1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?
Finally an easy question that will take me almost no time or thought to answer! It looks like any other autumn day here. We are just not into Halloween at all. We used to give out candy but no longer do since the trick-or-treaters just stopped coming. Now we just don't buy the candy and we leave the porch lights off just in case.
And the next two questions are going to take more thought ...
2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate.
Good question. Probably one of the most pressing "waits" is that our church is waiting to find the right pastor. Ours retired over two years ago and we have been looking (and waiting on God) ever since. It's not a simple or quick process. My hubby is heavily involved in leading the church through this process and feels the responsibility keenly.
3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.
I wish I was different in many ways. However, I have come to accept that I'm a work in progress.
We do it ourselves, mostly my husband. I would be willing to help, but he usually gets it done. The last paint job was in the upstairs bathroom in 2015. We painted over a difficult wallpaper removal job just as a temporary fix. We are planning to put white beadboard over the painted walls, but haven't found time to do that yet.
Wallpaper ... we both used to be fans. Not any more. In time, we would like to cover most of our painted or wallpapered walls with pine paneling. We completely finished the living room in pine paneling and we just love the look for our house. I think we both wish we had thought of that earlier. But I suppose it's very possible we couldn't have afforded it earlier.
5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Wild weather we've just come through here in New Hampshire! Heavy rain and winds.
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| A small sample of the water situation |
Finding the right pastor can seem like an eternity, but He has the right person at the right time. I have found that those times waiting are often some of our best learning times.
ReplyDeleteWallpaper... I once loved it and I have to say that I could still love the wallpaper that was in my bathroom at our previous house. When we moved into our current home, it was in every room and it was mostly pink and powder blue. I hated it all. I have scrubbed and scrubbed it all down. In two room, I painted over it and it still looks fine. I think they were both put on sheetrock straight, so there was no pulling it down. With all of that said, I say NOOOO to wallpaper. I can't paint quicker for a change than I can pull wallpaper down. It is not for me, no matter how much they tell me it is easier to take down now:)
You're right, Sandy, and I appreciate the insight. Waiting times can be some of the best learning and growing times. For sure, they help us learn patience, and hopefully many other lessons as well.
DeleteI'm so with you on the wallpaper ... never again!
Wall paper is like sin..looks pretty good until you have to get rid of it. I took a vow, no more wall paper! Hope you find the right pastor soon...I know it is hard on a church to be in the selection process.
ReplyDeleteGood comparison, Arlene! And like sin, it can leave scars that won't go away. I'm with you, no more wallpaper.
DeleteIt is very, very hard indeed to be in a pastoral search. And we have recently had one church member move away, and five from our congregation have passed away since summer, so our numbers are shrinking too.
Finding a new pastor is a tremendous work. We've been through all that visiting and interviewing and the man preaching to the congregation and getting their responses, etc. etc. I don't envy you one bit.
ReplyDeleteThat white beadboard might be just the solution to my wallpapered bedroom walls! I was dreading peeling off that miserable wallpaper centimeter by square centimeter. It's a horrid process. Thanks for the idea. I'm going to run it past Mr. C. and get his reaction. :-)
So thankful to know that others understand what a huge job it is to find a new pastor. The committee has probably communicated with at least 20 different men. It is a very lengthy and labor-intensive process, as you noted. Prayers appreciated!
DeleteI'll be interested to see what Mr. C thinks of the beadboard idea. For us it's the perfect solution. Hopefully we can actually get it installed in the new year.
What a storm! So glad you weren't affected, but sorry for those who were. Searching for a new pastor and getting just the right one is so critical. Your sunset photo is so pretty and I like the paneling. I miss the paneling and the wallpaper we had in our old house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit, Nonnie! I have been so incredibly busy that I haven't gotten around to visiting blogs for a couple of weeks.
DeleteYou are so right about the pastoral search. We don't want to take a chance on getting the wrong person, though of course we realize that can happen regardless of how much care is taken. The search process is exhausting and of course there is the matter of pulpit supply while waiting it out. Still, I think we would rather soldier on like this for however long it takes, rather than get the wrong person.
Sounds like we had some similar answers. I do love the thought of bead board and plan to have some in my new house. I think you must have gotten the severe weather that we were to get some of but it seemed to head more northward than eastward. Happy November!
ReplyDeleteYes, I really like the look of bead board. I grew up with the real thing in our childhood summer place and have always liked it.
DeleteStill lots of repair to roads (storm damaged) being done up here but thankfully the scary weather is over for now. Happy November to you as well!
Wow that's some scary weather! Do you read Life SPR blog (he is #16 on the list today). He is in New Hampshire too. Not sure I realized that's where you were. I have bead board in my mud room and down the hallway to the garage. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI have read Life SPR before, but hadn't gotten to his post for this Hodgepodge. I will need to look that up. It was really quite a storm for our area.
DeleteGlad to know you like the bead board. Maybe during "mud season" this coming spring we will finally get to that project!