One week!

I've been trying to compose this blog for about a month and it's still not completely there!

But! Here you go!

You know those times in your life when you look down and realize that the world has spun around several times with you hardly knowing it? Well, that's kinda how I feel! My family (and that includes me!) has moved to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. We arrived here safely and with relative ease, last Tuesday evening. One week ago. These past few days we've been resting up, going through the house, cleaning, going through stuff and unpacking. Our house is really quite nice- very adequate for our needs and with room to spare! So that opens several exciting options!

Things are going very well, all things considering! We have food, we have clothing, we have mosquito netting which at this point is at the top of my thankful list! So what can I say? I'm very blessed to be here with my family. This life is always an adventure, and right now for me, it's in Trinidad. I hope you all have a great week! More to come! And maybe even some pictures, if I can find my camera! :D

I just love autumn!!

Autumn, the fall of the year....there is just something almost magic in the air! It's just so beautiful! I am so thankful I can see it one last time, in all its glory, before we're gone for three years. :)

And now I shall make one of my lists!

If one thing says fall, it's:

-Arkansas Black apples- so crisp and firm and delicious!

-Cinnamon Spice candles

-Leaves that crunch underfoot

-Fresh fires in the fireplace

-Cozy hoodies

-Walks in all the colors of fall, including rosy cheeks and bright eyes!

-The peaceful sounds of raindrops on the fallen leaves in the yard.

Happy November everyone! I hope you can get out and enjoy God's marvelous creation this season! :)

P.S. What are your favorites?!

Perspective

A dandelion looked scornfully down

at a small green blade of grass.

"I'm glad I'm tall and beautiful", said she.

And she lifted her sunny face to the sky and saw a tall pine tree.

(I found this picture online)

A little wisdom from Winnie the Pooh

There is so much in some of these books. I've said this before and I'll keep on saying it....all wisdom doesn't have to come from some PhDer or ancient philosopher. It can come from the quiet observation of simple children's books authors. Like A. A. Milne and the immortal Pooh Bear.

Here are some of my favorite quotes. They seem simple at first, but if you Really look at them (that would be a Pooh ism) you can see some profound wisdom.

"A little Consideration, little Thought for Others makes all the difference."

"Don't underestimate the value of doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering."

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."

"You can't help respecting people who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling TUESDAY simply doesn't count"

"You can't stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes."

After being made a faithful knight of Christopher Robin, Pooh has these thoughts...." Christopher Robin won't tell me any more", and he wondered if being a Faithful Knight meant that you just went on being faithful without being told things."

from The House At Pooh Corner and Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

RH stands for Round House!

Round House is a week long camp for home school families in the church of Christ. We meet in North Carolina, in the beautiful Smokey Mountains. It's a blessing in so many ways!

Here is a short list of loves that come to mind.....

• The fellowship of like-minded Christians
• The beauty of God's creation
• Renewing old friendships
• Making new friends
• Seeing God's providential hand in so many areas.

We leave Friday!! See you later!

A little thought from J.R.R. Tolkien

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

I really like this. It can say so much sometimes.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!!

My last post was about the first hint of fall....it's just delicious how it's feeling more and more like fall! At least for me....I've worn my yummy old hoodie twice already! I love this time of year...the old summer is bowing out gracefully, autumn isn't coming to fast...just that fascinating time of year. Mmmm!

My family and I just got back from an eleven day trip through the old south....We started out by attending Polishing the Pulpit in Sevierville, TN. And I could stop right there and that would be enough. There is so much encouragement to be gained by attending such a powerful lectureship. Listening to the lessons, meeting new people, catching up with old friends....seeing 2000 Christians all in one place just lifts the soul! My life is incredible blessed by the time spent there. :)

And then we spend most of a day at the Chickamauga Civil War park in Chattanooga, TN. Now that was fun! Our family outings almost always include a picnic and this one was particularly nice! Picture all nine of us crammed around a picnic table...with lots of "pass the mustard please" and "Are there any more tomatoes?" "Please pass the pepper" etc. :D So then on to the park! We saw lots of neat sites, climbed a very tall tower, marched down to a bridge, took pictures and generally had a lovely time together!

We spent the weekend with the Madaris family and they're always a joy to be with! We worshipped with them Sunday morning and then drove up Mississippi and worshipped with the brethren at Second Street church of Christ near Red Bay, AL. What a wonderful day! Plus spending the evening with two more lovely families...what a refreshing time! But then it was time to say goodbye and drive home. I loved driving up from Fort Smith...that's always so beautiful, no matter the time of year! When we got in, my bed said quite distinctly, "I missed you!" ;) I'm kidding....

It's just good to be home. :) I'm thankful for the safe trip and all the good times we had.