And I Quote...

Elisabeth Elliot:

"Wouldn't it make an astounding difference, not only in the quality of the work we do (in office, schoolroom, factory, kitchen, or backyard), but also in our satisfaction, even our joy, if we recognized God's gracious gift in every single task, from making a bed or bathing a baby to drawing a blueprint or selling a computer? If our children saw us doing "heartily as unto the Lord" all the work we do, they would learn true happiness. Instead of feeling that they must be allowed to do what they like, they would learn to like what they do. St. Ignatius Loyola prayed, "Teach us, Good Lord, to labor and to ask for no reward save that of knowing that we do Thy will." As I learn to pray that prayer, I find that there are many more rewards that come along as fringe benefits. As we make an offering of our work, we find the truth of a principle Jesus taught: Fulfillment is not a goal to achieve, but always the by-product of sacrifice."

Golden Light

I don't have many words today, just pictures.

What is it about autumn light? It's so glowing and golden. It gets me everytime!

You Capture: Fall

And I Quote...

"Are your devotions dry and tedious? Are they difficult? Perhaps it's because you're approaching the Word without intending to be submitted to what it says. What a difference it makes when we approach it, saying, 'Lord, today, use these Scriptures to change my life, to convict me of sin, to change my attitudes and heart within.' " -Jon Courson

Autumn Surprise

It may technically autumn,

but here in Southern California

I was surprised to find (but maybe shouldn't have been)

new baby ferns popping up out of the ground!

San Diego Sunset

We went to San Diego last month

to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.

This was right outside our hotel.

And since we got stuck in the Great San Diego Blackout

we took a little walk

and had a nice view of the city.

Soon we couldn't see it anymore though, it was too dark!

Confessions and Quirks: Part Ten, Aternately Titled: Pardon Me, Your Blond Roots Are Showing

1. I once paid for gas but forgot to pump it and drove off. My family still laughs about it and to this day my grandma won't go to that gas station because when I went back  literally two minutes later, the guy said sorry, but he didn't remember me.

2. I accidentally through away some earrings I had just bought at a mall food court. I must have set the (small) bag on the tray and forgotten about it. I was just going to count it as a loss as the earrings weren't expensive enough to warrant me digging through a food court trash can, but my friend reached her arm in there and pulled them out. She was a good friend.

3. I won't tell you how many times I've forgotten some of my groceries at Walmart, but it's more than once.

4. And yes, each time I did contemplate just leaving them their, but I am too frugal to do that now. Besides, it was always stuff I really needed.

5. Once I was running a bit late (something I never do, as I can't stand being late) and was searching everywhere for my phone. I couldn't find it and was about to leave with out it when I realized it was in my pocket. Okay, that was just last week.

6. Surprisingly, I've never (knock on wood!) locked my keys in my car.

7. But my husband has, with our then one year old daughter strapped in her car seat. Thankfully it was fall, so it didn't get hot in there.

8. I once picked up the phone in my room (it had a cord!) and was going to call a friend, but kept getting a busy signal. That was odd because she had told me to call at that time. I called two more times before I realized that I had been dialing my own phone number. No wonder I was getting a busy signal, I was using the phone!

9. I can't think of anymore so I don't know if it means I'm not that dumb, or I'm just forgetting other incidences.

10. But probably it's the latter.

Fading Flowers

I have a confession.

I let flowers that have wilted and died and dried out

stay on my table for a few extra days

because I still think they are pretty.

And I Quote...

"They that see God cannot but praise Him. He is a Being of such glory and excellency that the sight of this excellency of his will necessarily influence them that behold it to praise Him. Such a glorious sight will awaken and rouse all the powers of the soul, and will irresistibly impel them, and draw them into acts of praise. Such a sight enlarges their souls, fills them with admiration, and with an unspeakable exaltation of spirit." -Jonathan Edwards