October memories – 2023

Hello, friends!

October was so full of life. The hard. The beautiful. The crazy. The calm.

Here’s a glimpse…

Things worth remembering…

• ice cream and card games and Orion
• The Turkey Discovery (if you know, you know)
• managing to wrangle six heads of hair into curls or updos
• a wedding!!!
• being pleasantly surprised by the fact that that the “intruder” who scared me half to death was the brother I hadn’t seen in months
• ax throwing for the first time (I was not as good as I thought I could be)
• balloon arch adventures
• introducing my sisters to Bleak House
• finally going on the hike I’d wanted to do all summer
• using the Passover lesson in Sunday school as an excuse to make matzah bread ❤
• a photography session with sisters
• getting my hair chopped

He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me.

A.W. Pink

What I’ve been reading…

(Yes, this list is nearly identical to last month’s list. October was not my best reading month ever.)

The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien

There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow.

Yes, I’ve been slogging through this the entire month, and I’m not even halfway through. I loved The Hobbit, and so was determined to like this one. Thankfully the story is picking up again and I’m enjoying it instead of making myself read it. XD

The Pursuit of God – A.W. Tozer

As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace?…Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear…The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world was not worth the effort.

I’m just wrapping this one up for the second time, and it’s so very good.

Cathedral – Maya Joelle

You are worthless, and yet you deserve so much more than you are given. I tear you apart with contradiction. – from coming, written from the perspective of Death

I’m rereading this book this fall! It’s one of my favorite collections of poetry…Maya’s words strike a chord deep in the soul and hold out such solid truth. If you’re looking for a good little book of melancholy-yet-somehow-hopeful poetry for this autumn, I’d definitely recommend it. ❤

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Kathrina von Schlegel (translated by Jane Borthwick)

From the journal…

ISN’T HE [Christ] WORTH EVERYTHING?

The redemption and healing feels long in coming some days, but, oh, Father, You are trying our souls in Your crucible until we come forth as gold. Thank You for caring enough to make us like You, no matter how uncomfortable the flames.

How was your October? Are there any happenings/quotes/reads that stick out to you? ❤

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

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