Tuesday Thoughts - September 29, 2015

Welcome back to Tuesday Thoughts!  I'm so glad you came back for a visit!  :-)

The Lord has blessed us with another absolutely gorgeous weather week!  I'm not like most traditional Fall brisk weather fans.  I like the balmy, slightly humid, low 70 degree weather days.  I know, that doesn't actually speak of Fall does it?  lol.  But there is something about the slight humidity, the lower tilt of the sun, the first leaves beginning to fall, which smell begins to permeate the air, that I enjoy so much this time of year.   I think as I have gotten older, I like to hold onto the warmer weather as long as it will let me.  :-)

This past week was a busy one for me and my husband as the search for a new car began.  We didn't get to enjoy our usual walks at the park, but on our way to the car dealer, we witnessed this gorgeous sunset.

What have I lingered over this past week?

• Listening to the starlings back for their yearly "eating of the choke cherries and cherries pilgrimage" in our backyard trees.  The sound almost deafening as they sing in unison;  the sudden violent woosh of wings as they all somehow know it's time to take off...

• Standing at my kitchen window listening to a boat in the distance out on the bay, and wondering where they might be headed to - thinking how pretty it must be on the open water at night...

• Upon awakening in the morning, hearing a twin engine plane flying outside, another sound that has always brought comfort to me, reminding me of my childhood.  I'm not sure why really, but it does...

• A nighttime walk with my husband on tree lined streets downtown, walking past old historic homes, looking up at the growing moon peaking behind church steeples, the smell of a campfire wafting through the air...

• Seeing my granddaughter, who is growing so fast, sitting in a high chair for the first time, eating solid food, making adorable "mmmm" noises as she eats, and thinking how it seemed like only yesterday my own daughter, her momma, was sitting in a high chair in that very same spot...

• Listening to the sounds of crickets and cicada outside my bedroom window, a sound that never grows old, always causing me to pause and enjoy...

• Listening to a blue jay squawking in my neighbors yard, a sound that reminds me of my parents home when I was growing up.   {They always had an abundance of blue jays and still do as I can attest to when we go back home to visit.  Only recently have I been able to enjoy the sound of blue jays around my own home as they were once a rarity in these parts.}

• Seeing the Naval War College lit up as we drove over the bridge, remembering sitting out on the front lawn of that very building years ago with dear friends watching the 4th of July fireworks beautifully displayed with the bridge as a backdrop - such fond memories...

What have I pondered this week?

• Sitting out on my deck, the warm sun resting on my legs, looking into my backyard at the trees and the fields beyond, thinking back to how many Septembers I sat outside on that very deck, homeschool books on the table, planning lessons or teaching the children, heading into the fields to do a nature walk, realizing how fast that 11 year season went - like a flash!  I LOVED homeschooling.  I enjoyed having my children around.  It wasn't always easy and there were certainly battles.  People say being a homeschooling mom is a sacrifice and that may be true, but I found it EXTREMELY rewarding.  The Lord entrusts our children to us to raise for 18 or so years and then, before you know it, they are off to college or out on their own.  As I sat deep in thought, looking at the same view I looked at for 11 Septembers while homeschooling my children,  I was filled with so much gratitude to have been able to spend 11 of the 18 God entrusted years with my children in a close and intimate way that I will cherish forever.

What am I relying on God for this week?

• Continued healing of my tooth abscess situation
• Healing of my aches and pains that resulted from the fall
• Writing blog posts

What am I waiting on God for this week?

• Direction for my tooth abscess situation
• Healing in loved ones lives

I offer these thoughts to my God and Savior in praise of His creation, moments enjoyed, and His great promises, and to the Holy Spirit who helps me to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...

"May the mind of Christ my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow'r controlling

All I do and say."

Kate B. Wilkinson

You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & Truth Link-up, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Growing in Grace Link-up, 3DLessonsLif4e, Livefree Thursday,Everyday Jesus, SDG Gathering, Inspire Me Monday Titus 2 Tuesday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, A Look at the Book,  Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Give Me Grace, A Little R&R, Testimony Tuesday, Women with Intention Wednesdays, Still Saturday, Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop, Motivate and Rejuvenate Mondays, Be Salty, Monday's Musings, The Art of Home-Making Monday, Tuesday Talk, Waiting on Wednesday,Dance with Jesus,Looking Up Link-Up, Reflect His Love and Glory Friend Sharpens Friend Link-Up, Words of Comfort Link-up, Wholehearted Wednesdays. Tell it to Me Tuesday, Faithful at Home Fridays, So Much At Home Link-Up, Faith 'N Friends,