Appreciate the Season

I'm learning to appreciate each season. I used to dread autumn because it ushered in winter (and I despise the cold!). Seeing the flocks of birds fly south always made me sad. I realized my change in attitude the other day when I was happy to see the little guys heading for warmer climates (they must be the smart ones!)


(I can't take credit for the above picture-it's from Google images, but I did take the one below.)


Another part of appreciating the season is taking notice of the moon. It's been so pretty to me lately. This is not a very clear picture, but it's the moon through the branches of my backyard tree.


All my life, it seems, I have kept my opinion to myself (for the most part) so as not to rock the boat. It's been a real eye-opening experience for me through this past election. I voted for what I thought was right in my heart--the truth for me--and was so heavily attacked by friends whom I've discovered are very narrow-minded. I'm amazed at so many people who think it's their way (the way they perceive life) or nothing.

I want to be open-hearted to people. Sure, I have my own convictions, but I know I cannot push them off on others or expect others to believe exactly the way I do. I'm learning that, for me personally, I just can't go with the flow, be content with the status quo. I have to do what's right for me and follow God's leading, even if others do not approve.

Do you feel that????

It's the earth shaking because Mary Jo is actually cleaning out her scrapbooking area!!! ;o)

I found this pic on the web. Oh, that I should be so organized! But then again, I look at this and realize the scrapping surface is waaaaay too small!

Something to be grateful for...

Here in the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the end of November. I have learned in recent years to be thankful each and every day. Our church has a motto: Vision - Mission - Hope. We're taking the church out of the building and into the streets. Tonight a group of us served a turkey dinner at a homeless shelter in downtown St. Louis.

This is the second time Katie, Emily, and I have helped. I love to see the look on my daughters' faces when they realize they are making a difference in someone's life.

That time of year....

Early in the week it was soooo cold here. We had our first frost warning. But slowly the temperature increased as the week progressed, and Halloween night proved to be a pleasantly warm night. I'm surprised my girls still want to dress up and trick-or-treat at ages 16 and 13 (I thought I was too old myself at 11). Katie said this is her last year. It's sad in a way but also a relief.

We had an unusually wet summer, so the leaves have been slow in changing this year. My backyard tree has finally changed in the past few days. I guess Fall is officially here now!

A local radio station has been playing Christmas songs already. I've been enjoying them while the weather was cool, but it makes me a bit queasy when it's summer-like weather and everyone's preparing for Halloween. I had to take a break. Running my holidays together was getting a little weird!

Tag....you're it!

I've been tagged by Trish to list six random things about myself and then tag six others.


1) I'm crazy for stationery supplies....notecards, paper, colored paperclips and rubberbands, funky post-it notes, different tacks, etc. And my FAVORITE: journals! I just drool over them (well I try not to unless I pay for it first! LOL)

2) I never realized how close-minded I was until I went through my divorce. Since then, my whole world has opened up. I really wouldn't go back or trade it for anything. It was the most painful thing I went through but out of it came a better person (me) whom I'm actually starting to like.

3) I'm learning that dreams really do come true, even the simple ones. Since I was a little girl I've always wanted both a beagle and a dachsund at the same time. And I have them now, and the cool thing is I didn't plan it that way. I just happened to stumble across both doggies!

4) I've been keeping this private for the sake of argument and people trying to force their own personal views on me, but here it is: I'M VOTING FOR BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT! I'm pro-life, pro-family, but this country is in need of some serious change. I'm learning that swimming against the tide isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes quite necessary.


5) I find myself recently fascinated with a part of the world that always intimidated me......Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, the Middle East, Morocco. I wonder if I'll end up there some day? I was reading in my Bible this morning from the Book of Acts in the New Testament. I got out my Bible map and was surprised to see many of those places were where Paul's journeys took him. Kinda wild!

6) I love the song, "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors (okay, that was REALLY random! LOL)

Ok, now I pick 6 people:
1. Rhona
2. Jenn
3. Lisa
4. Jolene
5. Tascha
6. Eleni

The rules:
1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

My Squash Adventure

I have always had an aversion to vegetables. Growing up, I only liked peas and lima beans because they were easy to swallow whole! As I grew older, peer pressure (i.e., not wanting to look like a fool in front of my friends) caused me to go out on a limb and try new things. So I do eat a few healthy things, but still whenever I would diet, I would think of veggies as the enemy!

Since I've been meeting with Rachel, my nutrition guru, her excitement about healthy things has been catching!

The butternut squash hacked up!

I toasted the seeds and they were yummy!

Yay! It turned out like sweet potato pie. I threw in some vanilla, cinnamon, and browns sugar. Delicious! Now I'm excited about trying more different things.

More Fallness

Emily shows off her colors from her visit to the orthodontist yesterday. Smart girl opted against the Halloween colors as her next appointment is not until December 9th!


Last weekend I went with a friend to the Illinois Ladies Retreat (a church thing) in Bloomington, Illinois. Along the way we stopped at Blue Springs Cafe in Highland, Illinois. Delicious home cooking and home of the Foot Hi Pie. (I stand corrected as I always call them "Mile High" pies!)

This was on the wall at violin lessons, so I had to snap a pic of it! :o)