The Blessings of A Normal Day

Just A Normal Day Of Life

Hello everyone!  Have you ever thought much about the blessings that come from a normal day?  I enjoyed one of those days today and it was wonderful!

The skies were blue, the air was crisp and cool and we headed to a favorite trail to hike together. 

We enjoyed the simple pleasures of looking at the beautiful scenery, taking pictures and just talking. After the worries of the last couple weeks being normal felt amazing!

It feels good to smile and be relaxed.

A beautiful rushing stream never fails to remind me of this scripture: 

Ezekiel 43:2 King James Version (KJV)

2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Dear reader I hope that today you also had the blessing of a normal day! Days that are routine and free from worry and problems are days to be savored and to be thankful for!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

What Are You Thankful For?

Giving Thanks

Hello dear readers!  I have returned home after being away for about twelve days with a family member who was quite ill. As are most situations like this, the illness was totally unexpected and was one of those times when you quickly throw things in the car and head out. Thank you so very much for your kind thoughts and prayers. Each and every prayer was felt and I must say that I feel that my family member is a walking miracle! To move from ICU to a step-down unit to a rehab center and, tonight, I heard that she may be released to go home by the end of this week! I am celebrating Thanksgiving early with so much praise to God and thankfulness for His healing grace in my heart!

Although I'm always happy to see my family, this visit was quite stressful because we were all so worried about our loved one. It was hard to be away from the Mr. and Cassie and Garden for such a long period of time. The mountains looked so wonderful Sunday evening as we got closer and closer to home! I hope you will join me in celebrating all the things we have in our lives for which we can give thanks. Feel free to mention a few in the comments if you like! And continued prayers for "S" are appreciated. 

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

I Chronicles 29:13

With Thanksgiving,

Debbie

Not Posting for a Few Days

News From Debbie

Dear Readers: I will not be posting for awhile due to a family health emergency. I will be back but don't have a timeline at this time. Prayers are appreciated. 

Until Next Time,
Debbie

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Some Loves and Some Likes

It's been awhile since I have shared some things I'm loving with you and I thought today would be a good day to catch up! First up are some books that I'm currently reading. One I'm loving and the other.....well, I like it somewhat. 

The book I'm loving is, "The Cats Came Back" by Sophie Kelly. This is one of the latest entries in the Magical Cat Series. I absolutely adore the two cats in these books! Owen, the tabby, and Hercules, the tuxedo, are more human-like than cat-like in so many ways! Kelly has a way of describing their behaviors, facial expressions and oddities that just makes their personalities come alive! These books are gentle mysteries with Owen and Hercules helping their owner, Kathleen, solve the mystery with a little help from their "magical" ability to walk through walls and disappear at will. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves gentle mysteries (meaning there is always a death to investigate but no gory stuff) as well as cats and libraries. All of those items are right up my alley!

The other book I'm currently reading is also part of a series, the Agatha Raisin Mysteries by M.C. Beaton. I'm a bit disappointed in, "The Dead Ringer," however. I was drawn to this book because I have always found Agatha Raisin to be a humorous character and the fact that this story centered around bell ringers in a church also caught my eye. I have read so many books in this series, but I have found recently that the writing just isn't as good as it was at the beginning of the series. I found the same thing happening as the last books of the "Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun were being promoted. It just seemed like the writing wasn't the same, and the characters were not doing things that were true to their earlier selves. I began to suspect, as I am doing with the M.C. Beaton books now, that either a ghost writer was doing the writing or the author just didn't have her heart in the process anymore. So, while I'm not hating this book, I'm not loving it either. It's more of a "like" situation. I'll finish it but I don't know that I will bother to buy more in the series. Perhaps I'll just check the book out at the library if I want to read another in the series. 

Now, I'm definitely loving hot soups right now! November is the start of soup season at our house and whether it's a vegetable soup served with cornbread.....

Or a mushroom soup served with a green salad, I'm all for soups which are super simple to make and healthy and tasty to eat. I'll give you a hint for how to handle soups when they are too thin which is what happened to me today with the mushroom soup. I usually add a potato to the soup mixture (mushrooms, broth, carrots and onion) which helps with thickening it but, today, I forgot! No worries, though. I just opened a package of instant potatoes and added a little bit to the soup. It thickened it right up. Just add a little, not the whole package or you will have mushroom mashed potatoes!!  I also used an immersion blender to make this soup smooth and luscious!

Now, I hate to admit that I love new eye shadow, but I can say I really like it! There is just something exciting about choosing a new eye shadow palette that I just love! These colors caught my eye for Fall along with a pretty nail polish that promises high shine. I'm a girly girl and like to play with the make-up from time to time even though I don't wear eye shadow or nail polish every day. 

And, finally, I'm still loving the Fall colors even as they become more and more muted. I love seeing leaves on the ground and when I walk around outside and smell that leafy, earthy scent of the leaves I feel happy! Although we do some raking/blowing of leaves my husband mostly mows over the leaves which mulches them up and they just disintegrate into the soil. It works for us better than all the raking and blowing that goes on around us in the neighborhood. 

I hope that you are finding lots of things to love (or at least like) as the week progresses. Leave a comment and let me know what you are enjoying, OK? Can't wait to hear from you!

Until Next Time,
Debbie

Saturday Scriptures Devotional:Finding Our Purpose In Christ

Finding Your Purpose

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels--everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.  (Colossians 1:15-17, The Message)

When I read this scripture this morning it really touched my heart. Finding your purpose is so integral to knowing who you really are in this life. And sometimes, I think, I can easily confuse job descriptions or things that I do with my purpose. How about you? 

I have long identified as a teacher and, even in retirement from the school system, I find ways to be a teacher. Is that my purpose? 

I'm also a musician. I have spent long hours over many years learning to play instruments, to read music, to direct musical groups. Is that my purpose? 

I'm a wife to my husband, a daughter to my late parents, a sister to my siblings, an aunt to my nephews and nieces, a fur mama to my cats, a friend to my friends, a blogger online. Are these my purposes? 

Confusing, isn't it?  In our culture we identify so much with what we "do" that it is easy to confuse all of this "doing" with our purpose. There have even been books written about finding our purpose in life. Sometimes, now that I'm retired, I feel uncomfortable when I'm asked what I have been "doing" because I feel like I need to come up with a laundry list of important things to say so that others will know that I still have purpose in this life. 

But, as I read this scripture, I am told that my true purpose lies in Christ. It's that simple. My purpose isn't about a job description...although that can be a place in which I fulfill my purpose through Christ.....and my purpose isn't a laundry list of busyness that I have accomplished.....although those things can be ways in which I fulfill my purpose through Christ. 

I'm not a job and I'm not a list of things on a to do list....and neither are you dear reader. 

Rather, you and I are children of God and we are held together through the love and sacrifice of Christ Jesus. This is our identity. Serving Christ is our purpose. 

Chapter One of Colossians goes on to say the following:

He was supreme in the beginning and-leading the resurrection parade--He is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is He, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that but all of the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe--people and things, animals and atoms--get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. 

(Colossians 1:18-20, The Message)

This is our purpose. Finding our place in Him who gave His all for us. And, yes, when we accept Him we can serve Him by "doing things" in many ways and places. We find our purpose through Christ who guides and leads us throughout life here on Earth and beyond. Loving Christ and responding to His call on my life is my true purpose. 

May you feel God's purpose in your life this day. 

Blessings,

Debbie

A Little Boho Skirt To Start November

Boho Skirt Styling

Hey everyone!  Happy November! I thought I would start off the month by styling a little bit of Boho with this gorgeous thrifted skirt I wore to lunch the other day. 

What caught my eye when I saw this skirt were the luscious, bold colors of this skirt. What is not to love? I love the longer length and it just seemed to feel right pairing it with a long sleeve tee and denim jacket. Can you believe how great my porch flowers still look? As I write this, however, we are getting strong winds and rain bringing a cold front so this may be the end of the flowers for this season!

Even though it's Fall, I see no reason to not wear the colors in the skirt. The colors are such a mix of reds, pinks, oranges, blues and black that the mixture seems to fit right in with all of the Fall seasonal colors. Enjoying the long pendant necklace, as well. A longer necklace seems to balance out an outfit with a long skirt.

So, would you believe that I began looking through my Christmas decor tonight?  I'm not decorating yet but I did want to look at what I have and start thinking about where I want to display certain items. 

I got excited when I saw a few items I had forgotten about that I bought at the end of last season! I did a major clean out after last Christmas and so I am looking forward to using the items I kept and really enjoying them. 

I can't help but wonder, though, at the passing of time. Here we are already in November and the holidays are just around the corner. How is that possible?! As I look at the leaves falling to the ground I realize that the Autumn colors have already peaked. But, in my opinion, that doesn't lessen the impact of their beauty. There is something truly beautiful in seeing the muted Fall colors; the golds, browns, reds and browns all whirling and swirling and twirling through the air creating a cacophony of color....kind of like this boho skirt I am wearing!

If you enjoy boho skirts like I do, head on over to a thrift store and see what you can find. Or better yet, look in your closet and see what brilliant colors you can combine to create a beautiful cacophony of color all your own! And, you might want to check out another boho skirt I shared on a previous post! Have fun and let me know in the comments if you enjoy wearing beautiful colors in the Fall!

Until Next Time,

Debbie

Match Made In Seven Fall Fashion Favorites

 Wearing Your Fall Fashion Favorites

Hello friends and welcome to another edition of Match Made In Seven. I think you will be as excited as I am about this month's challenge! For those of you who are new to this collaboration of international bloggers, here is what we are about.

We are an international group of fashion bloggers who meet once a month. One of us chooses a theme in turn, and that can be anything. A book, music, a color, a movie. And then we style an outfit based on that theme. The theme of this month is chosen by me and is: Fall Fashion Favorites! Also, take a look at the other bloggers and how they have interpreted the theme this month. (See list at end of post).

I think of all the seasons we get to enjoy, Fall is my favorite! It is just so pretty with the leaves changing colors and the air getting cooler and fresher!

God is the best designer in my opinion!

Since our challenge this month is Fall Fashion Favorites I decided to share this pretty paisley dress chock full of Fall colors! I am enjoying wearing this dress so much and I'm showing you the dress with and without a jacket and with higher shoes and lower shoes, so you can think of the possibilities with what you own in your closet!

This dress is from J.C. Penney and the brand is "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" and there are many designs if you are interested. I'm pairing the dress with a vintage long chain necklace, gold hoop earrings, shoes with higher and lower heels and a leopard print purse. I love the 3/4 length bells sleeves and the pattern mixing on the dress. For extra warmth, adding my brown jacket is just the right touch! You may also notice that I am wearing hose. I still believe that there are times when wearing hosiery is appropriate and this is one of those times. To me, the outfit looks better with hose on my legs, plus my legs are warmer. I don't know how women go bare legged during the cooler/colder months, not even for fashion! I will also wear tights with this dress and perhaps boots when it is even colder. 

I was trying to blow you a kiss here and my husband, who was taking these particular pictures, said I looked like I was smacking myself in the face!

And that threw me into fits of laughter! My husband has always had the ability to make me laugh. Never let it be said that blogging isn't fun!!

Now, before you go look in your closet to see what Fall Fashion goodness you can put together, be sure to check out the other lovely ladies in our collaboration to see what they came up with this month!

Darlene of https://aquamarinastyle.com/

Sonja of https://www.yustsome.nl/

Bettye of https://fashionschlub.com/

Anna of https://www.muttonstyle.com/

Emma of http://www.style-splash.com/

Nancy of https://www.nancysfashionstyle.com

Until Next Time,

Debbie

(Not a gifted or sponsored post. Photography by Debbie Ross and William Ross)