Party Hats

Ah, the fun of friends and wigs and party hats!

Once the lipstick was added we were ready to party...

(We decided lipstick was an essential...and of course dear Barb had just the right shade.)

My butterfly friends are such a blast! We celebrated the fabulous life of Lora who is the one who keeps drawing us all together...

Gloryland

This is where I live and love God. Pretty darn amazingly beautiful.

You can see the grapes ripening at the bottom of the grapevine right next to the driveway... so pretty!

It's absolutely spectacular around here these days.

The colors outside my bedroom window are breathtaking,

outside my front door the oak tree is stunning.

so majestic, tall and straight with the dark green leaves turning into a deep red the higher up the massive tree you go.

those lovely poplars have almost shed all of their leaves...

My drives to work are oh so cold now in the morning but the color show is well worth it.

The orchards, emptied of apples and the vineyards with ripening grapes,

Brilliant yellow trees lining Mission Creek and making it hard for me to keep my eyes on the road...

It's a delightful drive and a perfect time to be praying or praising.

What a way to start my day!!

At school I have my schedule set with my kids and we're off to a great start.

Praying for wisdom and trying to keep things fun.

Look at this cute little guy. Oh my goodness!

At home I've started a little study with one of the girls on

changing our hearts and changing our lives - all through scripture meditation and memorization and implementation!!

I need fresh input and to break out of lazy patterns.

Sunday I had church with a housemate while sitting in the car

looking down over the lake covered by a canopy of blue.

We read from John 15 and shared communion.

Glorying in the day, in the richness of what we have in Jesus

and in the power of the Word.

His Kingdom Here

Yesterday was a full, wonderful day.

Sweet fall sunshine,

teaching precious children,

chelation in a big comfy leather chair to keep my veins clean,

an impromptu hike through the glorious forest with my "new" daughter and two doggies,

driving my other daughter to work through incredible landscapes,

a quick trip to costco to buy warm woolen undershirts and...

an amazing gathering of friends in the evening to say farewell to a couple that have touched hundreds of lives here in the Valley. I'm so grateful that I was one of them.

I have a feeling we will meet again, and possibly on another continent!

It feels like something has broken open that has been sealed shut in regards to gathering easily with friends...

I don't know exactly when it began closing, how many years ago, but it feels like it has been gently opening in this past season.

Even my home feels full of life again.

Four of us filling the rooms with laughter, movies, baking, cooking, sharing meals, cleaning, making music, visiting on my bed, praying, passing on the driveway, working in the flowerbeds...

It feels like God has broadened my tent pegs and I'm grateful.

I don't do very well on my own and I love the fellowship that has sprung up here.

Right under my roof!

And the circle is broader with my finding a church that feels like home.

The hugs and the hellos are so healing.

The worship is rich and the message this past Sunday spoke of the invitation to the wedding feast. Finishing with communion around an inviting table that had been set during the message. May the Lord help me to be faithful to invite those who are on the byways and highways to join in the party... otherwise what is it all about?

A little prayer meeting has even begun here on Thursday evenings.

A few of us YWAMers seeking God about how to "do church" and missional living here in Kelowna.

As much as I'm dreading the cold of the months to come, I feel warm in my heart at the prospect of more fellowship and I am truly grateful for the lives of the beautiful young women in my home that surround me with sound and life and activity.

They all love Jesus and are seeking His Kingdom.

Cozy and Magical

We're halfway through October and we're still enjoying sunshine!

The leaves are changing, the apples are picked and there is that

lovely fall smell and crispness in the air.

Altogether glorious!

And my Saturday has been most lovely.

I just got in from planting about 40 tulip bulbs.

Grunting and groaning I lean over (my expanding waistline!) and dig holes to plop those little bulbs of promise into.

And I had such fine company for the outing.

Little Fritz was purring most happily as he sat very nearby watching my digging.

Moose was staring at his tennis ball in hopes that I would toss it for him and Ladybug was running her circles keeping an eye on things and making sure Fritz didn't get too close to her.

The cats are always excited to see us emerge from the house and they proceed to walk up to the dogs and try to rub up against their legs.

This endlessly freaks the dogs out but thankfully there is no animosity on either side.

Just alot of sudden jumping and side stepping on the part of the dogs.

I came in just in time to take out the crusty bread which was giving the house a marvelous aroma and then I iced the poppyseed cake that I had baked earlier.

Getting ready for the gathering tonight!

Lots of laundry got done today too and the day is even nice enough to have my pants drying in the sunshine out back.

I'm so grateful for these "at home days" that feel "cozy and magical" as the dear daughter so aptly spoke this morning as we sat around the table enjoying fine food and each other's company.

Thankful am I.