September is in Full Swing

For goodness' sake, I hadn't realized that it had been a few days since my last post. Time just slipped by in a delightful blur....

BSF took place on Wednesday. My group of women are delightful, and it looks like this will be another great year of study and making new friends. We are exploring the exile of the Jewish people to Babylon and their eventual return back to Israel. We are examining the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Nehemiah, and Malachi.

All Good Stuff. 

Our adult couples group has started meeting again. - Every other Wednesday evening, we're studying the book of Acts, and I enjoy the discussions. On Thursday mornings, I attend my church's ladies' Bible study, which focuses on Isaiah.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are my most important days.

 

Summer has returned, but the scorching 100+ degree temperatures haven't. We're in the 90s.  Now is an ideal moment to venture outside before the winter rains arrive. (Nov)  We have some activities scheduled for this weekend that I am looking forward to. 

Next Tuesday, I’m scheduled to have that Loop Recorder implanted. 😬 Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get my yearly mammogram in on time, so I’ll have to wait at least six more months before I can have that done. I’m not worried about it. 

My husband is seeing an ophthalmologist tomorrow because he is experiencing flashing lights in his eyes.

❓❓❓❓

My knee had been recovering well, but I've recently felt discomfort that has hindered my progress. It's not fully healed, making me reluctant to return to swimming, especially with everything else going on. Bad timing - just started my YMCA membership, but now my knee is an on-off issue, and I need to heal from the Loop recorder before I can swim.

 September is a total wash!

Oh well, as my mother-in-law used to say, 

"It's only Money."  

I have been writing on Substack, and I now have 79 subscribers.  I am impressed by the many excellent Christian writers on that platform. There are some genuinely great reads!

Cultural Christianity had become so normalized in America over the last several decades that now Biblical Christianity seems radical.

Until Next time...

Debby

 

Marching to the beat of a different drum. 🍎

Happy GLORIOUS Monday - 🍎🍏

I have a busy week ahead, and I’m as prepared as I can be for Wednesday.

 Unless I totally forgot something 😱  

As the days shorten and cooler temperatures fill the air, the season begins to slowly transform into a tapestry of autumn colors with the rustle of the dry summer leaves on the ground. Although the vibrant piles of colorful leaves have yet to appear, it is as if they are whispering a gentle reminder to everyone that Autumn is just around the corner.

I can hear it!

The defiant side of me is quite headstrong. No pumpkins for me at this moment! I've consistently chosen apples for September, and I plan to stick with that. During my childhood, apples were for September, and pumpkins were reserved for October. September marks the peak of apple harvests, and to be honest, they often get overlooked. However, everything has its payback, as Halloween and Christmas always overshadow Thanksgiving in the retail scene. 

I don't understand the rush to get through the Fall, especially since we often talk about how quickly time flies. In my area, the trees don't change color until late October or November, and sometimes we still have leaves in December. If I lived somewhere with earlier Fall colors, I might feel differently - I’d still include apples and pomegranates! Everyone has their preferences, and I'm fine sticking to mine.

I've always had this schedule in my mind, likely stemming from my childhood and the way my mom organized the holidays.

August is sunflowers

Sept is apples and pomegranates 

October was always "just" Halloween. 

November is plain pumpkins and squash

December is Christmas or Thanksgiving weekend. 

This allows me to fully appreciate each month for its unique beauty rather than merging three months into one long sea of orange and pumpkins. 

September by John Updike 

The breezes taste

Of apple peel.

The air is full

Of smells to feel-

Ripe fruit, old footballs,

Burning brush,

New books, erasers,

Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive,

Well-honeyed hum,

And Mother cuts

Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean

With suds, the days

Are polished with

A morning haze.

The weather sure is hinting at the arrival of Fall, with a coolness we haven't seen in weeks. And the first sign of rain is in our forecast. It’s clear that nature is gearing up; the storm door of winter, promising that coveted wet gold, is ever so slightly creaking open.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED

This is not the time to pack away the shorts and tank tops! This is merely a week of a deceptive Autumn period - a mind game.  We've experienced some of our warmest temperatures in September or October, but it does fill me with HOPE that my absolute favorite season is on its way. 

I have this cherished stained glass plate, intricately crafted with vibrant colors that catch the light beautifully. At its center, a candle sits, casting a glow that illuminates the artwork behind it. 

Did you know...?

Until Next Time, 

Debby