Children bring me some of the best glimmers day in and day out. There was a tiny one (8 months old) in a shopping cart seat that smiled at me and melted my heart. She had never seen me before but there was no stranger fear in her!
This is our little neighbor down the street. She wants to befriend Lucky but is fearful of the dog. When she can summon the courage to pet Lucky she is so satisfied. Here is her Halloween costume. Her mom said she dressed herself and they are not certain what she is. I would answer, “Adorable!”
This is the same child who likes regular Doritos. At a neighborhood picnic she ate a small bag of them. Then she realized there were partial bags laying around. So she began collecting the partial bags and eating those, too! Squeezable joy, indeed!
I ordered a crochet kit because my daughter likes Gnomes. I thought this would make a good gift for her. I set myself a goal to finish it before my birthday. And I got it done!
He is about 6 inches tall.
yep, makes me laugh every time I think of him. He lives at her house now.
Our priest recently challenged us to make plans for our funeral including any music that we want the gathering to sing. I was reminded of a compline hymn that captured my heart when the Sisters used to have sung compline. I realized over several retreats that the hymn had multiple verses in various places in the hymnal. I began to collect those verse to use during my own compline prayer time at home. Suddenly I could not longer remember the melody.
I am not very good at sight reading music. I asked Sister Corinna to play the melody for me. She suggested we use the piano at St. Mary’s retreat center where I was staying. Later that evening I found it on YouTube!
The melody was written by Thomas Tallis who lived in the 1500s. It is called the Eighth tune for Compline. The video plays the song in the midst of the Compline service. Below are the lyrics.
1 All praise to thee, my God, this night, for all the blessings of the light: keep me, O keep me, King of kings, beneath thine own almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, the ill that I this day have done; that with the world, myself, and thee, I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 O may my soul on thee repose, and with sweet sleep mine eyelids close; sleep that shall me more vigorous make to serve my God when I awake.
4 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Driving on interstate highway in torrential downpour, first surprise was a vulture flying over the road. Second surprise, falling leaves in the midst of the downpour.
Walking the dog this morning, first surprise was a hawk sitting on the fence. Second surprise a flock of geese flying overhead and honking. Third surprise three vultures flying the opposite direction.
Have you been able to find glimmers during your day? Though we have had some nights with temperatures in the very low 40s I was still able to pick a couple bouquets of flowers! Those Bachelor’s Buttons just keep giving that lovely deep blue. Nasturtiums entertain us with the various colors. A few mums here and there and a dianthus to pink up the blossoms. Won’t be long before the only flowers are store bought.
A few weeks ago I planted the remaining Bachelor Button seeds. Not certain what came up! Leaves do not resemble the others. Decided to just let them grow and see what happens in the spring, assuming they survive the winter!
Watch for the glimmer sin your day. Note them. Give thanks for them. Take this beyond the gratitude list. Ponder how fortunate you are to have noticed these things. You are fortunate! I have a friend who is legally blind. She would love to be able to see what you can see. I have another friend who cannot smell any thing. Are you aware that it is s gift just to be able to take your next breath? And this one?
Glimmers and gratitude can both interrupt our mundane boring day. Open your eyes and ears and all of your being to this very moment in your/q
Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. life. And give thanks.
Walking Lucky around the pond one early morning these words filled my head as I saw the glistening surface of the water.
The pond seems to be sparkling, Just tadpoles kissing the surface. Father make me sparkle as I reach to kiss You, I pray.
Watching the autumn leaves out the window during prayer time I wrote: The gentle breeze here is loosening the leaves. They drift to the ground. Reminds me to release burdens and move into a new season. We breathe in the new day, exhale the old burdens.
Have you turned random moments into prayer? I believe each of us can! What would this image have you pray?
The Burr Oak tree out our front window has delighted me this autumn. During the summer the leaves were so thick we could not see the little birdhouse hanging there. Then the tree began to drop leaves. The mowers have cleaned up fallen leaves from under it at least twice. Today it is green, though the leaves are more sparse than in the summer.
It is almost as if she declares, “Steady as she goes!” Let’s not have too much autumn too soon! Besides it is still running in the high 80s here. They promise us a change in temperatures this week. Once again, I am not holding my breath on that!
We can see the bird house clearly now. I do not think any birds were housed there this year. Seems I would have noticed with all the feeders and activity that occurs at times. As the Burr Oak continues to lose her leaves I will once again be reminded of the Brother Lawrence revelation about a tree in winter. Until then I am delighted by the lingering green.
Nothing gold can stay, Frost taught me so the mighty sycamore tree in form of tiny leaf shows me how to change from green to gold to brown and be refreshed with drops of golden rain as I rest upon the ground be still my soul ~Molly Lin Dutina (For photo above)
Bob found this and printed it out to read to me at our anniversary dinner. I was looking for the source online since it says a Harvard study, but it only seemed to be on Facebook and Instagram? I decided it was worth sharing regardless of who first wrote it! We found these to be true for our marriage also.
1. A Harvard study of 724 couples who made it past 30 years revealed something surprising: what kept them together wasn’t love, s*x, or kids. It was the ability to tolerate the same things in each other—over and over again. The ones who divorced thought, “This habit drives me crazy, but I can fix it.” The ones who stayed accepted, saying: “This is who they are. They’re not changing.”
2. Long marriages rarely resolve every conflict. That’s a myth. Couples who lasted 30+ years didn’t dig forever into every hurt feeling. They learned to let go. Not suppress—but release. “You forgot again,” “You said the wrong thing again”—short-term couples turn that into a fight. Long-term couples let it slide. Because they chose peace over being right.
3 . The real skill of lasting couples? Quick emotional recovery. It’s not about never fighting. It’s about bouncing back fast. He snapped two hours ago—and now he’s hugging her. No pride. No “you go first.” In marriages that last, the winner isn’t the one who’s right—it’s the one who comes back first.
4. The strongest couples weren’t bonded by “we have everything in common”—but by “we face the world together.” A shared struggle: poverty, toxic relatives, building a business, even a shared hatred for the system. Anything that puts you on the same team—us vs. the world—builds the bond. Couples without an external pressure? More likely to crack from the inside.
5. And the biggest truth? Almost every long-term marriage had a point where they were ready to call it quits. Almost all of them. But they didn’t. Not because they couldn’t—but because they gave it more time. The most common answer: “I decided to do nothing. And six months later, things shifted.” Turns out, most marriage crises die off—if you just stop feeding them.
Certainly worth consideration! We had a delightful celebration and spent some of the time looking back in wonder and another part of the time planning where we would still like to travel! Then this song from long, long ago popped into my head.
Our church bulletin says: “If you noticed a heavy emphasis on God’s creation in this liturgy, there’s a reason! From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the globe celebrate the Season of Creation.” Below is information copied from the online website https://seasonofcreation.org/about/
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.
Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed 1 September as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. In fact, the Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world.
The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from 1 September until 4 October.
Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and the WCC, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Roman Catholic Church in 2015, and in 2019 started celebrating the Season of Creation as well.
In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration.
The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.
I like the idea of being united with other churches around the world for this event. As I look out the office window and see our burr oak tree changing her gown from green to yellow to brown, I am reminded that none of us inhabit this earth alone. We need to care for it in community and with future generations in mind. May God lead us in paths of righteousness regarding this gift of the earth we live upon and the air we breathe.
Fifty-five more years would not give me time to list all of the ways!
wedding rehearsal
the actual wedding
lunch with our best friendsfamily dinner celebration of birthdays and anniversaryright after his knee replacement surgeryexploring the wonders of the earthhow I love those hands
He has invested his life in mine. He knows me better than anyone else on earth. The compassion and grace that flows from him is beyond my words. His humor is sometimes tiring, but usually has me in giggles. The perspective he brings to me is invaluable. I have seen him give of himself to a fault. His determination to heal after this knee surgery is at times scary. Take it easy, my man. You are well on your way to full healing from this!
I cannot tell you how much I love him. Life without him is beyond my comprehension. Over the years we have talked about who will die first. I am saying it must be him. He is saying his lungs will not outlast me. Lord, only you know.
And I know Lord, you are able to keep us in all of our ways. Thank you for this man who blesses my life beyond telling.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25 NSRVUE
Recently Lectio used this prayer. I really like it.
Abba, Father, loving creator and sustainer of all things. You are God for me. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, saviour of the world. You are God with me. Holy Spirit, breath of God, bringer of holiness, peace and joy. You are God in me.
The Trinity I worship is always present even when I fail to recognize the fact. Our worship bulletin shared this prayer one week.
O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship thee in spirit and in truth; thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
That same day I was asked to help serve communion. I consider it a privilege to share the cup of wine with others. This particular morning I almost burst into tears when I realized the choir was singing In the Garden, the song my mother taught me. I had to compose myself and focus upon holding the cup and placing it where my fellow church members needed it, for them to dip their wafer or sip from with their lips. It took all my composure not to burst into tears of gratitude. Here I was sixty years after choosing the Episcopal Church, having buried both my parents and all those worship themes combined and blessed me immensely. Oh how things are orchestrated to bring us joy!!
The prayer above reflects my heart. Abba, Father, You are God for me. Lord Jesus Christ, You are God with me. Holy Spirit, Your are God in me.
May my God be glorified in all that I do, think, and say.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3 NRSUE
Pat has her birthday celebration today! Greetings my friend (albeit a few days late) then is our wedding anniversary 55!! 55!! 55!! then Grandgirl Lizzie has a birthday the same day as anniversary and a couple days later our son-in-law Dave’s birthday. Lots to rejoice over in September.
I can barely comprehend that this year has flown past so quickly. Bob is definitely on the mend from his knee replacement surgery. He is allowed to drive and drove himself to meet his friend for coffee at Micky D’s this morning.
We had 1/4 inch of rain yesterday. Hoping for much much more this week. The leaves are raining all over the deck and back yard. Neighbor houses coming into view as they fall.
This is a month of rejoicing and celebrating the change of seasons. Few of us in Cincinnati are sad to see the upper 80s depart. I used to say if it was 70 degrees before 9AM we were in for a scorcher. We have been fortunate to go below 70 at night the last X# of weeks. Grateful for a little bit lower temperatures.
The aphids ate my nasturtiums and the spray to be rid of them killed the plants. Oh my. Need a better plan next year. Last year I had flowers right into late October. Sad about this year.
I injured my right pinky last week. Wearing a splint that catches on the signal arms in the car. Waiting for radiologist to read the x-ray to determine if I broke it or not. Still purple and painful four days later. It is always SOMETHING with this body.
Becky at our crochet group brought us the idea of the crocheted pumpkins. First thing in a while I have been excited to create. One online pattern showed how to crochet a stem. One suggested using a stick fro a stem. I kind of like both ways!
When I injured my pinky I could not crochet at all that first day. Then was able to do a little bit the next day. Of course, I had ordered yarn and purchased yarn in various pumpkin shades. As it arrived I was a bit distressed wondering how many pumpkins I could even make. I want some to share with friends as well as decorate our home. I think I can do a bit more today.
I hope to write more this week than in the last two. Bob sees knee surgeon this week and will hopefully get to be rid of the compression socks. Getting them over his heel with only 9 fingers has been as interesting twist. He can pull them up after the heel challenge.
Ha! medical report just arrived. No acute fracture of my finger. “Degenerative change is seen in the interphalangeal joints with fusion across the fifth DIP joint,” There you have it. I have my mother’s old arthritic fingers and this one is now in living color!
Out of focus bruised pinky
Hope your autumn is unfolding in glorious colors and with joy.
This week will not be any better than last week. We both have multiple medical appointments. I am trying to figure out a new schedule but as loaded as this schedule is there is NO wiggle room. If only I did not need an afternoon rest! If only my fatigue did not ramp up after 6 PM!
I just remembered the “If-onlys” can lead to increased emotional and mental suffering. I do not want to go there. This month we celebrate 55 years of marriage. In November I turn 75 years old. This is my life right now and I am never alone. God walks with me and also guides my steps.
1 Thessalonians KJV implores us to “rejoice evermore.”
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
I rejoice that we have access to such good medical care. I rejoice that we are able to afford what the physicians and their assistants wast us to buy, be it medication or physical therapy or devices to aid in healing.
I rejoice that Bob and I are able to cheer each other on when one of us gets low.
I pray for healing, not only for ourselves. We have a neighbor who is not going to get well from Parkinson’s. I pray that neighbor can have the best life possible and find ways to cheer the family and self.
I give thanks for the flowers that have survived the drought so far. I ask for grace as I drag one the hose again. Not a drop of rain the forecast.
Okay, my ship is beached for now – but not forever!
Would you get hold of the passage above and form prayers,, thanksgiving and rejoicing for yourself and those you know?
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 