Many of you know that I spend my first hour each day up in my sanctuary.
The view from one sanctuary window
If you’ve been a follower for awhile, you may remember that one of the devotionals I read each morning is:
And I have posted in the past a list of “Take-Aways” for each day of the month. It’s been a few months since I did that. I did not post my list for November yet. Today would be a good day to do that. Perhaps you can find this list helpful. Adopt one a day, and take that message with you as you walk this rocky road called LIFE. Let it help you focus on a direction God is calling you.
November’s Take-Aways from Daily Guideposts
Remember Incredible Moments
Really “See” People
Choose Peace – Even in Chaos
Bee still to Hear/Feel God’s Grace
Keep Faith in Love
Accept God’s Extravagant Grace
Let Children Move, Moo, Climb & Clamber
Keep Your Faith Childlike
Always Give Your Best Effort
Let Your Life Praise God
Live in Grateful Peace
Unclog Your Life; Clean Up!
Bee Mindful of Relationships
Maintain Your Body
Know “Retirement” is a Misnomer
Use Your Reservoir of Love
Know God as Your Guide
Speak Only Tender, Kind Words
Hope Always in Him
Keep Eyes and Heart Open
Take Time to Feel God’s Presence
Serve Heartily!
Always Find Joy in Work
Bee Still and Listen
Let Space Be Transformed
Add Exercise To Your Routine
Cherish Family
Thank God For Your Many Blessings
Know God’s Working in You
Look into The Hearts ❤ ❤
Let everyday be Christmas!
I hope “A Thought for Each Day” will inspire you to be your best self, the person God made you to be, every day this month… and create a thoughtful habit for the New Year.
God bless you! See ya later!
By the way, which of those “Take Aways” will you adopt for today?
I live gratefully With thanks for family and friends Gratitude brings joy
The Flights Were Great!
I hope you had a joy-filled day of gratitude, too – on that day we call Thanksgiving here in the USA. We arrived safely (thanks to my niece, Jodie) at the Pittsburgh airport around 5: AM. Our flight to Minneapolis arrived on time, with no difficulties – and we had a nice breakfast in their lovely airport. The 6:15 AM flight to Bozeman was on time and encountered no problems.
Problems Began After Landing
The problems came after we landed in Bozeman, MT and Bob tried to find our car in long-term parking. He wandered in the wrong parking lot for a half hour before realizing the car was in the next lot over. By then, I knew he was in some kind of trouble as I stood in the warmth of the airport with our luggage waiting for him.
I prayed to God, “Please help Bob solve whatever trouble he has encountered.”
Prayer Works
About that same time, Bob reported later, he realized he had not sought God’s help, so he also prayed to find the car. That’s when God nudged him to go to the next parking lot over… and sure enough, there it was. BUT, it was covered in snow… and the snow had more than one layer during the time we were gone. The under-layer was iced on.
Be Prepared
Anyone who has lived through a winter in this part of the world, should know what to carry in the trunk of your car. An emergency kit needs to include a blanket or two, gloves, a hat or two, an ice/snow scraper, etc. Our trunk had a can of de-icer and a blanket, but none of the rest of those items. It took Bob 20 minutes to clear away enough of the ice and snow to make the car safe to drive.
Yes, we know what we need to add to our emergency supply to be prepared in the future!
Home Safely
It was snowing lightly as we began the 60 miles toward home, but it let up as we crossed over the mountain pass and followed the Madison River into Madison County and our valley. The roads were clear – and we praised God for a wonderful homecoming!
Family Greeted Us
At home, we were greeted by our son, his wife, two grand-daughters and their husbands, and two of our great-grandchildren. Happy Thanksgiving!! The smell of turkey assailed my nostrils when I opened the door – and hugs all around said, “Welcome Home!”
Hail, hail, the gang’s all here!
Xander, our great-grandson
Monika, our daughter-in-law, with Sienna, our great-granddaughter
Ty, our son, with TazE, our dog
I am grateful to our dear friends, Gail & Harold, who took care of TazE while we were gone.
Here’s our granddaughter, Hope, with Sienna
The smell of turkey roasting was so inviting!
The sweet potatoes are ready for the marshmallows
It was a wonderful meal… and great fellowship. I hope you had a great day, too. Now on to “Black Friday!”
Some call this “Black Friday” – a day when merchants encourage shoppers to come to their stores – big sales everywhere!
Only Thing Black
The only thing black about today for me is my coffee and the night sky! I am up early and enjoying some quiet time.
I hope yours is a Fabulous Friday with delicious coffee (or tea) to warm you inside, and a cozy home filled with love to warm you through and through.
Eternally Grateful
While my family is still asleep, I am up in my sanctuary, thanking God for:
answered prayers
a safe trip to Pennsylvania and back
the chance to see my sis in her new setting
the generosity of my niece, Jodie, and her husband, Bill
the gracious hospitality of the McSparrons in Kutztown, PA
the opportunity to participate in a bit of the life of Liam, our great-nephew
Liam’s big heart and wonderful work ethic
the love and care my niece, Jodie, gives to her family and my sis (her mom)
our son and his family who greeted us with love and a luscious Thanksgiving dinner when we returned home
Yesterday I promised I would send you a video of Liam and me playing at my sister’s Masonic Home. My niece, Jodie, recorded videos and took these pictures. Thanks, Jodie!
We had a “full house” of residents from the Masonic Home listening to our “concert.”I have videos so you can hear the residents singing along to “Home on the Range” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” – but I can’t get the videos to load here. Sorry! You just gotta trust me, it was fun – and the residents really seemed to enjoy it. I know I did!
And today I said “Good-bye” for now to my sis, Sally. I’m glad I got a chance to see her in her new environment.
Now, as Thanksgiving approaches, we plan to celebrate with dinner out – and then our first opportunity to see a performance of Les Miserables! Thanks to Jodie & Bill… what a wonderful gift!
Have YOU had a chance to see that production?
This afternoon I am sitting and watching the birds find food here in Pennsylvania. I pray with God’s grace, tomorrow we will be looking for birds in our Montana snow. They won’t be these colorful ones… but we’ll be happy with whatever feathered friends we find.
Our early Thanksgiving dinner with Jodie, Bill, Liam, and my sis, Sally
Nothing better for a grama than a grandson hug!
Bill is a great host and a wonderful story teller
He keeps Bob entertained!
Liam made a chocolate “Yule Log” cake to take to school today – yummy!!
Here we are at the local non-profit theater in Sewickley, ready for the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”
Tom Hanks was a perfect Mr. Rogers.
He deserves an Academy Award! If you haven’t seen the movie, do plan to go. You will love it!
Cheers from Bob & me. Have a great Tuesday! We are headed to the Phipps Museum today with Jodie. What are your plans for today?
This afternoon Liam and I are going to entertain folks at Sally’s Masonic Home. Stay tuned. I’ll send you pictures… and maybe a video so you can hear us.
We’re so grateful that our granddaughter, Faith, married into this beautiful McSparron family! Such a gift to the Beekmans to extend our hearts into Kutztown, PA!! This is a sweet, quaint college town.
Here’s Lisa, Kyle’s mom Allen, Kyle’s dad
Their house was designed by Allen & Lisa and built by the McSparron boys & dad.
They call it their cottageIt is amazing!Their view is beautiful. The stained glass window was created by an artist inspired by a picture Allen took in Switzerland. It’s the church where Lisa’s ancestors, the Caveltis, worshiped.
Such fun to have Lisa’s heritage also be in Switzerland where our DeDe and her family lives.
After a delicious breakfast topped off by the wonderful pear dessert left from last night, we went “hunting and gathering” in the gorgeous countryside.
Wooden Bridge Dry GoodsI’d never seen multi-colored sheep before. Have you?Many of the farms are owned and managed by Menninites.Inside Wooden Bridge Dry Goods was an amazing display of every kind of fabric imaginable.These are spools of thread!The Reddinger’s Farmers Market had a variety of apple for sale I’d never heard of before: Faith! That’s our granddaughter’s name… so of course, we had to buy some.Lisa is with Bob – and Allen is over at the register behind them. In his retirement, Allen enjoys working at the Pinnacle Ridge Winery.
As you can see, we are busy “hunting & gathering” in a variety of places.
So it’s wine tasting time. See ya later!
You can see that Allen enjoys his job! And we enjoyed the wine! We bought some Pinot Grigio to enjoy with tonight’s dinner. What’s your favorite varietal?
