Quote for the day

 

Image by Pixabay

 Inspired by my devotional study of Charles Swindoll's Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, I've begun the daunting task of cleaning and organizing my computer desk.  If that sounds like an odd inspiration, I'lll quickly explain.  Today's devotional reading in this book was all about orderliness and how important it is. Verses from Proverbs were cited as well as Paul's words to the Corinthians and Colossians.  

Some probing questions were asked including if the reader could easily find important documents, or if one's desk remained permanently cluttered.  My hubby and I have struggled for years with trying to get our paper clutter under control -- so that question is one we will be addressing yet again.

The desk question also struck a nerve.   Although I can frequently clear my little crafting desk in our bedroom (and it always fills up again), my computer desk is another story.  It has a bookshelf as part of it  and I had done lots of decluttering of those books.  But on the small shelf above that, oh, what a mess.  I had many very dusty CDs that I will never use again, a desk lamp that I literally never use, and so on.  So I dived in.

In the cleaning and sorting that ensued, a yellow post-it note surfaced.  

 There is no indication where I heard or found the quote, or who said it, but it certainly is wise advice:

"At the fork in every road, choose the road that brings you closer to God."

I need to take this to heart.  There are so many choices, so many forks in the road even in a day, never mind a lifetime.   May I always choose the road that brings me nearer to my heavenly Father.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

 Once again this Monday, I may not logically have time for this, but -- I'm joining Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

The Weather:::

Rain, Rain, Rain!  Currently it's 68º with a 100% chance of rain.  94% humidity with a 5 mph breeze.  Our weather for the past week has been either rainy or hot and humid.  Not the greatest, but I try not to complain too much.  Humidity is not my friend.

As I look outside my window:::

Everything is incredibly lush and green from recent cool rainy weather.  Mostly wildflowers and weeds are blooming around here.  Orange daylilies are abundant on roadsides and in people's yards.  The elderberries are flowering gloriously.

 

Right now I am:::
 

Working on a blog post.

 
Thinking and pondering:::

 

On a sentence I recently read in Holy Hygge.  This was in the context of living out the purposes God has for us -- that as we invest time, energy and talent in these we will be motivated to "put our hands to the work and do it with laser focus".  It all reminded me of back in 2010  when I spent a few hours considering God's purposes for my life -- which I will share below.  (If you have never identified God's purposes for your life, you really should.  It's incredibly important and helpful.) Taking into account God's purposes for all believers and for me in particular, I came up with a list which I wrote out and placed in my prayer journal.   Since doing that, I make it a point to review God's purposes for my life frequently.

God's overarching purpose for me is the same as for any believer: To bring honor and glory to God with my life by using the spiritual gifts and the talents He has equipped me with.    I have broken this down into a 3-part personal "job description":

1) Be a godly wife [this includes being a good homemaker]; mother, grandmother.

2) Use my teaching gifts and other spiritual gifts for God's glory -- to encourage fellow believers and help them to grow spiritually, and to reach out to those who don't yet know Him.

3) Use my writing talents and other talents to God's glory -- again, to encourage my fellow believers and to point others to Him.

 

Anyway, back to the sentence from Holy Hygge, in this context: 

 

Be the person you wish others would be for you.

That certainly motivates me!  How about you?

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, three books,  a pen and a jar of lavender-infused oil for helping with insect bites.

On my tv this week::: 

Nothing this week.

 Listening to::: 

The falling rain.  An occasional passing car makes a wet noise on the road below our house.  Phoebes singing outside the window.

 On the Breakfast plate:::

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast.  Lunch will be a salad with cubes of pork roast, tomato, avocado, and some banana pepper rings in addition to leaf lettuce.

On the dinner plate::: 

Egg roll in a bowl, made with broccoli slaw and leftover pork roast. 

 

On the menu for this week::: 

I usually plan my menus from Thursday to Thursday, and grocery shop on Friday morning.  A few meals on my menu plan:

Egg roll in a bowl

Egg bake
Cheeseburger Pie

Fish Chowder
Enchilada skillet

 

On my reading pile:::

 

Holy Hygge by Jamie Erickson

Finding a Mentor, Being a Mentor by Donna Otto

We Travel an Appointed Way by A.W. Tozer

The Teaming Church by Robert Crosby

 

On my to do list today:::
 

Work on blog posts
Etsy listings

Laundry √

Prepare and send an Etsy order√

 

Plans for this week:::

Plan menus and make grocery list
List some notions, patterns, cards, and kids' books on Etsy
Visit Story Land, a fun White Mountains amusement park as our granddaughter does a concert there

Ironing
Take a bag to the thrift store

Write blog posts, especially some for Christmas in July
Work on my Sunday School lesson

Possibly get together with friends for a picnic

 

 

What I am creating:::

January cross-stitch sampler
Felt food for some toddler birthday gifts
Crocheting a red, white and blue hot mat

Refurbishing a tiny vintage balsam pillow√

You might wonder about that last project.  I failed to get a photo but the original looks a little like the screenshot below.  Mine is a New Hampshire pillow.  I've had it for years.  It was stained and no longer had any balsam scent at all.  It just smelled musty and old.  But I love it and really wanted to keep and display it.  So I opened up one end, dumped out the balsam needles, washed the pillow cover and hung it in the sun to dry.  Then I pressed it, refilled it with fresh balsam from a bag I bought a few years back from LL Bean.  And stitched up the end again!  A small project to be sure, but one I'm very happy with.

 

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

 

This, from the study Between Grief and Glory in the chapter A Pattern of Deliverance: "We cannot interpret God and His character based on our present pain.  Instead, we need to interpret all our circumstances based on knowledge of God from His Word and from the evidence of His past faithfulness.  Circumstances change, but God does not."

So important!  I love that -- interpreting all our circumstances based on our knowledge of God from His Word and from His past faithfulness to us.  

It reminds me of a favorite quote of mine from F.B. Meyer: 

"Unbelief sees God through circumstances, as we sometimes see the sun shorn of his rays through smoky air; but faith puts God between itself and circumstances, and looks at them through Him."

 

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

 

And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week!  

 

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Although I'm posting on Tuesday, I wrote this post last evening at The Wilds of New England.  Am joining Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather:::

It's been a warm, mostly sunny spring day in this corner of New Hampshire.

As I look outside my window:::

Birds are flitting about and inhabiting the birdhouses.  Lilacs, both white and purple, are blooming, and the scent is amazing..  

 

Right now I am:::
 

Working on a blog post while waiting for my hubby to come in from scraping paint.

 
Thinking and pondering:::

On some fairly incomprehensible situations in life and how God knows the whys and wherefores of each one.

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, a book, and a wooden coaster.

On my tv this week::: 

Nothing this week.

 Listening to::: 

The creaking sounds of an older house.

On the Breakfast plate:::

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast.  Lunch was a salad with cubes of ham, cheese, and avocado, and tomato wedges.

  On the dinner plate::: 

 

Chicken taco salad.

 

On the menu for this week::: 

I usually plan my menus from Thursday to Thursday, and grocery shop on Friday morning.  A few meals on my menu plan:

 Fish chowder
Egg bake with bacon
Burger bowl

Hot ham and potato salad

 

On my reading pile:::

 

Stories that Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

We Travel an Appointed Way by A.W. Tozer

Licensed to Lie by Sidney Powell

On my to do list today:::
 

Work on blog posts
Work on felt food.
Sort and organize counseling resources for my volunteer job.

Prepare supper.
Instagram post.

Plans for this week:::

Plan menus and make grocery list
List some notions, patterns, cards, and kids' books on Etsy

Declutter the linen closet

Write blog posts
Work on my Sunday School lesson

Spend time at my volunteer job
 

What I am creating:::

January cross-stitch sampler
Felt food for some toddler birthday gifts

 

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

Studying Psalm 143 right now.  Loving this verse -- "Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in The do I trust.  Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."  (Psalm 143:8)

 The entire psalm is a blessing.  I'll be sharing more in a Sunday Scripture post in a couple of weeks.

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

 

And there is the Happy Homemaker Monday for this week! 

Chock full of nuts hodgepodge

 

Incredibly, it's Wednesday again, and time for the Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce asks the questions and bloggers provide the answers.  Here we go ...

 1. February 16th is National Almond day...are you a fan? If so what's your favorite food item or recipe that contains almonds? 

Yes, we love almonds in our house.  Hershey bars with almonds have long been a favorite of mine, but I can't even tell you how long it's been since I tasted one. 

I'll also share this stir-fry recipe that we have enjoyed many times:

 ALMOND CHICKEN STIR-FRY

1 cup whole unblanched almonds
2 Tblsp. vegetable oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 Tblsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tblsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. honey
1 tsp. ginger
1 14-ounce pkg. frozen sugar snap peas
Rice or pasta

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook almonds in oil for 3 minutes.  Add chicken; stir-fry until lightly browned. In a bowl, combine next 5 ingredients until smooth; add to chicken mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in the peas; cook until heated through. Serve over rice or pasta. Top with chow mein noodles if desired.

Serves 4.

2. Something you are currently 'nuts' about? 

Clementines.  We are going through them like crazy. 

3. Something currently driving you 'nuts'? 

The insane narratives coming out of our nation's capitol.

4. Something you recently bought for 'peanuts'? 

This wasn't recent, but it's probably one of the most recent buys in that category.  A local-ish discount store had 5-lb. bags of King Arthur organic flour for 99¢.  They were very slightly outdated, but we popped them right in the freezer.  We used mostly this flour for our Christmas cookie baking.

5. Share a favorite quote uttered by any U.S. President ( if you're not an American, a quote made by the leader of your own country). 

Here's a very appropriate and timely 1981 quote from Ronald Reagan:

"This is a time for choosing.
I made a speech by that title in 1964.  I said, 'We've been told increasingly that we must choose between left or right.'   But we're still using those terms -- left or right.  And I'll repeat what I said then, in '64.  'There is no left or right.  There's only an up or down': up to the ultimate in individual freedom, man's age old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with an orderly society -- or down to the totalitarianism of the antheap.  And those today who, however good their intentions, tell us that we should trade freedom for security are on that downward path."

Long may it wave!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I brought out this photo of felt chocolates to  share with readers on Instagram on Valentine's Day, and will add some felt Valentine cookies here.  I really need to get to making more felt food for the younger grandchildren.  I'm positive they would enjoy it.

And that wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week!  Why not head on over to From This Side of the Pond and snag the questions to answer on your own blog?

A Christmas cookie quote

 

I ended up posting quite a few photos (a couple of them are above) of Mr. T's Christmas cookie baking on Instagram throughout December.  Invariably someone would ask what we could possibly do with all of those cookies.  Well, as some of you know, we freeze them and then bring them out for neighbor gifts, hostess gifts, gifts for friends, fellowship dinners at church, and the like.  This year we didn't have a lot of room in the freezer, but it's been cold enough for the cookies to stay frozen on the front porch:

I recently ran across a quote that describes exactly how we use our cookies.  Every December, I get out all of my Gooseberry Patch Christmas books (one at a time) and page through them.    Book 6 is one of my favorites; in fact, I wrote a review of it on my Christmas blog: Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 6.  This morning I was browsing through the cookie section and came upon a really sweet quote that I wanted to share with you all, for I think you will all recognize the truth of it.  There are sidebar quotes sprinkled throughout the book.  This one is from Rebecca Suiter of Checotah, Oklahoma.

"There is nothing like a plate of beautifully decorated cookies to highlight your Christmas table or to give to a special friend, and most of all, there is nothing like the cherished memory of making them with your children and grandchildren!" -- Rebecca Suiter

Isn't this so true?  Below is a plate of cookies my hubby arranged to take to friends.

And here is the dessert table at our daughter Carrie's on Christmas Day.  Isn't it beautiful?  The large cookie tray in the back was our dessert contribution and was also arranged by Mr. T.  

 Cookies have always been a big part of our Christmases.  And now you see, in case you were wondering, why we bake so many.

A meaningful Christmas quote

 

 I found this quote in one of my favorite Gooseberry Patch Christmas books, Book 7.  It's on the left above.  I really need to do a review of this book because it is filled with great recipes and ideas.  In this book there's a lovely quote from a reader named Cyndy Rogers of Upton, Massachusetts.  This little quote is part of a longer memory shared by Ms. Rogers.  Here it is:

"Christmas memories are some of the sweetest and fondest of those we carry through our lives.  From our earliest childhood recollection, Christmas memories are stored in a special place in our hearts, to be recalled during quiet times of reminiscing." ~ Cyndy Rogers

This is so very, very true.  Let's make sure we are making plenty of these rich Christmas memories for our children and grandchildren, even more so when the very celebration of Christmas is being threatened.

Above is a memory from my own childhood -- the fireplace and tree in my grandmother's living room.  I believe that is my stocking to the left with a felt candle on it.  My Christmas memories are so very rich.  I want the same for my grandchildren.

Keeping a cheerful heart

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of keeping a cheerful heart regardless of all that we may be dealing with in life.  My thoughts are all over the place, but I hope to corral them and write a coherent post.

One of the character flaws in my own life that I pray about regularly is a tendency to be negative.  With God's help, I've come a very long way in this area, but I still keep it before the Lord on a regular basis.

My scanner would not scan the entire page from my prayer journal, for whatever reason, but you get the idea.  Although I do have a natural tendency to be negative, I am so thankful that God is changing me from the inside out and inclining me to keep a cheerful heart regardless of circumstances.

Lately I have read some very encouraging thoughts that others have shared.  Abby at Little Birdie Blessings wrote, "Our life circumstances don't have to decide for us if we are going to have a cheerful outlook.  I choose to look for my blessings each day.  Family that loves me, my home, my church, snuggling with my grandchildren, flowers in the garden, a friend dropping by.  If your trials are consuming you, ask God to help you rise above them.  He may not take them away, but He'll help you get through them.  He's there for you, just reach out and He'll give you inner peace which in turn will show a cheerful countenance."  

The daily news can be terrifying, but I can consider it in the light of God's sovereignty and know that He is working all things after the counsel of His own will.  (I also don't watch or listen to mainstream news, preferring to follow the injunction of God's Word to think on what is true [Philippians 4:8].)  I have been thinking since Day 1 of this "pandemic" that in spite of all that is happening around us, our children and grandchildren need to see us keeping a cheerful heart and remaining unafraid as we trust in God.

Sarah Beals wrote this on Instagram: "Cultivating beauty is an act of defiance in a world that fixates on strife, violence and hate.

Beauty,
even small acts of beauty,
in the form of a bouquet of flowers, a line of verse, a beautiful painting, delicate lace curtains, tea in a crackly, glazed chintz patterned cup, a sunset walk,
slow us down and remind us that there is more to this life than the ugly, painful aspects we experience.
Beauty reminds us of Heaven and hope and points our minds upward to Christ and outside of ourselves.
Curating beauty is the job of every mother, making her home a peaceful, joyful place to dwell.
And though sin inevitably invades all of our homes and no family is perfect,
Beauty is an antidote to heal wounds and inspire hearts.

What we take into our minds,
How we interact in our homes,
Who we surround ourselves with,
How we talk to others and to ourselves,
(And how we allow others to interact with us)
all speak of our dignity, worth and value.
As much as you can, show your children beauty by your life and by what you love. Show them the beauty of sacrificial love. It may take work as setting a table or inviting someone in often does, but it's a work that reminds us all that no matter what the culture says, no matter how others value or devalue you, whether you are cancelled or celebrated, God values and loves you and God's assessment is your *actual* worth, no matter what anyone else says...

Kingdom living can start today in your home with little glimpses of daily beauty, gracious community, place-making, warm-hearted friendship and loving communication around your kitchen table. Don't underestimate it."

 You may read Sarah's entire post here, and see her lovely photo.   These are such wonderfully encouraging thoughts, don't you think?  I loved the thought that cultivating beauty is an act of defiance in this world that is so fixated on violence and hate.  I know it's true.  You must know, too, that I also loved the emphasis in the last paragraph on our kitchen tables being a place where we can share "little glimpses of daily beauty" and much, much more.

My friend Deanna at Creekside Cottage shared this insightful quote from Sally Clarkson:

  Oh, isn't that so true?  Should we as Christians ever have pervasive fear settling in our hearts?  Celebrating, laughing, and enjoying life are some sure ways to push back against it -- along with remembering that God has not given us the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Deanna added,  "This is why I share good news with you. This is my way of fighting against the darkness of the world. I don't want to be filled with fear, I want to keep my eyes on the Lord, and to keep celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, family, good friends, events."

 I loved both of these quotes as well as Deanna's thoughts.  Cultivating beauty is an act of defiance in a world filled with hate.  Celebration is an important and effective weapon against the powers of darkness.  But there is even more to consider as things in our world appear to grow ever more threatening.

Annie Holmquist noted in this Epoch Times article, "If totalitarianism wants us to erase our memories of history, community, morality, and faith, then we must cling tightly to those very things." Cultivating beauty in everyday life and continuing to celebrate each day will surely help us to cling tightly to those things. 

When I think of how frightened we could be if we allowed ourselves to look at world events rather than Jesus, I'm often reminded of the scenario we see in Matthew 14:22-27.  Jesus had sent His disciples to a ship, to cross the Sea of Galilee, while He went into the mountains to pray alone.  Verse 24 tells us what happened next:

"But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary."

But then we see in verse 25:

"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea."

The "fourth watch of the night" is between 3 and 6 a.m.  The disciples were terrified.  Verse 26 tells us,

"They were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear."

But then!

"Straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; It is I; be not afraid."

What a great reminder for us in the storms of life, be they storms in our own personal lives, difficulties in our country, or even tragic and frightening events in our world.  Jesus sees all that is happening.  His heart goes out to His children who are in the midst of storms.  He draws near and reminds us that He is with us.  He even tells us to be of good cheer!

William MacDonald comments, "How true to our own experience!  We are often storm-tossed, perplexed, in despair.  The Savior seems far away.  But all the time He is praying for us.  When the night seems darkest, He is near at hand.  We often mistake Him even then and push the panic button.  Then we hear His comforting voice and remember that the waves that caused us to fear are under His feet."

I don't know about you, friends, but this encourages me.  He loves us, He is with us and all is under His control.  He will help us to keep a cheerful heart, to nurture beauty and to celebrate everyday life,  no matter what we are facing.  Let's purpose to do just that, with His help.

Quote for the day

 Do you have bits and pieces of ideas, quotes, and thoughts scribbled on scraps of paper like I do?  I'm pretty sure I can't be the only one, right?

Sorting through some of those paper scraps this morning, I found a few notes I had scribbled down concerning my word for 2020, diligence.  This quote from Sally Clarkson needs to be shared before I toss that particular scrap:

"Daily life is where diligence is trained and learned.  As our children watch our faithfulness and experience our love, they develop a heart to be diligent.  Giving them work to complete develops moral strength.  Helping children persevere in difficult relationships teaches them to be faithful in adult relationships." ~ Sally Clarkson

Lots to chew on here.  We need to be diligent in our relationship with God and our relationships with others as well as in those all-important tasks of daily life.  Even though diligence was my word for last year, it's something I'm still working on daily.  Glad I didn't throw that scrap of paper away before I read it!

If we know God ...

 

I'm pretty sure I've shared this quote before, but it's been many years.   I came upon it today and I just want to share it again.  It's from Charles Ryrie, and in case you can't read my writing or the scan is too small, I'll write it out for you here as well.

"If we know God, we do not need to know why He allows us to experience what we do.  He is not only in control of the universe and all its facets, but also of our lives, and He loves us.  Though His ways are sometimes beyond our comprehension, we should not criticize Him for His dealings with us or with others.  God is always in control of all things, even when He appears not to be." -- Charles Ryrie

As you can see, this card has been tacked to a wall a time or two.   I took it off a bathroom wall, I think, when we repainted.  Time to tack it back up.

Also,  just a note here to share a link to a blog post which encouraged me so much today.  What's Next for Christians?  Let's keep on doing what God calls His people to do, today and every day.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope that all of you have been enjoying a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, even though it surely looks a little different this year.  In some states we may be restricted as to how large our get-togethers may be, so our enjoyment of the holiday with family and friends will not be quite the same.  In many places parades may be cancelled.   Hopefully we can manage a picnic, a small cookout, or a trip to the cemetery sometime before day's end.

Whatever we do, let's be sure we take some time to remember those who have given their lives that we might live in freedom.  If we will be with young children or grandchildren, let's be sure to try and convey to them just what this holiday is really all about.  And let's take a moment, too, to pray for those brave men and women who are currently serving our country, some in very hard and dangerous places.  We owe them much gratitude for their service to America.

Today let's be sure we are also praying for those on the front lines of this pandemic, and for the families of those who have died during it -- for many are suffering today and this is exacerbated by the sadness of not being able to be with the dying or even to properly grieve the loss.  We must pray for wisdom for our leaders and for courage to do the right thing.  Let us praise God, too, that the loss of life has not been as great as originally predicted.  Let's remember that neither we, nor our leaders, nor even the front line workers, have somehow kept this from being worse.  It is God and God only who is the Giver and Preserver of life.

I have shared this quote before.  Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said,

 "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." 

This seems as if it has never been more true.   The men and women who gave up so much, and in many cases, their very lives, for the cause of freedom, are such an inspiration,  and we owe them much.  We should never take our freedom for granted, though many have, and right at this moment in time it feels as if we have never been closer to losing those freedoms.  Let's not ever forget that people paid for our liberty with their lives.  This way of life that we have so long enjoyed -- this privilege of living "a quiet and peaceable life" -- is due to their sacrifice and God's grace.   Let's be sure that we are showing our appreciation to our veterans,  thanking God for the freedoms we still enjoy, exercising the liberties that remain, and praying faithfully for our nation and leaders.

More encouragement for your day and these times

Delightful, ever so meaningful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Continuing to need encouragement myself, I felt led to sidle up to my kitchen table this morning and share a few more thoughts and links with you all.

As I browsed my archives and links I have shared in the past, I found so much encouragement and spiritual sustenance.  I'll start with a quote:

"What should we be doing in the meantime?  We get our act together.  We live every day (as if it's our last) for His glory.  We work diligently on our jobs and in our homes for His name's sake.  We shake out salt every chance we get ... and shine the light ... and remain balanced, cheerful, winsome, and stable, anticipating His return day by day." -- Charles Swindoll, Come Before Winter

Swindoll was speaking of what we should be doing as we anticipate Christ's return, but I believe we can absolutely apply this advice to the waiting situation that we currently find ourselves in.  For some, our jobs may look a little (or a lot!) different at the moment, but we can be diligent at whatever God has given us to do.  Since "diligence" is my word for the year, this advice jumped out at me.  I hope other believers will take it to heart as well!

Here's a link to the post I wrote where this quote can be found.  I think you might enjoy reading the entire post:  Steadfast, Unmovable, Always Abounding.

A few verses from Psalm 37 is a short post of mine from 2017.  Oh, do read this one!  I found it to be just what I need today as I wrestle with all of the emotions concerning real life right now.

When You are Overwhelmed was written during a particularly difficult time in my life (more difficult than this one, in many ways) and may help to give you some perspective.  You might also like:
Thoughts from reading Jonah
Lessons from Joshua 1:9
An encouraging thought for today

I could go on and on, but I don't want to overwhelm anyone.  You will find more by clicking "devotional thoughts" in the label cloud at right.

Then there is this one: Under His Wings,  from Abby at  Little Birdie Blessings.

Wait on the Lord  is another encouraging post from Abby. 

When the Storm Clouds Roll In, by Mrs. Smith at Sweet Tea and Simplicity, will be a blessing to you also.

God Will Take Care of You, by Diana at WriteForward, is a short post that will bless your heart and put a song in it to carry along with you.

I hope that these links and thoughts are a blessing to all of my blog friends today.  Remember, "David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" (1 Samuel 30:6).  Let us do the same!

From the September archives, Part 1

Better late than never!  I'm finally taking time to highlight some posts from the Kitchen Table archives from past Septembers.  In no particular order, here goes ...

Apple Crisp Pizza, from 2015 (and probably other years as well) is one of those recipes I must make every fall.  I'm planning to make one tomorrow, in fact, for a get-together with friends.

Photo from Taste of Home

Could you please repeat the question?, from 2007, is a somewhat humorous account of a political "poll" I supposedly participated in.

Delightful graphic from Little Birdie Blessings

 2 Favorite Freezer Recipes  

This is a post from 2005 and shares two of my favorite recipes to stash in the freezer for the busy holiday season ahead. 

 A fun fall getaway
 is from 2008 and tells all about a wonderful getaway to the far north of our state.

 Praising God
 This is a wonderful thought for your quiet time.  From 2008.

Graphic from Baptist Bible Hour

 Little library tote
 

I posted about these little totes (made from dish towels!) in 2009.  Since then I've made many.  A fun little sewing project!

Fall flower lights

These lights were a project I did with my granddaughter in 2010, and most years I bring them out in the fall. 

Hope you find some recipes or ideas that are new to you!

I found loads of great ideas in September's archives, so watch for another installment tomorrow.

Quote of the day

Beautiful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

 Part of the process of cleaning out a house that has been lived in for nearly seventy years involves sorting through things -- sifting out the things with sentimental value; the the things that might be used or donated or sold; and the things that can simply be thrown away.  At my parents' home, one category I am encountering often in the sorting process is books.  Hundreds of books.  There were and are books in nearly every room of their home.

Many, of course, are books I am familiar with, but some are books that my mother bought or ordered for various reasons -- maybe because they were inexpensive or simply looked interesting.  There were even boxes of books bought for very small sums at auction.

One book that I found in my sorting was called Pages from a Journal, by Joyce Butler, a well-known Maine writer.  Pages From a Journal is a book of essays, nearly all of which had previously appeared in the author's newspaper column of the same name.  The book has been on my nightstand for several months as I slowly worked my way through it, reading a bit each night.

Fairly early in the book I came upon a paragraph that I knew I wanted to share with my blog readers.  These words are from an essay titled "Grammy B." which alluded to the death of a loved one, and some of what our grieving may include.

Readers may remember that my dad passed away at the end of May.  When I first read these words, I was thinking of him.  I'll just share them now:

"We grieve for what is gone, but we ask too what is left.  It is surprising how much.  What a human being has given of himself to others in kindness, encouragement, cheer remains and gives meaning to the fact that he lived.  Those of us who lived close to him discover that he has also left us a legacy of attitudes, traditions, example, and the measure of wisdom which comes out of the experience of losing him.  And perhaps that is where the healing begins.  We become for a time a little more gentle and wise, and we grow a step or two into maturity.  And some of us, having asked ourselves what part of his life was important, are able to make of our questioning an equation to the meaning and importance of the life we ourselves are living.  Then for us the gauntlet is down and this too is part of the legacy." -- Joyce Butler, from the essay titled "Grammy B." in the book Pages from a Journal.

I've been meaning to share these beautiful thoughts for months, but I see now that the time was not right.  Now it is.  In the past three weeks, Mr. T and I have lost four friends to death, one of them violently.  Oh, we know we will see each of them again in heaven.  But we will miss them.

And this quote has become even more meaningful to me as I consider the folks who have passed away recently.  One of them was an elderly pastor from whom we had learned much over a period of years.  One was an old friend, a member of our church and a neighbor of my husband's family.  He epitomized many New England values -- again, a person from whom much was to be learned.

This week, though, I've been pondering the lives of two women who have passed on.  Both were personal friends of mine.  And the legacy of example they left behind is truly priceless.  Both were incredibly gracious women who loved God and others supremely.  Both had Scripture stored away in their hearts which often revealed itself in wise, godly speech and character.  Were they perfect?  Certainly not, and they would be the first to tell you so.  Is their example of love for God and His Word and for others worth pursuing in our own lives?  Absolutely, and I am seeking to do just that.

Autumn quote of the day

This is from last year, but you get the idea!

Yesterday, Mr. T and I went to see my dad after church. As we got farther north, we began to see more and more beautiful fall foliage.  The weather has been so dry here that many gloom-and-doomsayers have been predicting the foliage would not be as brilliant.  I am here to tell you these gloomy prognosticators are wrong!  We did not get any photos on this trip as we were on a schedule and did not have a camera with us, so I will be using 2015 photos to illustrate this post.

Every bend in the road revealed new and glorious vistas, as well as some individual trees that were truly spectacular.  We marveled over God's handiwork and artistry.

When we got home, I was perusing the Sunday paper.  This paper features a monthly column called Outdoors with the AMC  by Rob Burbank, who is director of media and public affairs for the Appalachian Mountain Club in Pinkham Notch, NH.  His column appeared this week and addressed (in part; there was a lot more to his column) the topic of how the drought might affect the autumn foliage.  He wrote: "Each year we hear predictions, often based on the previous season's weather, and each year we're treated to the red, yellow and orange autumn show in the New Hampshire woods."

Well said, I thought.  But even that wasn't the quote I really wanted to share with you.  This is it:

"It's a great time to get out and immerse yourself in the scenery amid  hillsides that appear they've been covered by the contents of thousands of boxes of Trix cereal."

~ Rob Burbank

I shared with a friend recently that when I was a child observing distant autumn hillsides from the windows of a school bus, they appeared to me as covered with multicolored candies -- like maybe M&Ms, or gumdrops.  I like Mr. Burbank's thought of Trix cereal even better!