Ankle Deep

We are getting ankle deep in leaves around here. These were on the back deck because my husband went up on the roof to use the leaf blower. Rain is forecast for almost 24 hours and as Bill said, "Dry leaves are easier to remove than wet ones." Plus, wet leaves are not good for the shingles.

Praise God that once again he came off the roof on the ladder rather than falling.

The stairs before he started clearing the deck. And this pile of leaves is just from one small section of the roof!

Even the side deck could not escape.

But aren't the results well worth it? Can you tell I love autumn? Fall and food - two favorites.

All this work was done after our trip to Chattanooga today. I had a routine doctor's visit. Then we went out to lunch at Jason's Deli. It was followed by a quick trip to JC Penney. We love that store. Not only do they have great sales but they still carry some classic styles in quality fabrics. And they also carry trendier stuff - - which I occasionally try on and then laugh at myself in the mirror! You would have to if you had seen the blouse I tried on. The fabric was a bit more transparent when worn then it first appeared on the hanger.

Here's some fun for you. Go to The Muncks Quiver. They began a giveaway today. They are one of the sweetest families you ever want to meet. We are blessed to have them in our church family. Laura is one of the most patient moms I have ever met. She and her husband, Arthur, are always smiling. Their children are some of the most polite individuals on this earth. Their entire family has wonderful servant hearts.

And let me tell you about another friend who has the same attributes as the Muncks. Her name is Janith. She was one of our church library volunteers until last January when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Today the family found out she is losing her battle with cancer and will probably be standing face to face with Jesus in heaven within the week. Please pray for her family as they are losing someone who has brought them extreme joy and love over the years. Our hearts are heavy, too, because her absence will leave a void in our lives. Praise God for HIS eternal home that HE is providing for those of us who accept HIM as our Savior and Lord.

In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Still Autumn

This picture does not do the view from my computer justice. On Friday, I sat at the computer with our new door open and saw beautiful sunshine coming through the few leaves left on the trees. Actually the trees have dropped over half their leaves. The ones falling now are brittle, brown, and dry rather than the colorful, supple leaves of a few weeks ago. The weather this past week has been perfect - - - colder nights (40s) and warm, sunny days (high 60s).

There is not too much new in our lives - - - - - other than deciding is it time to buy a new car or will the older one go six more months? We will get a verdict from our daughter's father-in-law who is a mechanic. It is great not having a car payment but it will also be great to have a car that does not need repair for a while. However, we would like to make it a few months past Christmas before giving the bank our money to keep!

Lunch today was quick. It was easy Chicken Soup. You need 3 cans (16 ounces) of Swanson's Chicken Broth, 3 cups water, 3 chicken bouillon cubes, 1 cup of uncooked rice (like Uncle Ben's that takes 30 minutes to cook), 2 large carrots - sliced, 1 bag each of frozen corn & frozen beans, 1 can rinsed & drained kidney beans, and some cooked chicken. (Always keep some cooked, cubed chicken in the freezer.) Bring liquids to a boil. Rice and carrots should already be in the pot, too. Cook about 10 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Some might find this bland and if so, add your own enhancements from chopped onion to black pepper. However, this is a great meal for anyone with an upset stomach (except for the kidney beans) or a person suffering with sinus ailments. This is one meal I could eat often because I LOVE chicken, grean beans, rice, and corn! I didn't find the recipe anywhere - - - - just put stuff in a pot I liked until I got the right proportions.

HE . . . opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food . . . Psalm 78: 23b, 24, 25a

New Church Building

Our congregation is building a new worship center on the north side of town. Today we had an open house. You can see more information about it on our church's webpage. The above picture is just the left hand side of the building. We are scheduled to move in near the end of next summer.

This is the hallway in the youth (teenage) section. Below is outside that hallway looking into the Commons Area. The large open doorway leads into the sanctuary. The smaller door to the left is our church library. We have an excellent location.

I am still standing on the second floor in the previous picture. This wall of windows is to the left or on the backside of the commons area. There will be seating in front of those windows so persons will have a great view.

Inside the sanctuary looking out that large sanctuary door two pictures above. Some of our seating will be stadium style.

This is the library director's office. I am inside the library taking the picture. The empty space you see on the right of the picture is the entrance to the sanctuary. (Sanctuary is behind office. Hallway you see has people entering sanctuary going left.) There will be a wall there when it is completed. There will be cabinets and a counter to the right.

I am beside the office looking into the room that will house our bookstacks. The will encircle the walls and have two free-standing double stacks in the middle. Do you see the support beam that looks like a slide? Those support the sanctuary stadium seating. Our ceiling will follow that slope.

I knew you would want a close-up of the beam with the blown insulation on it.

And because I can - - - I included another autumn tree near our house. The yellow was such a brilliant contrast to the others.

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord. Psalm 122:1

October 31

These pictures were taken at the end of the day - - - with the last of the natural light at dusk and turning dark within minutes.

It is also near the end of leaf color and leaves being left on trees. It has been a brief color peak this year. Last night we had a lot of wind and some rain. Many of the leaves were on the ground this morning.

The pictures probably don't quite capture the way the light hit but the leaves had a momentary glow against the darkening sky.

I love the way this picture photographed. It looks more like a painting. I have no idea how I did that.

This is our youngest cat - - - named Kit Kat. She looks like autumn, doesn't she?

The rainbow is a bit difficult to see since the sky was almost dark but you can almost discern it. Don't go cross-eyed from straining your eyes to see it.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. Genesis 9:16