Category Archives: Fall

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5 Friday Faves – a Country Store, Mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas, an Argument for Trouble, Teaching Empathy in the Classroom, Teaching our Children to be Entrepreneurial

November 13, 2015 admindeb 1 Comment

Happy Friday! Posting from Atlanta, visiting Dad and family.

1) A Country Store – In an era of “buying local”, it’s easy to forgive a huge franchise when it feels like a country store. Cracker Barrel is like coming home. It’s my dad’s favorite restaurant (breakfast all day, and a huge menu full of “home-cooked” favorites). Walking into Cracker Barrel, you enter the country store section ahead of the restaurant. It is a retail paradise, especially if you’re from the South. Or maybe for everyone. It was lovely seeing it recently through the eyes of a Moroccan-Scottish friend visiting. So much fun, this place, whether you buy anything or not!

2) Mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas – Beautiful Fall leaves and pumpkins are still with us in Virginia, although the season is waning. Even with our American Thanksgiving still days away, Christmas is also upon us – with decorations, music, and the wooing to the stores for gift-buying. I don’t mind the mix at all. There’s enough to delight in both holidays.

3) An Argument for Trouble – Mark Modesti’s Argument for Trouble – YouTube video (TED Institute) – take the time to watch. Even the Bible tells us we will always have trouble, so wisdom is to learn how to thrive in it…and make it work for us and others.

4) Teaching Empathy in the Classroom – Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell’s article on Empathy in Action: How Teachers Prepare Future Citizens. I love when educators are committed to working with parents in helping our children to grow into responsible, thoughtful adults. Growing up happens all too quickly – redeem the time.

5) Teaching Our Children to Be Entrepreneural – Charmian Solter’s 8 Entrepreneurial Skills You Should Teach Your Kids (in an info graphic). Like 4), these are things we might as parents want to consider to help our children face the future that awaits them.

That’s the quick and short of my favorite finds this week – what are yours? Would love to hear about them. Enjoy your weekend!

Babies & Children, Bible, Church, Community, Fall, Growing up, Inspired, Neighbors, Word of God

October 31 – Halloween Dress-up & Reformation Day Stand-Up

October 31, 2015 admindeb 1 Comment

Our kids were pre-schoolers the last time we celebrated Halloween – and that was a long time ago. A couple of weeks ago, my friend Amber reminded me of a different side of Halloween. It’s not just another commercialized holiday (second only to Christmas in the US). Nor is it just for dressing up children in fun outfits (although that is one of the best parts of Halloween).

Nor is Halloween just about giving and getting large quantities of favorite candies…although this might be THE BEST PART of Halloween.Photo Credit: Twitter.com/erlc

Amber, still fairly new in town, was looking forward to Halloween to meet more of her neighbors. Over the years, we had separated our family from Halloween because of the darker side of the holiday (All Hallow’s Eve). I don’t think our kids missed out at all, really, but this year I have opened the door back up a bit…to meet more of our neighbors.

For the first time in two decades, we turned the porch light on, and had a basket of candy ready….and the children came. We marveled at their costumes and greeted their parents (and sometimes, grandparents). It was fun to chat with these little guys and then watch them meander on to the next house in their dressed-up otherness.

When the candy ran out, I flipped off the porch light. The glow of our next door neighbor’s luminaries still beckoned the small bands of children with their watchful parents close by.

So that was Halloween 2015. No new friendships forged or anything…but we at least showed ourselves friendly.

Earlier today, I was reminded of the other side of October 31. Reformation Day. My husband’s mom, Julia, reads through a couple of devotionals each day as part of her Bible reading. On a visit with her this morning, she read to us the page below.Photo Credit: 30 Days to Change the Nation by D. James Kennedy

On this day, 498 years ago, Martin Luther stood up against a wrong done in the name of God. He challenged his beloved Catholic Church to stop certain practices of that day. Practices that drew people away from God really, rather than closer to Him. Practices, or indulgences, in particular, that communicated that we could actually buy our salvation or do service enough to earn our salvation from our sins.

He wrote 95 “theses” or indictments against the church and hammered that long list on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. They were serious accusations and started with the first one below:

“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Matthew 4:17), He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”

Because of Martin Luther’s protest, a reformation was birthed. Millions of believers worldwide “have submitted to God’s word as their highest authority (Sola Scriptura) and…that salvation is a gift given by God’s grace alone (Sola Gratia) through the instrument of faith alone (Sola Fide) in the death and resurrection of their one savior and mediator, Jesus Christ (Sola Christus), so that all glory would always redound to the Triune God alone (Sola Deo Gloria).” *

October 31 marks two days – Halloween and Reformation Day.

The first calls for dress-up. The second a call to stand up.

I’m sure Martin Luther took great courage in God’s Word as he stood firm in his understanding of it.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God…and having done all, to stand firm.” – Apostle Paul, from Ephesians 6:10-20

Be safe out there if you’re still closing out the night. I’m thinking the kids won’t notice if a Butterfinger or Snickers bar is missing in the morning from their candy haul tonight…or could be, they will. It’s a risk. Good night.

*Reformation Day – Jesus Came Knocking

What Are Your Thoughts on Halloween? – John Piper

5 Interesting Facts About Reformation Day

[Four of my favorite grown-up “trick-or-treaters” -one of the kids must have taken this picture.] Photo Credit: Bekkah Mills

Attending or Focus, Books, Conversations, Fall, Food & Drink, God, Inspired, Jesus, Lessons Learned, Music, Redeeming & Restoring, Stories, Worship, Writing

5 Friday Faves – Christmas Music, Geese in Flight, Restaurant Salad, a Bookstore, Procrastination in Writing

October 23, 2015 admindeb 2 Comments

At a conference and am running late so this will be a super quick run-through of five of my favorites of this week. Happy Friday!

Christmas Music – We start listening to Christmas music in October. There are so many songs that take us right to the throne-room of God Himself. This one by the King’s College Choir is so exquisitely beautiful. Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium (“O Great Mystery”). Enjoy –

2) Geese in Flight – In the Fall, seeing Canadian geese (and sometimes even snow geese) flying in formation gives me so much joy. My husband’s family lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland/Delaware, and the migratory return of geese northward is a common and extraordinary sight. Greg Richardson wrote a piece this week on spiritual life and geese in flight. He reminded me of a long-favorite short essay – 7 Lessons from Geese.

Photo Credit: leadershiponpurpose.org

3) Restaurant Salad – O’Charley’s – where kids eat free – or at least they did when our kids were little. My absolute favorite salad is their Southern Pecan Chicken Salad (so much crunch and chew with fried chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, and Mandarin oranges. Also just the best Balsamic vinaigrette. Dave prefers O’Charley’s California Grilled Chicken Salad – similar array of textures and sweet and sours, but healthier. Not distracting me from my favorite. [Our friend didn’t even order the salad; the Fish & Chips is also yummy!]Photo Credit: Foodspotting.com

4) Bookstore – I’ve actually never been to this bookstore but the video below captured my book-lover heart. It’s a part of the Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania. I saw the video as part of watching the livestream of the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation conference last week. If you love books and best practices, watch the video. Your heart will sing.

4) Procrastination in Writing – I knew I had this conference this week and could have already written the pieces for this week beforehand – even Friday Faves could have been of a different week’s “faves”. But, no! Procrastination is a struggle for me. So many choices, so many other things easier to be distracted by than focusing on writing. Jerry Bridges, a successful and prolific author, writes sympathetically and encouragingly about procrastination – something he has also struggled with. Such a helpful article. If I hadn’t procrastinated, I would list out some of his helps…but instead I leave you with a graphic from an altogether different article. Sigh…

Photo Credit: Tom Gauld, Gointothestory.blcklst.com

What are some of your faves of this week? Hope your weekend is full of making more.

Beauty of God's Creation, Bible, Conversations, Fall, Film, Food & Drink, Friday Faves, God, Lessons Learned, Seasons, Stories, Transformational, Word of God, work, Workplace or Marketplace

5 Friday Faves – Fall Colors, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 9 Questions Before You Quit, Sherlock, and the Story of God for Postmoderns

October 16, 2015 admindeb Leave a comment

As I write I can hear Christmas music blasting as Dave rides his bike (on a trainer, in his office). We start listening to Christmas albums in October because we have so many favorites that it takes 3 months to savor them all. The days always seem to fly between now and the end of the year. Slow down! It’s Friday again, and here are my faves.

Fall Colors – My favorite season is Fall, and it is so stunning here in the US. We are just starting to see leaves changing color in Virginia, so I might have to showcase them another time. Here are a few images, and I would love to see some of yours.

Photo Credit: Bottom picture from North Georgia, Frances Moon

2. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts – Doughnut preferences are very personal. Since moving to Richmond, Westhampton Pastry Shoppe doughnuts (mentioned in another Friday Fave) are faves. However, that said, I have known and loved Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for almost 50 years. They are so scrumptious. To watch the cooking operation is fun as they bob through their deep fat-frying bath and then dip under the shower of sugar glaze. Krispy Kreme also has a knack for decorating for holidays through the year. Actually, I don’t eat doughnuts currently, because I can’t stop at a reasonable number…especially when they are hot glazed doughnuts from KK. Still, if I were eating them…it would be here.

3. 9 Questions Before You Quit – I have dear friends going through a downsizing in their organization. They are praying about their next steps regarding retirement or other work in their future. Dr. Chuck Lawless writes so empathetically about this type of situation in his article 9 Questions to Ask Before leaving a Ministry. His 9 Questions could really apply to any job, not just to one with a Christian organization. They are so insightful and thought-provoking. One question is: Do I feel both a “push” and a “pull”? “Responding to a push from one ministry without a pull toward another may lead to making a premature move.” Another is If I leave, what would be my honest reason for leaving? Deciding to leave, whether it’s taking retirement or seeking other work, is probably more complicated than we can articulate. Dr. Lawless encourages, “At least be honest with yourself when you’re making a life decision.”Photo Credit: MinistryBestPractices.com

4. Sherlock – BBC’s Sherlock is returning “soon-ish” for its fourth season! Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson are so amazing together. I’ve watched Seasons 1, 2, 3, (available through Amazon.com and other sellers) and am very excited for Season 4. The trailer teaser is out (see it below), but the “soon-ish” arrival of Sherlock won’t happen probably until early in 2016. It’s also a short season – one special and 3 episodes – and I don’t want to miss it. Along with Sherlock, I’m counting down to the 6th and final season of Downton Abbey – also coming to the US in January (No spoilers please!).Photo Credit: pbs.org

The trailer for Season 4 of Sherlock has been out since summer, but I just saw it this week. Sherlock returns…in January? February? What a tease!

5) The Story of God for Postmoderns – How would you answer the question, “What is the Bible all about?” If you were to prepare an answer of this question for a Post-modern, you might be disappointed. A true Post-modern is probably not going to ask you that question. However, what if our friends could get hold of the idea that the Bible is not just a grand story that Christians have concocted? The Bible, in truth, is a winsomely unified story God actually tells about Himself from the first page to the last. Dr. David Teague, in the article, The Biblical Metanarrative, lays out the clearest explanation I’ve ever read of the Story of God – of how the Bible is God’s own revelation of Himself to His people. Don’t miss this gem.

Photo Credit: Peanuts, ParkingSpace23.com

What were your discoveries this week? What were your favorites? I’d love to hear about them.

All Good Gifts, Beauty of God's Creation, Fall, Food & Drink, Friends, Glory of God, Seasons, Thanksgiving or Gratefulness

The First Flush of Fall – in Words & Pictures

September 22, 2015 admindeb 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Frances Moon

Last night was the first night in months that I didn’t turn the fan on before going to sleep. It was cool enough without. Instead of the quilt folded at the bottom of the bed, I pulled it up and around me. As lovely as summer was, it is gone, and Fall is rounding the bend.

For almost two decades we lived in North Africa where only two seasons cycled – summer and a blend of spring/winter – hot then a coolish warm; months of dusty dry and then weeks of soaking rain. Over the years, we could distinguish greater nuances in the seasons there, but there was nothing like the Fall we have here. As beautiful as life was there, I missed Fall the most.

As Fall arrives afresh, I look forward to all its glory and spendor. It’s a season that shouts praise to the Creator God. The words and pictures below depict just some of what I love about Fall.

The changing colors of leaves and the Fall flowers and produce.Photo Credit: Apples by Helen Phillips

American football.

The Country Fairs with all the carnival food, the handmade crafts, the smells of the animals, and the rides and fun times together.

The Fall weather and all it brings with it .

Finally all the cozy yumminess of Fall – MomMom’s pumpkin pie and pumpkin everything else; the glow and wonder of fire pits and fireplaces; sunny afternoon walks together with family and quiet evenings with friends. What are your favorite experiences of Fall?

2014 October Erica & Justin's wedding & Trip to Georgia 437