Daybook Entry: October 2024

Hello friends!  I hope everyone has been enjoying a nice week.  And a major hello to autumn.  Sometime early yesterday morning, when I was only half awake, I realized the house had gotten really chilly and I had to get up and turn the furnace on for the first time this season.  I also pulled up the extra blanket at the foot of the bed:)  The day temperatures never made it out of the 50s either…so, I guess, the weather has officially changed.  But perhaps I should save all that for the start of this month’s daybook entry.  Let me begin again –

The Weather – is much chillier – as I already mentioned.  I have been walking in a sweatshirt but I will admit, walking in this weather is nicer than the instant dripping that came with summer’s extra high temperatures.  For several weeks this past summer (when I was first developing this walking routine), I would try to beat the heat and was walking around 6:30.  But now it is dark at 6:30 in the morning and, like yesterday, I am not even thinking about walking.  More like trying to coax myself from beneath that extra blanket on the bed.  Of that can be hard some mornings!  I’m okay, though, with not having to dash out the door to get my walk done.

As I look outside my window  – our neighbor has the largest green Frankenstein blow-up attached to the front of his house.  It is almost two stories large and is a bit over the top for me (ok, a lot over the top) but I will give him credit for all the extra effort!  And they do not even have young children.  Apparently, they just really enjoy celebrating the holidays.  Or, at least, Halloween.

This morning, I am – headed to church for scripture assembly.  We have a two (possibly) three day campaign of putting together John and Romans scripture booklets.  We are hoping to assemble 24,000.  Although we assemble scriptures throughout the year, we do this extended campaign once a year.  It is always a highlight.  All ages come out to help and there is a way for everyone to get involved.  When I was in Panama, I was fortunate to see some of the assembled scriptures being distributed and used to reach the Panamanians.  That was fun to see the full circle of a great ministry.

Lately, I have been thinking about – the need for Christians to speak up.  To have a voice.  To challenge mainstream thinking and even take the risk of being a bit confrontational.  Society has conditioned Christians to “sit down and be quiet.”  To get along.  That remaining silent is the way to be loving and, in many ways, to fear the possible consequences of saying anything that is unpopular or goes against the agenda.  But how can we make a difference for the cause of Christ if we never say anything?  I am not advocating arguing for the sake of arguing, being unkind or antagonistic.  But we must be willing to stand for truth and speak up for righteousness’ sake.  I must be willing.  I hope you understand my heart here, but it is what has been in my thoughts.

What I’m wearing – sweaters!  I wore my first “heavier” sweater (not just a cardigan) the other day, but got too hot in the afternoon.  Even with the temperatures staying mild during the day, I still have to remember layers.  This season is all about layers:)

Around the house – there is a repair job that is almost finished in our basement.  Almost but not completely done.  I like things to be finished…and done.  We had a leak.  Yeah.  The leak was quickly fixed but the ceiling had to be repaired – which turned out to be a bigger task than we anticipated.  Of course it did (doesn’t it always?)  The only thing left to do is paint the ceiling and the adjoining wall.  But we hate to paint.  And so we procrastinate when it comes to painting.  My husband wants to call a painter but I (always the thrifty one around here) am convinced we – as in, my husband – can do it ourselves.  Which explains why the project is unfinished.  Sigh.

My To-Do List – seems to be on repeat lately.  Each week, I have five days of homework for each of the two Bible studies I am attending.  It is a bit more “homework” than I had anticipated but I am very much enjoying both studies/classes.  Truthfully, I enjoy the homework as well…it just takes a chunk of time each week.  I also have to prepare my Junior Church lesson and, (hopefully) write two blog posts.  There should be a part of each day set aside to practice my ASL.  I am taking classes to learn sign language.  I have to confess that this does not always happen.  Let me tell you – practicing sign language alone is not exactly easy.  Or fun.  And it is quiet.  Very quiet.  Just sayin.  Nevertheless, everything else on my daily to-do list is typically worked in around these things.  I am also trying (again!!) to learn crochet.  I think I am actually making progress this time.  So each evening I try to complete a few rows.  I have learned the three basic stitches.  And am feeling quite pleased with myself – lol.  Who knows what I will be able to do with a ball of yarn??

And, from my camera.  Just another one of my scarecrows.  Like I mentioned in Monday’s post, the decorating is probably the number one thing I enjoy about this season.  Our decorations are not fancy (by any means) but they make us smile:)

I hope you have a great weekend ahead.    Not sure if we will get to another festival, although I sure would enjoy it if we did.  We will have to see if we wrap up the scripture project in two days.  And I need to check the forecast.  Let me know what your plans look like and if the leaves have started changing much in your neck of the woods:)  As always, thanks for stopping by!!