Everyday Images #74

October/November Prompts – Everyday Images #74
I’m sharing the next installment of Kym’s Everyday Images Prompts and will link up with her blog this coming Thursday. The prompts this time around were, spooky, black and white, trees, blaze, selfie and ornate.
Thank you, Kym.
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spooky
black and white
My Pop
Greg’s Dad
trees
The tree above is from our Grands’ Granny’s home.
blaze
selfie (quarterly)
ornate
Edinburgh, St. Giles Cathedral.
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Happy November everyone! Is it just me or did October fly by? Today we are heading to Spokane airport to pick up my best friend from the Russian Baptist Church days in L.A. and her hubby. They are flying in today and will be with us until Tuesday. They are city mice and will see what country living is like here with us.
The last time they were in Washington state was at Josh and Laura’s wedding in 2001!
Ken, Heidi and Christina (my sister-in-law) from 2001 on our friends’ deck for an after wedding barbecue. Our friends were gracious to host our guests (family and friends) from out of town after the wedding.
Fresh photos from the country instead of the Western side of Washington coming soon.

The Rest of Weekend Last

Before the Corn Maze we enjoyed watching Addy play basketball. She had a great cheering squad with grandparents, great grandparent, parents, auntie, uncle and brother.

Auntie Lolo got some great action shots!

Addy scored twice!

After Basketball we headed across the street to our church gym to support the homeschool craft fair. We then had lunch before we headed to the Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.

Sunday we were all seated in a row at church and after church we headed to our place for brunch before Uncle and Auntie headed home.

Gramps cooked up Swedish Pancakes that we all devoured.

A pause in our game of Skyjo to see if Josh could help JJ by pulling out his loose tooth. We all decided although loose, it was not ready to let go.

Addy serenaded us with Amazing Grace on the piano. She’s practicing for a presentation about piano at homeschool co-op this week.

Early in the afternoon the cars left our driveway for home and we put our feet up. We were so thankful to God for the time we could spend with one another.

Truth for Today #167

Thursday October 30th

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! 

Luke 24:44-49

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

From Vera:

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”

From Leonard:

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

From Dianna:

Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

From Karen:

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

Adieu to October Hodgepodge

Time for Joyce’s questions for the last October Hodgepodge of the this year.

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

I will take risks in the kitchen by trying new recipes or throwing things together in desperation for a meal.

2. What’s your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? 

I have sweet and sour favorites. See’s Almond Royal is a favorite. I gravitate to dark chocolates from Sees. I enjoy Mike and Ike’s Original Fruits. I do have a sweet tooth. My favorite kind of sweet is in pastry form and not overly sweet.

3. Somewhere you’ve been recently that had you feeling ‘like a kid in a candy store’? 

The new brand from Homegoods/TJMaxx/Marshall’s has been fun to explore. Sierra is the name of the store and it is a more outdoorsy themed store.

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? 

On my knees in prayer and keeping close in obedience to the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ my LORD.

5. Do you like surprises? 

Yes, but not in me being the center of attention as in surprise parties. I love a surprise visit from loved ones! I love a surprise sighting in the stores in town when I happen to run into our grands with their mom.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Speaking of sweet surprises, It was a surprise when Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo  pivoted their plans for the weekend and drove to our side of the mountains after they heard our weekend company had their flights canceled. We were able to continue our Family Fall tradition of mastering the corn maze!

Corn Maze 2025

When we sent out a text to let our family know we were disappointed that our guests from Southern California wouldn’t be visiting for the weekend because their flight was canceled last minute by an Alaska Airlines IT debacle, Josh and Laura made an impromptu decision to jump in their car for a visit to our side of the mountains. There were some issues on I-90 after a bridge was damaged by an oversized semitruck earlier in the week so they chose roads less traveled to get to us.

On the roads they traveled they were rewarded with some beautiful views including this amazing moose! This was their first time seeing a moose up close.

They arrived later than usual on Friday evening. Soon after they arrived from their 6 hour journey the doorbell rang and our Colville kids dropped in to greet them, too. Our Colville crew was so excited to see Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo.

Saturday was a full day with Addy’s first basketball game this season, a homeschool craft fair, lunch on Bayles Mountain, a rainy trip to the Corn Maze and then back to Bayles Mountain for dinner and Skyjo.

It was so good to continue the tradition of conquering the corn maze together. Josh and Dan stepped in to keep us on track since our usual trusty guide, Katie, was not here this year. We found all 10 stations!

Once again, I have dear Auntie Lolo to thank for all the photos!

We made it! Before they picked out a couple of pumpkins, JJ and Addy fed some horses some grass that was greener on our side of the fence.

Thank you, Josh and Laura, for your trip to Colville. It was a full and fun family time with you here!

Basketball and Sunday photos will show up soon.

Oh, and we are happy to report our friends were able to get their flights changed for this coming weekend and we hope that there are no more issues and that they’ll arrive and depart smoothly!!

A Message Sweet is Borne to Me ~ Hymn

A Message Sweet is Borne to Me

A mes­sage sweet is borne to me
On wings of joy di­vine;
A won­drous mes­sage, glad and free,
That thrills this heart of mine;
I’m saved by grace, by grace alone,
Through Christ, whose love I claim,
No oth­er could for sin atone,
Hosanna to His name!

Refrain

O glo­ri­ous song that all day long
With tune­ful note is ring­ing,
I’m saved by grace, am­az­ing grace,
And that is why I’m sing­ing!

I hear the mes­sage that I love
When morn­ing dawns anew;
I read it in the sun ab­ove
That shines across the blue;
I hear it in the twi­light still,
And at the sun­set hour—
I’m saved by grace! what words can thrill
With such a ma­gic pow­er?

Refrain

Oh, won­drous grace for all man­kind,
That spreads from sea to sea!
It heals the sick and leads the blind,
And sets the pri­son­er free;
The soul that seeks it can­not fail
To see the Sav­ior’s face,
And Sa­tan’s power can­not pre­vail
If we are saved by grace.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1898.

Made in Scotland

Our daughter and son-in-law were in Scotland for a couple of weeks this past September. While in Edinburgh they signed up for a workshop experience. In this hands-on, 60-minute session, you’ll have the chance to personalise your own bag! Choose the base colour of your bag, select your favourite Harris Tweed® cloth lid, and add decorative straps to complete your design.

This is the satchel with the choices they made for me. I forgot to get a photo of Katie’s which is a whole different color scheme from mine.

Such a sweet and generous gift! I love it!

Here’s a link to the Islander Workshop Experience in Edinburgh. They are located in other cities besides Edinburgh.

Both Katie and Andrew really enjoyed this experience and recommend it. Thank you, Katie and Andrew, for this thoughtful gift.

Everyday Images #73

October Prompts – Everyday Images #73
I’m linking up with Kim from A Fresh Cup of Coffee for Everyday Images/October Prompts
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More photos, less words.
leaf or leaves
at home (monthly)
harvest
gold as in golden anniversary
doorway (quarterly)
on my plate (quarterly)
Something that is on my plate this time of year is clearing out the flower beds in front and back of our property.
We have company coming today from Southern California and are looking forward to time to catch up with each other. My computer time will be limited.

Truth for Today #166

Thursday October 23rd

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! 

Luke 11:33-36

No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is a lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.

From Vera:

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

O-range You Glad It’s October!

If it’s Wednesday it must be time for the Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce.

1. What do you like most about your family? 

The different Gifts that God has given to individual members of our family and how it enhances our times together. We have peacemakers,  servants, caregivers, loyal friends. We also have those who display gentleness, wisdom, discernment, faith, generosity, courage, wit, a sense of humor and above all love. We all have ongoing areas that God is sanctifying in us like humility, patience, and forgiveness, to name a few. None of us are perfect but hopefully we’ll cooperate with the Holy Spirit in growing us up in our faith and obedience to be more like Christ.

2. What’s something nice that’s happened to you recently? 
I received this special gift from Andrew and Katie from Scotland (Edinburgh). It will have a special post on Friday. The Islander Handbag Workshop invites you to design and craft your very own bespoke Islander Harris Tweed® handbag. 
3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what’s something orange you love?
An orange sunset!
4.  What’s something you have now you couldn’t have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What’s possible now because of it? 
I’ll answer this on a temporal level. Five years ago our freedom to breathe, move about, worship and make our own health decisions was threatened by those in power or those who were given more power than they should have had. For me this threat to our freedom was oppressive, harmful and sad. I’m thankful for the common sense and freedom I feel now.

5. Let’s wrap this one up with an October this or that…

  • pumpkin bread or apple cider donut
  • cozy sweater or cozy hoodie
  • apple picking or pumpkin picking
  • scary movie or Hallmark movie
  • hay ride or corn maze
  • twinkle lights or candles
  • autumn hike or autumn bonfire

My answers are highlighted in Bold.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

These two found a huge boulder while they were digging to China!