BEAUTY IN CHANGE...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2

   

Change is hard for us.  It's uncomfortable. But necessary.

It's not hard for our heavenly Father!  He made the seasons to change and he can transform us as we renew our minds in Him and forget the world.

It's a beautiful thing!  Thank God today for the way He is transforming YOU!

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY SHE WANTS TO LIVE HERE...

in Colorado.  It's GORGEOUS!  Within the first hour of our arrival, we set out on a walk and got a little tour of our daughter's new neighborhood..

    There's a huge Blue Spruce in the front yard!

She's just a few blocks away from this public park with great trails and ponds.

Some lots have had total makeovers with new houses

but  most of the original ones are still there, kept up with great care.

The fall color is bursting out everywhere

It's a charming neighborhood!

And steps away from her back door is a pizza place...what more could you want?

You could say she's living a totally opposite kind of life than we are in the suburbs.  We find it fascinating!  Interesting old houses with basements and steps away from parks and pizza.  Not to mention the mountains nearby...

 Fascinating that she is embracing this new kind of life.  It was a sweet visit.

CHEVRON PAINTED CHEST...

Besides job hunting, biking and hiking in Denver, this is what my girl's been up to: reviving Mom & Dad's chest of drawers we got way back in 1983!  No chance of bumping into this in the middle of the night...

PARTY IN THE HOUSE...

because once again, the rain foiled our plans!  But it went fine and we had a great crowd.  All of these lovely ladies that volunteer as leaders for our highschool girls class helped me throw this Halloween party by bringing all the food.  

We had a scavenger hunt I had created many years ago and being the pack rat I am, I still had all the goodies for it.  They had to look for things like:  Sustenance for a squirrel (acorn), Garden protector (scarecrow), Lunch catcher for a spider (web), Worry for arachnophobes (spider), and lots of other fun things hidden throughout the house.

Pumpkin desserts!!!

Mr. Jack Piñata fulfilled his purpose in life :( but provided lots of fun for us!

WILD WEEKEND...

Just got back from a women's retreat!  It was a lot of fun!  Not WILD fun, but "With In the Lord's Design" kinda fun.  My sister-in-law does a great job planning these - I think you could call her the "theme queen!" Not only does the program and decorations reflect the theme, even the little chocolates on the tables and crafts go with the theme.

Funny story about these centerpieces - they announced that the shoes were actually for sale.  If you know me, you know that I would never even THINK about a heel this high, much less leopard print.  At the first break we had, so many ladies were trying these one and all but 1 or 2 pair were bought!!!

A women's retreat and shopping all in one night - couldn't get much better!

The best part of the retreat was that all the speakers were relatives of mine.  Two were regular talks and two were devotionals.  I filled in for the absent song leader and loved it.  I love women singing together!   Can you guess who the "theme queen" is here?  My sis-in-law Lori, and you can check out her blog HERE.  She speaks a lot in southwest OK for women's functions.  Next to her is her daughter Lauren, my niece Shanelle holding baby K, her mother (my sis-in-law) Delia, and finally my sweet mother-in-law, Sharon.

 Another perk was getting to hold my 2 month old great-nephew!  This little guy was a trouper-he even spent the night!  He has a brave momma!

OTHER HAPPENINGS IN DENVER...

No beatin' around the bush today... MY DAUGHTER HAS A JOB!!!  She has been in Denver about a month, and just about the time we were starting to think it may not last long, she has a job HERE and will be able to support herself and stay.  It's incredible to me because I never was independent as a 20 something.  I married at 19 years old and never ventured out on my own or had such diverse options for a job.  I was happy with that.  Really!  Only a few years later did I wonder if I hadn't met my husband so early in life what I might have done.  Law school or Dental hygiene were two of my interests.  I'm sure either one of those would have been my route had I not been married.  Teaching was the road I took and it came easily to me.  So all this is foreign to me!  To my beautiful, talented daughter I say:

WAY TO GO!  

I'm so proud of you!  

God has blessed you, honey.

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Here she is on her birthday, doing what she loves, camping!

I haven't met her roommates yet, but I already LOVE them.  Look what they made for my Reese's loving girl!

God is good.  

BEAUTIFUL SONG, BEAUTIFUL STATEMENT OF FAITH...

  I hadn't heard this song before - or maybe had heard it but not really listened to it.  At a memorial service for 5 week old baby BRYN, this song was sung and it just really touched my heart!

EVEN IF

Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come

Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise

You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come

The Lord is close to the broken hearted 

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

 Psalm 34:18