Heart Choices: 2011-09-18 -->

Theme Layout

Boxed or Wide or Framed

Theme Translation

Display Featured Slider

Featured Slider Styles

Display Grid Slider

Grid Slider Styles

Display Trending Posts

Display Author Bio

Display Instagram Footer

Dark or Light Style

Autumn Reflections


Photo Credit: Victoria Magazine
Today I'm participating in another Faith Barista Jam.  Bonnie has asked us to write on the following topic:

Autumn Reflections: Reflect on your journey of faith as you enter into the autumn season. 

I grew up in New York where there were four seasons.  Autumn was one of my favorite seasons with its cooler temperatures and the changing color of the leaves on the trees.  I loved the smells in the air; a new season.

Now that I live in Phoenix, Arizona the fall season is quite different. We still have HOT temperatures!  In fact, today's high is predicted to be 103 degrees.  It doesn't feel or look like autumn has arrived.

But what about my faith?

As I enter the autumn season ... my faith is strong.  

I've had to weather many storms recently with many life changes.  It hasn't been easy but I couldn't have survived and thrived without my faith.

My fall season of faith is ...letting go.

I'm definitely in that season right now, no matter what the outside temperatures are in Phoenix.

Returning to full time work after a long absence has been a unique experience for me.  I'm older now and I'm not at the beginning of my career.  But how thankful I am to be working with little children.  It's been a sweet blessing from the Lord to me.

I'm learning to not hold tightly to 'stuff'.  I'm learning to release so many earthly belongings but after all, it's a great way to simplify.  And how much do I really need after all?

I'm getting to the point where I desire what God desires for my life.  After all, He created me and knows me best.  I pray that His desires become my desires.

Instead of looking back to what I lost, I am beginning to look forward with HOPE!


“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43: 18-19 ESV

I am entering this autumn season with hope and joy, knowing that God has a plan and a purpose for my life.  I choose  to walk in His ways and allow Him to work in me and through me.

Now that's a journey I can get excited about!

FaithBarista_FreshJamBadgeG

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

Everyday Blessings


It's Multitudes on Mondays when I continue to count my everyday blessings.  When you begin to live your life being on the lookout for the blessings, it really does change your perspective.

I am so excited to share the news with you!  My niece Kristin got married a little over a year ago to Kevin.  And they just found out ...they're having a baby.

When I wrote that I wanted to start singing that Paul Anka song "Having My Baby".  I loved that song!

The baby won't be born until the end of April but everyone in my family is so excited.  It will be the first great grandchild.  And I will get to be a great aunt.  I'm thinking of the name Grandtante which means 'great aunt' in Norwegian.

#164  The excitement over a new baby in our family to love


In our preschool class, the children were learning the letter "C" this past week.  Heidi and I equipped them with little cameras made out of black construction paper and yarn to go around their necks.  Then we took them on a hunt for things that began with the letter "C" on our campus.  It was too cute!


Clicking cameras, clicking cameras is something they say to learn the sound of the letter "C"

#165 The excitement of the children as they went on a hunt for things that began with the letter "C".

#166 The smiles of the children when they found something and shared it with their teachers 

I was so excited to learn that I won a blog giveaway from a website called More to Be.  I am going to write more about this ministry later this week because it involves mentoring young women.  I believe this is so important for teens to have someone to talk to and walk with them along those challenging years.  eLisa used to have a blog called Extravagant Grace and I loved it. She stopped blogging for a time and this is the ministry that was birthed.  I can't wait to share more about it with you.

I won this beautiful necklace.  You can check it out for yourself on this Etsy shop.
I also won the book "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman.  I was excited about this too as I had just seen the video promo on Emily's blog Chatting at the Sky.

#167  Winning a blog giveaway

#168  The excitement over a new ministry called More to Be that teaches older women how to mentor the younger women

I know I've been busy lately but I guess I didn't realize how busy I'd been.  My good friend Lisa Shaw just released her new book.  It is called "You are Beautiful in God's Eyes".  I was able to buy a Kindle copy because I couldn't wait to read it.  So far I've read about four chapters and ...it's good.


You can purchase your own copy here or on Amazon.


I am so proud of Lisa.  She is beautiful inside and out.  And did you know that I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa in person?  When I went to visit my family in Florida, Lisa drove more than two hours to come and have coffee and Norwegian waffles with me.  Can you believe it?  She's the real deal.  What you see is what you get ...my kind of friend.  Love you Lisa!

#169  Rejoicing with a true friend as she wrote and published her book

#170 Knowing Lisa's story and seeing where she is now; God's grace!

My mother-in-love Gloria has returned to her own home.  She fell and broke her hip requiring surgery and  months of Rehab.  The last month she spent at her daughter's home so she wouldn't be alone but she was anxious to return home.  Greg and I got to visit with her today and she looked great.  Praise God for answered prayer.

When I first wrote about Gloria breaking her hip, I asked for prayer on Heart Choices.  Bethany of Raindrops & Rainbows asked me for her address and sent her a card.  This is not the first time Bethany has done something so kind.  She occasionally sends cards to my sister Christine after I wrote about her too.

But Gloria was so impacted by Bethany's kindness that she wrote her a letter.  She showed me the envelope that was ready to be mailed.  She couldn't get over the fact that someone she didn't even know was praying for her and took the time to send her a card.  What a lesson that is for me!

#171 Answered prayer for my mother-in-love's health

#172 Seeing the impact of a kind Christian blogger who took the time to write to her (thank you Bethany)

I received the sweetest card this week from a friend I've known since the second grade.  Robyn  sat in front of me in Miss Richmond's class when I first moved to Lindenhurst.  I was behind and didn't know how to write in cursive.  Robyn would help me out and I never forgot that.  We were best friends in high school and when I was in nursing school.  She's one of those friends who will be a forever friend and I'm so grateful for that.

#173  Having a forever friend like Robyn


This week has been hot and busy.  But I'm so glad that I am noticing those everyday blessings.  How about you?  Isn't it time you started jotting them down too?



Blessings and love,

QuickEdit
[name=DEBBIE PETRAS] [img=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2CDrwq9-7eo/WV6tdbP-QgI/AAAAAAACfb0/ViqQSnSVaDsMLXyz3AEEzZ5-78luBHOGgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Debbie%2BFace%2Bblog.JPG] [description=]