Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sweet Whispers

And in Life's noisiest hour,
There whispers still the ceaseless Love of Thee,
The heart's Self-solace and soliloquy.

From "The Presence of Love"
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Thanks for being my sweet soliloquy, Brian James.

Monday, October 18, 2010

O give thanks to Him who came

O give thanks to Him Who came
In a mortal, suffering frame—
Temple of the Deity—
Came for rebel man to die;
In the path Himself hath trod
Leading back His saints to God.

-Josiah Conder




Counting my blessings this week....

841. being able to take full advantage of autumn and filling it with gratitude
842. the blushing trees
843. creating art for church
844. a walk around Walden Pond with Brian and Chris
845. a mosaic of leaves laying in the pond
846. cleaning my house
847. the newest postcard prayers in the mail
848. photo journeys
849. seeing the sunrise over the bridge each morning
850. a great laugh
851. Brian's artistic inspiration and direction
852. Brian using the cat as a mop.
853. Tara and Monica sharing their secret tea drawer
854. nature walks
855. finding and bringing home the colors of fall 
856. time with Big C
857. Fry and Laurie
858. time to play and laugh with a 3 year old who leaves trails of pinecones for us to come find her. 
859. a friend telling of God's grace in the midst of trial:"As i am going through an adventure this week, i will share this quote: An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."

G. K. Chesterton (and Bob Stallard)

860. Him who came. 

holy experience

Sunday, October 17, 2010

In Prayer

(a weekly sabbath puritan prayer) 

__________________________________________________________



In Prayer

O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, 
and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality.
 Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments
 never appears so inconsiderate as then.

In prayer I see myself as nothing; 
I find my heart going after Thee with intensity,
 and long with vehement thirst to live to Thee.
 Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit 
that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things here below vanish, 
and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.
In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, 
and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts 
at what Thou art doing for Thy church,
 and I long that Thou shouldest get Thyself 
a great name from sinners returning to Zion.

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, 
and taste heavenly joys;
 entering into the eternal world I can give myself to Thee with all my heart, 
to be Thine for ever.

In prayer I can place all my concerns in Thy hands, 
to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own.
In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church,
 Thy kingdom to come, 
with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, 
as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

A Fair Sum

-Topping off the tank for a Sunday drive up north - $15.
-2 bags of Peanut M&Ms for us and the in-laws - $2.
-Admission to the Sandwich Fair for 6 - $60 (Thanks, Dad James!)
-10 honey sticks - $2.
-Apple Cider - $2.
- 50 Tickets for rides and fair food for all - lots and lots of dollars.

A day in New Hampshire surrounded by reds, oranges and yellows, at a country fair with our family, enjoying the autumn in one of the best ways possible?

PRICELESS.


 Following Mom and Dad James to the fair, enjoying the beautiful northern foliage


 The open swine show


 Our favorite: The Alpacas.

 Mom James - the Alpaca Whisperer!




 The James Boys, minus the redheaded brother.

 This girl made me laugh. So I asked if I could take her picture. I love this!


 Beautiful New Hampshire-made pottery

 my sister-in-law checking out the bounty.



 Rachel feeding the pony

 fair crowd

 Rachel and I went on the Ferris Wheel, it was fun and we got to take some neat pictures!

 the fair from the ferris wheel

  
 My trusty partner in (photographic) crime. 

 The hills were GLOWING, I tell you!

 Our doting Mother-in-law...


 Our last ride was the Carousel. Me and my Mom-in-Law.


Friday, October 15, 2010

Flying

This Moment:  A moment that I'm pausing to remember and savor..
(more about the Sandwich Fair tomorrow!)
(photos courtesy of Dad James)

 {this moment} -  A Friday ritual. 
 Joining with SouleMama

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Deck the Halls...

..with autumn good-ness, fa la la, la la, la la la la!


Baby Pumpkins, shiny gourds, freshly gathered acorns, tissue paper, warm candles and multitudes of colored paper leaves... for under $15 (and a trip to the local farm, nature reserve and dollar store) Sea Kettle is now decked with an abundance of autumn cheer! 

 (My paper "Mums" are made using these directions)
How do you decorate for autumn?