Fall is coming in, and the evenings are lovely.

I was sitting on the porch with my mother at her house when I took this photo. I love that I get to spend this time with her. For most of my life, we have lived away from each other, but in 2024 she moved just around the corner. I spend nearly every day with her. What a blessing.

The older I get, the more my mind goes to how many possible years are left in my life. 30, maybe 40, and what will I do with it? My mind quickly sorts what is worth my time and what isn’t.

Being with my people is important. We have spent the last 30 years making family a priority. Worshiping the Lord together. Eating together. Gatherings for special occasions. Birthdays. Family Fridays. Celebrating each other.

For me, writing is important. Sharing Christ and His word. Sharing the inner thoughts and understandings that the Lord has given. Capturing the light and shining it. Unboxing and unpacking my mind, how I see, and revealing it.

Road trips and discovering the adventure of what is there. I like road trips because they allow me to enjoy and accept what is. I can’t change the view along the way, the towns I enter as I go, or their landscape and buildings. I can’t change the people I will meet. But I can discover them. Enjoy them as they are. Sometimes encounter the lack of joy and light there and enter into prayer.

What is important to you? What is worth your time? How do you spend it? And when you think of that, is there anything you found was a waste? If so, what are you going to do about it?

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:25–27

Mornings Now

In 2017, my hubby started a new job after a terrible knee injury took him down for 9 months. We scraped by that year. That first morning at this new job, I started making breakfast for him before he went to work. Fast forward to this year: my dear son has now graduated and started in the electrical union. He is on the same schedule. So now I make him breakfast too. This has become a touchpoint space in our day. #familymatters

So proud of him and thankful I get to be a part of helping make each morning decent and brain-ready for the workday.

In you household how do you support one another? Or if you live alone, how do you set yourself up for success?

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Plate for the not forgotten

Sunday, Sept 13th was my hubby’s mother’s birthday. She passed away 3 years ago. It is still tender, and she is deeply missed. Since I am the calendar in my house, I knew what day it was. After church, I asked if he wanted to go to the sushi house. He said, “Sure. When we got there, I said, “You know why we are here, right?” He looked at me like…. “Why?” I said, ” Since today is your mother’s birthday, I thought we could celebrate her and get her favorite dish. She loved Tangerine Beef. He sat there for a bit and then quietly said, “This is very thoughtful, thank you.”

Happy Birthday! We miss you!

We do not mourn like those who do not have hope. So instead of sorrow keeping up still and stuck, we honor and celebrate those who have gone on.

How can you “celebrate” through the hard things?

Rejoice in suffering because hardship builds endurance, which forms proven character, which yields an unshakable hope.

Romans 5:3–5

I just felt off yesterday.

Well, the scratchy throat came in, and the nose nozzle let loose.

Hubby made me a peach ice cream drink to soothe the scratch in my throat. My momma has it too. Later I found out that my daughter and her crew came down with it over ther weekend.

lol grandkids. Here’s an unflattering photo since life is what it is.

Thanks for listening,

Starla