Autumn is here

My oldest girl Carrie hosted a Welcome Fall party yesterday for all the children at our church. This was a way to celebrate the new season and give the little ones opportunities to gather, play and also dress up. My grandchildren do not celebrate Halloween so we try to celebrate whenever there is opportunity. Don't they just look adorable!! Little Olivia was down for her nap so she wasn't in this pic.

With fall I always pull out my seasonal decorations, add mini pumpkins and light fragrant Yankee candles. My absolute favorite candle is Mom's Apple Pie and I'm not sure they even make this anymore but I've had mine for years. It fills our home with the sweet scent of apples and Cinnamon. I also love sipping on Celestial Cinnamon Apple Spice tea and my newest fun passion is making applesauce. Do you see a trend here?

During the fall I also pull out my quilt projects that I let go over the summer and start quilting during the evenings. This year I will have more to do because we are trying to give homemade gifts to our family.

What types of things do you do to celebrate fall? I'd love to hear your traditions, or maybe additions of chores-from raking to canning.

Enjoy the changes.

Funtastic Friday

I can't believe another week has passed and here we are again. I love Fridays! Some of the things planned for today are: Having granddaughter Shannon over this morning while our pregnant girl takes youngest to therapy. Our house is in desperate need of vacuuming and cleaning, laundry needs to get started as well. At some point we'll hit the grocery store and stock up, not only for the week but we are beginning to stock up on winter supplies. It is hard to believe but Christmas is looming out there and there are several quilts I need to work on and other presents that need to be finished. Our granddaughter Faith is getting ready for her birthday so we need to get her presents ready soon, just in case Kim delivers within the next several days. Speaking of Kim delivering, I still have not purchased fabric for the baby quilt, since we don't know the sex, but if we are out and about there is another store I want to check out in Fort Collins. So as you can see, my day is full but full with life and joy at living.

Although this picture was taken on our way home from Laramie, the weather today looks a bit like this-overcast and potentially stormy. With fall arriving it means there will be lots of time to quilt. I even got a baby girl dress pattern, just in case.

Have a great weekend.

In all things give thanks

Today is Thankful Thursday and there are so many things I am thankful for; the list could go on and on.
On my drive home from my girls' house I was listening to one of my favorite CD's called 'Valley of Vision'(these are songs for worship inspired by the book of Puritan Prayers) and singing about thankfulness. So this day I am thankful that:

You were broken that I might be healed
You were cast off that I might draw near
You were thirsty that I might come drink
Cried out in anguish that I might sing

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You

You knew darkness that I might know light
Wept great tears that mine might be dried
Stripped of glory that I might be clothed
Crushed by Your Father to call me Your own

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You

This says it all; I pray that in your life your heart might overflow with praise to Him who is worthy to be praised.

"Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father". Eph.5:20

Many Hands, One family

Several months ago I happened to see a photo of one family and the woman's hands-I recall there were three or four generations. The photo was touching because it told a story of the bond of love, of family and of roots. About this time, Susan(sister-in-law)suggested that our family do a picture like this. I readily agreed and wanted to capture the life stories; today I muse that is what this blog is about. So this weekend while Susan was here we decided to take that picture, lest we forget or circumstances don't allow it in the future. The bottom photo is a picture of Susan, my daughters' and my hand-united in love. On the top, we simply added the little girls hands that will one day carry on our family traditions. Within that group will be a girl who loves to sing worship to our King, a girl given to hospitality, a girl who loves to create-either in quilting or textiles of some sort. There may be a writer, an artist, an animal lover. These girls will be the prayer warriors of the future and the ones who boldly proclaim the truth from God's Word. But these young girls will carry with them the legacy of family and dedication to those in our family.

I am blessed to spend time with each gal here, young and old and I cherish the time.

The Joy of Family

This last weekend Rich and Sue, my brother and sister-in-law, came for a visit from California. Although their visits are always much too short we all have a great time together. I think we tire them out with the craziness of 6 little ones in a small area but they love it and wouldn't pass it up for anything. The grand kids all love them and talk of their visits often and Rich and Sue always take time to pour into their lives, sometimes with goodies or sometimes just playing together.

All of our lives are richer because of them and we cherish the times together. Thank you Rich and Sue for all that you do, for all the ways you shower us with you love.

The Simple Woman Monday 9/15

FOR TODAY (September 15th)...


Outside My Window... I'm seeing signs of fall. The wind is slight, the sky blue, the air crisp and clear. Early mornings are much cooler and the days are getting shorter. I'm still hearing crickets and will miss their song when the season grows cold. Our days start out without a cloud in the sky but usually by the afternoon the clouds have rolled in. It is interesting learning the signs of seasons in a new state.
I am thinking... I'm glad that our daughter Kim has an O.B. appt. today, I'm wondering if she is showing signs of the upcoming birth of their wee one.
I am thankful for... God's grace that saved me and calls me His own. I am also so grateful for His Word and the many blessings in my life. I am thankful that we live in a country where we can worship our Lord without persecution.
From the kitchen... I am thinking about how to prepare left over chicken that will be healthy and low calorie. I am also thinking about canning applesauce this next Sat. with the grandkids.
I am wearing...leggings and a t-shirt for now but will probably put jeans on later.
I am creating... memories. I hope to begin hand quilting my latest wall hanging tonight.
I am going... to drive Kim to her appt. this morning or possibly watch her two girls while hubby drives her.
I am reading...The Bravehearted Gospel by Eric Ludy. This book is very thought provoking and also written by a friend.
I am hoping... that I can find the right fabric for the baby's quilt when he/she enters the world.
I am hearing the clanging of the dogs' collars and they wander around this morning looking for our guests; I also hear the shower running which means I need to get breakfast started.

Around the house... I am seeing traces of having had family here all weekend, reminders of how precious our time together is; wishing they weren't so far away.
One of my favorite things... Worshipping my Lord-I love to put on Praise music and sing, sing my heart out to Him.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: I need to have a tooth pulled on Tuesday and hope I bounce back right away just in case we have a new little one born this week.
Here is picture thought I am sharing These are the four men in my life...(from left to right) My big brother Rich, son-in-law Eric, husband John and son-in-law Brent-my adventurers. When my brother was here for a visit the guys took him on a 20 mile bike ride. Way to go Rich!!!! I'm so blessed by each of them.



Go see Peggy http://www.thesimplewoman.com/

Prayer

One of my favorite blogs is Holy Experience; Ann always makes me stop and reflect on the simple, deep truth in living this Christian life. Yesterday was no exception as she posted on her family's prayer bench and its importance in their lives. As I read the post, I reflected on how easy it is for us to forsake spending long periods of time in prayer, in our rush to live.
But to live is to linger in Him, in His Word, to listen for His voice, to embrace His presence and to take joy in knowing Him as our King and Savior.

This day, this week, this new month and season, take the time to sit in His presence and seek His face. " Once you see the face of God, the world is forever transformed into His Features." Peter Kreeft

Be blessed this day.
Noreen