Just Catching Up-Happy October!!

It's October!  Have you noticed any changes in your "neck of the woods"?  I am noticing subtle changes in the position of the sun as it rises and sets each day...I loved how the setting sun was glistening like gold on the pine needles beside the pond last evening...

It just really caught my eye...

And so did this tiny little green gecko (chamelion) as he worked his way around my patio table...

He wasn't too sure which way to go...

And he was very curious about me sitting there watching him. Eventually he climbed up the umbrella pole, and I lost sight of him...and I also got up and moved because I didn't want him to drop down on top of me from the umbrella...

So I came inside and decided to get into the October spirit by lighting a candle on the table...

I love these battery operated candles, don't you?  You don't have to worry about them burning your house down when you forget to blow them out...

Which is what could happen with this jolly jack o' lantern if I go off and forget him...so we'll just watch him for a minute...

While I tell you how decorator savvy I've become in my "old age"...  Remember when I showed you pictures of my kitchen HERE a few weeks ago?  Here's another picture taken today of this wall of hanging plates....Well...I did this several weeks ago, right?

And then THIS came in the mail this past week:  The November edition of "Country Living" magazine:

And I was astounded to see that even the sophisticated decorators from Country Living thought it was a great idea to hang blue and white plates on a wall! Of course, they suggested putting them in the shape of a wreath...which is fine if you have that much space to fill up and want to put that many holes in your wall, but the point is, I thought of this idea all on my own before I ever saw this magazine cover...and when it arrived I felt quite clever to have already done something very similar to what they were suggesting!!  I don't consider myself to be a very savvy decorator very often...I just use whatever I have to make do, and if I like it, and my family doesn't complain, then it works for me!  But it's kind of neat to see that my idea was magazine cover worthy!  (I just noticed something else on that cover..."Embrace that old brown furniture (it's baaack!)"  Well, that's a good thing, because that is pretty much what I have...old brown furniture!!! Especially the "old" part... Ha Ha!

Speaking of "old"....I did have another celebration last Friday with some friends and family to celebrate my birthday:   I know you are thinking, "why would she share such an unflattering picture of herself on her blog?"  Well, because it's a tradition...in our family you have to have a picture of you blowing out your candles on your birthday cake, (in this case, pie), and I was happy to be able to do it. I mean, when you get this old, you are quite fortunate if you can blow out your candles...even if there are only two candles to blow out! So there...I'm telling on myself how old I am too...so you know next year will definitely be an even bigger blowout! LOL.

Okay, so much for all that "old" stuff.  I haven't been around much lately because after my big birthday week last week I came down with laryngitis, which developed into a bad cold/virus something that knocked me for a loop for this past week...and I am just today really even beginning to feel  like doing something "fun" again.  Not sure just what that will be, but I'll think  of something.

Meanwhile, it's good to even feel good enough to sit here and write to you again, dear friends. I've missed you. You are a breath of fresh air and sunshine to me, and I am sorry for not being more attentive lately. These past few months have really been difficult for me since we moved...being this "old" really does take a toll on you when you undertake something as big as this move has proven to be...and I believe my resistance/immune system has gotten a little down...so hopefully over the next few weeks and months the cooler fall weather will help me get back into some healthier activities and more refreshing exercise...like walking again. We really haven't taken many walks since our move, and it has affected both my husband and I...so hopefully we will get back in the walking groove here real soon. We did discover a State Forest nearby with walking trails, and so I am eager to check it out as soon as we get a real fall day. (cooler, that is)

We were reading in our morning devotions this morning from the book of Nehemiah 8:1-12.  The Title for this chapter in my Bible says "The Great Revival Under Ezra, The Law read and explained."

The people of Israel had been in captivity for many years and the city of Jerusalem had been pretty well destroyed, especially the walls of the city.  Nehemiah had been sent (by his request) by the King of Persia, to rebuild the walls.  The people had not heard the  "Book of the Law of Moses" read to them in many years, and they really didn't know what it said.  So Ezra the priest brought the book of the Law to the assembly and read it in the open square to all the men and women who could hear it with understanding. (verse 2-9)  And when the people heard all the words  from the Law of God, the people began to weep and mourn...for they knew they had not been keeping the law as they should.  But in verse 9, Ezra told them not to mourn or weep, because this day"is holy to the Lord your God."  And in verse 10 he told them,

"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

I want to close with that thought today.  Do not sorrow, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.  When we are feeling sad or grieving for the loss of someone dear to us, or even the loss of something that was important to us...a home, a job, our health,  or a special treasure...we are reminded not to sorrow...but to remember that knowing the Lord and having His presence in our lives gives us strength and JOY.  These people, when faced with the truths of God's Word, grieved because of their sin, but they also, when Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God, the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" (see verse 6)  and "lifted up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

Let us embrace this beautiful new season of autumn with JOY, knowing that we can march forward with the JOY of the Lord as our strength.  Whatever we may be facing in the future, God is already there...and He will give us the strength to do whatever we need to do...and He will also help us to have JOY in the midst of it all.  

Happy Fall, Y'all!!