“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” Anne
of Green Gables said. I couldn’t agree more.
Ours has been
stunning, and in honor of that, I thought I’d share some of my favorite October
pictures.
I made a goal to read more fiction starting this month. So many
of my recent books have been for work or just on the weightier side of
nonfiction, and I needed to escape into the pages of a story for a little bit.
And of course,
for the first round, I chose a 460 page book. Ryan about had to sit down when I
walked in the door with it. As you might remember from way back at the
beginning of the year, I picked some titles to fit in a book challenge. I am so
far behind on completing this challenge in a year’s time (which was truly never
my intention anyway) but I have appreciated its presence in my life, pushing me
to try new titles. This pick came from the challenge and completes half the “fiction/nonfiction
pairing” category. The creator of the challenge said the fiction and nonfiction
pairing could take place any way that made sense to me. I wasn’t sure how I
would go about fulfilling it, but then I discovered that Beth Moore has a novel
called The Undoing of Saint Silvanus and a companion book called Undoing
What Has You Undone that is nonfiction. YES!
Beth published
her novel back in 2016, so I am definitely behind in getting to this one. I
knew about it, but I hadn’t read it. If you’ve read here for many years, you
know I’ve done several of Beth’s Bible studies, like Breaking Free,
Believing God, Daniel, and Children of the Day, and I’ve read many of her
nonfiction books, like Audacious, Believing God, So Long Insecurity, Get Out
of that Pit, Jesus the One and Only…and more. Her nonfiction writing skills
are inspiring, and I was so curious to see if she could do just as well with
fiction.
(I learned the
hard way in college that writing fiction and nonfiction are two wildly
different crafts and I did not have the talent for fiction that I always hoped
to have.)
I was thrilled
to find that I love Beth just as much as a novelist as I do as a Bible study
writer. I could hear her voice as I read (so yes, I read the entire book in a
southern accent) and loved her word choice from start to end. I was actually
sad I’d borrowed the book from the library, because I wanted to underline
phrases on almost every page.
The novel tells
the story of Jillian Slater, a young adult who has lived most of her life on
the west coast with her mother. She receives word that her estranged father has
died in his hometown of New Orleans. Jillian returns for his burial, mostly
because she’s offered a free trip.
Jillian’s grandmother,
who isn’t the friendliest lady in the world, owns and lives in an old church
converted into an apartment house. Jillian discovers that she has no idea she’s
been invited to the burial and isn’t warm toward her presence at all. And the
apartment house seems to have stories and secrets that both beg to be
discovered and to remain hidden. And then her father’s death turns out to not
be natural after all. Jillian’s previously common and uneventful life suddenly
spins with events – some dark and spiritual and some physically dangerous.
Even thought the
book is long, I sped through it, captivated by the storyline and the characters.
I loved how even in a work of fiction, Beth incorporated a clear Gospel
message.
And I loved
reading at the end of the book about Beth’s journey as a novelist. She said, “I have zero interest in wasting
time on something of little eternal value. I asked God over and over to please
dry up the story if it wasn’t something He could bless.” She also said, “The
story line is fictional, but the Savior is not. I have experienced no greater
reality in all of life than Jesus Christ.”
I am so glad I read
the book and would happily read more novels if Beth ever writes any. (I am also
looking forward to reading her memoir.) Now to find the companion book to
finish out this category.
A year ago today, Ryan and I parked our car in the driveway of
this lake house, walked inside, and signed the papers to make it ours.
The gentleman
who sold us the house was here too, and as we signed, I watched him walk slowly
from room to room, taking one last look and saying whatever silent goodbyes he
needed for closure on a dream. He was a quiet sort of man, and aside from this
transaction, we didn’t know him, so I didn’t ask questions about how he felt on
that day. If I had to guess, I’d call it a mixed bag of relief and grief. Relief
to be set free from a dream that hadn’t panned out the way he hoped and grief over
letting go of a dream that hadn’t panned out the way he hoped.
He handed us
the keys, walked out the door, and Ryan and I were left with this house that felt
cold (because it was cold) and echoed it emptiness. We made our own slow
pilgrimage through the rooms, realizing that the work was now ours to do. How does
work multiply so quickly when ownership is attached?
We didn’t start
making lists that morning. We waited one whole day for that! The first morning
was all about absorbing with wide-eyed wonder.
The chilly fall
day and emptiness of the house made me wonder what it would be like when the
dreams in our minds were reality before us. What would the house feel like? Would
it be warm and cozy? Would it truly have our personal stamp on it? Would it be home?
This past Sunday night we
baked a loaf of bread with our freshly milled flour, and the beautiful aroma permeated
every inch of the house. When it had finished baking, it sat in all its golden-brown
beauty in front of the little lamp in the corner of the kitchen. I looked at
that little vignette, inhaled deeply, and said, “Oh yes. This is home.”
Last night I
had to work late and when I finally arrived home, I changed into jammies and
crawled under my favorite blanket. Ryan watched football from the other end of
the couch, Lexi snored in between us, and my coffee cooled faster than I could
drink it. The walls in front of us are crisp white, our beloved curtains hang
at the windows, and our nautical lamps from about 6 years ago fit here better
than any other room they’ve ever been in. It’s home.
We know the
spots where the floors creak. We’ve met most of the neighbors. The sunsets have
not gotten old. It’s home.
It’s been quite
a year. It’s been defining in many ways. Maybe I should redo this picture today
– with touches of home all around.
This is pastor appreciation month, as you may or may not know,
and as a tie-in to what I want to share today, I have to say how much I love
and appreciate our dear friends, Jonathan and Julie, who serve at our church.
He is the pastor, and she leads worship, but both of them do so much more
than that. They serve in tandem in so many ways, and it is such a gift and joy
to be part of the local church they lead. They put hours of thought and soul
into everything they do, and it shows in the best ways.
They had a
family wedding to attend this past weekend, so it was a privilege and joy for Ryan and me to be able
to serve our church so they could have a break.
When we were first
married, Ryan was on the worship team at the church we attended, but for one
reason or another, it’s not worked out for him to be part of the teams at any
of the churches since then…until now. I have loved watching him live out that passion
of his heart during the months he serves on that team. And yesterday, I got to
watch him lead the group – and I was so proud of him for how seriously he took
the responsibility. As with everything he does, he served wholeheartedly.
And then I had
the chance to share the message with the congregation, which is also a
responsibility I don’t take lightly. I had something different planned, and a
couple of weeks ago, God put a whole separate thought on my heart and I
switched my topic completely.
The closer we
got to yesterday, the more passionate I felt about that message, and though I
had (and still have) no idea what all God plans to do with the words, I’ve
entrusted them to Him and believe He will do something meaningful in His way
and time.
It was a sweet Sunday
for us. Serving together is one of our favorite things to do, and to be able to
do it while providing a way for our friends to have time away was extra
meaningful for us. It was a really wonderful start to our week!
I’ve been working so hard on my study of Leviticus, but I have
paused it momentarily to study in Psalms. I felt weighed down by law-study and
needed something that soothed my soul a bit more intently. That’s how I landed
in Psalms…119 to be exact. Yes, I picked the longest one.
Last night I read
a commentary over one of the early sections of that psalm and explored some of the phrases in deeper detail.
With my whole
heart I seek you, verse 10 says. We use that phrase “whole heart” in
our home quite often, usually in relation to Lexi’s undying devotion to us. After
she loses her mind with delight when Ryan comes home from work, I’ll ask her, “Do
you love him with your whole heart?” And sometimes when she’s working
her gaze to get what she wants, I’ll tell her that I love her with my whole
heart.
When I think
about how much that sweet little girl loves us and how much we love her…how
intense that is…I have to ask myself if I am seeking the Lord with that kind of
intensity. Am I running after Him with my whole heart? Do I seek Him
with inexplicable joy?
May the Lord find
my heart…my whole heart…excited to seek Him!
Hey friends! It’s fall break around here – so if you’re enjoying
a little time off, please do enjoy it to the fullest! I’ve rounded up a few
things for you this week – hope you find something fun in here!
ONE.
You know what one of my favorite things is about all kinds of
style right now? (Personal, home, you name it…) It’s okay to love what you love
and not worry about it if it’s “in style” right now. I love our home the way it
is, and it doesn’t bother me a bit if some (or all!) of what we have isn’t
trending these days. But I do like to read about what is or is not current,
based on what experts say. (Who are the experts, anyway?) We’re breaking a few
of the design rules in our home according to this
– but we love it, so it’s staying!
TWO.
Did I have Christmas movies playing in the background while I
worked yesterday? You bet I did! Here’s
the list of movies on Great American Christmas from TODAY until Christmas.
Yes, today! (It’s okay if it’s too soon for you – but I’m ready!)
THREE.
I would be lying if I said I’ve read each of the links in this
post, but I’m so fascinated by it that I just had to share. I’ve written
(multiple times) about planners I’ve used over the years and what I’ve loved
and not loved about different options. This blogger tried 52 planners/planning styles
in 52 weeks! WHAT?!!! I want to delve into all of these,
but even though I haven’t yet, I just had to share it. Impressive!
FOUR.
If you have 2.4 million in pocket change, you can snag this
house in Minnesota. From the hot tub to the home theater to the workout
space to the pizza oven in the kitchen, you’d really never have to leave to go
anywhere else! (Oh, and did I mention the view of Lake Superior?)
FIVE.
This
post has great advice on dresses (colors and styles) to wear/avoid wearing
at a wedding. I never thought about how colors even in the background of another
photo could impact the picture! It’s a fast read with good advice – especially if
you’re in a season of life full of weddings.
SIX.
I haven’t done it for several years, but I used to take a vacation
day every December to bake all the goodies all day long. Then I would give them
away for gifts! This
shows a cute way to package cookies for giveaway. If you’re planning a
gift-baking day this year, check it out!
Yesterday at work, we took personality tests…and when I read the
results to Ryan, he said it was almost scary how accurate mine was! It said I’m
a Defender.
Here are some paraphrases
of my results:
I’m hardworking and devoted and feel a deep sense of
responsibility to those around me.
I meet deadlines, uphold traditions (YES!!!!!), and often operate
behind the scenes.
I’m sensitive and caring and have an eye for detail.
I’m loyal and don’t love change.
I’m meticulous to the point of perfectionism (YESS!!!!!!!) and
take my responsibilities personally.
I’m supportive, reliable, and sometimes overcommitted.
Yep, Yep, and Yep!
Ryan wanted to
take the test too, so he took it last night, and it turns out we’re pretty much
polar opposites. He’s 74% extraverted (which I find to be a conservative
estimate) to my 83% introverted (which feels a little high to me, though I am
more introverted than most realize). His type was Consul.
He’s caring, social, and always eager to help (TRUE!!!)
He’s attentive and people-focused.
He’s generous, reliable, and hospitable.
He’s a servant who does the right thing. (YES!!!)
He’s loyal, warm, and connects well with others.
The part that
made me laugh was the part at the end, where they gave examples of people with
these personality traits. I laughed because many of these I would never call
similar with each other, but…are you ready?
My personality
is like: Queen Elizabeth II, Vin Diesel, Halle Berry, Kate Middleton, Anne
Hathaway and…Bree Van de Kamp from Desperate Housewives. (Never would I
liken Bree to Kate Middleton in personality!)
As for Ryan…he’s
like: Taylor Swift, Jennifer Garner, Steve Harvey, Jennifer Lopez, Sally Field
and…Monica from Friends. (He does clean that thoroughly!)
So there you go…we’ve
got personality, and when you add us together, we have ALL the personality!
When Ryan and I married, we made a choice to do life together.
It reminded me of my grandparents, who did everything together for as
long as I could remember. I was excited about the idea of sharing everything –
from the mundane to the grand – after so many years of being on my own.
Some people
celebrated that desire with us and others told us we were ridiculous. Spend
time apart, they’d say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. But we always knew
our choice was to forge a life together. It suits us, and we embrace it.
And so we’ve
done just that. We grocery shop together, cook together, do housework together,
watch TV together – even when we don’t always choose the same shows.
Over the
weekend, Ryan wasn’t feeling well, so I ventured forth to do a little shopping
on my own. It wasn’t the same kind of fun I would have had with him, but it was
fun, just the same. I lingered in a thrift store, revisiting the same shelves
over and over, making sure I really didn’t leave any regrets behind.
Also recently,
he had to work longer into the evening than he normally does. Lexi and I stared
at one another, trying to figure out what to do with all this extra time! I
read in my novel, and she sat on my feet in support. We cooked and cleaned and
tried to get everything looking shiny for his return home. (Well, I
cooked and cleaned. She watched.)
It made me
think about the things I do enjoy working on when I have some extra time to
myself.
I get lost in books.
I write for hours.
I scrapbook.
I plan vacations.
I scour Pinterest.
I brainstorm projects in my mind.
I will always
choose time with Ryan over anything else, but when I have time alone, I do
enjoy the opportunity to dig into some of my favorite things. How about you?
What’s your favorite thing to do when you have time to yourself?
I want to start today by wishing my dad a happy 91st
birthday! That is such an incredible milestone! Hope you have the best day!
(Here is a
picture from his 90th birthday…when he saw our lake house for the
first time!)
A couple of nights
ago, I received a group text, completely out of the blue, from one of my friends
from elementary/junior high/high school. Back in those days, there were three
of us who were pretty inseparable. In our tiny little school in a tiny little
town, in our tinier-yet little class, the three of us formed a friendship that
carried us through all the years of teenage angst and turmoil.
When she sent
the text, she thanked the two of us for being such a great friend to her through
all those years. As she now navigates parenting her own teenage daughter, she
realizes what a rare gift it is to have deep friendships that are true and
long-lasting.
Our
conversation was brief, but it left me once again so grateful for these friends
God arranged for me so many years ago. Had I been one grade ahead or behind, I
would have missed out on those friendships.
It’s also not
lost on me that they are still my friends all these years later. I am
thankful they have been willing to continue our friendship even after the
obligatory years of high school.
But you know
what meant the most to me? She acted on the thought. She thought of us and was
thankful for our friendship – and she took the time to say so. How many of those
moments do we allow to slip through our hands every day?
Do you have a friendship
you’re grateful for? Have you said it out loud? This would be a great day to do
it!
What a great question Tammy left in the comments on Sunday! She
asked what advice I would give to someone who has never really studied the Bible.
Where do you even start when it feels overwhelming?
I should say
that a few of the suggestions I’m about to give are resources I have not used
personally, not because I think I’m above them, but because I just haven’t had
time to visit each one. But if I suggest something I haven’t tried, I’ll tell
you why I think it might be a good one.
First I will
say that if you aren’t familiar with studying the Bible, it really can be
helpful to use a resource as a guide while you learn. My only caution would be
to beware of using only the resource and not ever digging into the
actual Word of God. But if the resource is truly a supplement to help you understand,
then I am all for it!
I also
recommend getting a good study Bible that has helpful notes about the verses in
the text. My favorite for first-time learners is the Life Application Study
Bible, which you can get in a handful of Bible translations/versions. Most study
Bibles only come in one option of a version, but that one encompasses several.
I used it for about a decade and felt it helped me understand what the verses
meant – and how to apply them to my own life. I’ve given this Bible as a gift
before, because I believe it is so worthwhile!
Now…on to some
other resources:
The first one I’ll
suggest came highly recommended by my sister, who did it in a group study she
was part of years ago. The book is called Seamless, and it’s written by
Angie Smith. Angie’s husband, Todd, is the lead singer of Selah, but Angie
has written a number of books, and I’ve read some of her other titles. In
looking information up about the book just now, it appears that Seamless
is the Bible study session version of this book, but Woven (also by
Angie) is the “regular book” version. So it looks like you have options on how
to ingest the information, but what you’ll find inside is probably fairly
similar between the two. The study helps you understand how all the books of
the Bible work together as one account. My sister said she learned a lot from
this one and that it was engaging and interesting. Given that she already knew
a lot about the Bible, I would say that is a good endorsement. Angie, the author,
has a gift for understanding women and teaching in relatable ways, so I think
this could be a great resource. If you struggle to see how every part of the
Bible matters and fits together, see if this helps!
Another resource
I’ve heard great reviews about is The Bible Recap. It’s a 365 day
guide to reading through the Bible. It points you to a passage to read (to get
you through the Bible in a year) but then the book helps you make sense of what
you’ve read if you’re confused. I’ve also heard there is a short daily podcast
that further explains things that might be confusing. (Candace Cameron Bure
just gave this one a shout-out on her social media. She is using it this year
and has invited her social media followers to join in!)
The Daily
Grace Co. has a growing number of Bible studies that cover specific books
of the Bible and also some topics. Their studies are beautifully presented, but
I also feel like they do a good job of pointing readers into Scripture and not
just giving them something to read ABOUT Scripture. I did their study on the
Biblical covenants and found it fascinating. (I've done several of theirs, but the Covenant study has been my favorite.) They have a series called Eden to Eternity that is a chronological study of the Bible; I would imagine that would be a good study option! Search the Word also teaches you good ways to go about studying the Bible in practical ways. I have read that one.
I’ve been using
Precept USA studies, which really push you to find answers for yourself in
Scripture. They have studies at all sorts of levels – from short to very
in-depth, so you can choose the amount of time you have and go from there.
I’ve often
heard that if you don’t know where to start – start with the Gospel of John, to
get a full view of Jesus’ life and the Gospel message, and then move on into
the subsequent New Testament books. I agree with that, but I am also an
advocate for remembering to include the Old Testament. Those books matter too!
I hope these
ideas help! I would also add, as a final note, to get yourself connected with a
reputable church/pastor/small group/Sunday School teacher/mentor. Find someone
(or several of them) who has deep roots in the Lord and ask for help on
specific points you may not understand! I have learned SO MUCH from the churches
I’ve attended throughout my life, the ministers who have preached sermons, the
small group leaders and members I’ve shared life with, my many Sunday
School teachers over the years, and women who have been farther in their walk
with Christ than I am. We can all always learn more!
Edit: Ryan also reminded me that The Bible Project has some great resources as well. They have some classes you can take in a video format, and he has really enjoyed the ones he's taken!
It’s been eleven years now since Ryan and began our annual tradition
of having a fall photo shoot. We had just gotten engaged and planning our photo
shoot felt like the first “real” thing I did as a bride.
We actually had
two separate photo shoots. The first was at Matter Park in Marion – a place that
became so dear to us over the years we lived in that city. Ryan’s mom took the
pictures for us, and we had the best time scampering all over the park, finding
the best of the changing leaves and golden hour before it grew too dark to continue.
A few days later, we took a few more pictures at the cabin where Ryan’s mom and
Allen lived for the last decade of their lives.
I loved that
photo shoot, and we still have a couple of pictures hanging in our home that
came from that very day.
From that year
forward, every fall, we’ve had photos taken. We’ve landed in a variety of
cities, towns, parks, fields, and even our own backyard! We’ve worked with a
handful of photographers. I’ve had probably as many haircuts and colors as
years of photography!
Each year is a
story. Each year is a memory. And each year supplies us with our Christmas card
photo(s).
I make a spread
of our favorite photos from each year to include in our chronological photo
albums, but I realized this week that I should make a little album of each of
those photo shoots, highlighting the fuller spectrum of the photos taken. After
all, the photographers have given us a rich gift in capturing our smiles, our
love, and our personalities. It would be a grand delight to be able to see their
work on display in little books.
While I work on
this project, I thought I would share the idea with you, along with these
reminders:
·
Fall is a great time to take annual pictures, but it’s not the only
time. Winter can make an equally stunning backdrop…as can spring…and summer!
Pick a season and run with it.
·
Even if you don’t have kids – and even if you’re single! – you still
can qualify for a photo shoot. When we went to our friend Jamie’s wedding last
weekend, I loved it that their wedding video included photos of her from photo
shoots throughout her single years. I was so proud of her for choosing to have
photo shoots even on her own.
·
Keeping a quick bullet list of the year, the location, the
photographer, and anything else that was particularly meaningful about that
photo session could be really helpful down the road when memory fades and you wonder
about the details.
Happy photo sessions, friends! I encourage you to make the
memories and then preserve them for years to come!
This past week has been full of prepping to speak, and it has
been my favorite thing. Sitting at my desk, Bible open, thoughts flowing…this
is one of the sweetest ways to spend time.
In one of my sharing
times, I’ll be talking about the importance of spending time deeply searching
God’s Word. It’s so easy to grab a verse here and there, supplemented by some
sugary devotional thoughts, and call it a day. I’ve been working hard to spend
more time exploring fuller passages and studying for myself, not depending on
others’ words.
My Bible, which
has room for notes, has been mine long enough that it’s starting to look lived
in, and it brings such joy to my heart. When I open it, I find notes and
highlights that remind me of specific pieces of my recent heart-journey. I find
notes of verses friends sent to me to encourage me on hard days. I find
reminders of deep studies I’ve done over topics and books. I find quotes from
teachers and pastors that have impacted my life.
And it’s just
beginning. I still have so much more room in there to study and write and color
code and grow.
There are more
verses to map and understand. There are sections to commit to memory. There are
familiar passages to revisit from a new angle to try to learn more.
I hope you’ll
take some time on this Sabbath day to do the same. I hope you’ll not just catch
a Scripture-snack, but you’ll dive in and really read. Really study. Really
discover something you’ve never seen before.
And as you do,
I hope your faith solidifies and deepens. I hope your love for the Lord grows!
This week has been a busy one here in Shafferland – on and off
the work clock. Therefore, today I present you the most random assortment of
items! No rhyme or reason today!
ONE.
I had to throw away another pair of socks this week. The bottom
side officially had a larger hole space than material covering the bottom of my
foot, so I finally gave in and called that pair permanently retired. I told Ryan
this means I’ll soon need new socks, because I’ve had to permanently retire
several lately. While I usually wear no-show socks in the summer, I do love a
good fun pair of taller socks in the winter. This site has a ton of them (I have not
vetted every single pair, so hopefully there aren’t any/many unsavory options
on the site) and I love the back story of the company! I think I need the “You Are
Still on Mute” socks because I say that a lot in my virtual meeting world!
TWO.
Speaking of my virtual meeting world, apparently I have been
inspiring some of my coworkers to step up their earring game. It’s one of the main
things you can see on screen in our meetings, and I’m regularly getting
compliments on my earrings. It’s been fun to see some of my new friends sporting
some of their new finds with much joy, which leads me to share this
shop. I have a couple of their designs on my wish list, and I think they
have a bunch of pretty ones! (Not all of their earrings are my style, but I do
love a bunch of them.)
THREE.
It’s been a full eleven years now since I started having bridal
showers and we started receiving wedding gifts. We registered for these Oxo
storage containers and all of them are still in great shape and getting
daily use. I actually have this
set on my wish list, because I’d love to finish out the cohesive look of my
cabinet interior storage. But I just wanted to vouch for the life of these products.
Still going strong all these years later! (I love that they store well because
of their shape and you can see right in to know exactly how much product you
have left.)
FOUR.
These mini
baked potatoes are adorable. Ryan and I have not made this exact recipe,
but we really love these little tiny potatoes for sheet pan dinners, etc. If you’re
having a little party, these would make the cutest appetizers. Cute food for the
win!
FIVE.
This isn’t a tour of a whole home (and it’s not a home for sale)
but it’s a
fun peek at fall décor in a sweet home I’ve enjoyed following. Maybe it
will bring coziness and inspiration to your day.
SIX.
And finally today…I always try to pass along good Bible study
options to you when I find them. This was a new one to me this
week, and while I have not seen them in person myself, I trust the person
who posted that her church is using them. They are Bible study guides…but the
intent is to get YOU into the Bible, not to offer a bunch of extra personal
commentary. They don’t have every single book of the Bible published in a
study, but the store has a great base of study guides, so I’m passing along the
idea to you!
