A Note To You

Tags

blogging, change, encouragement, faith, peace, photography, typewriter, vintage

I came across this little vintage Remington about a week or two ago and knew that I would use it in some way. My blogging has been sporadic in the past months. In October I got hired for a temporary position in a library. It was part-time, but the days I worked, I gave it my all. When I didn’t work, I was not energetic and I think I was experiencing the effects of a lack of Vitamin D, and (lots of rain). Well, my job is no more and I must say that I enjoyed it immensely. I will also mention, that it was an answer to a prayer I had written down on a slip of paper in 2015. God gets the glory and praise… As of today I am preparing for a trip to California. So for a bit longer, my blogging will still be sporadic. But I want you to know that, you my blogger friends, are thought of often, and in my heart there is no distance…

Festival of Leaves 2016: Week 2

Tags

autumn, beauty, challenge, change, color, fall, foster lake, inspiration, leaves, oregon, photography, season, trees, verena cave, water

fall color

you come

at your own pace

please do not hurry

 i hope for you to stay

as long as possible

that is

if i had it my way…

I am linking to Week 2 of Festival of Leaves

Festival of Leaves 2016: Week 1

Tags

2016, autumn, campground, change, color, fall, holiday, labor day, leaves, nature, photography, season, seasonal, verena cave

Change, coming soon to your neighborhood. For all photo leaf catchers, here is the link to Festival of Leaves for the 2016 season.

A Walk in the Rain

Tags

believe, change, faith, God, gratitude, peace, photography, poem, provision, rain, seasons, storms, thanksgiving

Though the rain may fall and the wind be blowing,

And old and chill is the wintry blast;

Though the cloudy sky is still cloudier growing, and dead leaves tell that the summer has passed;

My face I hold to the stormy heaven,

My heart is calm as the summer sea,

Glad to receive what my God has given,

Whate’er it be.

When I feel the cold, I can say, “He sends it,”

And His winds blow blessing, I surely know;

For I’ve never a want but that He attends it;

And my heart beats warm, though the winds may blow.

                                                             author unknown to me..

Festival of Leaves 2015: Week 4

Tags

challenge, change, color, fall, leaves, nature, oregon, outdoors, photography, river, rocks, verena cave, water

We are on week 4 already. Time flies when you are on a hunt to capture leaves. You can join or view here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

Tags

bailey road, change, daily post, dog, faith, God, health, pat, pet, prayer, reflection, request, thankful, wellness

I want to begin my morning with this update from Pat’s husband. As some of you may recall I shared the link to her blog, Bailey Road. Her husband had requested prayer for his wife, Pat. I want to thank you on her behalf, for those that kept her in your hearts, and prayed for her recovery. Good news today, her condition has changed and improved, although their dog, Chloe is stilling missing.  But we know that all things are possible with God. Please pray for her continued recovery and for Chloe’s safety and return. If you want to read the update please click on the link.. xx

Just as the Seasons change, so do the Seasons of our lives. Autumn is a beautiful time of the year and a time for self reflection and exploration of my heart. I want to be flexible and acknowledge what needs to be changed. Not to remain stagnant or stuck, but free and healthy in my thought life. I am linking to the Weekly Photo Challenge of Change.

Festival of Leaves 2015: Week 3

Tags

autumn, challenge, change, color, fall, leaf, nature, verena cave

Linking to Festival of Leaves 2015

Festival of Leaves 2015: Week 2

Tags

autumn, beauty, challenge, change, fall, leaves, light, nature, oregon, photography, seasons

the leaves…the leaves…the leaves…such a special time of the year

linking to Festival of Leaves for week #2

Transformation

Tags

brave, change, Christianity, counsel, courageous, depression, emotions, faith, fear, feedback, fixate, garden, God, help, mental-health, mind, peace, phillipians, scripture, stability, suggestions, transformation, work

On April 16th I posted about our weedy backyard. Rototiller/Bee man was out of commission at the time and unable to do any strenuous work. Some how, I would say with some gumption, we were able to put our hands to the plow and a little sweat to our brow. Our little plot of land has been transformed into an eye pleasing small garden. I say this with some exaggeration..Lol!

Before

When we moved in January 2014

I am thrilled to be able to grow Hollyhocks, although the bugs that were bugging them were bugging me too..

Of late I have been pondering about battles, there are battles of pests and insects, and there are battles with people. A lot of the battles take place in our brain. We mull over, we question, we fixate, we doubt, we get confused and the troubles we face look, feel, and seem ominous. I know because I was fixated on something yesterday that was totally robbing me of peace. I had to call on someone who I trust, to confide in and she listened and then made some suggestions. I knew in my heart what I had to do. I wanted to confront the issue and be done with it. I wanted peace in that area. Sometimes, I have to put on the armor of courage, because I am not always brave. How often we do try to deal with stuff and stuff it, thinking, oh yes, I can handle it. So, I moved forward with determination in my heart to settle a certain matter. Wow, it was so amazing and so freeing once I put on my brave heart and what it did, was break the ice that was solid and unmoving, and set my heart free and brought me peace.

My bike and I get along quite well

I am thankful for the wise woman of God that spoke into my heart, and got me thinking on how to approach what was bugging me. No matter how strong we think we are, we need to voice our concerns. We want to be healthy citizens of this world.. I want to be strong and courageous and not cower when pressure comes my way. We want to win the everyday battles. I had some major stinking thinking going on. If we don’t let the light in, it will stay dark in that place, in our head, in our hearts.

Look for the beauty around you, look to who is in your life that supports you. Look to those that are placed on your path to help teach you a lesson. We want to grow and flourish, not to stagnate or let depression consume us.

Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

                                                                                                                                                          Philippians 4:8

Life is a little sweeter with honey..

The Queen of Mean

Tags

change, Christianity, faith, forgiveness, God, grace, hatred, heart, meanness, mercy, photography, redemption, salvation

Having listened to words being exchanged this week, it reminds me of a former co-worker. I had begun a new job to work with at risk teenage boys and she told me early on that she had a reputation for being known as, and I will say it politely, difficult. Now, this did not impress me in any way and I recall thinking that I would not want to be known for the word she chose to use. As time went on and as I observed how disgruntled the boys were, that were in her care, I had a better understanding of what she meant.. I have previously shared my thoughts on words. All it takes it someone to ignite a little fire with hurtful and damaging words and before we know it, others have jumped on the bandwagon of inflicting meanness and pain with their demeaning words of insult, criticism and judgement. I have lost my way many times in my years and I recall the very low times. Even though I struggled, I had an assurance deep in my heart that helped me to keep on. Because of my experiences I was determined to be an encourager, to be kind and gentle with my words and to build up and not tear down. In Isaiah 64:6, it says But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. I think we could all live peaceably on earth, if we would take time to examine our own hearts and see what needs to be plucked out. Kind of like weeds that will overtake and strangle the good if we don’t remove them. We don’t have to stay in that place of darkness, hopelessness or meanness. I love the song Amazing Grace.. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a grievous word stirs up anger.

                                                                                              Proverbs 15:1