Firstly, my apologies for the magazine being “dark” for the month of September and into this late date in October. Life on my end has been a flurry of activity and I am sure many of you can relate. Life is supposed to constantly evolve; it’s simply the nature of things. The seasons change, as do our tastes and desires. We are in this life, if we allow it, the Potter’s clay.

We allow change for many reasons; some come easy and some are truly hard. Our barriers, are broken down and a lot of the time a new version of ourselves comes to light. What we find within is sometimes scary, sometimes a delight...regardless, I always believe we are all the better for it.

For those of you who have been faithful readers of attribute, you may recognize this occurrence within our own existence. We have evolved from a roaring lion into a gentle lamb. This is partially due to it being my fledgling; often reflecting changes in my own life. I, like the Potter, built it up and then broke it down...watching and molding it, carefully, at every step, to see what would transpire.

No matter the external changes in appearance or writers, our content or internal struggles...the vision and mission has remained the same: to show the world the positive that exists around us (and in journalism). To show that people still have heart. To showcase the people behind the businesses or organizations, who give back or bring hope to others.

A year ago this month, I made a most amazing decision, which has proved to be beneficial in all areas of my life. I have often reflected the good aspects of this, back into the magazine as well as other projects I take on. In the magazine, I decided to mix secular work with that of Christian writers and organizations, hopefully opening us up to a broader audience. Though, I have resisted my desire to take attribute in a drastic new direction, for your benefit.

I have been praying on how I want the magazine to look and feel going forward, as I feel it needs new life breathed into it. The most immediate change you will see, and one that saddens me, is the end of the column, Karma. Yes, I am indeed sad to announce that Aleeza has decided to part with her column and focus on her own projects. She has been with us from the beginning and such a source of life for attribute...she will be missed! I hope she will make a guest appearance from time to time. She sends herself off with a farewell to her readers this issue...

In the coming months there will be, yet again, another transformation of the front page, so wish me well with that project! The present one has never really worked for me and I find it’s not very functional...I am also doing away with all the extra things we tried that didn’t take off such as the community page and bulletin board (I don’t have time really, to do all of that.) The podcast is also going away as RJ the DJ is buried in too deep. He did an awesome job with the couple he did do and we thank him for his valiant effort.

I will also be approaching people within our circle to contribute as “guest” writers and experts, as well as producing a column of my own “How Hard is Love”, which will eventually become a book and is living experimentally on Facebook. Speaking of books—the one I have been co-authoring is in its second draft; I am waist deep in editing which is my honest excuse for this issue being a late-comer. I will tell you all about it, I hope, in November as I do a shameless plug! You’ll allow that I hope.

So, please bear with us and forgive our transitions. It’s all about living and learning...and I wouldn’t do things any other way.

Much peace to you,

Stacey Louiso