful time of preparation and waiting for our Lord's birth, and I usually try to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving preparing my Advent readings for December, before the parties and other festivities are at its peak. There is a wonderful transition between Thanksgiving, the day where we thank God for his blessings, and Advent, the season where we wait for God's most precious Blessing to arrive.

So take the time to enjoy the month of November. Go vote, eat a lot of turkey, enjoy some football, run off those extra calories, and get ready for Advent!