Things I Learned in October

      Here are the things that I learned in October.  

1. We've added some copper accessories to our home and they look wonderful.
   
2. I can make a delicious sandwich famous in Paris Cafe's and my family will EAT it!  Croque Monsieur is a fancy ham and cheese sandwich.  You can find the recipe here. 
   
3. My Pastor wrote a song about the passing of time. 

      It takes a special kind of person to be a Pastor.  Mike is that kind of special.
     Over the years, Mike has prayed with us and supported us in happiness and sorrow.  He sang gently over my father-in-law during his last hours here on earth and prayed with our very large family.  Mike sat with us in the waiting room when our son, Brian, was having surgery.  We have mourned friends together.  He has visited us in hospital rooms.
     There have been joy filled times, too.  Graduations, baptisms, picnics and birthday parties.  Our table sang, a silly love song at Mike and Dawn’s anniversary party.  There were camp meetings and bonfires, VBS nights, and singing around the piano.  There was a trip for couples to Vermont for a marriage conference, where we all bought candles.  There was even the men’s retreat where the men dropped my husband on his head, after they  broke three of his ribs.  There have been debates and discussions ranging from political to spiritual, and so iron sharpens iron.

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.  Overwhelm them with appreciation and love.   ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  The Message

5.  Paint by Number pictures have not lost their appeal.  They are showing up everywhere.  I found this one at a local thrift shop.

     What did you learn this month?

Autumn

  

Masks

     A very long time ago, when I was just a girl, my brother’s and I would go trick or treating on Halloween.  My brother’s were frequently superhero’s.  I was usually a princess.  I know, some things never change.
     Some kids had crafty mom’s who sewed little sequins and ruffles onto dresses or created robots out of cardboard boxes.  My mom was not one of those and so our costumes were most often purchased at a local variety store.  The costume box contained a hospital style gown decorated to look like whatever you were supposed to be and a molded plastic mask with strategically cut holes for eyes and nose. The mask had a thin rubber elastic attached with two tiny staples that were supposed to hold it securely to your face.  I remember Mom peering intently at me, trying to ascertain if I could actually breathe with the mask on.  I could not.  The one-size-fits-no-one mask holes never really lined up with where my nostrils were.  The eye holes didn’t allow for clear vision, either.  Your need for oxygen was pitted against your need to see.  Possibly, I could catch a glimpse of where I was, but no more.  Walking into things was a very real danger.
     I adored my princess mask.  The long yellow waves of painted hair glistened with a sparkly blue crown.  I felt transformed from plain ol’ freckled Donna into a beautiful princess.  But behind the mask, I was blind, asphyxiated, and sweaty.  As much as I wanted to be Cinderella, the truth was that I couldn’t wait to take the mask off, just so that I could breathe again.
     Hiding behind a mask can feel right and safe and even fun for a little while.  Soon though, the effort of being unable to clearly see the world around you, the difficulty of drawing a breath, of being someone that you are not becomes a burden rather than a game.
    We all wear masks from time to time.  There is the church mask, the teacher mask, the good parent mask, and the look how good, kind, caring, dependable, wealthy, spiritual, honest, capable, and politically correct I am mask.  These are the faces that we present on Facebook, at our jobs, and to the greater world.
     We want to show the world our best side, our perfect self, and not admit that inside we are broken, lonely, and needy.
     A few weeks ago, I shared about Mary bathing Jesus feet with her tears, wiping His feet with her hair, and anointing Him with precious perfume.  Mary had removed her mask to sit at her Savior’s feet.  She set every other thing aside and pressed in to Jesus.
     It feels risky to take the mask off.  Like Mary, we may suffer criticism from other mask wearing people.  But God sees the real us, and He, who is love, loves us.
    For you have died and life is hidden with Christ in God.  ~Col. 3:3
    The only covering for a believer is the blood of Jesus,  Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

      A friend told us about the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. So of course, we had to go.  (The picture's were taken in 2013.)
     A few notes about the Blaze.  The Blaze is located at Van Courtland Manor in Croton on the Hudson.  It runs from the beginning of October through mid-November.  Tickets sell out weeks in advance.  Put it in your calendar for next year.

    The Blaze was really amazing. Imagine more than 5,000 individually hand-carved and illuminated jack o’lanterns elaborately displayed.  You could walk through the display for a week and still find something that you hadn’t noticed before.

A Jack O'Lantern Devotional

     We all start out like pumpkins.  Out in the pumpkin patch with all of the other pumpkins.  God walks in the garden and selects us out of the world.
     When we say yes to Him, God gently washes us.  Then He lovingly cleans us of the gooey gunk in our hearts.

Tunnel of Love

     God carefully removes the sinful seeds of doubt, pride, bitterness, hate, and guilt from within us.  He replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope, and love.

A huge pumpkin jack in the box.

      Then God carves a new smiling face.    2 Corinthians 5:17 says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”   Our countenance is forever changed by the power of His presence in our life.

      Like a candle set in our pumpkin head we glow with Jesus, the Son of Light. He shines through our life for all to see. His light shines through us to reveal His presence.

      Jesus said,

You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill can not be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

     Our little pumpkin hearts are never the same with Jesus inside of us.

Copper Sea Shells for Fall

     I hate to put our sea shells away at the end of summer.  In fact, there are some sea shells that I like to leave out year round.  They remind me of special times.  They remind me that even though there was frost in the Hudson Valley last night, eventually, I'll be warm again.  They also remind me that we plan on moving south next year!
     So, I painted my sea shells copper.  They look great!  Copper is showing up in accessories everywhere.  I love copper because it pairs so well with other metals, especially oil rubbed bronze.

     These are small sea shells that we picked up on the beach this summer.  I have them in a bowl in our guest bath.

     I used Rustoleum Hammered Copper spray paint that I had left over from my Vintage Typewriter Table up-cycle.  I just took the shells outside and gave them a quick spray.  On the larger shells, I decided to just paint the inside.  I rimmed them with Frog Tape so that the spray paint wouldn't get on the outside.  (Sorry I was so excited about how the other shells looked that I didn't take a picture of this, but it's easy enough.)
     The extra large shell at top was a planter that I have had for years.  The inside looked a little pitted, but the paint made it look like new.  Now it's a copper eye-catcher.  I use it in our bathroom to hold an extra roll of toilet paper and a hand towel.

     I love how the copper shells gleam in the bowl in contrast to the natural shells.
     Have you added any copper accessories to your house?

Silence

When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.  ~Ansel Adams

     I lost my voice.  Silence has ruled.  While things have been quiet here, life has battered us with a series of changes, both good and bad.  Retirement, loss of our beloved dog, deciding to move from the Hudson Valley of New York to the Low Country of South Carolina (but not moved yet), tag sales, home renovations - the kind where every room in the house has a bucket of spackle and array of tools lying about, and the usual life events of a large family.  It all quite took my breath away.

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.  ~ Josh Billings

      September has arrived with a hint of gold on the trees.  A time to reset.  A time to start again.  Apple cheeked school children, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, pumpkin coffee, and golden moments.  So I'll begin again, but this time, you'll be along for the journey.  

21 Graces: Week 9

1. 31 Days of Welcome to My Mess!
2. A beautiful day in Albany.  The sun was shining and the trees are beginning to show off their colors.  A lovely day.
3. The pictures I took at the school BBQ came out even better than I thought they would.  
4.  I solved the problem where my comments disappeared.  Well, at least I think I did!!!
5. The trim around the new window in our bathroom looks awesome!  It was our practice window.  Now we only have, well, I don't know exactly how many windows, but a lot left.
6. I will be walking as a Survivor at a Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday.  It is wonderful to see so much pink in the month of October.  It is encouraging and inspiring.  I wrote about my journey through breast cancer here.
7. The delicious aroma of pulled pork simmering in the crock pot when I came home from work.
8. Walking on the Walkway Over the Hudson twice this week!   Once with good friends and then again with my family.
9. Connor told me that I was awesome.  A compliment from an eleven year old is pretty special.
10. A midweek date with my husband for dinner.  
11. My boys had wonderful midterm report cards from their teachers.  They have worked very hard.  We are so proud of them.
12. An unexpected treat at work.
13. The trees are displaying their Fall colors.  They are just beautiful against a clear blue sky.
14. A very kind word from someone I admire.
15. My Dad is celebrating a birthday on Sunday.  
    
    
    
16. I'm grateful that I was able to send a gift to my Compassion Child, Jimi, for Christmas.  I love to imagine him opening a present and knowing that we care for him.
17. Connor won a raffle at the dentists office.  He was so excited.
18. I'm reading A Million Little Ways:  Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, by Emily Freeman.  I love this book.  It is inspiring and amazing.  You can find it on Amazon.

19.  Picture Day at an Elementary School which includes tiara's, sparkle shoes, puffy dresses and elaborate hair styles for the girls.  And for the boys denim jeans, tuxedoes, hoodies, bow ties, and sweater vests.  Adorable.

20.  Still feeling grateful for coffee.  Daily.  

21.  Making s'mores with the kids over a campfire in our backyard.

Day 6: Details

     Ever had one of those days?  Ever had one of those weeks?  You know where your prayers are more like “Honey do lists,” flung up to God. “Lord, let my car start.”  “Father, can I just make that traffic light, I’m already late.”  “Lord, please let this child sleep through the night, I’m so tired.”  “God help my son understand his fraction homework.”  "Oh Lord, please help me to straighten out this mess."  I’m sure that you’ve prayed one or more of these prayers on occasion.
     Not all of the time, but sometimes, my prayers are just about me, my life, my family, my home, and what I deem to be important at that very moment.  I know that there are much bigger problems in this world than the minutia of my day, but I feel better when I tell God what I need, even when it’s silly or trivial.
     I am not saying that we can skate by on missing worship, sitting in God’s presence, fellowship, or Bible reading.  I’m just sharing that I often have a conversation with God in my head which is not necessarily spiritual.
     I was reading in 2 Kings recently and came across the passage about a floating iron axe head. This takes place right after Elisha has healed Naaman of leprosy and right before Israel’s army is delivered from the Arameans.  Elisha and Naaman were important men and the war was certainly an important event.  But the floating axe was really only important to one unnamed man who found himself in a bit of a mess.

     The men who were following Elisha were cutting trees by the Jordan River to build larger quarters to accommodate their growing numbers. One of the men broke the top of his axe handle and the iron axe head fell into the river. He couldn’t work and to make matters even worse, the axe had been borrowed. When Elisha heard the man cry out he asked him where the axe head had fallen into the river.  The man showed Elisha the place. Elisha cut a stick, threw it into the water, and the iron axe head floated right up to the top where the man could reach down and pick it up.
     The man was obviously not a big, important person like Naaman, after all we don’t even know his name.  He didn’t even have enough money to buy his own ax, but had to borrow one. He also wasn’t performing some big, important task like fighting in Israel’s army.  But he was doing what God had called him to do – building a home so that God’s Word and work could be furthered.
     As we go about our every day lives in our kitchens, going to work and school, we sometimes don’t feel we are important or that we are accomplishing anything important.  But we are. We are building God’s kingdom in our little corner of the world.  And God cares about the details. He wants to hear our little prayers. He cares about our worries and concerns.

 Cast the whole of your care, all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.     ~ 1 Peter 5:7 (The Amplified Bible)

     Many times God will use our trivial little prayers and the answers He gives us to teach us about Himself and His purposes for us. All we need to do is ask for the lesson in the midst of the mess we find ourselves.  God will use our everyday life circumstances to draw us to Him, to build our faith and ultimately change us into His likeness.
     The next time you feel your prayer or need is silly or unimportant; remember the floating axe head and that God cares about the details of your life.

Fall Beauty

21 Graces: Week 7

     My list of 21 things that have blessed me this week.  I am so grateful for each of them.  You can read more about 21 Graces here.

1. Pumpkin Spice M & M's.
2. Sharing a bucket of popcorn in a dark movie theater.
3. Laughing with friends.
4. Spending a day screening preschoolers and kindergarteners for school.  They are so adorable.
5. Senior citizen discounts!
6. A loaves and fishes experience when two extra people showed up for dinner on a night we were eating light.
7. A school BBQ on a perfect fall evening.
8. Birthdays.  Every one is precious.
9. Homemade birthday cards.
10. Chocolate cake made be my daughter.
11. Family that cares enough to alert waitstaff that it's your birthday so that you can endure the humiliation of having them yell it to the whole world entire restaurant!
12. Friends.
13. Children's laughter.
14. A new classroom.  A better space for me and my students.
15. My ancient washer needs a new part.  It can be fixed and continue to serve us, faithfully washing enormous mountains of clothes.
16. The beautiful colors of fall beginning to appear on the trees.
17. Pumpkins.
18. My sons playing together quietly with lego's.
19. Talking to my older sons on the telephone.  How I love to hear their voices.
20. Coloring with the BIG box of crayons.
21. Listening to the sound of crickets at night through the open bedroom window.

A Fixed and Steadfast Heart

     What is your heart fixed on?

This photo was taken when we were camping over Columbus Day Weekend.

 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established,  ~ Psalm 112:5-8a

     When I was trying to determine where God was leading me in my choice of my word for the year I felt impressed by this verse in Psalms.  I wanted my heart to be fixed on God.  I didn’t want my word for the year to be “fixed” though, for purely selfish reasons. For the past few years I have gotten a charm for a necklace with my word on it.   Would I really want to wear a necklace that read “Fixed?”  I eventually choose “Believe” which incorporates the idea of fixed into it.

 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is established and steady (Amplified Bible)  Psalm112:7-8a

The word translated as fixed is the Hebrew word “Kuwn.”   Kuwn has two meanings:  

1. To be firm and fastened, stable and established.

2. To be securely determined and directed aright.  

       A believer’s heart is to be firm and fastened, stable and established.  Psalm 1 provides us with a picture of a believer whose heart is fixed on God.

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he mediates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

     A believer’s heart is to be securely determined and directed aright, rooted and grounded.  A tree has roots that reach down deep to tap into life giving water, just as the branches stretch upward into the sky toward the sun.  Let our hearts be fixed, trusting in Him, like a tree planted by the rivers of water.  Let our hearts bring forth fruit and let our leaf not wither.  Let our hearts be fixed and fastened, stable and established, rooted and grounded, and securely determined and directed aright, reaching up and trusting in our Lord and Savior.

     Is your heart fixed today?

Best of 2012: September - December

     It is fun to look back at some of my favorite memories from the past year.  I am looking forward to what God has in store for me in the new year.
September:
     The Grace Building in New York City has long been a favorite of mine.  Read this post about Mayor Laguardia and his example of grace to a desperate woman.

     During the month of September Compassion International asked that bloggers unite to reach out for sponsors for children in poverty.  Letters to God was written in response to one of their prompts to encourage us to give from our abundance.

October:

     For the month of October I blogged about my journey through breast cancer.  In January 2009 my New Year’s resolution was fairly simple.  It was “Make room.”  Make room for Jesus in my heart, my marriage, with my family and friends, in my home and in my job.  I had vague thoughts about cleaning up the house and organizing myself better.  Instead God answered my prayers with a diagnosis of breast cancer on February 18.  I discovered as I sat in doctor’s offices, went for treatments, and even took naps that some things weren’t as important as I had previously thought they were.  I was also reminded that the really important things, aren’t things - they are the people God has given us to love.  Shipwrecked was the most read post of the month.  The series was called "I Wear Pink."  The entire series can be found as a page at the top.  

November:

     Storms tells us that Jesus meets us where we are.  It relates how Jesus walked on water to the storm tossed disciples.

     Welcome to Hogwarts!  Connor received a letter welcoming him to Hogwarts for his eleventh birthday.  Connor has been a huge fan of the Harry Potter series since second grade.  It made his day to receive the letter by owl post.

December:

     Have You Any Room For Jesus?   I saw Jesus sitting on the side of the road one afternoon on my way to do some errands.  

     What was you favorite post on your blog?  List it in the comments.

Easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan

     The first thing you need to know is that my kids will eat this!  They are partial to mac & cheese, and not the good kind either.  But this, they will eat.  And it's delicious.  Score!

     We picked up the eggplant and the onions at our local CSA.  It is low carb.

   
 Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground turkey or ground beef, 
• 1 medium onion,
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 1 large eggplant sliced into thin rounds,   I soak these in lightly salted water.
• 1 26 oz jar of spaghetti sauce,  
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese.

 Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease 9 x 13 pan.
2. Brown meat in a skillet and drain.  Set aside.
3. Saute onions in butter in the skillet.
4. Line the bottom of the prepared pan with half of the eggplant rounds.
5. Stir the sauce and the meat together and pour half over the eggplant.
6. Top with the sauteed onions and half of the mozzarella cheese.
7. Add the remainder of the eggplant and then the rest of the meat sauce.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
9. Remove the foil sprinkle the parmesan cheese and the rest of the mozzarella cheese on top and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes.

     I have served this on italian bread or with pasta as a side.   Of course, if you add bread or pasta, then it isn't a low carb meal.  Enjoy.

Fall Camping

      Over Columbus Day weekend, we took one last camping trip.  We went to a Jelly Stone Park Campground in Gardiner, NY.  The weather was cold and a little drizzly.  Still, we managed to have fun.  The kids got in some reading around the fire.

     We had s'mores!  My family's favorite camp food.  This is one of the crispier marshmallows that were toasted.  

Charcoal marshmallow

      There is a lazy river that winds it's way through the back of the campground.  It was the perfect spot for  family pictures.

     The tree was huge.  

      My handsome husband.

      Flags at the camp store.

      Hey, Boo Boo!

     A wonderful weekend.