Autumn glory

Isn't it great fun when you walk out to the mailbox and get a package? In my case, I rarely get the mail, because I have children that love to do that job for me.

Today I was blessed to receive this apron.

Another apron, you may ask. But this one touched my heart because it's a gift from India. This is the letter:

"The families of the children we sponsor united to make these aprons for their North Amercian friends. Some wove the material. Some cut them out, while others sewed them together:

All was done with their love and prayers for those who make it possible for their children to have a Christian education. And be assured, those prayers for you continue daily.

Thank you for your faithfulness in partnering with these families in raising the next generation of India.

Gratefully, Marvin - Bibles for the World"

It tugged my heart strings because I know that love and prayers went into every single strand.

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Yesterday was a lovely day. We gathered with friends at the park for Amber's friend's birthday. It was planned for last week but because of the rain, it was postponed to this week. And we had the perfect weather. It was a pleasure to meet several new families. It was very special for me to get together with lady friends during the day. I guess after a dull, lonely summer of being hermits without a vehicle, this really meant a lot to me. It was inspiring to hear others' testimonies.

The birthday girl is standing between my girls. The three to the left are sisters who play violin very well. I didn't get a chance to hear them play, but just heard that they have extreme talent. They are involved with Daughters of Destiny and their Mama has a true desire to rear these girls to be pure and graceful for Christ. What a blessing in this sin cursed godless society to see girls who are pure in heart and shine for Jesus!

My desire is to rear our children to be pure and holy for Christ. I feel like I'm still striving for that same goal myself.

I know this photo is terrible, but it's the only one I've got. One lady friend had an errand to run so I didn't get a chance for a photo with her.

I was challenged to "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:16 - I guess the healing part never stuck out to me before. It was indeed healing to talk about things I've been through lately, dealing with anger, not being a scheduled person, and going on my own strength for so many years. It feels awkward to be telling everyone, but it is healing. Amazingly, one lady's story was almost ditto of my own. It rejuvenated me and was the best birthday gift. It was my birthday, after all.

We picked a few pumpkins before we went to the park just in case the farmer would disk the field. We needn't have worried, because there were plenty of gourds, pumpkins, and butternut squash to gather when we got back. Allison, Zach, and I drove our vehicle up to the field because we didn't have the four wheeler. We got a pile of autumn goodies and piled them at our back door. The mums were on clearance at Lowe's for $.50 - $1.00 each and we purchased six to plant. Hopefully, they won't freeze out over the winter.

The fun part for Zach was decorating and he came up with some ideas for outside that I hadn't given thought to. He is awesome with that kind of thing. He loves to have things fixed up nicely! Today he went up to the field with the bag wagon and found two more big pumpkins.

Fall clean up was in session the past two days for only a couple of hours. I went to discard the frozen sweet potato vines and then discovered these nice tubers. An online search revealed this info about storing them for the winter. I guess we'll give it a try. I hope some of those aren't too bruised!

Instructions:


Step 1
Purchase ornamental sweet potato plants from a nursery in spring and plant them in containers or in the garden. Over the summer the plants' roots will develop tubers that you can save over the winter and use next season. Before the first frost, tip container-grown sweet potato vines onto a tarp. Sort out the tubers and remove them from the vines. If the plants are growing in a bed, use a garden fork to gently lift them out of the soil, taking care not to puncture the tubers. Choose several large, undamaged tubers for storage.

Step 2
Allow the tubers to air-dry in a shaded, sheltered area for a few hours. Then brush off excess soil and store the tubers in a box or mesh bag between layers of sawdust. Place the box/bag in a dark, cool (45 to 50 degrees F), well-ventilated place, such as an unheated basement.

Step 3
Examine the tubers once a month and throw out any potatoes with soft, rotten or moldy spots. If the tubers start to shrivel up, sprinkle them lightly with water.

Step 4
In spring, take the tubers out of storage eight weeks before your last frost date. Fill gallon-sized plastic containers with a pre-moistened soilless mix to within 3 inches of the rim. Place a potato in each pot and cover with 1 inch of soilless mix. Shoots should develop in one to two weeks. You can transplant the entire tuber and the growing vine into the garden after the last frost date.

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I then read a disciples notebook which spoke to me. It echoed the importance of spending time with Christ. That glory hour is special. When I apply myself to discipline in devotion with God, the whole day goes better. It is extremely important especially in having patience with my children while I teach and train them. I am still striving to adopt a schedule and train myself to get up before the children. It is extremely hard for me as my quiet hour can be at night. But I know the morning hour is best as sleep before midnight refreshes the soul and body way more than you think it does. The flesh can be extremely weak in the morning. It is very tempting to go back to bed after my husband leaves for work and sleep rather than spend time with the Lord. And getting to bed late doesn't help a bit. My good intentions won't mean a thing until they're carried out.

Dicipline - how I hate that word. But my life needs it, bad. Procrastination is its enemy. God help me.

“I accept the rebuke that religious busyness, ‘over activism,’ is a sign that one is still in spiritual adolescence. Maturity is marked by the repose in which lieth power. Therefore, I believe that, increasingly, I should endeavor to be silent unto God and should take time for that blessed culture. Already I have found that, when calm is upon the spirit, one is drawn out more readily in adoration.

It is in the silence that the Father’s care, the Savior’s cleansing, and the Comforter’s strengthening are experienced, and worship becomes almost inevitable.”


G. H. Morling


Quest For Serenity, 72


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For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.


Psalm 62:1 (ESV)


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Someone said, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” It is difficult to learn to be quiet before the Lord in our culture with many distractions. How tempting it is to overload our schedules with much activity the Lord Jesus never intended. Over busyness satisfies our self-life but robs the Lord Jesus of His glory in our lives. Stillness before Him ushers us from the noisy rush of the world into the quiet of His Presence. Like dew falling upon grass after the heat of the day so He refreshes our souls as we quietly enjoy Him and wonder that He loves us so. He flung the door open the day His Son died and said, “come—come freely to my throne of grace and mercy. I want you near me.”