Giving Thanks

This final week before Thanksgiving I am giving thanks for the beauty of God's creation.  The heavens certainly declare his glory.  Hoping everyone who is celebrating this beautiful holiday will have a blessed one.  For all, may November leave you with many wonderful memories.  See you in December.

God Bless You

Debbie

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ."  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Colors

 Gone are the brilliant colors of yellow, orange and red.  November has replaced them with shades of amber, russet and claret.  The foliage that remains is found on the sturdy oaks.  Their leaves hold tightly to the last vestige of autumn's sojourn.  They know how to finish this season well.

 This week I am continuing to share my gratitude list.

The mauve sky that beckons the dawn...

morning mist that shrouds the woods...

  

A view of my neighbors home from our hillside...

and always your sweet visits.  Perhaps you will share a few things you are grateful for this week.

Take care and God Bless!

Debbie

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

 

Practicing the Art

 Because Thanksgiving arrives this month in America, I am practicing the art of being thankful.  As always there are many blessings to count and it is nice to take time and focus on a few during November.  I know our friends and neighbors in Canada celebrate this holiday as well.  They just are a wee bit earlier...October.   To all my blogging buddies there - hope you had a lovely celebration.

So without further ado I will share some special gifts I found yesterday.

Sheets blowing in the autumn breeze...

Chrysanthemums still holding on...

Preparing next year's garden patch with the companionship of a sweet helper.

a favorite view from our driveway...

our special boy Gunnar - hard to believe we have had him for over a year.

Lastly a lovely moon.

Hope you enjoyed your visit.  I am always so thankful for each and everyone of you.

Have a lovely start to November.

Hugs

Debbie

"I thank my God every time I remember you."  Phil. 1:3 (NIV)

Art & Books

 As October comes to a close I find myself working a bit more on art projects and diving into a new stack of books.

Just finished "The Gospel According to Jesus" by John MacArthur.  This is a wonderful read that focuses on Jesus and his powerful message and what it means to be a true follower of Christ.  Dr. MacArthur went home to be with the Lord this past July.   You can catch many of his sermons on You Tube.  His life was a life well lived!

  On a lighter note...Karen White has written a new book.  I can hardly wait to dive into this one.  She is one of my favorite authors.

"The Summer House" promises to be another good book by Lauren K. Denton.  Her "Place to Land" kept me turning the page as I believe this one will do the same.

 Last but not least a couple of art books I was able to order from our lending library.  Lindsey Bugbee  has an on-line presence under the name The Postman's Knock.  She is a superb calligrapher and am excited to see that she now is a published author.  "Drawing Flora and Fauna" hopefully will keep me inspired as we start to fall into colder weather.

Well thank you all for taking time to stop by and visit.  Hope the last days of October are kind to each one of you.  

On a side note my baby brother turned 65 today.  Wow that makes me feel a wee bit old! (LOL)

Hugs

Debbie

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." 

Matt:6:19-21  

Amazing Morning

What makes an amazing morning?

A rainbow without the rain...

a gorgeous sunrise...

light against dark skies...

and a peaceful pastoral landscape.

Thank you for letting me share the beauty of an amazing morning.

Hope everyone has a wonderful end to their week.

Hugs

Debbie

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lam: 3:22 &23 (NIV)

Connections

Do you sometimes find yourself struggling to make connections?  The other day I found myself able to receive calls but the person calling could not hear me.   This happened several times.  Finally after much frustration I texted my hubby. (It was him calling).  The text got through and he suggested restarting my phone.  Yeah - it worked.  This situation however, got me thinking how much we depend on our devices to connect us with others.

Gone are the days of land-lines and answering machines and being outdoors without being connected to something in our pocket.

I am not saying this is necessarily a bad thing but it raises the question of how do we spend our time?

Has the need to have a computer in our hand constantly or at least in easy reach costing us what are true valuable connections?  The ones that are irreplaceable such as having a face to face conversation with someone we love without a device that takes our attention away from that person.  Or taking time to visit across the way with a neighbor or engage in a heart to heart with a friend?

Could it be in this need to stay connected that we have forgotten how to listen to others - hear the crickets in the night or the sound of the wind in the trees?  

Is it even possible that we have become so addicted to the idea that we need these devices in order to survive?

Yes I know our world has changed but from time to time maybe one needs to disconnect in order to truly connect. 

Speaking of connections, I think these two still know how to do it well.  Thanks for letting me share my heart with you.

Have a lovely rest of the week.

Hugs

Debbie

"Let your conversation be always full of grace. seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  Col. 4:6 (NIV) 

Contentment

 I find great contentment in the arrival of the autumn season.  It generally brings  

mornings that are cool and crisp - afternoons warm and sunny...  

clear blue skies...

small yellow moths that visit the meadows...

 

wild asters that grow along the fence rows and dot the countryside...

and a pleasant place to sit awhile soaking up God's beautiful gift called autumn!

Have a blessed week friends.

Hugs

Debbie

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."  1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)