The sky is blue and our ornamental grasses are golden. The Goldenrod is in it’s prime.
I’m patting myself on the back for being able to tackle a cart load of weeds.
We are so grateful to be able to see the layers of our mountains again and blue skies. The smoke has cleared and we are breathing easy.
Hope all is well where you live these last few days of September.
I’m at our Women’s retreat today. I won’t be getting around to blogland until Monday. Cheers!
On Thursday, reading along through the Bible using Paul Tripp’s, Everyday Gospel, A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life, we came to Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. This year the Bible that I’m using for my daily morning reading is the Church History Study Bible, Voices from the Past ~ Wisdom for the Present.
Unlike in other study Bibles, the notes in the ESV Church History Study Bible have not been written by editors. Instead, the notes have been compiled by a team of biblical scholars and church historians. The actual contributors of the notes are a varied group, stretching back from the first and second centuries and reaching forward to the twentieth century. These are theologians, pastors, poets, laity, all offering their perspective on God’s Word. In the ESV Church History Bible we escape the tyranny of the present to see the wisdom from the past.
In the introduction to Malachi this prayer by John Calvin (1509-1564) from his conclusion to his final lecture on Malachi was printed:
Grant, Almighty God, to help us onward in the course of faith, that we may strive to profit more from the helps that you have provided for us, so that the Law, the prophets, the voice of John the Baptist, and especially the doctrine of your only-begotten Son may more fully awaken us, that we may not hasten to him but also proceed constantly in our course and persevere in it until we shall at length obtain the victory and the crown of our calling, as you have promised us an eternal inheritance in heaven to all who faint not but wait for the coming of the great Redeemer. Amen.
I wanted to mark this significant day of completing the Old Testament and moving forward into the New Testament with Calvin’s meaningful prayer and another quote by R.C. Sproul.
Have you read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation? It is a good journey to take.
After posting, we heard of Voddie Baucham being called up to heaven yesterday. Another heralder of the truth is absent from our midst. Absent from earth but present with Our LORD.
Have a great Friday and last weekend of September!
Thursday September 25th
On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
Habakkuk 2:18-20
“What profit is an idol
when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols!
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.
But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.”
From Vera:
“He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV
From Karen:
Colossians 3:23-24
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ.
It’s Fall y’all and Joyce has a fresh batch of questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge.
1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall?
All the things! I like the weather, the changing colors, our local Corn Maze, Cider Fest, Thanksgiving, Flannel and the end of mosquito season.
2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?
New England or Prince Edward Island would be nice to visit during the Autumn months.
3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared?
A Thanksgiving dinner favorite is sweet potatoes/yams baked in buttery brown sugar and marshmallows on top golden and delightful, a favorite of kids young and old.
A good butternut squash soup with a little spice is delicious!
Any on the list you don’t eat?
I can eat any of those things.
Which one have you had most recently?
I might have had dried cranberries in a nut mix the most recently.
4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate.
I am a fan of Fall so I could describe it as beautiful. I also like the changes that occur from summer to fall. Not all change is beautiful and not all the changes from Summer to Fall are beautiful. This isn’t a sentiment that would come out of my mouth. That’s a little nitpicky but I’d share another sentiment for Fall like “Fall is the season for cozy hugs and warm mugs.”
5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color?
Around our parts you can see the Larches/Tamaracks in some nice groves that have taken on their golden hue.
Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit?
Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas
We are closest to the Columbia River Gorge and that would be a nice Fall road trip.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We were thrilled to hear on Tuesday that all evacuation levels were suspended for the Crown Fire which is the closest fire to us. We are so thankful for all the fire fighters that have been battling these fires. Thank you, LORD, for them and for the rain we received on Sunday!
Happy Autumn/Fall to all hodgepodgers and visitors here!
A couple of weeks ago we started building this birdhouse with Addy and JJ. The involvement with hammers and nails and glue made me fail to get photos of A and J while they were working on it.
Both Addy and JJ are good with directions and the whole building process. Addy’s window is a little more detailed than JJ’s.
It was Addy’s idea to add the B. We had to let all the glue dry at this point and it was time for Addy and JJ to go to Awana. The finishing of the roof would have to happen at a later date.
On Monday afternoon JJ was here while Addy was at dance so we started on the shingles on the roof. The royal ‘we’ was JJ supervising me and giving me tips while he ate an orange.
Here’s an older Autumn photo of Addy and JJ.
I wanted to update y’all on the fires in our parts. The closest fire to us is 74% contained and another fire a little farther from us is 46% contained. The folks from our church who had to evacuate have been able to go back to their homes and they weren’t destroyed. We had a downpour on Sunday and that was helpful, too. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Autumn is beginning and so are some Autumn hues on our property. Fall is a favorite of mine. Do you tend to say Autumn or Fall when talking about this glorious season?
Our weekend started with an early trip to Spokane to pick up Greg’s new eye glasses with his new correction that is appreciated. On the road to Spokane we pass this bill board in Clayton.
They change up the message about twice a year and I always keep an eye out for it.
On Sunday after our church service we watched the Memorial for Charlie Kirk. We appreciated several of the speakers. Erika Kirk, his widow, was an inspiration to listen to. It was a beautiful service with the Gospel of Jesus Christ shared more than once. Many shared it well. The music was beautiful and worshipful. It must have been amazing to sing with 70,000+ voices together.
Our Westside family sent photos of their experiences in California and Scotland on the weekend!
Josh and Laura were in Southern California. Our Laura and my nieces and grandniece along with my sister Kathy enjoyed a Sound of Music sing along at the Hollywood Bowl! That was epic and fun for all. They were celebrating birthdays, especially Avery’s Sixteenth!
Further birthday celebrations were enjoyed with my other sister, Vera, with nephews and grand nephew and our son, Josh.
And then all the way across the Pond in Scotland, Katie and Andrew enjoyed dinner at the same restaurant Josh, Laura, Greg and I enjoyed a year ago in Stonehaven, Scotland.
It brought back so many good memories.
Today they will be hiking to Dunnottar Castle. We’ll be waiting to hear how they survived the climb there and back again.
It’s time to pull out my Autumn/Fall swag. How was your weekend?
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre,
And as they tune it, fall
Before His face who tunes their choir,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face who tunes their choir,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye morning stars of light,
Who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Let every tribe and every tongue
Before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song
The crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song
The crownèd Lord of all.
O that, with yonder sacred throng,
We at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Words: Edward Perronet, 1726-1792.
Day Two of the Feis was Deirdre Haran Abeid Day.
The Haran School of Irish Dance was founded in Kettle Falls by Deirdre Abeid over 45 years ago. Her daughters Caitlin Trusler and Claire Worley have continued in her footsteps, running the Kettle Falls and Spokane branches of Haran for the past 25 years.
All signed in and ready to dance
There are breaks between the soft shoe dances and hard shoe dances.
Both Addy and JJ appreciated Uncle and Auntie being at the Feis on Sunday. I appreciated it, too, as Laura could get up close and take photos and videos that I was not able to.
Soft shoe, hard shoe and then it was time for another soft shoe competition.
There is a trick to lacing the soft shoes!
When all the traditional jigs and reels and treble and Hornpipe were completed it was time for the creative water/sea dance. The dancers who wanted to participate in this dance had to come up with their own costume and dance.
This is the outfit conception that Addy came up with thinking about water, ‘under the sea’. Here was the completed outfit Addy and her Mom created.
It is so good to have the support team of mom and dad in the dancers corner.
Waiting for their solo performances. I wish I could share the video Auntie Lolo took of Addy’s dance but I’m unable to on my blog. It was a wonderful performance and we found out while we were out to lunch that Addy had received a 1st place for her outfit and dance!
We gathered for lunch before taking Uncle and Auntie back to the airport for their flight home.
After lunch on their way home Dan and Jamie stopped by the convention center to pick up Addy’s prize for her creative under the sea dance and costume.
Her 1st place trophy!
After getting home Addy donned all her awards from her first Feis!
Well done, Addy. Your hard work was rewarded. Hmmm, I wonder if she’ll want to sign up for another Feis?
Thanks for coming along and for all your kind comments.
Thursday September 18th
On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
James 3:1-5
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
From Dianna:
“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not everyone on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 KJV
From Vera:
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.””
Isaiah 25:6-9 ESV
From Karen:
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Matthews 9:27
From Nikkipolani:
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
A summer sea scape dinner party to celebrate the end of summer from our deck in our former home. This is also a nod to Addy’s creative under the sea outfit at the Feis. (End of post)
It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge and Joyce has a fresh batch of questions to prove it.
Dinner parties were mentioned in one of our questions so here are a collection of dinner parties from the past with the Mennonite Girls Can Cook in Canada.
1. Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more?
I think I’m a little above middle, more toward life than pooper. 🙂 I might be one of the first ones to say goodnight these days.
Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what’s your favorite kind of party?
Dinner party and Christmas Party are my favorites!
2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list?
Personally I believe human beings, relationships, marriage, and friendships should all improve with age. Most importantly, my faith and trust in Christ should improve with age and I should be more like Christ each new year. This is challenging and humbling and something I’d never attain to without the Holy Spirit, our Helper.
3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you?
I enjoy my birthday regardless of fanfare. I do enjoy having special meals with loved ones to celebrate my birthday. I’m past needing or wanting gifts other than good times with family and friends. A card or note or text is gift enough.
4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month.
March 14th: It is Pi (π) day, 3.14.
In 1942 Anne Miller became the first American patient to be treated with Penicillin on this day.
5. Share two good things about your life right now.
Right now my health is good (I do have some typical old lady aches and pains) and my life in the country is good. I’m where I’m supposed to be. It is so good to be in the same town as our grandchildren.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
On Friday I’ll share more about Addy’s first Irish Feis!
This outfit isn’t representative of an Irish Feis but it played a special role in a creative dance challenge (Water, Under the Sea) at the end of the festival (feis).
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 