Still Swimming!

The four of us plus one little Pupcake went for another fantastic fall drive.  It's been a rainy cloudy week but the sun came out for us and the sky showed off her lovely blue while the clouds danced.

October is the prettiest of all months, hands down, and we were out to enjoy it.

And as we sat sipping our coffees and looking out at the lake, lo and behold someone emerged from the lake shaking off water.

Our very own little ogopogo sighting...

(You may have to click on the photo above to enlarge)

The trees are shedding their lovely plumage and settling in for their winter sleep.

As we drove and admired the beauty we shook the gates of heaven through our prayers and made some powerful declarations on behalf of our entire family.

Be it done unto us according to our faith! 

And there was lots of it in my little red car.

Miracles, salvations and redemption are forthcoming.

Amen.

I felt particularly invigorated after spending quite a few hours this week following along with the Gathering of the saints in Munich. 

Knowing that Germany has begun a new chapter, rising up out of the ashes with the blessing of the Messianic Jews, and

walking in covenant relationship with those from China to fulfill their destiny.

A great eagle rising to flight with many eaglets on its wings.

So with this truth empowering us and the word of God flowing over and through us, our hearts were bubbling up with joy and faith.

His Word, which we were proclaiming, will not go forth without accomplishing what He desires and it will not return empty.

Isaiah 55 is my mantra.

I took the McCullough route home and stopped to capture this beauty.

God's lovely little valley, full of vineyards and orchards and saints, is producing heavenly fruit!

Tended by the great Vinedresser.

Also Happening

This lovely gal and I had a lunch date at the Boh followed by a little jaunt down along the lake. 

It was a perfectly beautiful day and the company was sweet.

Are we not just about as cool as can be?  

Those shades...

A concert up at Bottega in the evening was also great.

Mostly too loud for these tender ears, but they did a few numbers "un-plugged" with amazing four part harmony which was absolutely incredible.

Interestingly I was sitting next to Harmony herself during the program!  

Plus my kids were all there so I felt all tucked in and happy.

Gayle and I had coffee by the lake one morning and this was our view.  

Reminded me of my childhood...

So many good friends.

Sweet memories.

And the view out of my kitchen window these days is a kaleidoscope of colour.

It's almost hard to believe it's for real around here.

God is beyond creative.

And this is also happening.  

My dear friend Lisa is helping me to organize my garage.

My heart is singing a very happy song as we are putting stuff in bins and getting rid of what isn't needed.

It's been a long time in coming and hopefully it will stay in order.

I'm just blessed in all ways, all the time.

And Oh So Thankful!

Going Higher

In the midst of this gorgeous fall with birthdays and gatherings and school and everything else that composes my days, there is a glorious unfolding of truth that I am accessing and attempting to incorporate into my life in greater and greater measure.

There are so many layers of this truth finding and incorporating and unfortunately I don't always follow through on the many spiritually and physically life changing solutions I find.

However, it's kind of like a mountain I am ascending. Every time I make a positive choice to worship and pray, when I add another scripture to my "war room wall" to memorize, or when I choose to fast or eat differently for my health I am moving higher up the mountain.  There are times when I get discouraged or give in to my flesh, causing me to slide backwards, but I never stay there.  God has placed His powerful Spirit within me and He empowers me to grab back onto the truth, discipline myself and go higher again.

My friend Lisa and I have begun to set aside more time to "work out" what we are "working in" by going to meetings where we are practising the discipline of waiting on God and listening to His voice.  We are also setting aside an evening where we meet to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16) to pray, worship and decree God's promises.

The time is short and there are so many situations that I personally have influence over, so I don't want to squander my life and my time.  This is serious business.

What am I going to do with "this one wild and precious life" I have been given...?

May it be poured out in worship and service to my Glorious Creator, Savior and Redeemer so that I can positively impact every life He has destined for me to touch.  I have wasted so much time, so very many years in going after my own pleasures, and I know that the fight is still on, every day.

But I have this moment, this day, and thankfully His mercies are new every morning.  He welcomes me into His presence where I am changed and filled with courage and life.

So, in the background of all of these lovely photos and little stories, there is a much bigger story playing out.

It is Christ in Me, the hope of glory.
He is the glorious one.
The ONE THING, the ONE PERSON that I want to be obsessed with.
A truly divine, glorious obsession.

Gloriously Grateful

Thanksgiving has been turning into one of my favourite holidays.

No stress about gifts or crazy decorating but there is the sheer joy of planning a wonderful big meal with all sorts of "fall ingredients", preparing it (slowly over a number of days) and inviting over a lovely crowd of hungry people to celebrate God's goodness.

Plus, the whole outdoor scenario is singing a song of beauty that is utterly breathtaking, making the decorating thing rather unnecessary.  For me, anyways.
I put out a candle and mini pumpkin and wanted to throw some leaves on the table but by the time all the dishes are laid out on the table there is no need for more decor.

What kind of good Father has allowed me to still have my dear mama and papa and sweet little Tante Hilda around to enjoy this lovely holiday with?
Also my kids, sister and even my dear cousin Esther and her little family.

So much goodness and grace.
Always God in the centre.
He is the author of everything that is good and lovely and pure.
He is the ONE, the majestic, honourable, esteemed guest that I make sure to invite ahead of time.
Creator extraordinaire.
I wish I had more words to describe the feelings that bubble up inside of me when I look around me and want to tell Him how amazing He is.
But He loves my little attempts.
And He smiles with joy when his daughter creates that space of praise.

And we sang a Birthday song for these two because exams prevented a family gathering for Daniel's birthday.  

The after celebrating goes on with puzzles and singing in the living room and everyone is just happy to be together. 

The Bigger Family

Joey turned 22 and I was invited into the inner circle to celebrate.

I remember sitting down by the plum trees with him, way back in the olden days and we decided we would be friends forever.

Or something to that effect. 

So far we're doing well at that.

Now he's off studying Engineering in Calgary so our visits are few and far between.

This family is an extraordinary gift and I am glad to be part of the expanded version.

So much fun and laughter, weathering some storms and making so many memories.

We are all growing old together.

corridors of glory

Autumn just rolls out it's glory like there's no tomorrow.
Knowing the season of silence, grey and white is just around the corner...

Showing off those deep rich earthy colours against a stunning backdrop of blue...
makes you catch your breath and cry
Holy,
Holy
Holy
is the Lord God Almighty.

The air is fresh, crisp red apples cover the ground under the trees, flowers are displaying their best at the last of the season.

Streets become corridors of glory with reds and golds fluttering down making a drive to work feel like a celebratory procession.

Puddles of colour ring the trunks of trees that are slowly releasing their finery of the season, finishing their race with a burst of unsurpassed beauty.

I sit spellbound, my eyes awash with spectacular splendour as I take the dogs out for their early morning frolic.

My bedroom window becomes a portal into a golden glory land.
And I worship the One who makes everything beautiful in it's time.

Another Drive

Patrice and I made a sudden and quick trip to Castlegar and back to follow up on the bloodwork  she had done in Trail with a very fine lady doctor.  All is well.

This has been a remarkably pretty time of year to do this drive because...
Well, it's Autumn and it's hard to get a prettier time of year.

Trees like flaming torches scattered amongst the stately green pines. 

We laughed when we saw a group of turkeys crossing the highway.
Right before Thanksgiving weekend.

I guess they were making their big break and skipping out on that particular feast.
Smart turkeys.

And I found the most delightful little drive through coffee place that looked like it was right out of a 50's movie.  Here I purchased a drink that was faaaar too sweet, but delicious none the less.  I needed something to keep me feeling perky since Patrice was sick this time around and I was driving home.  On this trip I realized that my hands don't feel great gripping a steering wheel for four hours straight anymore.  I'll have to look into getting one of those groovy big furry steering wheel covers to keep the arthritic joins happy.

Back to School

And I'm back!

At school, that is. 

I'm so incredibly blessed to have a job to go to. 

One that is so satisfying and fun and fulfilling.

I'm just volunteering this year instead of filling a paid position, but it feels better this way.  More freedom with all the perks.

I breathed in that familiar smell of "learning" as I headed down to my little class area with the sounds of kids voices permeating the air.

It's a familiar, wonderful place.

Here is my little workspace next to a big beautiful window that brings lots of wonderful light.  Because I am using someone else's space I have to set up each time I teach but I was provided with a lovely little cabinet on wheels that is working out really well.

Blessed are the flexible...

And my dear colleague Abbie has a perfect new work space that is spacious, quiet and clean.  It has been such an answer to prayer as she was ready to quit after the difficult last year she had.  

We love to pray together for our students and for the program as we know the vital importance of giving assistance to those kids who struggle with making sense of the written word.  

We are asking the Lord to give us insight, wisdom and much love as we have the privilege of working one on one with these precious kids.

I'm so much enjoying getting to know the grade one and two kids that will be visiting me twice a week in the coming year. 

This season of fall is full of new beginnings and potential.

And incredible beauty...

This season, more than any other takes my breath away.

The rich tapestry of colours and the earthy rich smells are just outrageous.

So I am drinking in the season.

Grateful for another fall and another new beginning.