Tonight my dear sweet husband went out
with a friend, and left me to have some much needed solo time! Yes, I
love having my hubby with me every minute (seriously, I can't get enough
of that guy) but, it is nice to have some "kick back and relax" time
without having to cook dinner or anything else. I got Wendy's to go,
poured a glass of wine, got in my pj's and watched Maid in Manhattan
(TOTALLY lame but somehow I like it) and Sense and Sensibility
(obviously the better choice). It was fabulous and girly and so
relaxing!
I realize that this does not have too much to do with autumn
appreciation, but let's face it, everything is more fun in the fall, so
doing all this under a blanket makes it even more enjoyable.
Full glass lasted me all night...well...see text below...
Enjoying the crazy-haired freedom of chick flicks!
Yes, it was a lovely night. That is, until I suddenly spilled red wine all over our WHITE carpet. That's what Toby came home to...me crying and trying to clean up wine. HAH. Perhaps Jane Austen would have advice for such a thing. She'd probably say something like, "Foolish actions performed by clever people are the result of either love or drunkenness, and if neither the former nor the latter, they should be stripped of their cleverness."
Jane Austen was a judgy lady...I'm sure she'd make fun of me :)
Ok, I am working on the Florida vacation post, and it will be good because it was so fun and G-D really spoke to us while we were there. But, until then I have decided to start "Survey Saturday". Since Shabbat comes to a close Saturday night, I think a little survey will be a nice way to reflect on the time before and imagine the time to come. Or, its just fun and I like to fill them out. The first one sounds more profound though, so we'll go with that :)
Happy Survey Saturday!
1. My current obsession is: INSTAGRAM, looking at other people's blogs, the psalms, the Civil Wars, and sweet, sweet autumn!
2. My husband: Is the best one out there and the only one for me! He's my birdie :)
3. My greatest strength is: Well, I think I'm pretty good at keeping people's head up when they are down. If everyone is discouraged around me, somehow I'm able to find some good...now if I'm down that's another story entirely! haha
4. Vintage finds: Are a great thing! But, I'm not exactly a vintage hunter.
5. My life is: quite lovely! There are ups and downs as with anything but G-D keeps me level and has given me a wonderful man to share it all with! Psalm 103 :)
6. In high school I was: A crazy theatre kid, part of a quite comedic group of folks, choir nerd, and not very studious. It was very fun in places and I made some fabulous friends, but I'm glad it's done and gone!
7. When I'm super tired: I start to rub my eyes, laugh HYSTERICALLY, and/or get kind of fussy...so basically I'm saying I'm a toddler. haha.
Short and sweet. Sounds good to me! Thanks to the lovely Kelly Ann from birds of a feather for this survey!
Hello, hello! Well, as previously stated, I have decided to do an Autumn Appreciation series (more for myself than anything else) each day until December first. Today's appreciation is how cozy it is to get under a blanket with a hot cup of tea (Earl Grey in my case) and read a great and familiar book or write in a journal. Or of course, watching a movie can be included in this :)
Earl Grey tea and a journal for today!
My TOP fall movie choice of all time, Lord of the Rings....all of them!
Today was a cloudy day so it made the leaves really pop! I opened the windows, turned the lights low and read some and then watched a movie! I so love days like that! This song by Nickel Creek (my FAVORITE band in the world) pretty much is the musical sum-up of today.
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the
successive autumns." - George Eliot
Well, if that doesn't sum up how I feel about autumn then nothing
does! Toby and I are completely, 100% in love with the fall season.
There is just something about the fall that envelopes you with the
warmest and most familiar of feelings. It is beautiful how the earth
seems to change its bright and sunny robe for a rich one of reds and
oranges and yellows. I know that when the leaves change colors it is
because they are getting ready to die and fall, but I can't help but see
G-D in that. It is in death that they are the most beautiful, and then
after that they are reborn. Paul says in Philippians 1:21 "For to me,
life is the Messiah,and death is gain." We as believers are to adopt
that code. To know that in death the true beauty of our Father awaits,
but in life, we share with the world our hope and salvation! Either way,
there is beauty!
On another note, Toby and I have taken some lovely walks this fall, and
for those of my loves who are not in Georgia, this is what fall looks
like for us here!
Taking in Nature! :)
And while out, we happened upon the eye of Sauron, haha
Ah, so beautiful! We will be taking our little fall hearts to Florida this weekend and so we will share what it looks like there! I officially deem this Autumn Appreciation, every day until December!
If you are like me, then Autumn makes you giddy and wanting to crawl
under the covers, read a book and drink hot tea all day long! I LOVE
all things Autumn. All the reds and browns and oranges and yellows and
the cool crispness that is September through November. One of my
favorite things about Autumn is the smell. I can't explain it, but there
is a smell in the air that is like...I don't know. It's just warm and
fuzzy! However, I cannot bring that smell inside my home so I have to
create something else. My mom used to always make this mixture by the
time November came around and it filled the whole house with this
amazing holiday smell (works around the winter holidays too!).
All you need is: A small pot a little more than half full of water 1 tsp Cinnamon 1/2 tsp cloves and a few sprinkles of Ginger (if you want) *Keep in mind, I am not a person who measures as far as this goes, I just go by what smells good so feel free to improvise.
1. Put the pot of water on about medium heat and let it warm for a few minutes. 2. Add cinnamon, cloves, and ginger and stir. 3. Give the brew a few minutes to mix and heat, then enjoy the warm and yummy smell!
We've been enjoying this for a few days now! When I'm at work or when we go to sleep, I just put the lid on and heat it back up again the next day. It can last like that for about 2 to 3 days (depending on frequency of use).
Hope you are having a fabulous Autumn! Let me know if you try the recipe and like it or if you add anything fun to it!
In light of all the loveliness that is Follower Fall Fest Party, I
did try to think of something fun and crafty or warm and yummy to whip
up and serve, electronically, to the potential viewers of my post....but
nothing would click! Truth be told, I'm not the craftiest or the most
able in the kitchen...I'm learning and doing what I can, so I guess what
I DO have to offer is the best thing I can whip up this Fall...figuring
out how to be thankful.
We all have things, many things, to be
thankful for! The trick is to start small: like being thankful for that
parking spot right in front of the grocery store so you don't have to
walk in the rain, or that text you received from a friend with
encouragement for that moment. These little things may seem small, but
you'll soon discover thousands of reasons to be thankful for the life
you have.
Toby and I have had it rough with the demands of
work and ministry and sometimes find it hard to think of positive things
when we feel so bogged down with what we have to do. It happens to
EVERYONE. We run and gun all day, week, or year and then feel totally
drained! However, in this season of harvest and plenty, it's time to
turn our eyes to where our help really comes from and thank our good G-D
for all He does. We may be stressed, but we can pay our bills. We may
hate our jobs, but we're being provided for. We may feel empty, but G-D
is ready to pour life back into us. It's a beautiful cycle of being
broken and built back up; each time we are more whole than before. So
even though it's not quite Thanksgiving and not quite time for the
"Things I'm Thankful For" list, I will make one anyway because I NEED to
remember His goodness so I don't forget the hope that comes with faith
in Him. :)
1. The G-D of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Without Him, I
would be worth nothing. Without his provision I would be dead, Without
His grace, I would surely never do anything right. Without His mercy, I
would not be forgiven. Without His son Yeshua, I would have no way to
the Father. Thank You, G-D for all that you are and for all the seasons
you bring me through.
2. My beautiful, handsome, heart-of-gold
husband, Toby. You are truly my soul mate and the reason to my rhyme. I
love you so much and love walking our G-D's plan for our lives with you!
3. My family. I have an amazing, strong mom who I love so dearly and my
aunt, uncle, and cousins are the best thing in the entire world! My NEW
family (Toby's family) are the best in-laws anyone could ever ask for.
Such a hilarious, tender, crazy, G-D fearing family...like my own!
4. My amazing congregation Beth Yeshua International.
I am learning so much and growing so tremendously in my faith there.
G-D truly put me here miraculously and I am so thankful everyday to be
part of this place!
5. My sweet little life with my husband. We don't have too much, but we
never lack for anything. We have a little apartment, a little TV (for
real, our big one broke and now we have a little bitty one!), a little
couch and a lot of love! We just celebrated our first year of marriage
and I am SO thankful that G-D provides for us the way He does.
So thankful for this man :)
Me and mom
Me and my cousins :)
Here's to our little life!
These are the things that encourage me. G-D is ALWAYS good, even when things seem bad. As this song by Matt Redman says, there are always "10,000 reasons for my heart to find".
Ok, so not REALLY an interview, but the title was too catchy I just had to keep it!
Toby's Dad umpires a lot around a town called Griffin in Georgia so in a sense, the title is still truthful!
Anyways, last weekend we traversed down 475 and spent our Sunday touring Toby's old stomping grounds in Griffin and visiting his Dad and Stepmom. We always have a fantastic time when we go and this time it did not disappoint. We visited Toby's old high school, elementary, and middle school and various other happy and crazy memories around town. After the trip down memory lane, we went to Dad's and had a good 'ole time! We had a fantastic dinner of Tacos (Hallelujah for Mexican food!) and then we watched AMC's The Walking Dead.
I do not normally condone zombie stuff, but this show is CRAZY good. The reason it has so much appeal is because the ensemble cast is excellent. Good script. Good actors. Great plot. It's two thumbs up. Oh, and bonus, scenes from this show were shot mere minutes away from Griffin! Special little town :)
Tornado damage off the highway near Griffin
Top Left: Griffin sign, Bottom Left: Fall prettiness in Griffin, Right: Beaverbrook Elementary
Hopscotch!
Drop and give me 20! Reliving old ROTC days :)
Getting artsy at Beaverbrook!
Fun day with my sweet husband!
Love you Ted and Lisa and Mally Mal! We had a blast with you on Sunday!
