Fall Favorites

With our temperatures beginning to cool, my garden, which had been scorched and stunted with the summer heat has taken on a new life. My roses are blooming again, and the marigolds and zinnias are looking better than they have all summer. This is prime growing time for a fall garden, I need to get motivated with that and plant some salad greens...meanwhile

We are continuing to get peppers and tomatoes, these tomatoes had fallen on the ground

after a rain storm with a lot of wind had knocked them off. I have two plants that are still full of

green tomatoes, not sure if they will ripen before the first frost. No clue as to what to do

with these...any ideas?

Peach preserves, still in my pantry waiting for some warm toast accompanied 

by a hot cup of coffee

                                 My basil is ready to be made into pesto, we just finished the last
                                      of what I made last year. Great on pasta and pizza

                                         

                 Since my cherry tomato plant keeps on producing, I can still enjoy one of my favorite

                             dishes, avocado with cherry tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese

I am trying to squeeze that last little bit out of summer. The soups and the stews will come later, and I  
                    will begin using the oven again....soon, husband requesting homemade bread.

On another note, thanks to all who have offered prayers and encouragement concerning my job. I decided to make last Tuesday my final day instead of working the rest of the month, it really was not that hard of a decision, it was time. I said my goodbyes, hugged a lot and shed a few tears. Many of us have worked with each other for over ten years, we all promised to get together after this was all over. My thoughts continue to be with them and I have been inspired to pray as to how I can be a blessing to them, especially in the next couple of weeks.
       
                       

                 

A New Chapter

Some days are full of surprises, today was one of those days. I generally work on Mondays, so nothing different there, but there was an unexpected meeting scheduled off site for this afternoon. I have to admit I had some thoughts about having a meeting off site...there are reasons they do that.

After we all had gathered in the conference room, the announcement was made that our jobs would be eliminated in a months time. You could almost hear the air being sucked out of the room. I think it would be safe to say most were stunned. I was surprised, but the thought of this being an elimination meeting did cross my mind....like I said, why else would you have a meeting off site?

Since I went PRN I was told that my status could change at any time, so it was as if the Lord had already prepared me for what was ahead. I have been working, but only a couple of days a week, but this isn't just about me, I have coworkers that have literally had the rug pulled out from under them. There was a multitude of emotions in that room and all I could feel was compassion.

The next couple of weeks will be difficult, there is still work that will need to be done, transitions that will be taking place. My one question, do I continue until the job goes away in a month or do I stop now, it really is my choice at the moment. Lots of things to consider, there is the people factor, relationships I have made and what my role is now in helping to support my coworkers...I do believe God has a plan and a purpose in all of this....maybe it was to get me moving...have I ever mentioned how I dislike change.

Lord you have assigned me my portion and my cup, you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance  Psalm 16:5-6

Divine Appointment

Have you ever had a divine appointment? I had one of these today, I thought I was just going in for a pedicure, but God had other plans. I walked into the salon with a young woman, we sat side by side, as we got our nails done, she talked on the phone the entire time, I was mindlessly watching something on the television. She was busy planning a party, my mind was elsewhere thinking about an upcoming appointment. I don't think we even made eye contact. Doesn't sound very divine but it gets better.

She was finished first and went to the drying area, I followed soon after. Shortly after I sat down she began to talk to me, she thought she recognized me from church. I didn't know her but she was right, we did go to the same church. Our conversation started out fairly casual, we talked about which care group we were in, marital status, children etc...then before I knew it, we were talking about trials that we were experiencing, things we were praying for...we were deep down in the weeds and I'm not even sure how we got there...I didn't even know this person, but we had a common bond.

The thing is, we didn't just talk about the trials and struggles that were going on in our lives we were also encouraging each other in the things that we knew to be true of God. Oh how we need to be reminded of what is true, because we forget so easily. As I was encouraging her, it occurred to me that I needed to take hold of what I was telling her....Remember, he will never leave you or forsake you, he is faithful, he has a plan and a purpose and frequently you will not understand it, he wants us to lose our self sufficiency and be desperate for him...I needed this word as much as she did. 

The conversation continued for about twenty minutes, in the end I had a new friend, one I will look for next Sunday. Soon it was time to go, our nails had been dry for quite a while, we were done long before we left, but then you don't just walk out on a divine appointment.

End of Barefoot Days

I get a little blue this time of year, a little sad to see summer go. In years gone by, when my sons were young,  it meant carefree days of family adventures were about to end and school with it's busy schedules were about to begin. Sons are now grown, one with a family of his own, so our schedules really don't change that much anymore...so why so glum? I think it's because the things we enjoy about summer will end soon. Things like coffee out on the deck,  working in the yard after dinner, being able to walk outside barefoot and watching hummingbirds dart from feeder to feeder. The days will get shorter, it will get dark earlier and we will be spending more time inside.

It won't be long before I adjust, I will begin to enjoy the fall and all the activities that go with it. The cooler weather will be a welcome relief. It will be time to plant pansies and mums, and bulbs for the spring. The leaves will begin turning in a few weeks, maybe we will take a drive to see some fall color. We will make hot chocolate with marshmallows or maybe indulge in a carmel latte topped with whipped cream. It will be time to make soups and stews and maybe some bread. I can almost smell it as I type. I do like the smells associated with fall. Then there is football, not that I am a huge football fan or anything but I have sons who are, so I try to keep informed of how our favorite team is doing and will watch an occasional game. (when I don't watch I at least check on what the score was)

Fall means care groups that had gone on hiatus for the month of August will be meeting again. A new bible study will be starting at church....Ephesians. I will get used to the routine and begin to enjoy all this season has to offer and I will be thankful for each day.

Always Remember

I have been cleaning and organizing around the house, a very good thing, and came across a birthday card someone had given me many years ago. We were going through a difficult time in our lives and this card not only brought birthday wishes but some truths I needed to read during that time. This little card so impacted me that I used to keep it in my bible for a long time. I would pull that card out of that bible and read it and reread it, trying to hold on to what was true. Things got better and the little card was eventually relegated to a drawer, seemingly lost forever until I found it the other day. Maybe this is something that you need to read today

                                             Always remember,  When God made you

                                             He did so with a purpose and a plan. He saw all the days

                                             before you lived one of them and placed over you the

                                             covering of His protective love, 

                                             He has allowed nothing to come into your life that has not

                                             first been screened through that love.

                                             His Hand has remained upon you to this very day.

                                             He calls you by name. You are His beloved child

                                             the apple of His eye...the delight of his heart.

                                             Today you are in the exact place he wants you to be,

                                             and tomorrow He will be with you as He has always

                                             been---in goodness, in kindness, in faithfulness.....from Dayspring Card