It's change of season time!

 Yep, it's here. Change of season, cold weather, and the dreaded time change. All of this has effects on people and me too. I don't like cold weather, and the change in seasons mean winter is coming! BOO. What I do like is the beautiful change in color the trees give us this time each year. It kinda makes it a little more bearable. As I was walking this week, there are so many reds, yellow and orange colors on the trees! So beautiful.

Despite all this good feeling nature, there are just some days. Do you have those days where the thought of having to smile and be nice to everyone or to say Good morning a gazillion times just isn't in you? It takes everything you have to smile and say it? I had one of those days last week. I just felt, "I can't do this today." But when you are wallowing in your self pity, God steps in and KAPOW! You are smiling. That was me. But what gave me my smile was God placed someone in my path. They had a word of encouragement for me, and it went a long way to help me through my work day.

When I think on it, I still smile. I try to help others throughout their tough times, and just feeling that support from others, well....it feels different receiving it. I experienced how my words make other feel. 

This past week was Halloween. I anticipated a lot of kids because our neighborhood has a lot of kids. I only got 5!!!! I have so much leftover halloween treats. More for me!! But you know what comes after halloween????? NOVEMBER 1ST! Some may not know, but IYKYK! It is christmas music time! It starts on Nov 1st. I LOVE IT! It helps me through this dreary time of shorter days, colder nights and coat weather. 

So this week, one- I am off work (YAY for me!) but two- I am breaking out the christmas decorations!! At least for inside my house. I usually won't decorate outside until after Thanksgiving. I have to get some use out of my pumpkins I bought 2 weeks ago.  haha!

My challenge for you, spread joy. Compliment someone, smile at someone. You never know where their mind is and what your words or smile will do for them, even if it is just a small thing. The compliment I received....a Thank you. Someone just came to me and said, thank you for everything you do for us. That small sentence made me feel valuable.

John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less.”

Hebrews 10:24-25; "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Love to all, 

A trip down memory lane

 I grew up in the same house my whole young life. We didn't move out of it until I was 21 yo! Well, me and the hubs decided this weekend to go back to our old stomping grounds and drive through our neighborhoods we grew up in.  It was crazy! Everything changed. Let me take you on my trip......

First, just driving down the main road before you get to my street my house was on, it has been widened and now has sidewalks!! What is happening?!!  We had to walk to the store to get moms smokes on that busy 2 lane road and walk through peoples yards. Now there is sidewalks, which would have been nice to have, and the convenience store is gone. I guess that is to be expected since it has been 37 yrs since I have lived there. 

Second, my old house is so small! I remember it being a little bigger. But it looks so small now. Wonder how 5 of us all lived there. (my cousin lived with us for a few years before we moved). The trees in the front yard are gone. I remember having to park my car in the yard  between the 2 trees because we had too many cars! 3 teenagers in one house. Not sure how my parents managed us! My room in the window in the middle. That was a great house. 

Third, what is going on!! This ditch was wayyyyyy bigger and steeper than what it is now. I am telling you, that ditch was a HILL! And we would walk down that ditch to the back to big creek. You can't see it from the trees that have grown over. It's a wonder we didn't get bit by snakes or snapping turtles!  Yes, they were there, but they must have stayed away from us kids. Me and my brother would look for crawdads when we were younger and mom would get mad at us for going down in the creek. "It's too dangerous" she would say. That creek held a lot of secrets too. Like when I tried smoking! I don't recommend it. It's nasty.

It is crazy how memories can just flood back that you haven't thought about in a long time. So many amazing memories of me, my family and friends in that neighborhood. Even one of my friends was saying she kissed a boy in that ditch! haha. Memories of me and my best friend sneaking out of the house and walking the street at night, just to have that freedom that we did it! As little kids, running up and down the street to each others house. My best friend just lived 4 houses down from me. We knew everyone on that street. And they knew us, so we couldn't get away with anything. I can go on, but don't want to bore you. 

Some don't have as many good memories as I do. My hubs is one of them. But as we drove past the homes he lived in, there were some not so good memories, but we concentrated on those good ones. It was great to talk about his grandma and the memories of being in her house. I was blessed to know both of his grandmothers and they were great ladies. I even have some of my own memories in those houses of theirs. 

So take the time to remember those good times. Those memories is what molded you into the person you are today. Even those not so good memories taught you lessons in life and helps you with the decisions you make today. 

Deuteronomy 32:7; Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you."

Jeremiah 29:11; "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Love to all, 

Fresh new socks

 

Ever love the feel of new socks? Yes, socks. I get ankle, sports socks. And when I get new ones, they are so cushiony that my feet thank me for it. Especially when I am at work and do a lot of walking!

You know what else is awesome….fresh sheets. I love getting into a freshly made bed. I would change my sheets every day if I didn’t have to do laundry! And knowing how to fold a fitted sheet without wrinkles is also a plus. 

There isn’t a lot of things that can bring you true happiness and that “feel good” feeling. But new socks will do it!

Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. If you are needing a pick me up, try some new socks. They may put a pep in your step!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Psalms 118:24; "This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Love to all, 

Pumpkin time!

 

I got my pumpkins! Yay for me! Pictured is our stash we got. I always go in and say I am only getting 1-2 and end up with 3-4. I just can't make up my mind. They all are so cute and have their own personality. Yes....pumpkins can be cute and when you can't have them all, it's hard to pick just one. I love the ones that are oddly shaped and have the vine still on them. It was a great day at the pumpkin patch....despite the crowds.

My family went to Hubers again this year for our annual pumpkin fall get together. We realized once we were there that we should not have come on a weekend. Last time it was a week day and there was not as many people there. To say the least it was crowded! (Mental note for next year). Despite all the people, I still got my pumpkin!

But the people......why do some have to be so rude? It was crazy. I just kept remembering from my childhood, that if I ever acted that way (rude, pushy, just not polite), my momma would snatch me up and it was whoopin time! If we were out in public, it would be even worse....she would pull me close, nose to nose and whisper "if I don't straighten up, I was going to get in when we got home".  This didn't happen to often because you know I was an angel and didn't act up a lot! I still have my halo, hahaha.

But all that aside, I had an amazing time. And the sangria's I shared with my niece for her birthday was a plus too! I think I needed more....to help with my people watching in the crowds! Welllll...Maybe not, that probably was good I didn't have more, who knows my angel-ness may have disappeared.

Now my decision is this....to carve my pumpkin or not! That's a tough one.

1 John 3:18 says, "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth".

Micah 6:8; "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Love to all,

Getting your day started

 

This week it has officially switched from warm, summer weather to fall, cool temperatures. And I can tell you, I am not enjoying it! I am a summer girl. I like the heat. Even though the sun is out, it is deceiving to make you think it is warm outside. I walk outside and just say "nope" and have to go in and get a jacket. There is a chill in the air. And my body and joints are definitely feeling it!

So I am back to my fall way of thinking, wishing this season would go quickly and March to get here soon! It's sad when you wish away part of your life, instead of trying to find ways to enjoy this season. I need to look deep to see what is good about cold weather and snow! I cannot stand the snow! Brrrr

So this season, as it gets colder, I am having to warm up my car in the mornings before I leave for work. This got me thinking as I was doing my devo this week. As our cars need to be warmed up, so does our spirit, our minds. How do we do it? Well, one way is getting into the word. Another way is through prayer. Starting your day with scripture and prayer every morning before you even step out of your house, will prepare your heart and mind for the day ahead.  

So I am enjoying the last remaining warm days and all the colorful flowers that comes with it. In the next week or so, our trees will be changing to a beautiful orange, red and yellow colors. The beauty God gives us in amazing. We just need to look and see that beauty. And I am concentrating on what is good this season. This includes, but not limited to.....MY BIRTHDAY, holiday gatherings with my family, shopping for Christmas gifts and my shoe box for Samaritan's purse. 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV); "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Love to all,