Friday Foto Friends: October Musings

Today is Friday Foto Friends Day (I am writing on Thursday night so I won't forget like I did last week!).  This has been a very difficult week in several ways. The horrific tragedy last Sunday night has affected all of us with feelings of deep sorrow and consternation, I am certain.  No, I am not going to write about that because I believe we have all been going through that all week...and we need something to cheer our hearts and give us renewed hope and comfort.

So for Friday Foto Friends I will just post a few pictures of October Musings from this week and perhaps also from the past.  I haven't really been anywhere special this week...and thank you for praying for me regarding all the things I needed to do.  Our "Lovely Ladies of the Lord" fellowship was cancelled due to some having conflicts, so hopefully we will meet next week. In some ways, that was a blessing for me, because I wasn't feeling too great yesterday and today (Thursday) I had to go shopping to prepare for the Bridal Shower here on Saturday.  Also...I had my follow up doctor appointment, and my labs all look good except for my cholesterol...so back on the Simvastatin.  I was hoping to not have to do that again...but...it's in my genes...(and probably my jeans too! LOL)  Very thankful to the Lord for an otherwise great report.

So let's move on to the beauty of this week...

Here's a sweet picture of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly enjoying it's afternoon snack...

 And this little brown cuban anole lizard is relaxing  in the sunshine on this tree fungus shelf...

Mum's the word!  I picked up a few pots of chrysanthemums for the front porch! (I really like spelling that big word!)  That means fall has officially arrived to my house!

Last weekend we started on another front yard project...the flower bed along the front of the house needed new wood borders (as well as a lot of other things...like some good soil, mulch and flowers...but first things first)  This is the BEFORE pic:

And here are our sons putting down the new border posts...

 So proud of their finished work...and we are so blessed to have them help us!

And then hubby and I put the mulch in the next day...so now all we need are some more flowers...but that may have to wait.  Everything costs money these days...have you noticed that, or is it just me?

And here's our first two bear visitors for October...don't you just love the way they are smiling as they come to get a drink of water?  Not sure what they are smiling about...maybe they can see their reflection in the water....maybe they know the camera is taking their picture and they want to smile...who knows? I just think they are cute...as long as they stay outside and don't do any damage...

Friday, Oct. 6th  is our grandson Noah's 18th birthday!  I wish we could be together, but he lives in Maine and we aren't able to make that trip this year. However, he and his mama will be here in November for our son's wedding...so that is almost as good as getting to celebrate his birthday with him!  Here's a few birthday pictures from the past when we did get to celebrate together:

 This is my favorite picture ever...Noah's 3rd birthday, when he asked his mama to make him a

"Super Larry Boy with the Super Sonic Ears" costume for his birthday.  (from Veggie Tales)

You can tell he was extremely pleased (understatement!)

Here we are with him for his 10th birthday...somewhere along the road between Maine and NH.  Our favorite place to take a picture!

I believe this next one was when he was 11...and it kind of speaks for itself...Yep, that's our "Noah Monster!!"

And here we are in October 2013 when he was turning 14...this was the last time we were all together there in Maine for Noah's birthday before his Daddy, our precious son Matthew, passed away in May of 2014 after his 4 yr. battle with cancer....I love that we were able to get this last picture together at our favorite overlook site...

Noah came down here to visit us 

in 2015 for his 16th birthday...here he is with his Great-Grand Nanny...my sweet MIL "Nanny Steiner"

And here is Noah,  (age 17) this past spring when he came to visit us for his grandpa's birthday!

We are truly looking forward to seeing him again soon! In the meantime, Happy 18th Birthday, Noah!
We love you, and are very proud of the fine young man you are becoming!!!!  May God continue to richly bless you and keep you all the days of your life. Amen.

Here's a few verses from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 to sum up this October Musing...

"1.  To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

2.  A time to be born,

and a time to die;

A time to plant,

and a time to pluck what is planted;

3.  A time to kill,

and a time to heal;

A time to break down,

and a time to build up;

4.  A time to weep,

and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

and a time to dance;

5.  A time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace,

and a time to refrain from embracing;

6.  A time to gain,

and a time to lose;

A time to keep,

and a time to throw away;

7.  A time to tear,

and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence,

and a time to speak;

8.  A time to love,

and a time to hate;

A time of war,

and a time of peace.

11.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

Also He has put eternity in their hearts,

except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12.  I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice,

and to do good in their lives,

13.  and also that every man should eat and drink

and enjoy the good of all his labor--

it is the gift of God."

I hope that you will all have a wonderfully blessed day, weekend and month!  Enjoy all that you have...as "it is the gift of God."

Now, let's hop over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other fine Friday Foto Friends have been up to!! See you next time!