Unusual Beauty

It is not often you get pristine white

snow and golden leaves all in one shot.

But, this morning that was possible.

So...I did!

 Check out the natural star that formed at the top of this tree.

Just made a test run to the church...

it is all good. 

The power is on.

So we will worship corporately this morning...

those that can make it.

October Snow! Lots of It!!

This morning just after the snow began.

The Country Bumpkin is having a hard time seeing.

This morning just before noon.

The same planter this evening around 6pm.

I think these trees could be in a book by 

Dr. Suess.

The power has gone out for a few seconds at a time

but so far......we are ok.

The kids were out briefly this afternoon but 

came back reporting the sounds of cracking 

limbs all around them.

It is beautiful.

It is dangerous.

We miss Warren
for many reasons as he is
on a business trip in Florida
but specifically right now because
I don't have a clue how to
hook up the generator if the power goes out.
Hurry home, Honey.
We'll try to save a little bit of snow
for you....

Update:  We lost power around 11pm
last night but it came back around 4:15am
this morning.

No One Thought of It....

I am so disappointed.

Yesterday was so exciting and fun.

Yet, there was something missing.

Very missing.

You see, yesterday afternoon Mrs. Rabe

and I made a trek to Harrisburg to meet 

a special lady.  We went to meet Diane, 

who writes the Tomato Soupcake Blog.

We arrived and I left her a voice mail

telling her that we had arrived and that she 

should come and find us in the lobby.

She did.

We met with laughter and hugs.

She is exactly what I was expecting

her to be.

A bundle of love.

So warm.

Caring.

Open.

Sweet.

Oh, a tiny bit of what Heaven will

be....all of these dear friends from across

the globe meeting and sharing our love of 

Jesus and each other.

The three of us sat and chatted for 

nearly two hours.

It was great.

Finally, we knew Diane needed to 

get back to her events at the 

Relevant Convention.

I also needed to take Mrs. Rabe

back home so she could complete

her tasks to get ready for a family trip.

We got up,

we walked arm and arm to the car.

We wished that we lived closer so that 

these kinds of chats could happen 

more often.

We left.

Half an hour later as we drove up

Route 283 I saw some beautiful trees.

That made me think of my camera.

Which led to the random declaration that

we had taken no photos!

NONE!!

Three bloggers and NONE of us had

remembered to take a photo 

of this meeting.

What is the world coming to?

How could this have happened??

Priorities, I guess.

We were just being real.

Loving the meeting and the sharing.

Selfishly.

But, just so you know....

Diane said I was "adorable".

I'm pretty sure that was the word she 

used...but you'll just have to take 

my word for it...

'cause there is no evidence.

Hugs!!

The House is Coming Alive....

As the sun rises in the sky 

one by one people begin crossing 

through the living room where I sit

watching the tragedies on the news.

One sometimes has to wonder why 

I watch it....a morbid fascination,
I guess.

I'm not likely to give it up anytime 

soon so don't even try....

LOL.

But, from the quietness of 

me at the keyboard,

2 cats and 2 dogs comes a Mikey.

He bounds up the stairs headed for the 

shower.  He greets the dog with genuine

affection.  I warn him that he'll want a 

heavy coat today.  The temps have dropped

dramatically.

Eventually he makes it to the kitchen to 

make his breakfast before a full day at

work.  Chelsea wanders out and they 

chatter between themselves.  I can't hear 

what they are saying, only that they are

enjoying each other's company.

The Coffee Maker sputters out its last

drops and still the murmers of their voices

continue. 

These are the little things that make a house

a home.  This is family.

I love it.

We are missing Warren who is on a business 

trip this weekend.  But, it is also opportunity to

work, work, work and even fit a bit of play 

into our schedule.  Hoping to meet Diane, 

from Tomato Soupcake today.  She's at a 

Blog Conference about an hour from me.

We'll see how that works out.

But in the meantime....

I'll just bask in the coziness of home and

family as the house wakes up around me.

Great sounds, great times.

Stolen from My Mother!

Since Chelsea has been working at 

Sight and Sound Theater with my mother

I get to hear bits and pieces from

the devotions my Mom shares there.

Wouldn't it be pretty cool to work in 

an environment where 

you actually have 

devotions?

Well, they do and it is a shared duty

among willing employees.

Apparently the other day Mom used

an event that happened right after 

Chelsea was born to make a very 

important point for us in life.

The story goes like this.

While pregnant with Chelsea I was 

put on bed rest at the fourth month due

to very, very high blood pressure.

Therefore I was chomping at the bit

as soon as she was born to get back out

there and shop!

LOL

No, not just shop, just not sit 

on my couch for endless days!!

I was excited to visit the outside world,

other than my illegal Saturday outings to Hoss's.

Yes, we did do that all the while I was on

bed rest.  It was necessary for my sanity.

A quick trip.

Anyway, within days of Chelsea's birth

Mom and I were at the local Sam's Club.

We had completed our shopping and were

leaving when we noticed piles of boxes.

I don't remember who it was that wanted the boxes

but I do know that both of us became engrossed in 

finding just the right ones not realizing that 

the sidewalk sloped right into the road and 

neither of us was holding onto the cart

anymore.

The next thing I heard was a man's voice

yelling...

"Hey Lady!  Your baby is in the middle of the road!"

I turned and there she was....
Chelsea, in her car seat, 

sitting in the cart

in front of a stopped 

pick-up truck.

My adrenaline went through the roof.

I was so angry at myself, at my Mom

and at the world.

But ever so thankful that my Chelsea, 

so long waited for, 

was ok.

Well, Mom made a wonderful analogy

for this sorry tale in her devotional.

She reminded her coworkers not to 

let go of the precious things of life to 

reach for the cardboard things.

Isn't that a pretty cool lesson?

Yep, my Mom is cool like that.

That's were I learned it....

wink!

Have a wonderfully stupendous day.

I'm busy as a beaver in the 

candle kitchen!

I Just Might Be Losing It....

Never mind the fact that I cleaned my kitchen until,

well, lets just say late, 

last night....

And then I was up at six

this morning attacking the 

tub and shower 

with nauseatingly strong cleaner

points to one of two 

things....

either the baby is due any minute,

or ...

and this is the most likely one....
given that hysterectomy a few years back...

I have had enough!

Enough of the mess.

I can turn a blind eye for way longer

than most....

but it is always there.

That monkey on my shoulder.

But then I saw this.

And I totally lost it in mirth.

A new decor.

Making a mental note to ask if anyone actually uses that Old Spice.

Sure to be a fad!

A beautiful razor holder!!

Gasp!  

I never thought it could be functional too!!

LOL

Isn't this what you put candle holders out

there for?

The fact that I found this blogworthy 

at all should give you cause for 

concern.

But, never fear....

I'm way more fun this way!!

Just ask my kids.

Update on Katerina....

It is GREAT news....

Check out Susanna's Blog

to read it for yourself!

If the Lord wills it she will be in
her parent's arms before Thanksgiving.

Thank you, Jesus.