Weekend Snapshots

Friday - my guys were gone for the night, so I made the best of it and enjoyed a rainy evening at home. Add my favorite candy, Turtles, to the mix -- and it was downright delightful.

Saturday - Brian and I went to an estate sale, which is unlike a yard sale in that you literally walk through a person's home with their belongings on display for everyone to see (and hopefully purchase). It's interesting what you learn about a person based on their music, books and other belongings. Brian was right (as usual). Our stuff is just that -- stuff. Stuff that will one day be displayed for all to see in an estate sale. Yet another confirmation that decluttering is a very good thing!

Sunday - This morning, God delighted this heart of mine with a very specific answer to prayer. James says in Chapter 5 to sing when you're happy. Consider yourself blessed that you not here. :)

Thursday's Thoughts

Fall affects me in many ways - all positive. Some of which include:

• An overall sense of renewal in every area of my life
  
• A desire to spend more time outside (even walking!)
  
• Increased daydreaming of one day owning a one room cabin on the side of a mountain
  
• Spending more time pouring over magazines for new ideas on sprucing up our 1911 nest
• Rolling my car windows down and turning my volume up! When the leaves are falling and that distinctive crisp feeling is in the air, my allergies take a backseat.
  
• Becoming more sentimental. Maybe it's the holidays or childhood memories that were created during this season (some of my best memories ever!) Not to mention our 19 year wedding anniversary coming up in October. :)
• Becoming a more avid reader and writer (see #1)
• Getting my bright red Kitchen Aid mixer humming again - something it hasn't done all summer long. I guess it's a good thing my desire for walking kicks in at the same time.
• Putting up the summer clothes (my very least favorite) and pulling out the fluffy warm sweaters -- even in 85 degree weather. Bye, bye summer!
  

My calendar says it's now officially Fall. Bring it on!

A Welcomed Change of Season Today!

GOOD-BYE SUMMER!

HELLO SWEET FALL!

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate heat? :) The first day of Fall could not come soon enough for me. Love it!

Weekend Snapshots

Friday night: Sarah was home (Yea!) so we enjoyed hanging out with the kids. She brought her computer so we played a family game (all on separate laptops in the den) of online Boggle (wordsplay). Now we just need to get Brandon & Megan hooked! :)

Saturday: We had another day of house chores lined up, but Brian had an incredibly busy work week, getting home late most nights, so we opted for a bit more relaxed Saturday. After selling a few things on Craigslist, we headed over to Hobby Lobby in search of another set of Psalm 46:10 vinyl lettering for the new classroom. I thought Brian would simply peel off the current words to take with us, but Brian suggested I think again. :) As always, God provided. They were 1/2 off! From there, we headed to Barnes and Noble. I came across this memorable quote while browsing the books: "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary can speak." - Hans Hofmann

Today! Several people were out this morning due to a weekend marriage seminar, but I believe fewer people in the group today may have encouraged some who are normally very quiet to speak up and share. It's all good! Throw a Joy of Tokyo lunch in the mix (thanks to the Craigs List sales), along with a nap on a rainy afternoon, and I'd say it's been one great weekend!

Afternoon Delight

During Tuesday night's study, the group shared those things which bring us great delight (in addition to the Word - Psalm 1), which prompted me to post some simple delights of my own from this afternoon...

• Preparing/studying for Sunday in the book of James - having the time and opportunity to prep is a true delight and something I never want to take for granted.
  

• Taking a study break by getting a little fresh air... and a surprise visitor beside our trash can. By the time I ran inside to grab my camera he had shuffled underneath the wheelbarrow and scattered leaves. Who says turtles are slow? Observing God's creation is always a delight! Well, unless we're talking about mosquitoes. :)

• The break truly began soon afterwards when I enjoyed a cup of Earl Grey tea in my favorite teacup. It took only a moment to add my favorite tea treat, Anna's Thin Ginger Cookies, to the mix. The distinctive flavors found in Earl Grey and ginger combined? Simply delightful!

• And last, but not certainly not least, a yummy herb chicken dish is currently cooking in my crock-pot. And it gets better... the food is cooking in one of those new crock-pot liners, which means no clean up! Now, if that's not delightful, I don't know what is.

Perfection Can Paralyze

Or should I say the desire for perfection can paralyze?

I didn't realize just how much until I heard one of the guests on Hoarders say that if he couldn't have things organized perfectly that he lacked the motivation to even begin the process. It was a "scary" moment for me in the sense that I could even relate to the thinking process of a hoarder, but also freeing in knowing exactly what had kept me paralyzed for years in getting my house as organized as I'd like. Other areas of my life are almost too organized (if that's possible), but when it comes to the house, it's always fallen towards the bottom of my priority list.

With this in mind, Brian and I decided to tackle our back porch over the weekend. When you live in an almost one-hundred-year old home there are ALWAYS projects to do -- but never enough time or money to do them quickly or completely. Over time, we had collected "to do" projects on the back porch. But no more! We purchased two slim-line outdoor storage units that fit neatly on the porch. We then removed everything, power washed the siding and floor, and simply refused to put anything back on the porch that didn't belong there. Brian took a load of would-be projects to the dumpster and we now have a new porch to show for it!

Now, I am in the process of walking through every room in the house jotting down ideas on ways to make our projects "doable" -- not perfect. :)

On a different note, we had an awesome C4 group today! There's a good possibility that we will be able to move in to a larger classroom which actually used to be part of the old balcony in the former sanctuary. It's newly renovated with fresh carpet, a warm paint color, and stadium seating to boot! The only thing it lacks is a mega white board. We should know for sure this week whether or not we'll be able to move to this new location. If that's where the Lord wants us, that's where we'll be!

Saturday Snapshots

If you've never taken a whiff of a Tea Olive shrub you don't know what you're missing! We have filled our yard with them because of its invasive sweet fragrance. There are three plants already in place to surround a future pergola (2010).

Last Fall, I picked up three of these American Beauty Bushes for $3.00 (3 gallon container) at Lowes. Now is the time to find incredible deals on perennials -- and it will only get better through October and November. If you would like to see a close up of these truly BEAUTIFUL bright purple berries, click the picture. It will grow to approximately 6' tall and there are two in place for the future pergola as well.

And I'm still enjoying the muscadines! :)

We've decided to hold off on all outdoor Fall projects this year except for a thorough weeding and mulching job, as we prepare for something MUCH more important... Zach and Sarah's wedding!

September 11

I haven't forgotten.

If An Anaconda Attacks You

Ever wondered what to do if you're attacked by an Anaconda?

The list below is handed out to those traveling to the jungle regions in South America.

Your instructions:

If an anaconda attacks you, do not run. The snake is faster than you are.

Lie flat on the ground.

Put your arms tight against your sides and your legs tight against one another.

The snake will come and begin to nudge and climb over your body.

Do not panic. [Really?]

After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet end. Always from the feet end.

The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.

When the snake has reached your knees, slowly and with as little movement as possible reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the side of the snake's mouth and the snake's head.

Be sure your knife is sharp.

Be sure to have your knife.

The above list is just one of many reasons I've not been able to put down the book, "Running on Empty" by Fil Anderson.

The list was an eye opener, but it's how he polished off the story that gained my immediate attention (and hasn't let it go!).

"I don't imagine an anaconda will ever attack me, but I've nonetheless spent a good bit of time reflecting on these instructions and their implications for my life. Sometimes I'm aware, and other times I'm clueless, that things in life are ready to swallow me. By God's good grace, I've begun to understand the way to deal with those things is to be still, to be quiet, to have a plan, and to know what I'm going to do and the way I'm going to do it when the threats appear."

He lists a multitude of reasons we find to avoid silence and solitude:

"I never know where to begin."
"When I get quiet my mind begins to wander."
"My prayers always lead me to begin thinking about people I need to see or work I need to complete."

Fil goes on to share that although his excuses seem reasonable, they are nothing more than avoidance. He considers intentionality to be the key. Our time with God must be deliberate.

Simple actions we can practice to invite God to speak to our souls:

• Claim the little solitudes that already exist in your day. Before getting out of bed, take a few moments to greet God with gratitude for waking up and providing another day.
• During your morning shower ask God to keep your thoughts pure throughout the day.
• If eating alone, invite Jesus to be your companion.
• Turn off the radio in your car. Listen for His voice instead.
• While waiting for an appointment or a traffic light - both are opportunities to "wait upon the Lord" in silence.
• Use your lunch break.
• Find special places for solitude.
• Seize the opportunities that are available. Stay up a little later or get up a little earlier. Being intentional about communion with God sometimes involves a schedule shift or special accommodations to allow things to happen.
• Drop all expectations. Time with God isn't an assignment to be graded. Neither is it a means to an end. The goal is not greater peace of mind or a lessening of anxiety or self-improvement. The goal is to meet with God and possibly hear from God.
  
• Slow down. The pace of life can pull us away from our awareness of the Lord's nearness.
  
• Exercise the body and the soul. Use times of physical exercise for silence and solitude. Noticing the sights and sounds of God's creation can be an excellent help in maintaining a clear awareness of God's presence.
  

Any wonder I can't put this book down?

Time Flies...

Regardless if you're having fun or not!

Wednesday:
I took full advantage of the beautiful weather and painted our front screen door. What's really cool is that it is original to the house. You can see it in pictures taken back in the early 1900's. I had forgotten the amazing cool breeze that catches the corners of the wrap around porch. We plan to move one of our old gliders to the front porch to take full advantage of the cooler days approaching.

Thursday:
Lunch with Teresa and the girls at McD's (it's always fun catching up with "K" and Rach!) Teresa and I prefer to catch up over a cup of tea. Hopefully, we'll be able to get back on our tea track real soon!

That afternoon, I met with another wonderful friend, Becky K. The Lord brought her in to my life last summer when she began attending the community study (Women in the Word). She teaches a ladies class at her church and I enjoy every minute we spend together. He has used her to challenge and encourage me in ways I never expected.

Friday:
Big study day -- James for Sunday, Psalm 73 for Tuesday!

Saturday:
In an attempt to come across old Lp's and 45's, Brian came across a "new" flea market in the area -- Barnyard, off Hwy. 101. Every time I've gone to a flea market (which hasn't been many) I'm reminded of why my visits are few and far between. Can anyone say smoke and cheap perfume? I knew I was in trouble when we came across the mamma-jamma of all record dealers. For a moment, I thought I spotted wings sprouting from Brian's back because he was ready for heaven! Rest assured, time did not fly fast that hour! But it was fun seeing him enjoy the record feast. To pass the time, I found a 1960's Japanese bicycle with two huge metal baskets and a third wheel for sale and took it for a spin (with the seller's approval). It's the little things in life, right? :)

Today!
We had the largest attendance to date in our "new" class with a few visitors, along with three new members joining this morning. It's exciting to see the people God is bringing to His class. Afterwards, we experienced the Joy of Tokyo with friends from the class.

A relaxing afternoon... no cooking. That's my kind of day!

Come to think of it, it's been my kind of week. Yes, it's flown by (except for the one hour in the mamma-jamma record booth), but I was glad to be along for the ride.

Great Memories

The cool weather and soft breezes have returned today (although only temporarily) like an old friend. It is beautiful!

This morning, while touring the garden for water duty, I spotted these muscadines hanging over my head. Of course, their wonderful aroma always gives them away long before the deep purple fruit does.

As I stood there taking it all in, I couldn't help but think of my granddaddy, who had an old muscadine vine growing over his worn and torn wooden shed in the backyard. We loved picking them together and I sure did love him.

Great memories!