Friday, October 28, 2011

It’s the weekend!

I have two dear friends coming for a girls’ weekend (we call them Jubilees) and we’re going to stay up late talking, go to some fun shopping spots, eat good food and generally have a good time. I can’t wait!


I’m wondering why Pinterest hates me.  I’ve requested an invite several times but they ignore my requests.  I heard you have to be invited by someone who is a member so I asked my friend Karen to invite me to join.  Nothing.  I'm the kid slumped against the gym wall whose name isn’t called for the kickball team in PE.  I guess I didn’t need another internet time-sucker anyway.  Pooh.


Source: me

I’ve been thinking a lot about spiritual battles lately and I’m finding there’s a difference between being attacked (ahhh – why is all of this happening??) and actually engaging in the fight. 



All of us have probably felt surrounded, targeted and even defeated.  And we’ve all cried to God for help.  I’m being challenged to get very serious about faith-filled prayer and speaking God’s word over some situations.  Quite a few, actually - this has been a season of unprecedented spiritual challenge in many different areas of my life. 

You know what I think?  This is just the beginning.  I feel encouraged because I know what God has promised.  But He wants me to be sober, full of faith and prepared to use the weapons He’s given me: the Truth of His word and believing prayer.  I like how The Message paraphrases Eph 6:10-18, 23-24…

God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Oh the beauty!

I know, I know.  My last post was almost identical to this one.  I can’t help it.  It almost hurts, it’s so beautiful outside.  I think the leaves are at their peak color this week. 


In the winter, I'll have to go for a walk and take pictures of rain gushing into the storm drains and muddy lawns and bare trees.

I look like some sort of amateur paparazzi as I walk through my neighborhood with my camera around my neck.  I try to appear very professional and aim the camera away from people’s front windows so they don’t think I’m a creeper.

Would you be worried if a strange woman was standing in your front yard very close to your tree?

Even with this embarrassing behavior, I never seem to capture the sensory overload that is Fall in Oregon. 








Imagine what a real photographer could do!  Someone who knew what things like aperture and ambient light and aspect ratio are!  I don’t know what half of the settings are on the camera.  And I rarely wear my readers on a walk so I couldn’t see them if I did know what they’re for.

In fact, when I was in Arizona last weekend, every single picture I took came out blurry - tons were completely unrecognizable.  So frustrating. 

I raked leaves this morning and I should have worn sunglasses.  But I needed a jacket – temps were right at freezing! 

This crabapple tree…


creates a lot of this…


But I am not complaining.  Oh no I’m not.




Dear Fall,
Please don’t go.  I need you.  I don’t mind cleaning up after you – I promise!  You’re worth all the work.  You’re kind of a show-off but your colors and smells and tastes make you irresistible.  Why do you have to leave?  You just got here!      
I love you. XOXO
Becky 



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Fall walk… and I’m off to the desert?

Crisp, clear days around here lately mean beautiful walking weather. 




The leaves haven’t quite reached their peak colors but it’s getting close!




New color on the front step…


So the question is, why would I be heading to the Arizona desert at the most beautiful time in the Northwest?


Instead of this?





Instead of this?



I know – the desert has its own unique beauty.
It’s a dry heat, right?  (97 dry degrees in Phoenix today)
But I get to go to a conference to be with 700 people who love adoption and are passionate about caring for orphans: Together for Adoption.  It will be amazing, I know.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Today I’m grateful for…




Falling leaves

Working at home

Kids who don't live too far away

Perspective from Ethiopia

Old friends

Daily bread

Jeff

Cars in the garage

Hand-written notes

Undeserved grace

Comfortable sweats

My computer monitor

Pumpkin lattes at home in the afternoon

Rain to do the watering for me

Text messages from my favs

Memories of my mom

Neighborhood walks

Foggy mornings 

 
How about you? 
Leave a comment with at least one or two
of your ‘grateful fors’

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Things I Haven’t Done

I have never...

1. Been in a corn maze.



2. Watched The Godfather.

3. Tweeted.

4. Put money in a S*lvation Army kettle. (embarrassing)

5. Used an ATM machine.  Honest!

6. Been to New York.

7. Wanted to be a contestant on Survivor.



8. Given blood.

9. Been to Hawaii.

10. Played on a school sports team.

11. Smoked a cigarette.

12. Bought a brand new car.

13. Felt very well in a hospital.  (see #8)

14. Read Moby Dick.

15. Owned a smart phone.

16. Eaten Sp*ghettiOs.

17. Understood modern art.

18. Liked museums.

19. Visited the south - Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama - though I've tried to talk like I have.

20. Looked good wearing a hat.


(Today I'm blatantly imitating The Pioneer Woman because I needed some post idea help.)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Far Beyond



My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord.
And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
                                            Isaiah 55:8


I am so thankful that You think higher, better, wiser than I do.  And that the way You work is far more satisfying and effective than anything I could or would come up with!  I will trust in You.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Not Feelin Too Groovy

I'm realizing how not cool I really am.

Everyone else has known this for a long time. 

For example, I have no idea what kind of sunglasses are in style right now.  Is it aviators?  Or is it the kind that look like the ones elderly people wear after they get their eyes dilated?

See what I mean?  I'm hopelessly out of date.

But when you read lots of blogs, you catch yourself being tempted to use words that the other cool bloggers use.  Phrases like "whatev", "woot!" and "that's how I roll."  These never sound right coming from me.

This stems from to my tendency to pick up on other people's way of speaking.  I'm really not trying to be someone I'm not - I think it's a disease.

This is disturbing because (and I know my girls would be quick to remind me) it is not a good thing for a 55 year old woman to try to sound like she's all that.  Not that I'm going to start throwing down the slang of my day when I write a post or anything dorky like that.   I don't want to freak anybody out. 

So I'm trying to keep my own 'voice' when I post.  To be true to who I am.  I will refrain from saying cool-blogger things like "booyah", "awesomeness" and "Buwahahahaaaaa" even though it's tempting.  I know my place. 



Can you dig it?


Saturday, October 1, 2011

Pumpkin Goodness


HAPPY OCTOBER!!

I tell you, there is so much good pumpkin stuff out there in blogland right now, it’s almost overwhelming.  Here are a few recipes I haven’t tried (yet) but I thought you might like a link to.  A really good blogger probably wouldn’t post something she hadn’t tried herself.  But I’m not a really good blogger so no worries!  Besides, I can just tell these are delicious from the pictures, can’t you?  Let me know if you try them!





Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares
@Martha Stewart.com


Pumpkin Sheet Cake
@Tales From The Coop Keeper



Pumpkin Pie Coffee Cake
@Food For My Family



I’m laughing while I’m typing in these recipe titles.  All we need is to somehow combine these to include every possible yummy ingredient into one perfect fall dessert:

Chocolate Cream Cheese Pumpkin M&M Caramel Pecan Brown Sugar Coffee Snicker Bar Delights!

Who wants to try their hand at creating that one??

And here are two more links – non-pumpkin links – that I loved.  The first is just so funny and the second so touching.  I love these two bloggers – Antique Mommy and Beneath My Heart (that’s what I call them). 

and

Dear Mom {I Miss You}
@Beneath My Heart

Off to a soccer game!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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