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DIY Succulent Pumpkins

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Hey there friends.  Today’s post is my very first nod to Fall.  I’m nodding at you Fall but I’m not embracing you, especially after you littered my yard with debris last night.

I’m writing this post as I listen to the sound of chainsaws next door, where my neighbor had two trees go through their roof last night during the windstorm.  We were on the far edge of hurricane Irma’s path but we had heavy winds and power outages.  All I can say is that I’m very thankful that we were spared any damage to our home.

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What I’m NOT Thankful For!

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Do you ever find yourself complaining more than giving thanks?  Does it ever seem like your circumstances are so overwhelming that it’s hard to find even one thing to be thankful for?  Believe me, I’ve been through times like that in my own life!

Thanksgiving Table 017

My friend Diane over at  An Extraordinary Day has a weekly post called Joy Day where we are invited to share seven things each Sunday that we are thankful for.  I like to take part in Joy Day as often as I can to keep myself in the practice of remembering the ways that God has blessed me.  

Thanksgiving Table 003

This week, as I began to write out my list, I decided to do something a little different.  During Thanksgiving week we are supposed to be turning our hearts toward the things we are thankful for but I know that for some of you who are going through really tough times that can be hard.  This past year I have friends who have lost spouses, suffered illness, watched their children suffer, had marital difficulties, financial struggles, even lost beloved pets (we do love our pets).  So I decided to start my list by thinking of the things I’m NOT so thankful for and as I wrote down my complaints I determined to counter them with positives.

Here is what I wrote for Joy Day this week:

1. I am 60 (EEEK!) and I am alive (Yes, I hit the big Six-OH last week).

2. I have bills to pay and we have the means to pay them.

3. My adult children live far, far away and we are closer than most moms and daughters I know.

4. My best friends are far, far away and God is giving me more new friends than I could’ve imagined.

5. My husband lives with pain daily and he still gets up and goes to work to take care of our needs.

6. My house is a mess and the Christmas decorations are all down from the attic and in the process of being put up. A delight!

7. I have too much to do and it is good to be strong enough to do all the things I do.

Do you see what I mean by turning complaint around to thankfulness?  I’d like to get in the habit of doing this ALL of the time!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess 5:18 NIV Click To Tweet

Scripture tells us to give thanks in all circumstances but this command isn’t for God’s benefit.  When we turn our thoughts and hearts toward God in thankfulness we receive the blessing of a changed attitude and a changed heart!

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov 17:22 NIV Click To Tweet

Thankfulness cultivates an attitude of praise which is good for our own well being as well as the well being of those around us. 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful... Prov 15:13 NIV Click To Tweet

When we are thankful we are happier and it shows on the outside.  A side benefit to this is more friends!  People like to be around happy people.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. Ps 89:15 NIV Click To Tweet

When we acclaim God in the midst of our troubles we walk into the light of His presence and are able to rise above our circumstances.  The circumstance may not change but WE are changed. 

 As we come upon this Thanksgiving holiday maybe you also would like to ask God to turn your attitude toward the positive and show you His light in the darkness.  If you simply ask Him I believe that He will give you a new way of looking at your life and give you much to be thankful for.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving,

My Signature

In all circumstances

Freedom Friday – On Seeing Differently

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Have you ever heard of the game called “What Is It?”

Okay, that might not be the official name of the game but the gist of it is to figure out what an object is by looking at only a small portion of it.

Let’s play!

Fall in my yard 047What do YOU see?  Can you tell me what this object is?

Fall in my yard 049I’ll zoom out a little so you can see a bit more.  Got it?

Fall in my yard 060Here is another portion of the object,

Fall in my yard 066and another,

Fall in my yard 051and yet another.

Fall in my yard 064Okay, by now I’m sure you’ve come up with some really good guesses and from this last picture you’ve surely figured out that this is a building of some sort . . .

Fall in my yard 065. . . and you are absolutely right.

Fall in my yard 053It is a bird house of course!

Fall in my yard 055So what was the purpose of this little game?  Because there always has to be a purpose, right?

Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A new devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts.

Looking at things from a different perspective . . . or Seeing Differently . . . is something that has been on my mind a lot lately, especially since we are in a new place, a place of transition, and we really don’t know what the future holds for us here.

But then none of us really knows what the future holds do we?

 Smokey Mountain Parkway 068

I don’t know if you are at all like me but when I am in a place of uncertainty, whether that be a minor insecurity or a great upheaval of my little world, I tend to look waaayyyy . . . off into the distance and try to figure what the future holds for me.

When I’m in a place of insecurity I tend to come up with a lot of ideas of my own as to what God might have planned for my future.  Maybe I’ll be doing this or maybe I’ll be doing that.  Maybe I’ll be serving in this church or that one.  Maybe . . . maybe . . . maybe . . .

I tend to think too much!

Smokey Mountain Parkway 079And pretty soon my head is spinning sideways.

It is all futile really because we have no idea what the path set before us will hold.  In fact, it can all change in a moment, as I’ve seen recently with two different friends whose husbands have had strokes, disrupting all of the plans that they had laid out so precisely before them.

So what can I do?  One thing I can do is to stop focusing on things that “might” be and simply see the beauty in today.

Fall in my yard 039This is a view through my camera lens, zoomed in to show detail.  The texture, the play of light and shadow, the imperfections of my subject, all are clearly shown.

Fall in my yard 011As I walked through my yard this morning I walked (carefully because I have dogs) looking through the lens of my camera.  I am able to see things much differently that way . . . things I don’t notice with the naked eye.

Fall in my yard 003There is great beauty in the details that I often miss when I look at the whole picture.

Fall in my yard 014Like this hard and grainy rock.

Fall in my yard 007 Trying to take in the whole picture of my life at once can be overwhelming!

Fall in my yard 001Seeing a small piece of the whole picture and choosing to be thankful for the beauty that is in each day gives one a sense of peace and also a new appreciation for the whole.

Fall in my yard 042Getting down low to take a close up can open your eyes to new wonders you’ve never before known!

I know from personal experience that life can be hard.  Perhaps you too are in a difficult season.  What can you do about it?  You can fall into worry, and start asking all the “What if” questions:

“What if I can’t save enough money to retire?”

“What if my health fails?”

“What if I never find a husband?”

“What if I never get a good job?”

“What if the economy fails?”

And for me:

“Will we ever find a church home?”

“Will we ever make friends here in our new city?”

“Will we ever feel like we are making a difference in others lives again?”

In the midst of our worries we will almost certainly neglect to take in the beauty around us.  And it is there!  No matter what your circumstance there is beauty to be seen if you will open up your eyes to a new way of seeing and ask God to show you the beautiful.

Fall in my yard 029If I truly trust God I can leave my future in His hands and turn my focus toward what is happening in my life today, right this moment.  I can choose to enjoy the beauty of the moment even as I might also be feeling the pain of the moment.  The message here isn’t about seeing the world through rose colored glasses, though sometimes I wish I had a set of those.  It is about releasing control of the hard things of life to the One who knows what is best for me, and then choosing to see good even in the midst of it my pain.  Then giving THANKS in all things!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossions 3:15

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Finally, a thought from Corrie Ten Boom, who had more to worry about in her life than most of ever will:

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.

Since God is in control I think, for today, I’ll let Him do His job and rest in the fact that His plans for me are better than anything I could come up with on my own.

Prayer:

 Papa God, I cast all of my fears and anxieties upon You, for you care for me, you sustain me and you promise that the righteous ( Christ followers) will not be moved.  I lay aside every weight and sin of worry and fix my mind on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and deserving of praise.  I commit to live free from worry in the name of Jesus, for the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. I choose to find joy in each day and trust you for tomorrow.  Amen
Blessings,
My Signature

I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:

 SUNDAY

Beauty in His Grip Button

MONDAY

Project Inspire{d}

TUESDAY

Holly Barrett

 

WEDNESDAY

Joy Dare Blog

 


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THURSDAY

Thriving-Thursdays1

FRIDAY

 SATURDAY

countingmyblessingsAmanda’s Books and MoreSandra Heska King - Still SaturdayFaith Along the WayRenewed Daily - Recommendation Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Fab and One Sad Thanksgiving Tablescapes

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Thanksgiving is almost upon us and I’m in awe of the many amazing tablescapes I’ve seen.  This post includes 10 Fab and One Sad Thanksgiving Table.  Sad . . . because Mr. OTN must work Thanksgiving Day caring for our nation’s bravest and best (he has missed holiday call for several years in a row now so I guess that isn’t too bad).  Sad also, because my girls live so far away (I’ve mentioned before that we live in three opposite corners of the country) and they will be celebrating Thanksgiving closer to their own homes.

But on to the “FAB” . . . these Thanksgiving tablescapes are a feast in and of themselves. Many of them are from my favorite bloggers and many I’ve pinned from Pinterest.  Follow the link to each website for more Thanksgiving eye candy. Enjoy!

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Amazing, yes?

Now, do I dare show you the state of my “sad” Thanksgiving table?   No . . .  I don’t want to detract from all the beauty you’ve just seen.  At present, my table is covered (in truth, my whole dining room is filled) with craft projects in a half done state as I prepare for our first ever Old Things New Holiday Cottage Open House.  What I will most likely be doing on Thanksgiving day is finishing up projects for the Thanksgiving weekend sale to be held in our little guest cottage.  More info to come in a later post.

So, while I’m a little sad that I won’t be sharing Thanksgiving dinner with my beloved family, I’m grateful to have a family, and a wonderful one at that! 

Blessings to you this holiday season,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:

Giving Thanks

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Turkey dinner with family and friends, old Christmas movies, Black Friday craziness, decorating for Christmas,  . . .how did you spend your long Thanksgiving weekend?  As the weekend draws to a close and the last of the leftovers goes the way of leftovers (garbage can or soup pot), I reflect once again on our many blessings. 

This Thanksgiving Day we drove over the river and through the woods to Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jack’s (my in-laws) house. They weren’t up to making the trip to our house this year as, at 93 and 94 years of age, they are growing tired.  It was a simple day in every way.  The turkey dinner we brought was spare compared to what I would normally cook at home and there were no fancy appetizers or table decorations.  It wasn’t a large gathering.  With family spread out all over the country and into Canada it was just the four of us.  It was a nice day, quiet and relaxing. 

This is a picture of Betty and Jack last summer.  Jack had just been diagnosed with lung cancer and it was uncertain what they were going to do to treat it.  It was an “accidental” diagnosis, as he went in for a shoulder x-ray and a spot was noticed on his lung.  He ended up having surgery to have the cancer removed and it turned out to be stage 1, no radiation or chemo recommended.  After a couple of months Jack is still regaining his strength.  Not feeling well is hard and frustrating for him, but he is still with us!  God has more in store for Jack in this life and we are all very thankful.

As we enter more deeply into the holiday season, take some time to just BREATH . . .

and be . . .

 
 



 

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