Sunday, September 25, 2011

A Sunny Sunday Morning...

and I'm better! Hallelujah.

It's officially fall. The pool is still open, but the leaves are indeed falling into it. That's okay, for another few weeks it will still be worth it -- having to clear out the leaves before swimming. And then the weather will turn cooler and rainy and that'll be that. We'll spend a day or two putting the pool to sleep for the winter.

A mama deer and two of her offspring graced us with their presence(s) this morning. When they posed in the sunlight Tom began snapping pictures...


Eventually they ran away and so did we. Off to church...they worship their way, we another. I listened to one of my son's messages this week (actually I listened to 3 messages in the series The Indestructible Church) and (in each) he references worship. The act of worship is more than gathering on Sundays, more than the music, the message, the prayer. Worship is our life.

It always surprises me how God dovetails things.Aaron's sermons were in the same vein as our own Pastor's current series, In Common, which began on September 11th. Coincidentally (?) Sunday School class often touches on something that comes across in Pastor's message. The music, whether choruses or hymns, complement or even complete the sermon. And yet, the Pastor, Sunday School teacher, worship leader haven't collaborated -- not at all. But the Holy Spirit communes with each of our spirits. Yeah, it's a God thing. Gotta love it!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Big Sigh!

Apparently I have shingles -- or poison ivy. Either way I'm quarantined. And in the quiet of being alone at home I'm thinking of all the wonderful things that I enjoy day by day and haven't gotten around to posting. Coffee in the morning, staying in pajamas until 10 o'clock on my one day off a week -- two if you count Saturday. Roaming the house looking out the windows. Freshly mowed lawn, green edges, trees just beginning to think about turning colors, sunshine. I especially like it when there is sunshine, although yesterday it rained, soft and drizzly, and that was nice too. The flowers, wild and otherwise, that bloom in season. The surprise of perennials that make a comeback every single year. Wildlife like squirrels, chipmunks, birds, woodchucks (who I've never once seen chucking wood), turkeys, rabbits, deer -- playing and foraging and, at least some of them, running to hide from sharpshooter Tom. Oh, and seeing the occasional eagle -- eagle sightings are the best.



Red geraniums are taking a break, but black-eyed susans are at their peak.









Fishing on French Creek is fun, or if you're me, the scenery, the canoe ride and reading a good book.


And licking ice cream cones on the porch swing -- that's quite enjoyable too.

I'm remembering all the fun of summer and writing this post to keep my mind off the itchy, ouchie, oozie trouble of shingles...or poison ivy...whatever.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Catching up

Okay, so I bit off more than I could manage...my life story starting 40 years ago...on my blog...I don't think so. Instead I'll share all the fun things we did to celebrate our milestone anniversary. Starting with a surprise dinner out with friends, who invited us without telling us where, and invited a dear friend who we met there 37 years ago in that very town. The town -- New Wilmington, the place The Tavern Restautant (which I highly recommend if you live in northwest PA). One of our sons lives not far from there...so surprise! He and his girlfriend were there too.

They, Adam and Alicia, presented us with a gift -- Alicia's handiwork beautifully framed that says, "Family ties are treasured things, and far though we may roam, the tender bonds with those we love, still pull our hearts toward home." Heartwarming. I was over-clempt, couldn't help tearing up.



Good friends.  They don't come any better.
And the next day we had a party at our house for Deenie's 60th birthday...but I'd like to make it clear that my friend Nadine is not 60...yet. She won't be 60 for another few days, but her daughter and kids were in town so we celebrated early. It was crazy -- me trying to keep a surprise from her and her trying to keep a surprise from me. Turns out she's better -- maybe the best! -- at surprises.

Another surprise, one from our children, is an overnight stay at an amazing resort hotel. All we have to do is pick the date. Does anyone else know how hard it is to accept an extravagant gift from your kiddos? Yeah. (I'm pretty sure my parents know, and I'm going to follow their example and accept gratefully.) So, I'm getting totally psyched about making time for an upscale date with my totally wonderful husband.