Timothy Bookends

 Timothy likes to squeeze in where he can when I'm using my laptop.  He's so warm.  Sometimes knitting is difficult because he's taking up lap space so I have to hold my knitting up (awkward!)  It's okay because he is a very precious little petty pet and I am ever so thankful for him.  

The coleus I planted in the shade garden is still going strong (this isn't it but any coleus photo is lovely) and the nasturtiums are winding around the dirt and roots.  I think it's time to buy indoor plants.  What kind of indoor plants do you prefer?

I'm reading a book about Henrietta Mears.  She was an amazing woman who revamped Sunday school curriculum back in the 1930's.  She had a huge impact on people like Billy Graham and J.B. Phillips.  The book is so inspiring that it makes one want to sign up to teach Sunday school right away.
I had an amazing Sunday school teacher when I was in the fourth grade.  Her name was Mrs. Prahinski and she was IN LOVE with Jesus.  Her enthusiasm was completely captivating.  The Holy Spirit was alive in that little classroom.  Later I went to church camp for the first time and had a counselor named Paula.  She had a soft voice and a big heart.  She really knew Jesus.  I'll never forget her talks with us as we gathered in a circle, on the cement floor of the rustic cabin.
A few years later one of my friends introduced me to The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.  The film came out later that same year.  I've been smitten with Corrie ten Boom for decades now.  Bill and I went to her house in Holland, remember?  The Beje was where people came to receive love and attention from the ten Booms.  Sitting in her living room was a dream come true.
People who impact our spiritual growth stay tucked into our hearts forever.  In high school a quiet girl named Mary talked to me about her relationship with Jesus. We talked in Spanish class and in history class (I was always a talker and after being a teacher I'm a little embarrassed that I was such a blabber mouth) and I loved listening to Mary's stories. She really had a heart for me.  There were other people at church that impacted me (like my own mom who taught my Sunday school class one year!) and I'm so grateful for strong souls that had the courage to speak passionately.

 I'm going to hunker down and study the book of Romans for a while.  Our son Brad has written a hearty study that I will use AND I ordered Henrietta Mears' book What the Bible is all About so I'll use that, too.

The season has allowed for  more quiet just as I knew it would.  It holds my birthday (one of my favorite days - ha ha ha!) and all the pumpkins and fun and ultimately Thanksgiving.  When I was a little girl I loved to draw pumpkins and I still have this masterpiece!  But even with all the hoopla there are soft quiet days like yesterday when I sipped chicken broth and knitted a sock.  I fed the birds and I did my work for Nexus.  We had stroganoff for dinner (Bill LOVES noodles).  Ordinary days are much appreciated.  For that I'm extremely grateful.

 Today will be busier, but I'm thankful that sometimes I am filled with bliss simply holding Timothy and smooching his sweet little head.

So, yes our election is looming and it seems like so many people are so confused about what they believe in, juggling conflicts and inconsistencies.  God is good.  Jesus came to save us and HAS saved us.  We don't need a president to do so.

God be with you, kind visitor.  
I hope you encounter a soul or two today, people who cross your path and walk in front of your love beam.  It feels good to love.