Hello Friday…and, just like that, we have powered through another week. Summer seems to be rushing towards an end. I have come to terms with September arriving and that being the signal of fall. The temperatures stay plenty warm in September so it will still feel summery to my bones (and to my soul) even if the neighborhood pools close up shop, the stores are full of pretty fall things and I give into temptation (at least, a little bit) to the yummy pumpkin everything on shelves. I have to confess, I bought a new fall mug the other day. Did I need a new fall mug? Not at all. Do I feel like I have too many fall mugs? Not one bit. Note to self, I hope I don’t fall (get it…fall) for the pumpkin flavored coffee drinks. Those always disappoint. Always. But I never seem to learn. I’m going to try and do better this year. You can’t tell from this photo (that I snapped quickly while reading on the patio)…but it is a fall gnome. Not sure how long the gnome craze will last but I think they are rather cute! If you don’t like them, that’s okay. I have several friends who do not. And we are still friends.
A few other random thoughts on this Friday (including the random picture in the header that I just thought was cute). In no way connected but a few things (for Friday) that have been on my mind. For instance, there is a shopping center near us where a Bed Bath and Beyond used to be. It went out of business and the space has been vacant for quite awhile. Well, they just began reconfiguring the space into two stores. One will be a Barnes and Noble. Honestly, I did not know chain bookstores were still a thing. I was surprised. But the second half is going to be a Five Below. I took this picture the other day from my car in the parking lot. Does it seem excessive to take down not only the brickwork but also the pretty stone work – just to put in a Five Below?? And…there are other empty spaces in the same center! I though it was a bit much. Not that a soul asked my opinion.
Moving on. I got very excited the other day – over a pig picture:) I had seen the cutest picture of a piglet in the clearance section of Hobby Lobby. It ended up in my cart; however, when I was paying for it, I noticed that it was coming apart. I was bummed. For some reason, I just really needed that picture in my life. I even made a trip to another Hobby Lobby on the way to church the next day. I walked up and down the clearance aisles but no pig picture. I admitted defeat and was walking out when….there was a section of clearance pictures in one of the Christmas aisles. (Yes, Christmas. Please.) And there was that cute little piggy. She (he??) now hangs above my desk and just makes me smile every day.
While putting that picture up, I started to move a few things on the walls…which led to moving a few more things and well, soon I had given my office a little of a refresh. Maybe that is what is making me smile. Apparently, all it takes is the shuffling of a few wall accents and I am a happy camper. That and a cute piggy picture:)
The other night we went for Mexican. We had dinner outside on the patio. The season for outdoor dining seems to have returned. Not everyone enjoys eating outside but we really enjoy it. The food just seems to taste better when eaten al fresco. Some folks complain about bugs. The bugs didn’t bother us but the birds were plentiful. I was so surprised to see them eating the flower petals. Maybe birds do that all the time but I was just enchanted watching them. There were some overhead lights that the birds rested on frequently. Could have been a problem….but, no accidents!
And, I really should wrap this up. One last thought about Bible studies. I am looking forward to the return of Bible study season. It will be wonderful to see several friends again that I only see at Bible study and I am ready for the routine of meeting every week. Of course, I also enjoy studying the Bible. I actually ordered a study yesterday from The Daily Grace Co – from their clearance sale. I ordered the study of Gospel of John. I think I will save it for later in the year or even the first of next year – when the long winter months set in. Has anyone ever used that study? I typically attend an in-person study on Tuesdays (not sure what we are studying there) and am considering Community Bible Study as well. There have just been so many good options lately.
All that to say, my pastor recently shared two quotes I thought were quite thought-provoking. They were both from Paul Chappell (a pastor in California) and he said, “We must not make the mistake of thinking that increasing our knowledge about the Bible will substitue for obeying the Bible.” Along those same lines, he also said, “It is not the Bible we know but the Bible we obey that determines whether our walk is godly or not.” Good food for thought. What do you think? And I will just leave you with that….
A very random post..but hope you have a wonderful day and a great weekend ahead. Thanks for stopping by….and please come back on Monday!! I will try to have my thoughts a tad more organized:)
I enjoyed your over arching subject-less but nonetheless interesting, witty and insightful post about lots of things :). Those last two quotes from the pastor- wow, so true and good food for thought and reflection. Thanks for sharing them. Cute new mug! And Mexican outside sounds lovely. Have a great weekend!
Jennifer, I love the piggy picture! I think it would make me happy to look at that every day. As far as eating outside, this made me think of one deli we go to and we would sit outside. The birds have gotten very bold and used to people and they get a little too close for my comfort. I love to sit outside in the right climate. Texas doesn’t have too much of that 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
That pig picture is so cute and I got a little chuckle out of it because I was picturing my daughter doing the same. Pigs are her favorite animals. She is also a big fan of Five Below. The quotes your pastor shared are so true. It’s easy to learn the Bible but it’s much more important to actually live out what it says. I hope you have a great weekend.
Jennifer, I enjoyed your random Friday post so much! Our Bed Bath and Beyond building was still empty the last time I was by there. I hope they don’t allow it to stay empty forever. It seems to be the case with so many of those shopping centers where stores like that are located. Ours was in the same shopping area as Target.
And I am so happy that the Lord provided that sweet piggy picture for you! You see, I too am a piggy lover. I had a friend who had an Etsy shop and she had a cute little pig figurine and I bought it. Then after that I noticed she had a second pig figuine in her shop and I bought it. She had a third one but I felt like she was asking more than I wanted to pay for it. Not long after that, she opened up a booth at an antique mall and gave up her Etsy shop. Last summer my husband and I met up with her and when we got in the car to go to lunch she said, “I have something for you.” She handed me that very pig! She said, “I had that sitting on the shelf and I remembered how you had admired it one day and how you love pigs so I decided to just give it to you.” You and I would get along just fine, Jennifer!
I’ve not done that exact Bible study from Daily Grace Co, but I have done many of their Bible studies and have enjoyed every one of them.
Hope your weekend is lovely. xx
We have one restaurant that comes to mind where we enjoy breakfast on their patio but the birds are always plentiful and very brazen. I have not seen them eat the petals of flowers!! But they are always enjoying bits of bread and can be a bit annoying.
I haven’t done a group Bible study in a while. Might be nice to join one in the fall. A friend invited me to one every Monday evening but I really don’t like doing evenings. Prefer not to drive too far at night. And it required I bring something for potluck each time. Decided that wasn’t for me.
I have plenty of mugs, too, but the idea of a big fall mug appeals to me. I think I will splurge!! Years ago when I was a librarian, the grandmother of one of my students brought me a hefty mug from Colorado. It looks like winter with pines and snow. But now it has a chip on the rim which is bothersome when I drink. Might need a new winter mug, too.
Hi Jennifer. Summer does seem to be rushing towards an end. However, it doesn’t feel like it weather-wise. Surprisingly, I picked up a pack of cute fall napkins while shopping yesterday. I’m slowly coming around to fall. My summer potted plants are not looking so great. I’ll replace them with mums at the beginning of September. I’ve never done a Bible study plan before. I’m going to check out the site you mentioned above. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!