Pumpkin Carving

The night before Halloween, Audrey was

 excited to have the night off

 from Hannafords to stay home and carve pumpkins!  

Dustin had been wanting to carve pumpkins for about 

a month now and Faith of course always loves doing this!

Carefully pencilling in the design.

Black and white doesn't do it for me here. 

 Pumpkins are so vibrant.  

I want to see them!

 Paul was a little nervous with Faith wielding a knife.

Nice to have Audrey home and relaxing. 

Senior year is so busy with work, homework and college preparation!!

New glasses for Faifer.  She is intent on the project.

 Gooey inside!  Faith says it looks like a spider web!

Not Audrey's favorite, getting the gunk out, but she was a good sport.

Just like when she does the dishes, she doesn't want to scrape the plates.

 Time for a kiss for the pumpkin!

 Ugg!

 Audrey let me scoop some seeds out!

I only threw a few at Faith! 

I love how Audrey never misses a camera shot! 

 We are all hams in this family!

 Hard at work,  Heart shaped eyes!  This pumpkin is in love!

Carefully, Faith!

Two Happy Pumpkins!!

And boy are they ever happy!

Happy, Happy, Happy!

I can't believe that flower in the front is still blooming, since

May 26th at Nolan and Kay's wedding.   Blooming still like their love!!

:)

And then there were three!

 A little chilly out here!

A fun night with the kids!

Bike Ride in Stowe

Last Sunday morning as we were getting ready for church,

Paul asked me if I wanted to go to Stowe

 for a bike ride.  Well I couldn't resist that offer!

It was to be about 80degrees out and sunny! 

A perfect fall day in Vermont! 

A date day with my hunny!

 

We got there at about 10:30 and it was a little cool but it warmed up quick!

This bike was right near the Farmers Market!

I am trying to look cool!

We did stop at the Farmers market and ate

pizza and tried out all sorts of jams and jellies.

We tried some fresh horseradish which cleared

the nostrils, opened my ears and made me see better!

Strong stuff it was!!

We got into town and took a leisurely walk!

Pretty Fall Mums!

Walking through the covered bridge.  I must insist he

take pics of me once in a while or we wouldn't have any!

Picture perfect!  We just soaked in the warmth, the colors, the overall beauty!

While in the bridge, we met a man from Colorado. 

See him there in there with the

  red hat on?  Talking to him was like talking to an old friend.

He gave me his card and told me it was a coupon.

Sure enough, on the card, it read, coupon good "for one free hug!"

He was genuine and kind and of course I gave him a hug!

He so enjoyed the colors here in Vermont and said

Colorado has mostly yellows at this time of the year.

Paul called Mama to let her know we weren't

going to make it to lunch cuz we were on a date!

I hope she's not mad!

 

 

  Psalm 96:12 says:

"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them,

let all the trees of the forest sing for joy!"

What a beautiful description of Fall in Vermont.

If the trees could sing, the sound would be as beautiful and colorful as this.

 

Going throught the notch in a convertible

is the only way to travel. 

A true Bird's eye view!

We so enjoyed our day together.

Just wanted to remember it always!

 

Dream of a Mountain Side Road

  

  I don't always write about my dreams in my blog but I do write about them in my journal.  I really believe if you pay close attention to your dreams, especially when they are especially vivid and detailed, that there is a message in them to help you in your life's journey.  I know this from experience and that in the Bible God often used dreams to speak to His followers, to guide and warn them. 
     In Genesis, Chapter 37 Joseph describes two of his dreams to his brothers.  When Joseph was 17, he dreamed that he was in a field with his brothers, binding sheaves and all his brothers sheaves bowed before him.  He also dreamed that " The sun, the moon and eleven stars bowed low before me!"  He had 11 brothers and when he became an adult and was a right hand man of the Pharaoh; in charge of all the land in Egypt; the dreams he had as a teen came to fruition.  His brothers were in need of food and they came to him for help.  Technically, they were at his mercy and bowed before him. 
     Joseph also had the ability to interpret dreams.  Daniel is another person in that Bible that was able to interpret dreams.  It is a prophetic gift.  In Numbers 12:6, it says, "When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord Himself reveal myself to them in visions.  I speak to them in dreams."  In Acts 2:17, it says, "In the last days, God says I will pour out my spirit  on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young mens will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
      It is humbling and exciting to think that our God will give such a gift.  I believe that God speaks to me to give me instruction and guidance and I humbly seek in His word and through experience and prayer to see what He is trying to tell me.  Anything I write and share here is to encourage my family and truthfully, myself. 
     Two weeks ago, I dreamed of a mountain road.  Faith and I were walking.  In the distance, was my destination.  Not sure what the place was but it was clearly in view.  A city.   I knew we didn't have far to go.  But beside me was this mountain with a road going back and forth along the side of it.  It looked scary; treacherous.  I could see vans, traversing along it.  I thought to myself, I cannot and do not want to travel that way!  But apparently I had to take this route before I could get to my destination.  I looked for pictures of a mountainside road in Google images and found a few that kind of look like my dream picture.  This is a close, but not completely accurate image!!

     Kind of amazing to see a road like that! How much works must go into building it!   To return to the rest of my dream, though I soon found myself sitting in one of the vans, in the rear back seat facing west.  A baby was being strapped to my lap.  But when I looked at the seat belt is was just a thin, flimsy strap with threads hanging off it. 

     That was my dream.  I can't get the image out of my head and the emotions that it evoked in me as I took this journey in my dream.  The questions it brought.  For instance, "Why can't I just walk straight to my destination?"  "Why do I have to go such a dangerous route?"  "Why does it have to be so difficult?"  "I am afraid."  "I want to do it my way!"  "It would be so much easier to just walk the other way."  "Carrying a baby makes it even harder."  "It's not safe!"  "That is not much of a seat belt."  And on and on.  Then just knowing that this is the route I have to take to get to where I want to go! 

     As I write this, I think I answered my own questions.  As I journey through life and look at all our circumstances I am reminded that the road is so difficult.  You may think you can just get to a certain point quickly, however God may want you to take the narrow, difficult way.  You'll get there but it may be that He has you go through trials and hard times to get there!  I think of the past.  My troubles with anxiety and depression that I  have overcome.  Difficulties with my children when Holly was a rebellious teenager and when Nolan had infections from appendicitis and was so sick.  As my husband Paul suffers from joint and back pain continuously and still works so hard.  Raising five children and all the bills!  Things sometimes seem as enormous and difficult to travel as that road was!  I still struggle with sensitivity and trying to do the right thing. Sometimes wanting to do the easier thing.   The path is difficult.  The Bible says in Proverbs 20:24 "A person's steps are directed by the Lord.  How then can anyone understand their own way?"  Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."  This is harsh, but sometimes we just have to be humble and obedient and take the hard way.  Serving others and putting your needs last.  I love this verse in Isaiah though!  verse 30:21 says:  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it!" What a comfort.

 



 

 

 

 

Surrender

     It was the night before Nolan and Kay's wedding.  I had been stressing about it for six weeks; the amount of time we had to plan it!  Worrying if the weather would be good, no rain!! As if I could control that part of it.  But still my mind whirred on constantly as I worked on invites, decorations and details!  
     I dreamed I had to get to Mike and Jane's camp to set up the tables and chairs.  For some reason I started to walk there from my house in Enosburg.  It was early morning and I thought to myself, maybe I better not go there so early to set up.  Instead of turning left to the camp, I walked straight to the Lakes edge.   The sun was shining, the lake was calm and quiet.  I stood there peacefully without concern.  Just enjoying the beauty of the water and sky before me. 
     I can only take this as a sign that God was in complete control of the weather, the wedding, the details and the bride and groom!  I had done my part and planned to the best of my ability and the rest was in HIS hands.
      I went to Bible study today and the one word that stood out during the entire class was Surrender!  I can plan all I want but some things I just have to release to HIM.  Ultimately, HE is in control.  He gave  Nolan to me as a son for all these years and now he is on his own and has his own family.  God will take care of them.  I just have to stop at the waters edge, rest and wait and see what HE has in store for me now!

Welcome to the Family Alahna Grace 2/11/14

     I got a text from Holly in the morning that she was 4 centimeters dilated and the Doctor thought she would go into labor in the next 24 hours.  A couple hours later, she reported that she thought she may be in labor.  Should she go to the hospital??  "Of course", I replied!  I was at lunch at the Abbey with Paul and Franny and another friend.  I was anxious to finish and go see Holly at the hospital.       
     When I arrived, she was comfy in the hospital bed.  The Doctor had just broken her water and she was having some minor contractions.  Oh good, I thought.  Plenty of time to put the car seat in the car, pick Ebby up at day care and bring her to Paul in Enosburg and then go back to hospital to be there when the baby arrived!
     Boy was I wrong!  By the time I did all that I got back to the hospital and Holly was in the same position in the bed, the baby was in the incubator crying up a storm, and it was time to meet Alahna Grace!  I guess those second babies do come fast!

She is like a perfectly wrapped present!

Proud parents, Holly and Anthony!

All dressed up to go home from the hospital this day; February 13, 2014
An early Valentines Gift!

Ebonie meeting her sister for the first time.  Holly had tears in her eyes!

Ebonie gave her a little attention but then she was more

 interested in the blueberry muffin on the breakfast tray.

She is perfect!

Rosy and pink and sugar and spice and all that is nice!

May God bless my granddaughter Alahna Grace with peace and happiness!  Walk with her all the days of her life Lord Jesus!  Amen!

Love Grandma

:)