A Saturday Report In Late October

The month of October is nearly over. Oh my. That's a bit hard to wrap my head around. The World Series is underway (or so I'm told). I realize the NFL has started playing games again but when your state is home to the Bengals and Browns...does the NFL really matter? And I've noticed the weather is getting colder, darker, and damper which means it won't be long before it's COLDER, DARKER, AND FREEZING.

So as the leaves fall from the trees, as the clouds come in to roost for the next six months, and we put a new filter in the furnace...we appreciate the few warm, sunny days left in 2011 by spending time on our back deck, which gets the full sun, and getting ready to augment the heat of our heater with a bit of real wood for the fireplace.

Karen and Tanner enjoy some fall sun.

I enjoy my one-day-a-year use of a man-tool.

Thanks for letting me borrow the saw, Tim!

The fall is a great time for reflection and I was blessed to get away on a personal retreat earlier this month to enjoy a long weekend of silence and solitude. Here are a couple snapshots of the scenery from one of the hikes I took as part of my retreat. If you haven't broken out of your routine for a while...I can't encourage you enough to get away, catch your breath, and to simply sit at God's feet. You'll be amazed at what He says...if you get quiet enough, long enough, to listen for His still, small voice.

Beginning of the trail

On the trail

Along the trail

Reflection

These are tiny, delicate flowers growing in the anarchy of a field of wild grass.

God's attention to detail is beyond our comprehension.