Tuesday 4~ 4 questions...in memory of our blogging friend Toni Taddeo...
September is back to school month and even if you are an adult now, you can usually still recall the back to school days. It was a new beginning.. sometimes scary, sometimes joyous. New experiences were awaiting you.How about now? September is still a new beginning to the year. What will it hold for you?September has always been a favorite month for me...my birthday is later in the month, and I guess that is probably why September has always held a sense of excitement for me!
I've started this week out by taking pictures of the sunrise every morning (if there is one...some days have been too foggy or cloudy.) Here's what I've seen so far:
It was a beautiful start to our Saturday morning!
“Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14
Sunday morning sunrise. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together “.
Colossians 1:17
Monday morning sunrise.
Psalm 37:5-6. “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. “
I am going to try and keep this up all month long, if I can remember before the sun gets too high!
1. As summer's heat fades do you get out and about in nature often ? Well, it's still kind of hot and humid and rainy here, so we haven't been able to get out as much as we'd like. I've noticed that the hummingbirds are still coming to the feeder regularly. Usually they leave around Labor Day, to head further south for the winter. But I guess they're still hanging around as long as I keep feeding them! This is a female Ruby Throated Hummingbird.
And we noticed the Bluebirds coming around to peek inside the windows of the birdhouses...it's not time for them to be building a nest, so I'm not sure what they are up to. Maybe just checking on their house to make sure it's being taken care of for them for when they do come back in the spring. There may be a resident lizard inside the house, keeping it bug free for them! LOL.
I'm noticing a lot of holly berries on the trees this year, so I hope that means there will be lot of Robins and possibly Cedar Waxwings come through on their way south...usually around November when the berries are really ripe...if the squirrels don't eat them all before then. That's what they've done the last couple of years! These berries aren't quite ripe yet. They will be really really bright red when they are ready.
Where do you go, what do you do? What would you like to do?
Hubby and Me, Sunday morning
One thing we do is help with serving Holy Communion at our church. We serve the people in the pews who are unable to come forward to the altar for Communion, as well as the choir members and church pianist. It is a joy and a humbling privilege to be able to do this. The only sad part is that some of the dear ones that we have served over the past several years have now gone on to be with the Lord. I miss seeing their smiling and thankful faces, but I know they are smiling and oh! so thankful to be looking into the Face of Jesus in Heaven.
September is the beginning of a lot of activity at our church...we started back to our Ladies' and Men's Bible Studies today (Monday) after being off for the summer. My hubby teaches the Men's Bible Study, and I attend the ladies study. I will also start back to choir practice Tuesday night, which is always a joy to me as I love to sing and miss the camaraderie of our choir friends.
Ladies' Bible Study...we started this book in the spring, but didn't get very far before we quit for the summer, so we are picking up where we left off. It's a great study in the Gospel of Luke
Those are all things that we do, and to answer the question "what would you like to do?"...Well...I think I'd like to be able to get out more with people and family. It seems like the summer months are just too hot to do much of anything and no one feels like doing much...but once it starts cooling down a little bit people start wanting to be out and about more. It's almost like I wake up after a long summer's nap and want to get back into action in September! Nothing special...just something more than staying home all the time.
2. What has changed in your life that you miss/regret the most?
Probably just the fact that as I get older, I don't have the stamina and energy that I used to have to do things that I enjoy. Before we moved to this house we used to do a lot more entertaining in our home. It was a much bigger house and I was younger. Since coming here for some reason it's just been harder to plan things...and we are a little farther away from our extended family and so they don't like to drive all the way here for holidays, etc. anymore. So we usually meet somewhere in between at a restaurant and visit for birthdays, etc., which is fine and I don't have to clean house or cook, but I still miss having people in our home and decorating for the occasion, etc. I haven't really started my fall decorations yet, but at least Scott got them out of the shed for me this weekend so I can start. I did hang a wreath on the front door...that's something!
3. Money is no object, nothing stands in your way.. are you going to move or stay where you are?
That's an excellent question! For now, stay where we are. But as we get older I expect there will be another move in our future...most likely to something without so many steps to get up and into. This is a manufactured home, and we have about 5-6 steps to climb up, carrying groceries, etc., and that little climb may not look like much, but when you are carrying bags of groceries or anything else, you feel every step. Although I love our location on Still Waters Pond, if I could afford to move into something "on the ground" that was comparable, I just might be tempted to do it. However, someone else will need to do the packing and moving. Plus I need to get rid of SO MUCH STUFF! Just thinking about that keeps me right here! I think we just need to add a ramp to help us get in the house!
4. How can you improve your life?
See above answer to #3...building a ramp might help. Trying to regularly get more exercise would help too. We do the best we can, but again, the heat this summer made it really difficult to get out and walk like we used to do. I would love to do more nature hikes and be out in the fresh air more often. That is something I really enjoy...and of course taking pictures of every flower or bug or bird along the way...
So that's the Tuesday 4 for this week. Thanks, Annie, for coming up with these questions each week. They are challenging us to think, and that's a good thing to do!! If you want to join in,
Click HERE
Here's a final thought for the day:
Good Night my friends! I am posting this on Monday night so it is a Monday Monday post and a Tuesday 4 post all in one!
That's such a nice picture of you and your hubby, and a lovely way to serve. My husbands church Bible study started tonight and the ladies starts next week.
ReplyDeleteYes, you have such a beautiful setting but I can see that the stairs could cause issues.
It’s like back to school week! I start this week as well. Revelations on Wednesday and Isaiah on Thursday. My husband just got back from the BSf men’s study on Revelations.
ReplyDeleteYour dress is so pretty. Love the print and the color. Looks nice on you. I noticed your husband holding on to you. Very sweet.
I don’t know why but our hummingbirds stay year round here. Even those freak times we had snow, they were still humming away at their feeders. I’ve never asked the neighbors - or maybe they just like us! lol
My plan is to stay and die in the same house as my mom and dad. I know some might thinks it’s macabre but I think it’s neat. No stairs - it’s a good house for older people.
Anyway enjoyed your post.
Excellent and oh so happy photo of you and your hubby, and love your dress, color and print.. you are right about the heat, I had planned to go to the new Target that opened 4 weeks ago but when I think of going out in the heat, I continue to sit here. I had promised myself and told Bob yesterday that I AM GOING TODAY.. yet here I sit.
ReplyDeleteso the answer to what do I do is NOTHING. ha ha. well I do draw on the iPad.
i have no answers for most of these questions, my daily life consists of caregiver to Bob and add myself and dog Beau to the list. What two people have done for 40 years is now all on my shoulders except pool care and I even double team mowing. the real answer to what do I do? everything that has to be or needs to be done and that is a full time job
Great answers! I agree that as I've gotten older, I miss the stamina and strentgh that I used to have. I used to walk all over Disney World and now it's a chore to walk to the end of the road. And already I see adaptations I'd love to have where I live but then I rent so that's not possible. Always love the photos! September in Florida is always so pretty.
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet photos. We do the Holy Communion every month too. I like that.
ReplyDeleteOur Hummers are leaving: males first, females and juvie's next. Got some stragglers coming through from further North, so, I'll keep the feeders out until I'm sure they're all done.
Have a blessed day friends. 💙
I enjoyed all your photos, as always, you take really nice photos. We start our Bible Study tonight and we are doing a study on the book of Luke too (by Lisa Harper). Hope you have a great week.
ReplyDeletePam: We have been in our house almost 49 years. It has a basement. The washer and drier are in the basement. Since I fell down there, Jim will not really let me go down there. If we were to move, I would have to get rid of a lot of "stuff". Neither of us gets out much. I do get to church most Sundays. I started going to Bible Study on Thursday mornings. Last month I started going to Wednesday night meal and Bible Study. I need to fulfill my promise to myself and get a flashlight for when it will be dark when I return home on Wednesday nights.
ReplyDeleteOne reason we moved 17 years ago was the stairs. All of our living was on the second floor with the garage and basement (catch all) underneath.
ReplyDeleteTreking up groceries, laundry and any time we wanted to go any where just got to be really hard for us. Now everything is on one level and we are forever grateful. Hopefully this will be our "Forever" home until we go to our Forever Home.
Sue
I enjoyed your photos and scriptures, Pam (always!). I understand having too much stuff so well. Gosh, I need to start purging! A room at a time will be my mantra! LOL That's a great photo of you and John at the altar. I put my fall wreath up, too, but haven't gotten anything else out yet. Not motivated in this heat! Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard for me, too, Pamela, to think about all the things we used to be able to do with ease that now take extra thought and/or planning to accomplish. However, God doesn't want us to sit around and mope when He has given us the beautiful days and cooler weather to look forward to in September. There is beauty in every season and every season of life. Let's roll with it, shall we?
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of John and you, too! Blessings!
As ever, I love how you pair these splendid images with verse! Like I told Terri, I left communing with nature behind in 1960-something with Girl Scouts. This humidity just sucks the will to live right out of a body. How our grandparents (and theirs) lived without modern climate control is beyond me! They also probably out-worked many of us without complaint. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteIf $$$ was no object, I'd like sell our little home and secure a condo that requires no maintenance and offers 24/7 security. Meanwhile, I thank God for all I've been given.
Hi Pamela. I know what you mean - in and out of the house not our friends as we get older. I love that picture of you and your husband at the communion table. That book you are studying with your women's group looks interesting. I might have to check that one ou. I enjoyed reading your answers. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the week.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! I think we are so much alike. First of all, I really enjoyed the photos of the sunrises and the scriptures with them. Some of my favorite scriptures.
ReplyDeleteI like September because it normally brings cooler weather althought that hasn't happened much yet this year. It's also our anniversary on the 1st. In years past, we used to take our vacation in September. We were homeschooling the kids and we waited until the crowds let up on the Oregon Coast and then camped there for a couple of weeks. It's what they talk about most when we're all together so I'm really glad we did it.
I'm with you in entertaining. We had someone over for dinner every Friday night for as long back as I can remember. Sometimes friends, sometimes visitors from church who didn't know anyone. I loved it. Since we moved back here I just haven't done it. Although it's us that are still somewhat the newbies. Maybe it's since covid, but we didn't get one invite to dinner from anyone! That seems strange to me. Now we seem to be more apt to take someone out for dinner. Maybe if my back issue was fixed and I could stand at the kitchen counter more without pain I would be more receptive to it.
But, I don't think it will be an issue much longer. I'm trying to spread the word of Jesus everywhere I go because I think time is shorter than many think. And many don't believe it will ever happen. I'm excited. Can you just imagine? I've always been a "quieter" Christian because I don't have all of the big words and intelligence to remember everything. Now, that doesn't seem to matter. I bring Jesus up with everyone. It's almost as if I'm compelled to do that.
I hope your Wednesday is wonderful my friend! :-)
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
Yes, I also believe Jesus is coming soon, and people need to be ready! So many are not ready and not even thinking about it. That day will come upon them like a "thief in the night" and they will be left behind. So yes, we need to keep sharing Christ with everyone while there is yet time. Oh, I hear you about standing at the kitchen counter without pain...that is part of my problem as well. I can only do so much and then I have to go sit down for a while until my back recovers, then I get up and do some more...it takes a long time to do a little bit anymore. I am thankful when our kids come over that they pitch in and help with all the clean up, etc. That is a big help, but still just the preparation is very exhausting. I never dreamed it would be like this and I still have a lot of years to go unless the Lord returns soon or if He just calls me on home sooner. Like my sweet old Daddy used to say, "Oh Pammy, don't get old!" And I'd reply, "Well, Daddy, what's my alternative?", and then he'd think a minute, and say, "Oh! I see what you mean!" and we'd laugh together. I sure do miss him and his precious ways. But I look forward to seeing him and Mama together again someday up there with Jesus. Okay, that's all folks! Thank you for your comments...I totally get it, every bit of it. Oh, yes, people don't ask us over either, because most of our friends are as old if not older than we are! So going out to eat seems to be the best way to have fellowship anymore, even if it is expensive...but then again, not as expensive as preparing a whole meal for a crowd! Take care my friend, and have a lovely day! If you lived next door we could get together all the time, if we could get up and down the steps at each other's houses! LOL.
DeleteThat sounds like a great plan! Come on down, at least for the cooler months! I don't think you'd want to be here in the summer! Thank you for your fun thoughts on this! I love the idea!!
ReplyDeleteI'm super late commenting..oops. I liked your answers this week. When we were building our house, my dad would say "why do want all those steps you're just going to get old", which I get where he was coming from, but my hope is that I can go a pretty long time before steps become an issue. The good thing is, we finished our addition to our house and there really aren't any steps in that part, so we're good there.
ReplyDelete