On My Way!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

I made it through yesterday's goals and challenges!

This morning began quite early but was definitely orchestrated by the Spirit of God!

I was led to delicious "food" for thought by two of my very favorite Bible teachers,
both of whom I had no idea were on that early and one who has gone on to be with the Lord but was so special to Mike and I growing in the Lord. And wouldn't you know, the messages they shared were just what I needed to hear! "Ain't" God good!!!

AND....I've already exercised for 30 minutes!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! I can hardly believe it!
I actually did it!!!!

I am finally learning that I can't put that off for when I do....it rarely happens....could it be that I'm "growing up"?????

Well here I go.....boldly, happily into today's adventures!

Change...

Change- "to become different; alter; to undergo alteration; ..."

I try to examine my life on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes I like some of what I "see" and
sometimes I "see" some things I do not like.

It really comes down to choices...choices I have made...

Some are physical, some are spiritual, some are emotional, material, etc....

For example,
I need to take off some extra weight...for the health of my body.
I need to work on my "love walk" as I was convicted of that yesterday by our Pastor's message.
I need to become more organized, more thrifty, a better steward of time, finances...

I could go on a bit more but here is where I will stop and here is where I will begin.

I have been spending a great deal of time with the Father this morning ...sharing my heart...being so "real"...
so honest before Him.

The things in me that need changing, He and I will work on it together.
He did tell me that it will take discipline and self-control.
I am determined to do my part!

This will be a lifestyle change...a change that will be on -going for the rest of my life but one that I will work on one day at a time.

"A Thoroughly Terrific & Tiring Thursday!"

Today was a "Grand" day! All the Grands!
Anna came by and picked me up to shop at Target in the late morning.
I couldn't even count how many times my name was said and I loved it!

After a fun shopping trip we headed back to our house for lunch...natural hotdogs, chips, and fruit.

Then came the second "wave" of Grands around 1:40pm and then we all proceeded to do
Fall crafts, make books and write stories! It was rather wild but so entertaining!
Paper, stickers, markers, pencils were everywhere! Wish you could have read some of these stories!

Anna left with her crew and the others remained. We played games, learned tricks, ate MnMs,
made more books, played outside...whew!

April and Lee came just as I was beginning to fade....and they invited me to go to dinner with them at our very favorite Mexican restaurant-Mexicali Rose but I told them that it had been a very long day and would just stay home!

I have a good book all lined up and am heading to the porch!

It was a wonderful "Grand" day! Now I'm looking forward to a quiet, relaxing evening...ahhhhh

Autumn

Found this quote the other day and I love it!

"Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower."
Albert Camus

I read about a woman who pulls up a chair under her English walnut trees,
to be "rained" upon by the golden leaves!

I love driving through a "shower" of swirling leaves! It always makes me laugh!

When we had a sun roof in our car, I especially enjoyed having it opened to catch the leaves
and the grands enjoyed it too!

Just simple pleasures bring such joy and refreshing to my soul...selah....

Thank you Father God for giving us seasons to enjoy!

Pensive....................

That's where I am...in a state of pensiveness......................

pensive-"thinking deeply or seriously, expressing deep thoughtfulness, reflective"

Several thoughts are whirling through my head, no- "whirling" is not the word...it's more like drifting...that's it...
I'm not anxious yet there is a bit of heaviness and these thoughts are not for me but for others. There's a bit of sadness that I share with a beautiful friend whose husband no longer wants to be married...she's heartbroken...
there are others who question the faithfulness of God...even some who have rejected Him.
My heart is burdened but I will pray.

James 5:16 says the prayers of the righteous avail much...accomplish much!
My prayers avail much! Am I being arrogant...no, just confident...
simply because I know that Christ alone is my righteousness...He alone MAKES me righteous.
Therefore my prayers avail much.

My hope--confident expectation, is in my Father God Who has never let me down, has never failed me even though I've failed Him too many times. He just picks me up and sets me on His path...and lovingly holds my hand and guides me on this journey of living.
He even carries ALL my burdens. I just have to follow.

The Coming of Fall

I do believe the autumn is my favorite season!

I begin to get excited at the first colors of the season...the first yellow/gold leaf that dances down to our yard...the sounds of the insects as they announce the changing of the seasons...
the wonderful change in temperatures...the days beginning to be shorter...the way the air takes on a new fragrance....

opened windows...early morning coffee while "robed" in sweaters and blankets...chilly evenings...
the sounds drifting over from the high school football games a few streets over...
the aroma of baking "Nuts n Bolts"- homemade Chex mix for those of you not raised in the South...a fire in the fireplace...pumpkins and garlands of colored leaves...hot apple cider and Russian tea...the scent of sweet cinnamon pumpkin wafting throughout our home...ummmmm...

all I can do is just smile and enjoy!

As a little girl, my mother making Nuts n Bolts was one of the ways we celebrated the coming of the Autumn. It's tradition! I did the same when our children lived at home and now the girls
celebrate Autumn with their families by making this delicious treat!
AND...I just took Autumn's first batch out of the oven...the house smells wonderful!

(okay, I know Autumn doesn't really get here until the 22nd but I've NEVER been one to be able to wait until then!)

Porch day....not really!

Yesterday was to be my porch day...well it was my porch morning mostly.

There was the dishwasher that needed to be unloaded which led to cleaning out a
cabinet so I could make room for my china...which led to de-cluttering the countertops...
which led to totally reorganizing the pantry...which led to rearranging the kitchen a bit...

which took hours and I still have a few things on the table, trying to decide where to put them!

After that ordeal I became a "couch potato" the rest of the evening.

Now I'm up and ready for the day! Oh, what's that?
I think I "hear" the laundry room crying that it's her turn!
Well, she will just have to wait until after lunch for the morning is already full!