Food, Frolicking & Fun: Ageless Traditions

Somethings just say Halloween---

for our house it's a big pot of chili simmering....
(just as it is in in Prospect Place)

and our porch light turned to "ON."

It's also a clear glass pumpkin of candy corn

and this year .....

a jar of goodies from"Boo Boo" was added.

Trick or treating continues for our family from Harry Potters at our church

"Fall Fests"..... 

........trunk & treating in Richland Acres, .......

to a "Trick or Treating Lady Butterfly" to stores in Brooklyn

......to Summerfield subdivision in Allen, Texas..... 

1 bushman, 2 ghosts and 1 "old" Tony Romo

Our neighbor hood doesn't have so many trick or treaters anymore---most are  legally "too old" to trick or treat, but one (aka M&M) discovered he's never to old to have a little fun....

even though his "plug" fell off & deflated him a bit. It was all worth the laugh!

FUN is AGELESS!!

"Out, Out"...Inadequacy BLOT

Mental BLOTS are dark and they can stain one's psyche----the center of his thoughts & feelings.

I have a blot of inadequacy that tends to blotch my confidence when it comes to "publicly" teaching spiritual things that seem "too hard for me."

I know "nothing is too hard for God"(Jeremiah 32:27) so why don't I refocus and "look up" as soon as the blot appears! Before it completely smudges my thinking!

I need to "move" those scriptures, which I know to be truth, from my head to my heart.

For nothing will be impossible with God. ~ Luke 1:37

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me....2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How can one feel inadequate when her adequacy is in Him. Grateful for the quote from, 100 Things God Loves About You, a recent birthday gift from Buddy & Charlotte, because #6 in the book reminded me to, 'throw your hands up to Him and say, "I can't do this by myself!' Because when you reach up, He loves to reach down, lift you up, and carry you close to His heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

That  "reach up" pithy grabber coupled with 1 Timothy 1:12 erased my inadequacy blot and replaced it with a clear sense of thankfulness knowing the the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who gives me strength "because He judged me faithful appointing me to His service."
As His appointee, He will make me adequate, equipped for every good work of His. (2 Timothy 3:17)

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Heading back to prayer chair for friends--as NEEDS of others have been so great the last few weeks.

Many are surgeries & CANCER related---bone cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, but loss of a mother, loss of a grandchild, loss of hope for a return to the "norm" for caregivers as dementia steals the mind of their loved one. 

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

Friends Sam and Suzie traveled to Uganda to "do good" in Uganda, Lori went to Turkey, Michele went to Thailand, Crickett, Mary and Kellye to Nepal and JoAnn to inner city Memphis. All traveled to "do good" for others taking my prayers with them as they went.

Today, for me, "my doing good" only requires me to "travel" to my prayer chair. 

Intercessory Prayer. What a privilege both at home and abroad.

✔ List = a Check in One's Spirit

My morning checklist seemed reasonably "painless." It was made in order of emails (not visible in pic) phone calls, &  errands---which were in directional order for ease and less gas consumption.
I am a frugal lady.

I have to admit I wondered which would be more painful---the 2nd pneumonia shot or waiting in a long line to vote----in what has been a less than honorable election campaign.

Pretty quickly, I had a check in my spirit because I KNOW how blessed I am to live in a country where voting is a privilege. Plus, I knew I could throw a book in my bag and a USA Today crossword I would be set regardless of the wait time.

Before I even made it to the polls, it became very evident to me that the SHOT was much more painful than the voting dilemma. It did not physically hurt, BUT I felt as if I had been "tricked" by Medicare. That was not only an emotional hurt  but a financial hurt as well.

Last year my internist suggested I receive the Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccination for adults over 65. Certainly TV adds have recently been loudly proclaiming the need for this immunization.

The polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is  given in two doses. I received my first dose, per my doc's rec,  on October 25 last year. Being a diligent rule follower, I waited the year requirement for my 2nd dose----the one with the 23 strains to fight pneumonia. BUT Medicare denied it, as reasons still unclear to me. They said they had already paid "once" & yet my "complete" dosage was to include 2 inoculations. The "system" would not budge....and frugal Dotsy had to cough up $109.99, which did not seem right.
But God quickly reminded me, via a check in my spirit, to be thankful that I could pay the $, though I still felt conned.

So I began to pray for a solution for elderly folks who could not afford it and for a repeal of the Mylan's astronomic prices (quintupled by Ms Bresch & Co.) for EpiPens, especially those needed by children.
I ripped up my entire checklist and laid all my anger before Him. Hopefully it was righteous anger spurred by a check in my spirit.

Time Compulsive

"TIME COMPULSIVE"---it's what I am---in all caps! 

Sweet church friend, Sally K's, mom used to tell her that she had no concept of time. That sounds like a luxury to me. No one would ever describe me in those terms. 

My family members have a variety of different descriptive words for my disorder----pretty "spot on" in a fun way. 

Clocks adorn every room. My favorite fashion accessory is a watch with large numbers and my favorite home decor is my "Pap's" (Adams) pocket watch which I had mounted. 

I even dubbed myself time compulsive in 2 blogs from earlier years---Journal Jottings in 2/21/09 and Time Compulsion...5/18/10. You'd think I'd learn that this "worrying habit" gets me nowhere fast. There is no time redemption in time compulsion, especially as one ages. It just takes longer to do less, not to mention how fast the years passing.

In God's time economy, there's always time for all that he requires. "Do Justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Even when I have too much "on my plate," the Lord has a way of redeeming my time when I spend time with Him first. The busyness gives way to a God-paced life.  For me, it seems that much more is accomplished for His glory when I "go" His pace. I can leave the tension and stress of my own frenzy in the dust.

Of course, regardless of my "compusivi-TEA," there's always time for a cuppa tea in my day!

A TEA for THEE

"A Tea for Thee" has certain qualifiers---it's done for the right reasons. To honor Him and to serve others.
Certainly today's Silver Tea did just that. The residents and their guests of the KDS Home can testify to that. (Matthew 25:40)

A panoply of beautiful tabletops were admired and delicious "tea" food was enjoyed as young pianists provided music to delight all.

A perfect Sunday afternoon "Tea for Thee" as it was done In His Name. (Philippians 4:20)

Do you Wanna Dance???

Wait ----I always wanna dance! I need to DA.N.C.E.----but I've lost my groove!
I'm not talking here of grooving to MoTown music. At the first strains of The Temptations, my toes start to tapping.
I'm talking "groove" as a noun---an established routine!

When I encounter struggles in health---mental or physical or "hurts" of the emotional sort, I practice turning to the Lord for understanding. That's the norm---the groove.
Lately, I seem to have turned to every "other" remedy including denial, i.e. "putting my head under the pillow" or busyness to take my mind off the problem. I need to D.A.N.C.E.
Discover what God's word says about the situation.
Accept where you are in the midst of it & ASK for His help.
Notice God's Hand in it.
Celebrate moments of victory, no matter how small.
Extend to another what you have learned in the midst of the struggle/life lesson.

Do you Wanna Dance??? I do!
I'm going to choose to D.A.N.C.E.

A TEXAS AUTUMN

Fall in Texas can greatly vary in temps but it NEVER varies in football. Football---a part of a Texan's DNA. In the Liles family it includes practices (lots) and games in BIG stadiums. Football is it's own season in the Lone Star State.

Certainly the glory of young men is their strength as Proverbs 20:29 states.----and I would add ENERGY!  

If injured, cast up, cover in bubble wrap and hit the field!

The conclusion of Proverbs 20:29 states that gray hair is the splendor of the old---a great reminder of how grateful I am (as I "cover up"my gray) to still be able to travel and spend time in Texas in the fall.

Legacy Building

"Legacy Building." Where does it all start. 

According to scripture, building a spiritual legacy begins in the home. (Deuteronomy 6:7) 

With five sons, a dad might need to be intentional about finding some one-on-one time in order to follow these commandments. (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

Or....take advantage of a spontaneous moment on "the "front steps."

Building a legacy takes many moments, both intentional and spontaneous.

You leave what you live.

Building a legacy side by side. Dog included!

CAFETERIA LUNCH

Cafeteria Lunch from 10:30-1:00 today!

I know that phrase does not bring to mind "fine dining" or grand spiritual truths----at least, NOT for me!

But God....showed me my wrong thinking. These boys are a "crown to this aged woman" (Proverbs 17:6) who is "older than Pop-Pop!" "And a reminder that have no greater desire than to see His righteousness lived out in their lives. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and His righteousness with their children’s children" (Psalm 103:17, emphasis mine)

What a privilege to have one-on-one time with 3 "grands" on a stage in the midst of Olsen Elementary's busy cafeteria. 

How else would I have been able to learn his kindergarten teacher had taught 2 of his older brothers, or the music teacher's name, or that this was the first time Andrew had eaten "on the stage" ......

....or I would not have understood John Parker's "take" on God's power in all of weather and the chances of tornados developing out of "Matthew Hurricane" and sharing with him that usually one uses the word hurricane to precede the name because that really gets the listener's attention before one actually names the hurricane.......

.....or would I have noticed that Caleb's new cast was on a different arm, or measured the size of the sandwich concoction which he could stick in his mouth, or have learned that science was 5 times harder in 5th grade than it had been in 4th. 

So much more cafeteria info, some just between a grandboy and his grandmother!!!

Cafeteria lunch. A blessing indeed!