Welcome October

 Hello October ...

Scream the ghost and Beastly the bat welcome you as we've turned the page to another month.  October entered with sunny skies and mid-60's temperatures here in Pennsylvania.  I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt but it won't be long before I'll have to dress in sweatshirts and sweaters and that's okay with me.  

October is my birthday month.  I don't look at birthdays with as much excitement as I used to.  Instead, I see it simply for what it truly is: a blessing.  A blessing to have made it another year.  Even though my eye sight is worsening and my muscles don't move like they once did I appreciate all that I can do, still.  I am going to enter the forty-seventh year with gratitude.  

October is also the month when my kids' fall activities begin to wrap up.  These will be the last weeks of marching band practices, performances and cross-country practices and meets.  Yesterday was their first and only home meet of this season and Senior Night.  I'm glad my parents were able to be there and watch as Matthew set the school record.  They changed the course direction this year and he is the first for the record.  This is my daughter's first year and although she is always taking up the rear with her races I'm proud of her effort.  Last night, with disappointment in her tone she said, "I feel like I'm letting everyone down."  I assured her she wasn't but the goal would be to just work harder.  What I love about cross-country is the kindness that everyone shows - the coaches, teammates and even those on other teams.  It's so much different than our experience with baseball and dance.  I do hope she sticks with it with a willingness to work harder and improve.  Nevertheless, I'm as proud of her as I am my son.  

To kick off a new month I decided to put the scent of Sweet Apple in the essential oil defuser.  That probably would have been more suited for September but it is what it is.  The house is smelling so sweet.  

My goal for October is finding time to do some apple picking before it's too late.  That probably would have also been better to do in September but our busy schedules haven't allowed for it.  We also need to get some pumpkins.  It may also be time to tear down my garden, even though the tomatoes are still growing.  I'm sure the cold weather will appear soon enough and without warning and so it's better to get out there and prep for the winter that's soon to come.  Ugh!  I was actually staring at the garden today while planning all of the changes I want to make to it next year with eagerness for that season.  I'm going to take this time to do a lot of studying on how to improve my gardening skills.  I would love to expand and add more vegetables but that will have to begin with time, money and building.  

For you, my readers and friends - I hope October welcomes you with many, many blessings.  Thanks for stopping by.  

Five For Friday: Favorites of Autumn

 As much as I am a lover of summer I do have a high appreciation for fall.  I thought for today, I could list 5 reasons why.  

1.  I love, love, love the changing colors of the leaves.  The yellows, reds and orange make everything look so beautiful.  Unfortunately, the changing of colors means those leaves are going to end up falling to the ground.  It prepares us for the new things to come and I can appreciate that.  

2.  Fall is a time when my husband begins reminding me that it's soon time for me to start making pumpkin rolls.  I do love the taste of pumpkin rolls but I do not enjoy pumpkin pie.  I can also enjoy the taste of pumpkin spice coffee.  I actually prefer apples, though.  September is the time we purchase apple cider and it's enjoyed by all four of us.  If we can squeeze in the time, we also spend quality time picking apples at a nearby orchard.  

3.  Autumn is the season of my birthday.  It also ends with my son's birthday.  

4.  It's the start of football season, and although personally I'm not a big fan of the sport I appreciate that my husband and son are.  Just seeing the joy in their faces as their team wins.  Now since our kids are in marching band we have been spending every Friday at the high school stadium watching the game and seeing them perform on the field.  

5.  Going from hot to cool is a little difficult for me but I do enjoy having the chance to snuggle under a soft blanket and wearing sweaters and pants.  Sweat shirts are my absolute favorite.

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

God's Promise

 

I snapped this picture last night after a thunderstorm came through the area.  The rainbow was actually much brighter than the picture shows.  To the right is our American flag, half mast in honor of the 3 police officers senselessly taken from my community last week.  The strategic placement was not intentional but I look at this picture and am reminded that even through the hardest of times we can still rely on the promises of God.  Many have taken these colors and used it as a symbol of their pride but I will always see a rainbow for what it is.  

This also reminds me of something else - we can see beauty after the storm.  

Beginning of Autumn

 Happy Monday everyone and welcome to the first official day of autumn.  On the radio this morning they were talking about whether or not these seasons come sooner than the calendar says.  Many agree that fall begins in the beginning of September after school begins and those leaves begin to change colors.  I know I'm a stickler for waiting until the official calendar date to get everything ready because I don't want to rush anything.  Today the new season began with brisk, cool temperatures.  Hoping to get the lawn mowed before the expected rain comes in.  I also have yet to pull out that orange tub filled with fall decor down from the attic.  Maybe today.

This morning the boys in my school van were quiet and a few even fell asleep.  Monday mornings are difficult.  I'm sure they will be filled with energy later, as they always are on the way home.  

The weekend went by quickly.  Friday was the Homecoming game where we won.  They also had a nice tribute to our local police officers.  On Saturday we traveled far for the kids' cross-country invitational.  They both did well.  Then we stopped for a quick bite of Popeyes before going home where they had to rush to get ready for Homecoming.  As they were at the dance my husband and I enjoyed a few hours outside under a dark, cloudy sky with a fire and some cooked marshmallows.  

Yesterday we went to church and then I spent all 6 hours watching the memorial service for Charlie Kirk.  Such an amazing tribute filled with speeches sharing the Gospel.  Erika's speech was .... wow!  She is the epitome of a Godly woman.  

Last week our community was hit with a devastating loss of 3 police officers while serving a search warrant.  This tragedy has made national news.  This is something we always see on television but never think it could happen in our own backyard.  It was so close to my backyard that I even recognized the faces of the officers when they showed the pictures.  I love how this community came together to support them.  I'll never understand the evil that is in this world and there seems to be so much of it lately but I also see how so many are coming together in a spiritual revival unlike anything I had ever witnessed.  If you are confused about who Jesus is I encourage you to find a Bible-focused church, read Scripture and pray.  You may also reach out to me and I will be happy to pray for you and share words of encouragement.