Friday, November 11, 2022

Porch #68 * November, I Love You

PORCH
a soft place to land
a calm weekend haven
a gentle pause from life's busyness
so we may experience
the tender lovingkindness of Jesus
as we do life together
in community

Oh my gosh guys in two weeks we'll be up to our eyeballs in Thanksgiving leftovers!

Um, where did fall go?  Around here the leaves have been blowing down all crispy and brown (unintentional poetry) and yet it's been warm and sunny and gorgeous like early September.  Meanwhile, the sun is setting at 4:22 this afternoon and the Cape landscape is slowly morphing into winter's multi-hued shadows of gray.  I love every bit of it all.

Which means I've kind of been MIA online but that's a gift we need to give ourselves often, isn't it. 

๐Ÿฆƒ

'When I don't have energy I always set myself three challenges:
1.  Connect with nature, even if just enjoying the clouds through my window.
2.  Nourish my body and enrich my mind by learning something new, doing something kind ... being creative in a small way.
3.  And then, I respect my body and try to find small ways to make my workday a little simpler, even if it just means mindfully letting go a bit of stress.'

- Paola Merrill






3 Ways to Turn Against Your Pastor 
Jared Wilson

A Blessing for Care-Givers & Care-Receivers
Kate Bowler

Here's Why You Might Want to Serve S'Mores on Thanksgiving
Me

๐Ÿฆƒ

FROM MY NEPHEW
At lunch we talked about Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish man building houses on rock and sand.  Little Miss M (age 6) answered a bunch of questions.  Then I asked Little Man (age 4) for examples of what would blow the house on the sand over. 

He answered "wolves."

From there he turned the story into The Three Little pigs about huffing puffing and blowing houses down rather than the wind and rain that I had been looking for.

But then Little Man said, "am I right or am I right?"

๐Ÿฆƒ

THIS WEEK'S FAVORITE COMMENT
You're speaking my language, Linda! Thank you for getting the word out that self-care is mandatory, not indulgent. Jesus withdrew to quiet places to take care of himself; he took a nap in the middle of a storm. Shouldn't we follow his example?
๐Ÿฆƒ

CHRISTMAS CORNER
Anne Bogel

We're off to meet our five new grand-chickens this weekend!  I can't wait to hang out in the coop with Blackie, Lily, Lulu, Nugget, and Oreo.
Linda

P.S.
Thanks to youngest granddaughter/basketball star Brookie for curling up on the sofa and showing me how to create my new Bitmoji.  It was way too much fun.  And to dear friend Joyce for sending along that rainbow pic.  It's like God was smiling down on our visit together.

visiting 

41 comments:

  1. I do love your bitmoji, Linda - how sweet of your granddaughter to help you with it!
    As always, an uplifting post to prepare us all the the weekend ahead. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The bitmoji is so fun! The rainbow photo is amazing…God’s faithful promises! Happy Weekend, Linda!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. God's faithful promises. Yes, yes, Pam. How easy to not take careful notice of how faithful He has been. Weekend blessings to you at your lovely little Sunshine Cottage, friend!
      ๐ŸŒž

      Delete
  3. This is just what I needed to read on another dreary day with our yard still littered with the effects of our most recent named storm. Even in the clouds the light shines through. Thanks for being that light, Linda. ♡ Debby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debby, I hope you and your family and community are alright. Too many frightening storms these days ... in more ways than one.

      Praying right now.
      ๐ŸŒง️

      Delete
  4. As always, I love your mixture of sweet stories and helpful tips and your uplifting opening, Linda. And your bitmoji is cute and colorful. :) The rainbow pic is awe-inspiring! Love, hugs, and blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to send love, hugs, and blessings right back to you, friend. What a sweetheart you are.
      ๐Ÿ’

      Delete
  5. November is a lovely month, isn't it? The desert looks mostly green (we've had a lot of monsoons this year), but the cottonwood trees near water sources have turned a blazing yellow. I love the things that come out of little one's minds and mouths :).

    ReplyDelete
  6. What fun to read this today. I sense a calm joyful energy. and love love love all the images. Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh 'a calm joyful energy.' A perfect description of who I want to be, Jean. You do have a way with words ...

      Happy weekend to you!
      ๐ŸŒป

      Delete
  7. You served up a lovely buffet of enjoyment for us, Linda. I particularly appreciated your advice for replenishing our energy, your cute bitmoji, that stunning photograph of fall foliage AND a rainbow, and your nephew's weaving of Jesus' parable with the three little pigs! That's some divergent thinking right there, which will put him in good stead for the future!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's a fabulous father and knows how to tell a story! I have a feeling that Little Man is already following in his father's (and grandmother's and great-grandfather's!) storytelling footsteps.
      ๐Ÿ‘ฃ

      Delete
  8. What a sweet and fun encounter with your nephew!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get to live vicariously through my sister's little grandchildren these days! Mine are all teenagers now and their sense of humor more developed and nuanced, shall we say!
      ๐Ÿคฃ

      Delete
  9. I expect a picture of you with your grandchix! Great pictures

    * subscriber text

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I doubt they'll be ready to do a photoshoot in the rain, but maybe we'll give it a try!
      ๐Ÿ“ธ

      Delete
  10. Oooh! I love November, too! Autumn is my favorite time of year! I'm glad you've had a bit of time to enjoy some self-care! It is important for us all to recharge sometimes! Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings, Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jo, thanks! And welcome! I'm really glad you're here.
      ๐Ÿ™‹‍♀️

      Delete
  11. I noticed that cute little leaf raking replica of you!
    And grandchickens…! ๐Ÿคฃ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too bad I'm not actually raking. I like to watch that kind of activity from the sidelines!
      ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Delete
  12. I love all your fall photos, Linda. I grew sugar pumpkins in my small yard this year. Gave a few away, and made a pumpkin pie. I'm going to grow more of them next year! They were so much fun to see budding on the vine. Thinking about this, when we see someone thriving from being attached to the vine of Christ, it is also a joy! We have been covered in snow since November 1st, but our September and October were also very warm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning, Lynn! Your thoughts on thriving on the vine grabbed me immediately just now. Next time I spot a vine, I'll be remembering you.

      Thank you. And enjoy another piece of pie for me, ok?!
      ๐Ÿฅง

      Delete
  13. Fall is alway over so fast. Beautiful photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you're right, Amy. I'm trying to stay right in the moment. It's too beautiful to let go ...

      Enjoy your weekend, friend!
      ๐Ÿ‚

      Delete
  14. Your photography is a gift with every blog! Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey girl, it's so good to see you again. You've been missed!
      ๐Ÿ™‹‍♀️

      Delete
  15. Replies
    1. Welcome, Carol! So fun to meet you this week!
      ๐ŸŒˆ

      Delete
  16. Love that Merrill quote, Linda! I need to practice those three challenges more often. Happy Fall, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She has a gentle, thoughtful way about her, doesn't she ... I'm a fan.
      ๐ŸŒบ

      Delete
  17. Cool rainbow shot!

    Thanks for the visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I'm reading your comment, I'm sipping a mug of Earl Gray Decaf with lots of local honey!
      ๐Ÿ

      Delete
  18. That shirt on the right is mine.

    God bless always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Around here, if he doesn't actually have it attached to his body, there's a good chance that one of the grandgirls will casually/purposely walk off with a flannel shirt of their grandfather's. It's a rough crowd!
      ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Delete
  19. That bitmoji is fun!
    As always, I enjoyed your delightful post ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก

    Hugs and blessings ๐Ÿ’

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This week she's wearing a red and black plaid fleece jacket and red boots!
      ๐Ÿฅฐ

      Delete
  20. This is chock full of goodness. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I'm so glad! Thank you for that thumbs up!
      ๐Ÿ‘

      Delete
  21. Hi Linda,

    I love your three ways of caring for yourself. I'm taking note!
    The photo of the rainbow in fall is incredible. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with Grace and Truth.

    Blessings,
    Tammy

    P.S. Looking forward to checking out the stocking stuffer link. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anne does the best stocking stuffer list of anyone I've ever seen. So creative and out-of-the-box!
      ๐ŸŽ…

      Delete
  22. Just love your bitmoji Linda. I really chuckled at little man's answers.
    Thank you for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.

    ReplyDelete