Random Ramblings

Most of the leaves are gone. We are having unseasonally warm days. It is amazing how different 70 degrees feels in the summer than in the fall. In the summertime, when it gets down to 70, it feels wonderfully cool and refreshing. In fall, the same temperature feels very, very warm. Probably because it's 25 in the morning on the way to work, and by noontime, it's so warm that I am overdressed. And then I usually forget my jacket at work and have to wear a different one the next morning when it's again down in the 20s. Very strange time of the year around here.

The sun rises much further south, meaning that it isn't in my eyes as I head north. I pulled off the road and sat on a bit of a rise to watch it happen the other morning on the way to work. I sat there for about 15 minutes, watching the sunrise evolve. It was a great way to start the day.

As I was leaving my neighborhood the other day I saw this "burning bush" with just the right amount of sun shining - one of the last bits of beautiful color for this season:

I took one last shot of the wonderful layers of gray in the early evening:

I am experiencing a bit of "Retirementitis". Remember "Senioritis?" This is a related malady with many similarities. I see the end of the road in sight, but I see how much has to be done before the end. Things that haven't bothered me for all these years have begun to irritate me. The task of writing down what I do in great detail for the next person is totally daunting. I'm trying to remember to enjoy every day. I keep thinking of things as "the last time" I do this process. It feels very strange.

I'm reading a book by Maeve Binchy, which I heard about through the Woman to Woman book review last month. I have read many of her books, but hadn't read one for awhile. The book is Nights of Rain and Stars. I love to "read" it as I go to work and back, with CDs. I am so glad I decided to do this particular book this way. Not only does it save time and give me something enjoyable to do as I compute, but there is another advantage. The book features 5 characters from different countries - England, Ireland, Greece, America, and Italy. The reader has the marvelous gift of accents. Every conversation is in its own vernacular. I recommend this way of "reading" if you have a reason to be in your car for extended periods of time.

The other day I left it on when I picked up Care Bear from school. As we headed down the road, I expected her to ask me for one of her music CDs. Interestingly, she just sat quietly in her car seat. I thought maybe she was dozing. But suddenly she piped up, "That's a book on the radio!" She was listening to the story.

I've been the chairperson of our mission program in our local church for many years. This week-end we had our Faith Promise emphasis. We had a wonderful missionary speaker from Ecuador, followed by a "Round the World Dinner." People were asked to bring something representing their ethnic background. We had a wonderful variety of yummy dishes. I didn't realize we had so many Germans, though - 4 different pots of sauerkraut! Each had a different type of meat. I'm not crazy about sauerkraut, but I sampled each, and they each had a bit of a different taste. My dad, who really dislikes the smell of sauerkraut, was glad for once that his sense of smell has disappeared! I took my "famous" Swedish meatballs and made some Glorified Rice from my Scandinavian childhood Christmases at Grandma's.

I haven't posted one of my favorite devotionals from Max Lucado for awhile. Here is one from his book In the Eye of the Storm. It's called "God Will Get You Home." The scripture is from II Corinthians 4:18, "What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever."

"For some of you, the journey has been long. Very long and stormy. In no way do I wish to minimize the difficulties that you have had to face along the way. Some of you have shouldered burdens that few of us could ever carry. You have bid farewell to life-long partners. You have been robbed of life-long dreams. You have been given bodies that can't sustain your spirit. You have spouses who can't tolerate your faith. You have bills that outnumber the paychecks and challenges that outweigh the strength.

"And you are tired.

"It's hard for you to see the City in the midst of the storms. The desire to pull over to the side of the road and get out entices you. You want to go on, but some days the road seems so long. . .

"Let me encourage you. . . God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile."

I needed that today. I hope it speaks to you, too.