Skip to main content

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real {October collages}

~PRETTY~

I brought these pumpkin-hued flowers home from the grocery store last week while my mom was still here.  She arranged them beautifully on my kitchen table.  As I walked past them one afternoon, I was momentarily amazed at their subtle color variance and the unique beauty in every single petal.  




~HAPPY~
Last Saturday's 8 am soccer game was windy and chilly despite the sunshine.   ZJ played well.  He is learning to be more aggressive (like he is in our backyard soccer games) but is still afraid of getting "carded".  My uber-competitive husband can barely contain himself on the sidelines!  ZJ has more of my competitive spirit which included apologizing to other players if I ran into them on the basketball court.  (After my 6th grade coach yelled at me for that I decided to go out for cheerleading!)  Meanwhile, RW and KC had their own fun playing in the treeline behind the game.  Luckily, no one ended up in the creek but I was just waiting for it to happen.


~FUNNY~
Please don't laugh but I truly did bring down my Christmas tree this week.  Notice the missing lights?  After an hour of scratching up my forearms trying to get them re-lit I gave up and am hoping my hubby can find the missing/broken strand.  And, yes, it is waaayyyy too early to decorate for Christmas but I have my reasons
1.  I have about 15 people coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year and I know that will occupy most of late November.
2.  I have determined to be prepared for Christmas long before Christmas Eve when we leave to fly "back home" for Christmas.  Advent is meant to be a time of spiritual preparation and this year I hope to have time for that!
3.  Elizabeth Foss said something on a Faith and Family Live podcast that I have taken to heart.  As Catholics we are meant to wait to decorate for Christmas until after the four weeks of austere Advent preparation.  Elizabeth, a mother of nine who knows these things, said that she would never wait to prepare for the birth of a baby until after the baby arrives.  Just as we prepare the nursery, the layette and the family for the arrival of a newborn, I am also preparing my home and life well in advance for the arrival of Baby Jesus so that I may truly rest and enjoy the miracle in the weeks and days before it actually happens. 




~REAL~ 
Look where my husband  got  had to go for work this week.  Newport, Rhode Island.  And while he assures me that it is all work and no play, I am happy he is able to see such beauty out the window of his hotel room.  He says I must accompany him next year so Mom, mark your calendar!  We'll need a babysitter.  :)




round button chicken




Comments

  1. I love all of these beautiful collages! I have around 15 people coming for Thanksgiving too, and I've never done it before...maybe you'll be sharing some recipes on your blog?? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful pictures! Your Christmas tree is lovely, and you have given me something to think about in terms of when we bring out the Christmas decorations!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such beautiful images...SO glad that you had a wonderful time with your mom. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love all your pictures! And what a great way of looking at preparing for Christmas, I will be keeping that close to my heart this year :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful photos! Interesting re: preparing for Christmas. Makes one stop and think, huh? After all, it is a celebration of Jesus' birth ~ not a commercial. Thanks for sharing!

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful photos! Interesting re: preparing for Christmas. Makes one stop and think, huh? After all, it is a celebration of Jesus' birth ~ not a commercial. Thanks for sharing!

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great post! And interesting thoughts on Advent and preparation.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved the collages - and if you make it to Newport next year, let me know, would love to visit in person! we are about 1/2 hour away.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wouldn't get out my decorations so early, but I agree with you about being free enough to focus on the real meaning of Christmas; and all the busyness really doesn't allow us to!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

~Grace and peace to you~

Popular posts from this blog

Locally Grown {stuffed green peppers recipe}

  Last weekend we took the whole family to a nearby produce stand.  We were craving something that tasted fresh from the garden and since I don't have my own garden, we found this place.     The fields were full of fall-colored flowered.  Can't wait for those cooler days to come.         But for now, we are reveling in the height of summer sunshine and produce.       It's easy to go overboard here and buy much more than you can use in the next few days.  I don't even like okra but they look so inviting in those cute blue crates.     These tomatoes inspired a caprese salad for lunch: tomato slices cut into quarters, hunks of fresh mozzarella, snipped basil leaves, salt, pepper and drizzles of olive oil and red wine vinegar.       These strawberries wound up being dunked in Silky Chocolate Fondue .       Every girl dreams of doing her shopping with one of these adorable woven b...

Saturday Surfing {favorite spots from around the web}

Saturdays are the perfect time for a little aimless web-wandering and here are few of my recent reads I'd like to recommend to you. The Wild Surrender of Motherhood by Carrie Ann Moss @Annapurna Living This new website launched this week and is absolutely lovely. Remember Carrie Ann Moss from the Matrix movies? Well she is now the founder and inspiration behind this blog.  Here is an excerpt of her vision for annapurnaliving.com : FROM CARRIE-ANNE ... “To see womanhood through eyes of grace.”  My desire is to live in a world where nourishment is valued. I believe a nourished family will lead to a nourished world. I believe life is beautiful and that our divine purpose in this world is to nurture the earth by respecting it and being grateful for what it provides us. My wish is to inspire others to create beautiful, honest and satisfying lives. My Other Ex: Women's True Stories of Leaving and Losing Friends   @A Design So Vast Unfortunately, over the pa...

Petals :: 52 Photos Project

Where I live the Bradford Pears have bloomed and blown and the Cherry Blossoms are in full blossom.  Even though that means our allergy season is now officially underway, I cannot help opening our windows every morning in hopes of hearing the birds singing to greet the day.  Springtime has conveniently coincided with my personal recovery process from knee surgery.  As I am slowly re-gaining mobility on crutches it seems an added encouragement that the weather is also improving and the trees are welcoming my return with their flowers. What a treat it would be to be able to put down my crutches in time for Easter Sunday and walk again on my own! (I am doubtful but one can hope.) Sharing with 52 Photos Project :: Petals