A Hike and Exciting News...


 Dad, busy as always, serving and helping others!

 "The heavens declare the glory of God..."

 Some of us took a little "hike" in the woods on our property!

 Diving into the thicket


 One at a time, ever so slowly, the leaves begin to change color...


 Click on this to see it larger -- I really like the effect.

 A homemade "bridge," dotted with fallen leaves

 I'd never seen these flowers before! They were quite small.

 We speculated on what animal calls this "home"...


 My hike buddies!

 Art

 Hey! Someone's up in that tree!

 Up in a tree fort

 Juniper trunk -- a rugged beauty of its own

 "Hi!" from the very top of the tree! :)

Wild rose hips


 Ben's new buck! He's a Boer.

 Arch

 Schoolwork :)

 Look again at the book Deborah's reading. 
Yes -- it's the very first copy of my book, Adele! I'm so excited!!! :)
Very soon you will be able to purchase it -- stay tuned for an announcement!

 The G's had us over for a lovely outdoor evening around the campfire!

 Grilling hotdogs...

 Fun :)
Ben and I went to the Sherman Symphony practice, so we missed the time around the fire as the shadows lengthened and the stars came out -- but everyone else said it was lovely! Thanks for your abundant hospitality, G's!

 And... Ben and I at the SSO again!
Mr. Dominick, the conductor...

 Ben -- he's in the "1st violins" now!

Mr. Cason, the principal cellist. He has a gorgeous solo in one of the pieces they'll be playing at the October 18th concert! Do come!

That's all for now -- hope your life is as blessed as mine is!

A Poem

I'm sitting here with a cup of hot chocolate, reading a simple but deep poem a friend sent recently, and I wanted to share it with ya'll! It makes such a good point that trials, although painful, can be amazing opportunities to grow spiritually and gain character!

Until I Learned

Until I learned to trust the Lord
I never learned to pray;
And never learned to fully trust
Till sorrows came my way.

Until I felt my weakness
His strength I never knew;
Nor dreamed, till I was stricken,
That He would see me through.

He who drinks deepest sorrow,
Drinks deepest too of grace;
God sends the storm so He, Himself,
Can be our resting place.

His heart, Who seeks our deepest good,
Knows well when things annoy;
We would not yearn for Heaven
If earth held only joy!

-Anonymous 

Happy First Day of Autumn!!!

Today, our calender says, is the "First Day of Autumn" -- and, (miraculously for Texas!) it feels like it, too! Crisp, chill air, with that special "joi de vivre" infused in every breath... :) :)

Happy First Day of Autumn, everyone! :)

A Lovely Week

Early in the week, we went over to N&K's to see the video from their wedding (and eat cookies!)

I enjoy delving in my immense art files and making cards with them...


Walked in the bathroom the other day and saw this piece of art (well, I know it's just a basket lid, but I thought it looked neat enough for a photo!)

Ben filling our house with beautiful music...

A very extensive Playmobil setup :)

Some amazing clouds!


This large truck came by to pick up a large piece of machinery

Bobbing for apples, anyone? The very phrase brings back Autumn-y memories.

A swimsuit for Deborah...

Details

A very replete spider (he's been feasting on grasshoppers all summer!)

The wild grasses around our place are so lovely when the sun catches them...

Dewdrops

Deborah made this darling terrarium!

And Mom got some cute succulents!

Two of Ben's goats

Goatherd :)

It's a great setup -- Mom reads aloud from favorite books while he keeps the goats in order!

One of the season's last tomatoes

The married ones taking a walk... Dad & Mom and Nathaniel & Katelyn!

 ...while I linger behind and take photos of all the nature around me. ;)