Well, I like so many across the east are pretty tired of rain, mustiness, and mildew, but the glorious colors of Autumn warm the cockles of the home!!
A soft golden tablecloth with blue transfer ware and Autumn accents set the tone for my seasonal changes around the house.
Add some well placed sunflowers ..I love to see fields of them as we drive through the country... I wish I could get a great photo of them, but, alas, they are always blurry.. but I praise God for their beauty each time I see them!!
Hubs got my new garland above the mantel... it set everything off very well!
I added my proud rooster to the drop leg table, it seems the farm is being hailed this season as it should.... I am a farm girl in spirit!
It was so easy to add a few sunflowers and orange accents to my summer bouquet on the credenza.
Sunflowers brighten up every space!
Overall, this corner seems much more cosy and ready for seasonal gatherings and fun times.
I am combining my One Thousand list of blessings with Thankful Thursday from now on... 830. I am so thankful to live in a nation where open Bible study classes are available to anyone who really wants to dig deeper into God's Word.This season I am doing an in depth study on Isaiah, and Hebrews, and Philippians... Thankfully, the Isaiah class is the only one that requires weekly homework. 831. Our precious oldest granddaughter celebrated her 5th birthday yesterday in her Pre-K class her little sister got to come in and celebrate with them.. What a joy these two are to us!! 832. My sweetheart has been amazing to me this week... I had been wanting to go the Joanne's Fabrics to get some scrap booking paper for a special project for the girls, but it has been so rainy and horrid out that he drove me to Bible Study class then he drove me to Joanne's and just sat in the car and let me browse to my heart's content... I didn't take advantage of his kindness so he also drove me to the next town to Supershoes and I was able to finally find 2 pairs of nice leather winter shoes (dressy and casual) that actually felt good on my pitiable feet.. I have a hammer toe from a ruptured plantar plate... years ago... it was a great day!!!! 833. I love it when friends and family just call and say they would like to drop in... Tuesday Marnee, Hub's cousin who is a very special lady, dropped by..we had such a sweet visit. I grew up in a time when dropping in was what we did... but we seem to have lost that friendly tradition.. It was a much more genteel time I think and Tuesday was much sweeter because of the love connection we shared. 834. This weekend our church is hosting a Women's Workshop on the book of Philippians...I have been forward to this for so long... and I am ecstatic that we have 100 participants from our church. I definitely need to reread through the book a few times today.
835. I do not think Ive written about my lovely daughter who lives in N E and is a member of a church in Boston about 30 miles from their home, but it is a great Bible believing historic church on the Common. Because she lives on the outer edge of the church community she has taken on herself to be the hostess to bring other church ladies into her home for coffee chats and get to know you round table discussions about the sermons and the like. I am so proud of her. She is a young mother of 2 little ones and is a very busy mom, but she does this about once a month... It is so sweet for me to see some of my delights in hosting tea parties etc come out in her..I recently found a great coffee set - part from Replacements (cups) and part on Etsy (Coffee service) for her way early Christmas gift..
She loves it because it is mid-century modern.. her favorite style. Thank goodness for options to purchase vintage wares!
836. Let me just say that I am so blessed by our children... our daughter, Amanda, and her family photo taken at their church following service last Easter.
837. I would be remiss if I didn't thank the good Lord for my Hubs... I have horrible allergies that have gone rampant during this rainy weather.. and I cannot stand to vacuum anytime... stirring up the dust doesn't sit with me.. while I am typing he is vacuuming.. God bless him!!
838. Our last sunny day we were at the lake and the sunset was glorious..
Thank you, Lord!
839. Last night at church, a dear church member,, a retired opthamologist, who is suffering from a very debilitating neurological disease opened our study on Hebrews with a very inclusive accounting of who Jesus is... This man is so precious... pouring out his life to serve and demonstrating his love for the Lord in powerful ways as he is able... he becomes pretty emotional at times because of his deep, deep love for Christ. It was a beautiful evening, but there had to be some heart felt weeping going on, too.. What an example of Christ to us. Love poured out on us as the rain peppered down outside!
840. I am blessed to be able to enjoy the most amazing music on Pandora like the one one playing now
Weighing In with Stacy at A Homemaker's Heart Well, I am still holding my own at this plateau at my lowest weight in at least 15 years, however it is still a yo-yo situation..IN all over thlast eyar I ahve lost almost 25 pounds. I gain 3 pounds and quickly lose it... Obviously, I am not being consistent in my resolve. It is so difficult to be consistent when each day brings different events involving eating...I suppose I can say I am pleased that I do endeavor to lose any weight I gain just as soon as I see it on the scales.. But that isn't helping me reach my goal. Now that the weather is cooler, I must make myself get out and walk more...Hubs and I went out yesterday and I purchased 2 new pairs of shoes.. I'm all set now for the on coming cooler days and both shoes are designed for comfort and good support which my poor ailing feet need!!!At this age, (68) everything is connected it seems.. Perhaps I need to set a lower goal and do this by setting easier to obtain mileposts... so by October 10 I plan to lose 7 more pounds not the same 3 over and over again! And 7 is a Godly, perfect number so Im sticking to sevens from now on!!! I just discovered that Stacy's Weigh IN Blog will be found here.
Cooler in the 60's and 70's but a tad wetter as well. Our sunroom is smelling a bit musty... We don't usually open the windows out there in the summer, yet the seeping rains have caused some thing to get a bit moldy in the cabinets.. yuck.. I sense a hard job on me this week.. I cannot abide must or mold!
Things that make me happy::
My morning coffee....all types of instrumental music.. right now I'm listening to Kevin Kern's station on Pandora.. love it!!! Being able to say finally "It's Autumn!"There are such gorgeous autumn photos on facebook..
Books I'm reading:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Plus some Bible Studies.. on James, Philippians, and Isaiah.
On the blog last week:
I shared on Stacy's page my Weigh In post for the week. It really is an encouragement to read other's stories about their successes and their trials.. along with tips to be an overcomer.
I also really enjoy Friday's Fave Five.. where we get to share our blessings for the week!!!
Shows and Movies:
Hubs and I are still watching Mad Men..Sometimes I actually cry for the lead character... His story is so fraught with anguish and pain... He has learned not to feel in many aspects yet he can be quite loving and a nurturing parent... but then he falls back into the pit of finding "love" in all the wrong places... And we so enjoy reliving the 60's our years of coming to age.. leaving home and going off to college.. But I never knew that the corporate world was quite like this!
Menu Plan:
Monday: Chili
Tuesday: Soup and sandwich
Wednesday :Lasagna
Thursday: Chef salad
Friday: Beef stew
On my To Do List:
laundry, pick up around the house downstairs..
check out what is happening in the sunroom...
choir practice...CBS Bible Study.... study on the book of Philippians for the Woman's Workshop this weekend
In the craft basket:
I am still creating Tasha Tudor Sparrow Nest stationary for my wee ones to share with them at our next visit.. I hope they will take this precious routine seriously.. to build love, respect, and forgiveness between young siblings.
I ordered this vintage set of how to make the miniature envelopes from Etsy..
I am going to Joanne's to buy some decorative card stock this week.. it is on sale
Looking forward to this week:
getting caught up on the Bible studies I've set my mind on.. The Isaiah study is coming along fine.. but there is a notebook of questions on Philippians that I have hardly started and I spoke to one of the Workshop leaders yesterday and she said just really bone up on Philippians so I'm going to work on it as an inductive study with colored pencils and symbols, and take some notes on the main tenets and scriptures... I do wish the most out of the study as I can!
On my mind:
Well, this past month I was dreading the ordeal of the squamous cancer on my nose and going through the MOHS and reconstructive surgery... I came thorugh that swimminly and should by now have learned that these realities of life ar not the end of and things to get so worked up over... God is faithful! Now October is ful of eye issues.. I start out with constultations with a glaucoma specialist who will tet me every which way,, then proceed to do double cataract/ glaucoma procedures on both eyes I presume different settings. Everyone tells me cataract surgeries are a cinch. So I'm going with their assessment and determined not to get worked up about this!! I really am thankful we have doctors who can fix these issues as we grow older...
Prayer Requests:
The President and his family, and the administration
Pray that all the scandals and investigations will finally be resolved and justice meted out.
That the what I believe to be false accusations against Kavanagh will be determined political attacks and that that party will stopping stooping so low causing political ruinto their opposition.
For the God's best person be quickly voted into the Supreme Court position
Pray that the scales that delude so many will fall off the many and that they will find peace, truth, and salvation
Pray against division and the hatred that runs rampant
Pray for the sick that they might be healed
Pray for the the Carolinians in their loss and devastation... Help them to be thankful for what they do have..their lives... for those who lost loved ones, we pray for the Lord to comfort and supply all their needs
We pray for compassion and mercy to reign among God's people to serve, help, and provide for those who need so much,, showing the love of Christ to the world
Pray for the lost who are bewildered and strained to the max... they are hopeless in need of a loving savior!
It is my honor to be joining in with Susanne on her 500th post being intentional about sharing God's blessings we receive everyday!
1) This week I was blessed to be able to attend my third season of Community Bible Study. This year we are studying the book of Isaiah...
This is not my small group, but it is a small group in a study nearby... I love our group... we support one another in prayer, with lively discussion around the text, and with endearing friendship..
2) What a relief it was to travel to UVA Medical center to see my reconstruction surgeon and get the sewn on protective and pressure bearing bolster off of my nose... Praise the Lord, the skin graft took well, and I pray that this will be the last of these occurrences for me.. I've now had two of these in a year...But is faithfully with me each time!!
3) I am so happy to be able to sing in the Christmas pageant this year.. We went to the choir retreat last week to be introduced to the music.. It is sublime...
One of our songs:
4) Our Sunday School class has been invited by one of our families to have a cook out at their neighbor pavillion... It is so glorious there, I can hardly wait to go..
So much majesty, serenity, and peace there... The waters soothe me... I love to be beside the still waters..
5) In a little less than an hour Hubs and I will be doing Face Time with our daughter and her babes.. age 2 1/2 and 5. These are our most precious moments of the week.. Getting see just how much they are growing and changing..Lil Lady Bug is trying so hard to keep up with her older sis Birdie!!!
They are the apples of our eyes for sure.
Birdie loves to teach Bug the many things she is learning in Preschool.. Now Bug is going to nursery school and she acts so grown up.. They both love school so much!!!
I have been doing Thankful Thursday for some time... with long lapses in between... I started with a blogger years ago and was pretty faithful to post with her group, then I read 1000 Gifts , Ann Voskamps, marvelous book of journalling the many small things that God showers on us throughout the day... I got up to the higher numbers and life seemed to become so hectic it was hard to pay that much attention to the bright details that God was raining on me.. So now I will pick up and move forward now that I have found another faithful Blogger to link up here with each week!!!
825. I am so thankful for the answer to prayer for our community this week.. We were not pummeled with the weather as predicted.. Florence gently passed us by.. I saw very little wind or water damage.. Praise you, Father!
826. I am so blessed in the many friends and family on facebook and church who prayed for me during this last ordeal with Squamous cancer on my nose.. I had the skin graft applied last week, and it was revealed yesterday to show it had taken, was good to go... and again, thank you, Lord, for your loving compassion, mercy, and great love!
827. I am thankful that over the last few weeks while I took a sabbatical from choir, I am now looking forward to practicing with dear Hubs on the Christmas program this year... He sings weekly, too, but, I'm just not up to that these days. This year's Christmas program promises to be so wonderful - the selections are inspiring and full of gospel, yet very heart felt,... for example, I love this one!!!
828. I am very excited that tomorrow our Sunday School class will be going to Smith Mountain Lake for a wonderful afternoon cook out... The environs are so magnificent... To be near that water is so spiritually healing for me.. I am hugely thankful to get to go this year!
829. Dearest Hubs made dinner for us tonight... his specialty, Spaghetti, and a salad... it smells divine!!! Thank you Lord for loving me though my dearest partner in life!!!
I become so exasperated with trying to watch my weight.. It has been my life struggle... I recently lost 35 pounds after being set on a weight that seemed to never fluctuate... it was a terribly unhealthy weight and I hated myself... Then suddenly it seemed rather easy to just say no to food... although if I'm honest it was an attitude that got me there that wasn't my best self either... How to keep a positive attitude and deeply desire to eat healthily... That is where I am today.. I have been on a nasty plateau for a couple of months.. oh, it is easy to go off a couple of days then weigh and see Ive gained 3 pounds then it is, as well, easy to lose those 3 pounds but then I am stuck yet again... today I am ready to set a goal and lose at least 20 pounds before Christmas..Several years ago we did the Weigh Down workshop at church. It was putting God first before food and teaching ourselves to only eat when we hear our stomach growl... God's mechanism for telling us it is time to eat... Then eat only as much as makes you feel satisfied.. not one bite more... usually for me it was half my regular plate full.. So I adopted this slogan.. I can eat it all,, just not all at one time.. Otherwise when the urge to eat comes up read the bIble instead... Or write in my journal!We would go to Bellacino's with friends I would order a box at the same time my food came and divide my plate at once eating only half the portion and eat the rest tomorrow... this worked for me and I lost 50 pounds over about 3 months..then something happened and before I knew it it was all back on me... I am at a place now spiritually where studying His Word and reading the Bible when the urge to eat comes on me would be the best thing.. as I am now doing 2 deep Bible studies.. so I am truly determined to get my act together and try to really make some headway on my diet... If I lose 25 pounds I would be getting much closer to my goal weight!!!
This has been a wait and see kind of several days as we have waiting to see what Florence might be bringing us...We have been under a flash flood warning, but so far the area is just wet with some homes getting a bit of water in their basements.. We had a trickle. But my main concern has been please don't be so bad that I can't get to the hair dresser to get my hair washed... I can't bend my face forward, nor can I run water straight to my ear, nor can I get my nose wet.. so it has been a week since my hair has been washed... If everything holds its own I can this afternoon!!! No flooding, please!
Things that make me happy
::
Visiting or just doing Face Time with my girls...What would I do without Face Time! Planning the fun things we can do together when we do get together..This fall when we visit I plan to introduce them to the Illustrator Tasha Tudor who actually some time as a young child during WW1 in my grand's own New England village in Massachusetts. I am really looking forward to some special time with my sweeties reading and talking about the drawings and telling them stories about Tasha as child!
Books I'm reading:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I loaned my 2 dollar hard cover copy that bought about 10 years ago at a library sale to a friend and never got it back... I just got my new paper back for $17.00 at B&N.. I think I've learned never loan a copy of your favorite book to anyone!
Plus some Bible Studies.. on James, Philippians, and Isaiah.
On the blog last week:
I got really behind in blogging last week during my time out of town getting my nose addressed... I got back in time to feel like doing some blogging on Friday..Midsummer Friday Fave Fives and on Saturday..Pink Saturday
Shows and Movies:
Hubs and I just finished The Paradise.. and we both really enjoyed it. Over the weekend we started watching Mad Men... Our daughter had told us about it when it was on regular tv and she really got caught up in Mid century Modern style because of it,, I can see why...
I just keep asking Hubs were business men really such male chauvinists in the 60's and then I remember the early seventies entered in the Feminist movement.. interesting... BTW, I am not a feminist at all.. I love to be cherished and taken care of by my sweetheart!!!
Also, jokingly my daughter told me even though he is a total cad...
we still tend to root for him... actually he is very
puzzling and hurting fellow.
Another aside: it's a wonder we baby boomers aren't all dead from second hand smoke!!!
Menu Plan:
Monday: Taco salad
That is as far as Ive gotten!!
On my To Do List:
Hairdressers for my first hair wash in 10 days/oh brother, I'm ready
Laundry
Bible Study HW
Go to CBS Class Bible Study to discuss Ch 2-4 of Isaiah
Return to my Plastic surgeon to be unveiled.. Praying the new skin graft took and looks good and healthy
Mid week services
Do Bible Study HW
Sunday School Picnic at the lake
In the craft basket:
I am still creating Tasha Tudor Sparrow Nest stationary for my wee ones to share with them at our next visit.. I hope they will take this precious routine seriously.. to build love, respect, and forgiveness between young siblings.
Looking forward to this week:
I will be over the moon to have the bolster pad that is sewn on my new skin graft removed.. it pulls, it itches, when I sneeze or yawn it hurts... 2 more days!!
On my mind:
What with my surgeries then the hurricane... I am really just ready to live and look forward to autumn.. Every time I see a gorgeous photo on Facebook I share it on my page...I love fall of the year..today I shared these on my page.
This one looks so peaceful.. Oh to sit there and read or sit in the room by the window and listen to soft music and dream!!!
And this one.. I never imagined how much I would adore a brown autumn!
Prayer Requests:
The President and his family, and the administration
Pray that all the scandals and investigations will finally be resolved and justice meted out.
For the God's best person be quickly voted into the Supreme Court position
Pray that the scales that delude so many will fall off the many and that they will find peace, truth, and salvation
Pray against division and the hatred that runs rampant
Pray for the sick that they might be healed
Pray for the the Carolinians in their loss and devastation... Help them to be thankful for what they do have..their lives... for those who lost loved ones, we pray for the Lord to comfort and supply all their needs
We pray for compassion and mercy to reign among God's people to serve, help, and provide for those who need so much,, showing the love of Christ to the world
Pray for the lost who are bewildered and strained to the max... they are hopeless in need of a loving savior!
We, here in SW Virginia are just waiting to see how it goes once Florence comes knocking in earnest on our doors. truth be told this has been a very wet September for us already and the ground has been saturated all month. So any little bit we get could bring a boatload of troubles for many. A few weeks ago several county areas near our church received quite of bit of damage form a torrential shower we had where it rained 3 inches in one hour. I can just imagine how those families are feeling today..
We live on a hill however the hill continues up beyond us so we usually do get run off that can get into our sun room and basement unless we have been very vigilant.. We have been working hard to redirect anyw ater that may come at us. IN the meantime I took some photos of my beautiful late summer blooms..
My angel wing begonia has thrived with the wet summer,,, the geranium..not so much... but it's trying!!
The begonias love the rain, as well!
Time to take the mums to shelter so they will look good next week!!
I want to try to winter over the hibiscus... We'll probably lose these gorgeous blooms over night tonight.
I just wanted to give a great nod to the Lord for the beauty He has created and show our appreciation ... perhaps their day has come with this storm looming at the door...
But we have been blessed by their luscious glory all summer!!!
It is time for Friday's Fave Five hosted by Susanne!
1. What a week... This was the week I was rather dreading for the last few months... the week we drove up to Charlottesville, Va to see about my MOHS surgery for a squamous cell cancer on my nose.. I knew what to expect because I had the same thing done this time last year.. But I knew I was in the best hands.. I absolutely love the MOHS doctor..Dr. Hendrix is amazing.. he has done tens of thousands of these surgeries and can do the lab work right there in just a few minutes.. I had the M OHs to remove the cancer and 3 biopsies on areas of concern again on my nose very near my previous skin graft. Praise God, they all came back benign!!
2. We arrived in Charlottesville on Sunday, had MOHS on Monday and on Tuesday we went to UVA Out Patient to have the reconstruct..
Again, I absolutely love Dr. Christophel.
He and his team are amazing.. His resident took the graft from the back of my ear, and he applied it and finished up the whole procedure in like 40 minutes. They give me just enough anethesia to be knocked out while they numb me up, and then I'm awake most of the time during the surgery.. I can even talk to them.. they sing and talk about movies and things of interest to take your mind off of things and I actually enjoyed my procedure!!!
3. We returned home Wednesday just in time to get ready and go to church .I had so many people praying for me I thought, ok, I'll go- sewn on bandage and all, so they see me after surgery, and I can tell them how effectual their prayers were.. it was awesome...God's presence surrounded me and I wasnt one bit fearful.. just wonderfully relieved with the outcomes!
4. Yesterday we actually were able to host my SOS prayer group ... we have here every third Thursday... We had so much to pray about during the coming days- I so enjoy our group.. We worship and pray for about 90 minutes. Yesterday our focus was on praising the Glory of God..like the song, Be Unto Your Name
5.So now we are just waiting like so many on the East Coast.. waiting to see what Florence is going to do,, where she will go.. Our prayers are with those who are ravaged by her winds and waters today and in the coming days... We are due to get several inches of rain sometime so I went out and took some final photos of our lovely late summer flowers before they are pummeled by the pounding waters
I think it has been too wet for the gernaium this summer, but the angel wing begonia thrived!!!
As well as, the other begonias.. how welcoming they have been!!!
I never got my mums in the ground.. I probably ought to out them on the porch tonight!
I thought I'd try to winter over the hibiscus in the sunroom if it doesnt get too damaged.
But Hubs and I are so pleased with the begonias.. they have blessed us all summer!!!!
