I am so thankful that God has placed me in an area where I can enjoy the changing of the seasons.
Today is the first day of autumn. We had temperatures in the upper eighties and lower nineties in the first two weeks of September. Summer was hanging on but the rain came and the temperature dropped. This morning it was 58 degrees when I woke up. So not really cold enough for a roaring fire but candles gave me a warm feeling!
The summer garden is winding down. We still have lima beans, tomatoes and a couple of zuchinni to pick but the fall planting is also coming on. We are anticipating fresh spinach, carrots, radishes,beets and our sweet potato harvest.
This year Olin set up a small farm stand and it was surprisingly successful. We live on a gravel road with little traffic but our neighbors seemed to like the convenience of fresh vegetables in the area. With the arrival of fall the tent has come down and the table put away until next spring.
The pantry shelves display the bounty of summer!
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
I feel as though I am in the “autumn” of my life. I find that my “want to” exceeds my “can do.” Often times I exhaust my energy before I reach the end of my list of chores. Our 50th wedding anniversary and my class reunion pictures remind me of how quickly the time passes.
I am thankful that I know that my “time” is in God’s hand. He knew me before I was born and had a plan for my life. I must admit that He has led me on a path I could never have imagined. I cannot wait to see what He has planned for my future!
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down,
and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD,
Thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.
For Thou hast possessed my reins:
Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret,
and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in Thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God!
how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with Thee.
Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:
depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against Thee wickedly,
and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee?
and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139
King James Version
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