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. 

🦃

'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

🦃

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?"

🦃

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?

- Anita Ojeda re: Nudges Toward Wholeness

🦃

CHRISTMAS CORNER

100 Stocking stuffers that will actually be appreciated

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.

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visiting 

Jeanne/Lisa J & Paula

Richella & Lisa