living today: Changing Seasons

Enjoying this autumn's gorgeous displays of vibrant colors in the sky, trees, and fields as we transition from summer to winter. They're tangible reminders that other seasons of change and unknowns display the beauty of my never-changing and all-knowing God. And like a child gleefully jumping in piles of leaves (weee!), they create opportunity to trustingly and delightfully enjoy every good gift that "comes down from the Father of lights," including sweetly simple and small joys. And guess what? The giver of each of these good things gives me the ultimate gift, which enables and enhances each simple joy: Christ himself!!! 

Pure happiness to let God be God, man be man, and freely work and play like a little kid as your Daddy takes care of everything big and small. 

" 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus." 

"He walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own."

Some fun stuff recently:

Teresa and I made the pastors a meal for belated Pastor Appreciation (Nov 7th)  

Just a sample of the gorgeousness.

Hot Apple Cider over the fire! (Saturday Nov 9)

Recruiting some babysitting help. (Monday Nov 11)

Ahh-mazing pseudo office space for a few minutes on Thursday.

Making Cup Pies (think cupcakes, but pies!) with Erin Friday night then watching Pushing Daisies.

Fun-sized!
Peach Pie Fully Crusted or w/ Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust;
Pumpkin Pie; and Coconut Cream Pie w/ Mandarin Orange Topper

Started building a little StoryTime Kids Corner. Two videos uploaded so far on a YouTube playlist here. 

living today: a Turkish evening

So this week I've got easy material to post for "living today." 

My friend Chris Haughery designed the program/invitation for a wine tasting event fundraiser called Heart's Delight Wine Auction to benefit the American Heart Association. They gave him two tickets to a formal private $500 plate dinner at the Turkish ambassador's residence, and he asked me to be his +1. It was a pretty amazing experience. I was privileged and honored to go down to DC last Thursday for the dinner.

Here is the published information about our dinner.

Host: His Excellency Namik Tan, The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey 

Chef: Hasan Siyam, Ambassador’s Chef
Wine: Collection of Turkish wines presented by Steve Feldman of Potomac Wines & Spirits
Residence of the Ambassador of Turkey 1606 23rd Street, NW
7:00 p.m.
Total guests: 28
Tickets: $500 

ready to go

taking the Metro there

inside the residence

dinner

dessert

do we look like we belong in there?

after a really great evening

I love how it's lit up.

A-mazing...yeah I spent the evening there dining with the Turkish ambassador and hobnobbing with about 25 other guests. Even made a new Turkish friend whose husband works on staff in the embassy.

It was such a treat, and so clear to me that my Father wanted to bless me in a unique fun way.

living today

So, I missed my post last week. I don't know what happened, but life suddenly is jam packed full every moment! I've been really thankful and enjoying it, though I'm exhausted and need to prioritize rest as well as keep tabs on quieting my heart in the midst of the flurry of activity.

Now this post will cover two weeks. :)

Monday, April 16th.

Kid History is a youtube series phenomenon all the rage in recent weeks. While babysitting the Weaver kids two Mondays ago, I captured several of their re-enactments. Here's one. These kiddos make me smile, and tired too. :)

Tuesday, April 17th.
At the end of Uncle Gene's visit he and my grandparents came to get a tour of our church building. Here they are afterwards looking very tourist-y.

Wednesday, April 18th.
This is so precious to me. My mom gave me a surprise visit at work in the morning and brought lilacs from home. I'm not sure if I've ever had a visit from her at work before, maybe once. It's just not anywhere near our end of town. This was so sweet to me because that morning I was feeling homesick and missing her because I hadn't been able to spend much time at home or with my family recently. One of those moments to tuck away and remember God's goodness.

Thursday, April 19th.
Kurt was on the porch and came in to tell Teresa and I  about a mother fox and her kits who were playing around their den and this tree. We took binoculars out and enjoyed a few moments watching their frolicking. You can't see them well here, but we got a pretty good visual. 

Then when I left work, this groundhog reminded me again of the fact that I work on a "farm." Pretty sure he lives right around there, as I've observed him on my walks to the mail. Loved unexpectedly seeing wildlife that afternoon!

Wednesday April 25th.
Professional Administrative Assistants Day (a.k.a. Secretaries Day).  My bosses/pastors did an excellent job of blessing Teresa and I. I love these flowers at my desk (still there!).

We took a tour of the building progress that afternoon. 

The amphitheater is looking green and lovely right next to the building.

I like this one. It captures just a little bit of the feel of walking through the building on a typical busy afternoon. Something is happening everywhere you look. Reminded me of a Richard Scarry book. :)

Thursday, April 26.
Little Miss Greta drew me a picture and gave it to me when I arrived to babysit.

Friday, April 27th.
I loved running an errand to Central Market to pick up a flower bouquet.  I felt so very feminine and metropolitan as I walked the city streets with a big beautify bouquet on that windy day.

Saturday, April 28th.
We had our Women by Design ladies day event. I really enjoyed helping out administratively during my work week and then coming together with the ladies from church on Saturday. The worship, teaching, fellowship, and food was all very good, and I'm very thankful we had that time.

Pretty bird and branch center pieces at our table.

living today

This past week . . . 

Uncle Eugene visiting from Beirut, Lebanon

Sara Bruton's 25th birthday cards glowing.

Glow bowling with some of the Hanna care group for Sara's birthday last Friday.

Holly & Sara. :)

They were "dancing" to the song. It was cute. :)
Happy 25th Sara!

Some frisbee at the Sensenig family Easter this past Sunday.
Grandma and Granddaddy have such a pretty yard.

Some visiting kids placed these rocks on a stump at the church office over a week ago.
The evidence of their presence remains, and made me smile.

A sight I see 5 days a week.

living today

I've decided to start something new on this blog. Each week, probably on Monday, I'll post a photo, video, or snap shot in words of life in the past week. I'm calling these series of posts "living today," borrowing from my blog tag. It's similar to what I like to do with instagram, twitter, or facebook, but this will be more routine. I hope it to be a light and fun addition to my blog, helping to recount the moments, sights, and experiences God places around me each week.

This is the stuff life's made of, the stuff we live in today, the context that living today in light of that day is done in. This is the world we live in, the beautiful and the broken. Life is but a breath, and then comes that Day. "Til the day," here are some moments that have caught my eye in the life God's given me in the here and now.

Sunday April 1.
Aunt Cheryl drove up from Charlotte to spend a week with us over Easter.
She brought her friends Jay & Pamela and their two dogs.

Wednesday April 4.
I was getting over being sick the day before.
Skipped the gym and went on a morning walk instead.
Our road is more scenic & fresh than Planet Fitness by far!

Monday April 9.

Last week to file your taxes.

Lady Liberty dances in downtown Lancaster 

(missed the best parts, but here you go).