Chapter 10, Page 1, Book 16

October 1st - a gentle nudging.

I’ve alluded to some changes in my life and I happened to read a reflection the other morning that really hit home here at my house so I had to share it with you all.

Nudged out of the nest…

As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, He spread abroad His wings and He took them, He bore them on His pinions.

 Deuteronomy 32:11

Baby eagles spend the first three months of their lives in the comfortable nest their parents have prepared. But the eaglets get a big surprise when they are about twelve weeks old. Their mother suddenly begins to throw all of their toys out of the nest.

Next, she begins to pull out all of the comfortable material in the nest—the feathers and the animal fur—and leaves the babies sitting on thorns and sticks. This is what the Bible means when it mentions that the mother eagle "stirs up her nest." The reason she stirs the nest is that she wants her babies to get out and fly.

Before long, the mother eagle begins to nudge them out of the nest. The little eaglets, who have no idea how to fly, fall through the sky, probably very frightened. Soon, though, they hear a ‘ hoooooooosh' as the mother eagle swoops up under them to catch them. At that point, the mother eagle takes the babies right back up to the nest and then nudges them out again. She keeps repeating the process, over and over again, until they finally understand that they have no choice but to fly.

The mother eagle does this because she loves them and wants them to have the best lives they can possibly have. Most eaglets won't get out of the nest without this push. Similarly, most of us will also choose comfort over challenge unless we have no choice at all.

 Do you feel as if God has pushed you out of your comfortable nest? Trust Him. He isn't trying to harm you—He's teaching you to fly!

That is what I will be doing - flying the coop. I really don’t have a choice.  I’ve been here in this comfortable place for right around 22 years now and you know you can accumulate a lot of STUFF in that amount of time.  I’ve got some time and it’s won't be done very quickly.  I’ll be downsizing and that is for the best. As you all know I’m not young any more and don’t move very quickly. I usually rest more than I work these days.

The good news is that the move is not being made because of my health or lack of funds and I’ve been assured that I can take my time, but I will be flying.  I trust in the good Lords gentle nudge and am keeping the faith that all will be well as I fly out of the nest.

Memorable moment:  buying two new storage bins and finding out that the lids didn’t fit.

Chapter 9, Page 30, Book 16

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they're gone. 

George Eliot

September 30th - saying farewell to September days

Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got

Art Buchwald

The days of September flew by here at my house.  I’m barely cognizant of the fact they even existed.  There were a few highlights that will definitely be remembered, but even though I try to make each day count, what happened to the other days is a blur.

Today is what counts and it’s up to me to make the moments memorable or not.  The next 24 hours has 1,440 minutes, all I can say is, I know I will never live these moments again. 

Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.

Just for fun, I’m going to try and keep track of a memorable moment for each day of October.  I live a pretty quiet life so maybe they won’t seem so memorable to you, but they will be the best I can do with the moments I have.

Yesterday’s memorable moment was hearing from both of my sisters.  I love them both so much and they mean a lot to me.  I don’t hear from either of them every day so it was memorable.  We’ll see what today brings!

Some moments are nice, some are
nicer, some are even worth
writing about.

Charles Bukowski

Chapter 9, Page 29, Book 16

Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD 

Kyle Lake

September 29th - Breathe deeply

Take a deep breath.

Count your blessings.

Seize the moment while you can.

There have been more than a few times that I’ve forgotten to breath lately.

 Breathing is supposed to be one of the simplest yet most effective ways to manage stress's effects on your body.  When you’re stressed, you have a tendency to breathe more shallowly and rapidly, some people even hold their breath, depriving their body of vital oxygen.  To promote relaxation, breathe slowly and deep. Breathing deeply and slowly instantly calms us down mentally as well as physically

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just breathe

That advice doesn't just apply to me and my life, it applies to all of us and we all sometimes need the reminder that we need to take a deep breath .  When you breathe in deeply you invite brand new life and possibilities.  Think about it: You can go weeks without food, days without water but only minutes without air.  Air is so much more than just oxygen. Your breath connects you to infinite potential and to the pure joy of being alive.

Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. 

Swedish Proverb

Chapter 9, Page 28, Book 16

Life is filled with seasons and this is a different season. 

Tom Brokaw

September 28th - A reason, a season, a lifetime...going with the flow

Things are the same and not the same here at my house.  Most days I try to go with the flow, knowing that things are not the same any more.  There is always the the same things to do but I’ve added a few new ones to the list.  Doing things the same and not the same is a mixture that has left me a little discombobulated.  

If you feather your nest with love, the bluebird of happiness is more likely to take up residence.

 Susan Gale 

My nest has had it’s feathers ruffled. Things in my comfortable nest have to be changed around.  Winter is coming and I must be prepared. Fall is a season of change and for me the changes are not all good.  One thing I know for sure is that everything happens for a reason so although it’s not the same. there will more than likely will be some good that comes out of it all.  We never give up hope, for ourselves or our loved ones!

I’ll be going with the flow even though each day is a constant change,  somethings stay the same and some change.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Chapter 9, Page 27, Book 16

If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time -- not tomorrow, nor next year, nor in some future life after we have died. The best preparation for a better life next year is a full, complete, harmonious, joyous life this year. Today should always be our most wonderful day. 

Thomas Dreier

September 27th - The only day that matters is today 

Build today, then strong and sure, With a firm and ample base; And ascending and secure. Shall tomorrow find its place. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's easy to get lost in the mistakes of yesterday or focus on the anxiety of what tomorrow will bring, but today is what matters. Live in the now and make today count. Focus on today. Do something that matters

It Doesn’t Matter

It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks

It doesn’t matter that my car is 10 years old

It doesn’t matter I gained five pounds

It doesn’t matter that I eat breakfast for dinner

It doesn’t matter if I have a bad hair day

It doesn’t matter that you forgot my birthday

It doesn’t matter that I came in last

It doesn’t matter what someone thinks of my family

It doesn’t matter if I leave dishes in the sink at night

It doesn’t matter how much money we have

It doesn’t matter that I’m short and your tall

It doesn’t matter the color of your skin

It doesn’t matter I made a mistake

It doesn’t matter what I did in my past

It doesn’t matter if you have the last word

It doesn’t matter if I don’t get my way

It doesn’t matter if you disagree with me

It Matters

It matters that I practice what I preach

It matters that I kissed him goodbye

It matters that I have compassion

It matters that I spoke kind words

It matters that I made someone smile

It matters that I spend time with family

It matters that I love my friends

It matters that I’m here to listen

It matters that I’m here to help

It matters that I forgive and forget

It matters that I am a happy person

Each day we are born again. It's what we do today that matters most.

Buddha

 

Chapter 9, Page 26, Book 16

I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall.

Author Unknown

September 26- lets Fall

I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it. 

Lee Maynard

Fall is such a great season. I love it mostly because of that wave of coldness I feel at the first sign of its approaching. After a long summer that crisp air that comes in the fall just feels so good and invigorates you.

 Fall makes us all feel like falling in love.  Maybe it’s simply because there is so much for us to fall for, and we notice a little bit more when the leaves start to fall.  Fall fills us with an inner warmth that cannot be matched by the summer’s sun.

It’s the cinnamon spices that linger in the air and leave a trail that forever smells like home.

We’re close to the weather forecasts that call for our beloved boots to hug our feet and snuggling into our scarves that still smell a bit of the last winter.  It’s falling in love with the layers you wear and the ones you’ve shed since the last fall when you let go of your inhibitions.

We fall in love with the season with our first sip of hot cider, as it hits your tongue, warm and quick, you can’t help but smile.

I’m falling for Fall in all it’s wondrous glory.  

Of all the seasons, autumn offers the most to man and requires the least of him. 

Hal Borland

Chapter 9, Page 25, Book 16

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.

Tom Bodett

September 25th - Another test, another lesson to be learned

 Life is a required course. Might as well do your best to pass it! You will get through this!

Max Lucado

Life is a test of seeing how a person will react to the various situations they will encounter.  The lessons learned in life are often ones we have to learn the hard way. School is where we go to learn the lessons, then take the test. However, in the school of life, tests come first and then hopefully we learn the lessons.  And guess what?  If you don’t past the test the first time, you get to learn the lessons again.

We do learn a lot from our mistakes.  I'm still working on this, and some lessons take longer than others.  It's never easy to admit you've made a mistake, but it's a crucial step in learning, growing, and improving yourself.

When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.

Rick Warren