Double Sorrow In Our Land

 Today is September 11, 2025.  Between the horrific events of 24 years ago on this day, and then the very tragic event of yesterday, September 10, 2025, i.e., the assassination of a very fine Christian young man, Charlie Kirk,  who was killed because he stood up for his beliefs and spoke the truth to a new generation and the evil ones in this world could not stand it, so they tried to stop his voice from speaking by killing him, between these two very sad events, I just wanted to withdraw from social media for a day and take some time to pray, mourn, and seek God's peace in my own heart again.

So we took a ride to one of our favorite places not too far away, Lake Swan Camp. (You can click on that link for an old post telling more about why this place is so special to us.)

Jeremiah 31:9 NKJV

"9 They shall come with weeping,

And with supplications I will lead them.

I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,

In a straight way in which they shall not stumble..."

It was a picture perfect morning...our early morning temperature was all the way down to 68 degrees! The sun was shining, and the skies were clear and beautiful and the lake was smooth and calm...

Isaiah 33:2 NIV

"2 Lord, be gracious to us;

we long for you.

Be our strength every morning,

our salvation in time of distress."

When my soul is troubled, it's always a good idea to just get away from the noise and the news and the turmoil in the world and find a place of solace and peace for a little while.

I was really thankful when hubby suggested this ride. He could see that the news from yesterday was really getting to me, and I needed a break away from it all to be refreshed and restored in my mind and spirit.

The camp has this fun little putt putt golf course that we always enjoy playing, even if we don't do very well at it...it's still relaxing and fun and takes our mind off of our worries or concerns for a little while.

Don't ask who won the game. We sort of lost count of our number of strokes and decided to call it a tie.

It was a peaceful diversion that we needed today. I am thankful for God's provision in a time of need.

Psalm 16:8 NKJV

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

I don't know how you are all dealing with these double sorrows today, but I am sure it has affected most of us in similar ways.  

Below is a link to the post that I wrote regarding September 11, entitled "I Didn't Want to Remember Today".  I originally wrote it on September 11, 2011, on the 10 year anniversary of 9-11-2001. Then I added updates each year for several years with information that was current to each year.  Rather than update it again this year, now I have this new sad event to add.  

Click Here for my earlier post regarding September 11, 2001.

1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, 

seeking whom he may devour. 

9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Tuesday night we started back to our choir practice at church.  Appropriately, the song we practiced to sing this coming Sunday is this one:

It is a medley of One Day We'll See Jesus, and Soon and Very Soon We are Going to See the King...

We didn't record our choir singing it, but this video is the song we are doing. I think you will enjoy it...we didn't know then what would happen the next day, but I feel like we are getting closer to Christ's return every single day.  I know I'm ready for Christ to return anytime...I hope you are as well.  

I just found this picture and message on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing... from "Beauty for Ashes, Hope and Healing in Jesus Christ" facebood page, regarding the passing of Charlie Kirk.

"Seeing what happened yesterday through spiritual eyes.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The devil tried to assassinate the truth, yesterday.

The devil tried to assassinate The Truth more than 2000 years ago. But the grave couldn’t hold Him! His name is Jesus Christ, and He is the way, the truth, and the life!

Because Jesus lives, you can’t kill a Christian, you can only change their address.

The martyred hero Charlie Kirk stood for the truth, he stood on the word of God.

The truth will never be silenced. What the enemy meant for evil, watch God turn it for good.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭20‬ ‭

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭

Lord, raise up a generation of young Jesus loving, God-fearing Americans by the millions to continue the work of Charlie Kirk! The gospel will go forth! In the name of Jesus.

Pick up the baton, we have a race to win!

In His Amazing Love,

Beauty for Ashes-Hope and Healing in Jesus Christ

#charliekirk
Photo credit: Silent Preacher"

Comments

Tuesday 4~ Things to Ponder

 

Things to Ponder


Welcome back to another of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 memes.

From Annie, our hostess:
"Across much of the USA autumn has come early.
It's so nice and chilly here that I made myself a nice cup of pumpkin spice coffee today, an autumn treat I really enjoy, While I enjoyed my cuppa I was pondering a rew things I want to do with my home."

Here are some questions for you to ponder:


1. If you could live in the world of any movie, which one would you choose and why?
I had to "ponder" this for a minute or two...and finally decided upon "Anne of Green Gables". Why? Well, because I loved her story, and as many of you probably already know from previous posts, Anne was one of my mother's favorite characters, and when I was born and my mother saw that I had red hair, she wanted to name me after Anne. So my name became Pamela Anne, with an e!   I still hope to actually visit Prince Edward Island someday and see all the places where the story came from, even though Anne is a fictional character, her story took place there where the author, Lucy M. Montgomery lived.  

2. If you could have coffee or tea with a woman from history or from fiction come to life, who would that be and why?
Oh goodness, I'm having to "ponder" that thought as well! There are so many wonderful women in history...I think of Queen Esther from the Bible book of Esther, I think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and even Mary Magdalene, who was the first one to actually see the Risen Christ, but on a more personal note, I think I would love to meet and visit with my Great Grandmother Alberta "Birdie" Sowers Milsom. She was my paternal grandmother's (Elva Sowers Hill Mursch) birth mother, but she gave up my grandmother for adoption when she was just 5 months old.  My grandmother never knew her birth mother or birth father, but through Ancestry.com and my personal DNA studies, I have discovered who she was, but I've never been able to find a picture of her.  I would love to meet both her and my great grandfather, William Frederick Milsom.  I've written their story HERE, "Elva's Story, a Story of Sacrifice and Love", at least the story that I was able to figure out based on the genealogy documentation. I would love to find out just how close I was to the real reasons why she felt she had to give up my grandmother for adoption.  Hopefully my grandmother has already met her birth parents in heaven and she now knows the whole story.

3. If you could create an autumn-themed festival, what unique events or foods would it feature?

You've probably already seen these photos from the past...Click HERE for the story for these pictures

Way back when we were young and full of energy, we often had some kind of fall party or festival at our churches.  Since churches didn't really celebrate "Halloween" per se', we still wanted to have some kind of fun activities for the children and families.  So these pictures are from what we called a "Hobo Party", where people dressed up like Hobos and we played fun games like bobbing for apples and other similar fun activities.  We've also had a fall festival with different kinds of "booths", kind of like a little carnival, with outdoor games, ring toss, dunk the youth pastor in a tank of water, or a fish pond where children could "fish" for prizes...all kinds of fun things.  

There may have been a cake walk where the winner gets the prize cake.  Children may wear costumes, but preferably the non scary or gruesome type. One time the kids had to dress like their favorite Bible Character and we had to guess which one they were.  I know a lot of churches nowadays may have a "Trunk or Treat" kind of activity, where cars open up their trunks full of treats for the kids to come and get candy in a safe environment, where there will also be games and other food.  

Yes, that's me, the old Hobo, with our youngest son Scotty!

This picture below was way back when I was an almost teenager. My girlfriends came to my house for a Halloween party, and we dressed up like "Beatniks" (who remembers those?) and we played games and just had a lot of fun being silly. I'm the one on the right with the nylon stocking on my head and the Bongo drum.

If I were to try something like this today, first of all, I'd have my head examined. Second of all, I'd enlist as many younger people as I could to help.  We'd have apples, Hot apple cider, apple cider donuts, pumpkin spice muffins or cake or pies, maybe a pumpkin carving contest. If we could do this outside where there is a fire pit, we could roast hot dogs and also make s'mores. There would be baked beans and probably coleslaw available, and chips or whatever people want to bring to make it a fun time.

4, If autumn had a personality, how would you describe it, and what kind of friend would it be?

These questions today are sure making me have to think! I guess that's what "ponder" means! LOL.  

If Autumn had a personality, it would be warm and cozy with just the right amount of spice and welcoming fragrances of baking apple pie, filled with cinnamon and nutmeg and maybe just a hint of mace.  Mulled Apple Cider simmering in a pot on the stove, and perhaps even a pumpkin pie baking as well.  Her outside air would be crisp and fresh, with just a hint of smoke from a wood fireplace or bonfire or the burning of autumn leaves wafting in the breeze. Autumn would cover me with a comfy flannel shirt or sweater, blue jeans and hiking boots, and together we would walk through the woods and watch the falling leaves as they crunch underneath our feet along the trail.  My friend Autumn would make me feel revived, refreshed, and renewed, after a long hot, muggy summer that was filled with health issues and hibernation from the heat.  Autumn always makes me want to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the her glorious colors before they disappear and fade into winter.  She gives me energy that I'd long forgotten I could still find.

In the rural areas of the country, Autumn is a time of harvest. The crops are all gathered into the barns and stored away, so that the animals and people may have plenty of grain for the coming winter months. In the Bible, Jesus talks about the harvest time from a spiritual sense.  Many seeds have been planted in the hearts and lives of the people. There is a harvest time coming, when Christ will return to redeem all those souls who have had His Word of truth and life planted in them.  Like good farmers, Christ is depending on those of us who have already believed and received His Word  to be busy in the fields, sharing His love and planting more seeds among those who may not have heard the truth yet.  And, just as the farmer plants, nurtures and tends his crops and gathers them in during the harvest time, we should be helping to nurture those who are still tender plants in need of care, and helping to encourage them to full growth and maturity so that they will be ready for the harvest time that is coming.

Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

If Autumn were a friend and personality, she would be an encourager and helper in the time of harvest, both in the physical and the spiritual sense.  This life is short...and for many of us we are in the autumn of our lives...and we need to be ready for winter and the true harvest that is yet to come.

That's a Sycamore tree leaf! I told you before it was big! Now you see it for yourself next to my size 9 shoe! LOL.

Jeremiah 5:24b

“Let us now fear the Lord our God,

Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.

He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

By the way, that reminds me that we've been getting some nice rain the past few days, and more on the way! Praise God!  Still Waters Pond is soaking it up like a sponge! Hopefully there will soon be enough to make her overflow with gladness!!

1

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

2

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Okay, I think I've pondered this subject long enough.  Now let's go visit our friends and see what they've been pondering about this today! Thank you for visiting and for your friendship always.  

Saturday Meanderings

 Hello Everyone! Hey! It's the first Saturday in September! And it's 90 degrees here in sunny north central Florida!  However, there are some clouds forming and we are supposed to get some rain later this afternoon. 

I will believe it when I see it. They keep telling us that rain is coming and then it goes completely around us, so we shall see. The forecast for next week also looks like rain every day, so I am hoping and praying that the dry spell is coming to an end and maybe Still Waters Pond will begin to fill up again in time for the Canada Geese to fly in! I actually saw and heard a flock fly over this morning, heading over to a bigger lake nearby...but that is the group that usually likes to come over to our pond in the fall/winter months for a while most every day, so I really hope they will still be able to do that!Speaking of the neighborhood, guess what happened yesterday??? Do you see it??? Yes, that is a U-Haul truck in the yard of the new house next door, finally! The house was actually sold a few months ago, and I've been watching and waiting ever since for someone to move in, and yesterday was the day!



I may not have noticed them over there except that we went outside on our front porch to help our son Benton load up my old green recliner to take to the church Thrift Store finally, and there they were!


And there goes Benton and hubby, taking the chair away! Oh, and btw, that little house right across the street now has people living in it as well. It sat empty for quite a while after an older man purchased it but he never moved in. Instead, he put it back up for sale. However, the house did not sell, and after a while I guess he decided to go ahead and move in there after all. We haven't had a chance to really talk to him, but he seems quiet and pleasant.


I actually got to meet the new neighbors on the side of us as they were leaving last night to take the UHaul truck back. I was out in the front yard watering the plants, and when they went by I waved first at the truck, and then at the car behind it. The man in the car pulled over and stopped and rolled down the window, and he said, "Hi! We're your new neighbors!" He actually had a young lady with him who he introduced as his daughter, and he said that it would be him, his daughter, and his elderly father all living in the house together. Oh, and yes, they do have dogs...3 to be exact, and also a house cat. Thankfully they already put up a fence in the back yard for the dogs, and when hubby went outside this morning to bring our garbage cans back in from the street, the dogs greeted him with some nice loud barks. From here it looks like they are big dogs, like maybe a German Shepherd type. Again, thankfully they have a fenced area in the back that is not actually connected to our property, and it appears they are house dogs, so hopefully they won't be outside barking all the time. And the man and his daughter seemed very friendly and pleasant, so here's hoping that my prayers have been answered for having some good neighbors finally!!


September is a good time to take walks and enjoy the early fall foliage and wildflowers that are still blooming. We went to our historic village walking trail yesterday morning and enjoyed seeing the sights along the way. September is also a good time to see butterflies it seems.



This is a Zebra Longwing butterfly, and I didn't know until now that it is the state butterfly of our state of Florida! Huh! I wonder how come I didn't know that???





Anyway, I was enjoying chasing it around these Firebush flowers . "Firebush is a perennial or semi-woody shrub that is known scientifically as Hamelia patens. Gardeners love firebush because it produces flowers from late spring until the first frost, and the bright red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, including the zebra longwing and gulf fritillary butterflies. Song birds also like to feed on the berries."





All the while I was trying to capture pictures of that butterfly, I kept hearing a bird in the tree above me. Finally I looked up and saw this Mockingbird , who just so happens to be the State Bird of Florida! So how interesting to have the state butterfly and the state bird right there together at the same time!!!


Also right there in the same area was this beautiful Beautyberry bush. I think that may be what the Mockingbird was after, as they do love these berries. These berries can also be used to make a mosquito repellent! I have actually had some made from this, and it did work, but it is kind of a dark liquid that stains your skin, so I wasn't really too thrilled with putting it all over myself! LOL. The berries can also be used in jellies and wine, but again, I'm not really into anything quite this wild for my jelly. LOL.



I guess this post is becoming a nature class! LOL. That wasn't my intention, but I do like to identify the things I see for my own education and I figure you might like to know what these things are too! We are never too old to learn something new, right? Anyway, the next creature I saw was this Long-tailed Skipper butterfly. He was enjoying the nectar of some Lantana, which most likely is growing wild, although it may have been planted years ago around these lots that once had houses on them for a hundred years...

The Skipper was also enjoying the nectar of the Coral Vine flowers that were growing all over the same area.




I've shown you this same trunk of this palm tree before, and right now it is covered in coral vine. Earlier this year it had wisteria flowers, and then there was some Cat's Claw flowering vine on it after that. It is amazing to me how many different species of flowering vines can grow on this same tree trunk throughout the year!

The butterflies and birds weren't the only ones enjoying some nectar on this lovely fall day...(actually it is still officially late summer, but you know what I mean), any way...look at this bee! I am happy to see the bees on the flowers, but I just don't want to get too close!

I will close with these thoughts from Psalm 28 today...I am feeling much better these days, and so is my hubby.  Little by little we are regaining our strength and stamina and are looking forward to the beautiful fall days ahead where hopefully we can take more walks and get stronger day by day. We are very thankful to the Lord for helping us both through some difficult days this past summer and giving us a brighter hope for tomorrow. 

Psalm 28:6-7

"6 Blessed be the Lord,

Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him."

Amen!

P.S. 4:00 P.M.   It's RAINING!!! Praise the Lord!

Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends

Psalm 16:7-8

7 "I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;

M heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

Beautiful skies over Still Waters Pond tonight. Sadly, there is not enough water in the pond to reflect the lovely colors of the sunset. Our pond needs to be refreshed with God's heavenly rain, and then it will be able to reflect God's amazing beauty again. Praying for rain...but still enjoying the beauty He has given us to enjoy.

While I was enjoying the sunset Blackie and then Sunshine came down to join me...

Blackie decided to roll in the dirt...

They do make life interesting!

On the home front, I finally got around to putting out a few more fall decorations...

I incorporated hubby's new coffee mug into the display below..."Meet Me at the Pumpkin Patch"

But that was for a photo op only. I had to give it back to him in time for his morning coffee!  LOL.

Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel are ready for some autumn acorns and pumpkins too...

Lily Grace and her friends are all ready for autumn days...and yes, they are back to school already...

Here's last year's post when Lily and her friends went back to school. That was quite an adventure.

The other day Rose had the day off and the "kids" were busy working on their kitchen remodeling (still a work in progress), and so we invited them over for supper so they wouldn't have to stop and cook supper in the midst of their mess. I decided to make White Chicken Enchiladas. I forgot to take a picture of them, but they were so good. We also had refried beans, a tossed salad, and a Cheesy Mexican rice mixture from a box. I cooked it in my rice cooker, and it was really good!

Internet photo

White Chicken Enchilada Recipe:

Ingredients

For the enchiladas:

8 medium flour tortillas

2–3 cups cooked, shredded chicken

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Seasonings of choice (e.g., adobo, cumin, garlic powder)

For the creamy white sauce:

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles (do not drain)

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded, for topping

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Make the filling: 

In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken, 1 cup of shredded cheese, and your choice of seasonings. Mix thoroughly.

Assemble the enchiladas: Spoon the chicken and cheese mixture evenly into the tortillas. Roll them up tightly and place them seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.

Prepare the sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux, stirring constantly.

Slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat until it begins to thicken and bubble.

Finish the sauce: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the sour cream and canned green chiles. Make sure the sauce is off the heat before adding the sour cream to prevent it from curdling.

Bake: Pour the creamy white sauce evenly over the rolled enchiladas. Top with the remaining shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. For extra browning, place the dish under a broiler for the last few minutes.

Let the enchiladas cool slightly before serving.

This was so good! I don't know why I don't think to make it more often! LOL.  Probably because it really isn't on my diet now, but once in a while won't hurt.

This morning hubby and I both had appointments for haircuts at our Walmart Smart Style salon. We've liked a particular stylist there and have been going back to her for several months now. We were surprised to discover when we arrived there this morning that she was no longer working there, (as of yesterday). Whatever happened happened after we had scheduled our appointments with her. So another lady who has worked there a long time took care of our hair cuts and did a good job. We later discovered where "our stylist"  has gone, to a different shop not far away from there.  She was literally standing inside the Walmart store passing out her cards to people to let them know where she was going this morning. So now we have a decision to make...do we follow her over there, or stick  with the lady at the Walmart? Our haircuts were okay, although mine is a bit shorter than I really wanted it. I don't know. I guess I will wait until I need another haircut and decide what to do then.  It seems like getting a consistent hairstylist that really does a good job is so hard to find anymore. Meanwhile, our DIL, who also went to this same stylist, has made an appointment with her at the new place for next week. I guess we'll wait and see what she thinks after her appointment before we make a decision about whether or not to follow her or stay where we are.  I'm getting too old for these changes all the time. LOL. 

On another note, I just learned that one of our church members' mother has passed away. She was 105 years old! Can you imagine that? She has been living with her son and his wife for quite a few years, and really hasn't been in bad health,  all things considered.  I guess Jesus finally got her "mansion" ready in heaven and said "it's time to come on home".  Wow! I think I would probably be saying to Jesus, "It's about time!"  Not trying to be disrespectful here, but honestly, I don't think I want to live in this old body for 105 years. It's starting to feel kind of worn out now, and by the way, this body of mine will be 75 years old later this month! Three Quarters of a Century! I can hardly believe that! But to live a whole Century and then another five years! Wow! Frankly, I'm hoping the Lord will return before then and take us all on home! 

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through...

Lyrics

This world is not my home
I'm just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home
Then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

I have a loving mother
Just up in Gloryland
And I don't expect to stop
Until I shake her hand
She's waiting now for me
In heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home
Then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

Just over in Gloryland
We'll live eternally
The saints on every hand
Are shouting victory
Their songs of sweetest praise
Drift back from heaven's shore
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home
Then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home In this world any more

And with that I think I will close for tonight. It's getting past my bedtime and this old gal is getting tired. I am very thankful tonight for my health and for the almost 75 years that God has given me...and I will be thankful for however many more He wants to bless me with, whether it be 80, 90, or even a 105...God knows what is best...and I will trust Him no matter what.

Have a blessed night my friends!