Dear Readers,
Fall is in the air! Of course, not where I live, in Orlando, Florida. I have not experienced a true fall season in my entire life, but I at least got to visit it once in Vermont when I fetched my son from a seasonal job. What a wonder! I’d never seen so much color in person. I even kept one little red leaf.
But the ambience of the changing season that I miss in actual cool air, bountiful color, and the smoke of wood fires from comfy fireplaces, I experience in personal change from work, to family, to friends. September always seemed to bring change.
One year that stands out firmly in my memory was 2017. That September started us on a journey of grace we didn’t know we needed to take. That’s the day we learned our eldest son and his girlfriend were having a baby boy. By God’s grace we would embrace this new season as we helped take care of that baby boy—and now that amazing 1st grader—while his parents, no longer together, work.
We’ve learned more about what grace looks like over the last 7 years. What we’ve learned the most is that it’s very, very hard to define.
And I think that’s a good thing.
Now, this September, another change is coming. At the end of the month, I will be stepping down from my position as the editor in chief of the Redbud Hyphen.
I have been working on the Redbud publication, which began as the Redbud Post (you can still find all our articles here), since 2019. I took over as the editor in chief when JoHannah Reardon, our beloved editor, died suddenly of cancer in early 2021. It’s been my privilege for the past 3+ years to steward the words of my fellow Redbuds.
We’ve covered many and varied topics including grief, deconstruction, faithfulness, and music. Our thousands of words have flown out into the world with a message of peace, redemption, and healing in the name of Jesus.
The next editor in chief is yet to be found, but I know she will bring you words of hope every week here at the Redbud Hyphen. May you welcome her well.
Now, onto fall!
With love and gratitude,
Stephanie Reeves
Editor in Chief
The Redbud Hyphen
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR
So you have an idea for an article, and you think a publication might be interested. Now what?
Join the Redbud Writers Guild on Thursday, September 12th, 1pm ET / 10am PT, for “The Craft, Smarts, and Struggles of Article Writing.” This webinar, presented by Redbuds Paola Barrera, Melissa Kelley, and Michelle Stiffler, will focus on the process (and emotions) of taking an article from idea to pitch to completion.
Thank you, Stephanie, for all your work!
Stephanie, what a lovely heartfelt farewell message. Thank you for your faithful support all these years! So much gratitude for your hard work and dedication. You will be missed! ♥️😘