Our Glorious Fall Colors ~

Here in Colorado the colors have been magnificent this year!

Our spring was long with plenty of moisture 

and I believe because of that we are reaping the glorious

benefits now in the changing of colors 

as our aspen trees, grasses and shrubs show forth their beauty.

Our home is surrounded with glorious yellows, reds, oranges and green

with beauty at every turn.

As I step out of the house I can't help but sing the hymn Majesty;

There's glory at every turn and my praise

is to God and God alone!

Isn't His world glorious?!

Majesty, worship His majesty, 

Unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority flow from His throne unto His own;

His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus,

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus the King.

Majesty, worship his majesty;

Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings.

The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty;

the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith

he hath girded himself: the world also is established, 

that it cannot be moved.

Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,

the floods have lifted up their voice;

the floods lift up their waves.

The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters,

yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becomes thine house,

O Lord, forever.

~ Psalm 93:1-5 ~

The reason Aspen leaves change, like the leaves of any deciduous tree,

is because of a decrease in photosynthetic activity 

as the days get shorter in the fall.

The gold and yellow colors we see in autumn 

are always there; in the fall, they simply are revealed

when the green hues from chlorophyll production fade.

☆ Colorado State Forest Service  ☆

I've always said that the leaves on an Aspen tree clap their hands.

Well, flat rather than round stems allow the leaves to flutter 

making them sound as if they are clapping.

Plus, stems give leaves strength, 

allowing them to twist in the wind.

That is why the Aspen tree is so beautiful when the wind blows.

I pray that you are enjoying all he beauty and glory

that surrounds you.

God, in His greatness shows forth Himself everywhere we look,

don't miss out on the glories He has for you.

Take care my lovely friends and joy to you!

Be Lovely!

Debbie

Return from Arizona ~ Ladies Retreat

"Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;

for it is pleasant; and praise is beautiful."

~ Psalm 147:1 ~

My heart is extremely full of praise and thanksgiving!

Thank you each and everyone who prayed for me 

as I traveled to and from Arizona.

I had also asked for prayer on behalf of mom as she 

had surgery on her hand and elbow, and with another praise, 
the surgery went very well and mom is doing great.

Mom can already feel the change from the nerve block

and is able to use her cane now with out severe pain.

I've had a song of praise in my heart now for the past few weeks as

God's goodness time and again, fills my heart with joy.

Arizona was HOT 🌵☀️

I'll never forget the day it was 109 degrees!

It was a great time regardless of the heat

and I was able to accomplish so much for mom.

I did some pruning on a few cactuses around mom's home

and found it quite different from the type of pruning here in Colorado.

Mom and I took a beautiful drive through the

Saguaro Desert National Park on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

You know...the more I visit Arizona, the more beautiful I find it.

Such beauty in each and every cactus, even this disfigured one.

The second day on my drive home I chose to take a scenic route 

and I was not disappointed!

My dad loved taking the back roads and I'm no different.

It was a perfect sunny day and it was as if I had the road all to myself.

Slow and peaceful is the best way to describe that drive.

Donatella and I stopped a number of times

and took a leisurely walk discovering new territory. 

Oh the new smells that Donatella enjoyed,

she was in her Hound dog glory! 🐾

As I came around a bend there was a herd of buffalo in the field
and what a magnificent sight!
This was quite an awesome ranch and well looked after.
The buffalo seemed quite at peace on those grounds near that pond.
I quickly turned the car around and sat by the roadside 
drinking in the beauty of this magnificent animal, God's creation.
When I left Arizona the temperatures were in the 90's and cooling down some.
I left behind warm sunny days and beautiful blooming foliage
and was greeted with the changing of colors in our Aspen trees.
One of the mountain passes I drove over had a few clumps of yellow
popping up announcing that Fall was arriving.
While I love and enjoy all the seasons, I have to be honest,
I am not ready for this next season quite yet.
 

"God is with you"
"If you have a heart willing to be changed
and a mind willing to be stretched, 
our God has something amazing planned for you.".

This was the theme for the ladies retreat 
with Liz Curtis Higgs in Pagosa Springs Colorado.
Three days after I returned home from Arizona, I repacked my suitcase
and headed for some quiet time alone
just me and God, and a whole lot of joy and laughter
with author/speaker Liz Curtis Higgs.
It was through a dear blogging friend and her giving heart
that I was introduced to Liz just after my knee surgery over a year ago.
Liz is a cancer survivor who has an infectious positive attitude, who is
full of joy laughter and a smile that warms your heart.
Being able to go to one of her speaking engagements 
has been a desire of mine since I first read her book
"31 Verses To Write On Your Heart".
Liz teaches the Word of God in a way that you understand it ~ word for word 
and in a way that is thought provoking for your own personal walk with the Lord.
 She's amazing!

~ Liz and myself at the retreat ~

I had the most wonderful time at this retreat!!
I left Pagosa Springs having met new friends and sisters in Christ
and a renewed and refreshed heart through the working of the Spirit.
Liz does not usually speak to small groups,
but God opened up that door for a unique purpose 
and I truly believe that it was God's appointment for my being there.
Three Bible characters Liz spoke of were, Sarah, Lea and Hagar,
and she shared how "God was with them".
God knew them, He knew their situations, their troubles pain and sorrow
and He met them right where they were and never left them.
God's love is enough, may we never forget that!
The joy of the Lord is our strength,
the strength of the Lord is our joy.

You know summer is coming to an end when these beauties arrive.
These happy little "weeds" line our highways 
as our Summer comes to a close.
I love seeing these as they show off their happy faces,
it's just knowing what follows... the end to another Summer season
that I dislike about their appearance.
I'm doing my best in making the rounds so I can visit with you,
but these last few weeks have not allowed for many visits.
I hope to catch up with you and the beauty you share 
with us throughout our blogging community.
Take care my friends and God be with you.
God is worthy of our praise!

Joy!
Debbie
💖

Writing Letters ~

Grandma Maxie with two of her sons ~ my precious dad is sitting next to grandma
Uncle Spike was instrumental in my salvation and my personal relationship with Jesus


 My mother was going through her things doing some more purging
when she came across some old hand written letters by
my Grandmother (dads mother).
She asked if I would like them and happily, I said yes!
Grandma always began her letters with ~ Good Morning,
 as she was an early riser and made her way out to her little 
"Rancho Chico" as soon as she was able.
Grandma loved the outdoors and played on her little ranch with delight.
I'm pretty sure I took after Grandma Maxie in that respect, why,
once the weather is warm I absolutely DO NOT want to be inside!
I believe Grandma knew that if she didn't write her letters 
first thing in the morning, then they would never be written.
Hand written letters are becoming a lost art, yet, 
I think we can all say that we enjoy a hand written letter
delivered to us in our mail box now and then, don't we?
I actually enjoy writing personal words to others either 
in a card or on pretty stationary, which is hard to find these days.

☆ ☆ ~ ♡ ♡ ~ ☆ ☆

In one of my daily Devotional readings the topic was on ~
"Writing Letters" 
quite fitting I thought as I had just received my Grandmother's letters.
2 Corinthians 3:2
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,
known and read of all men."
♡♡♡
The apostle Paul's words ~ "that those who follow Jesus
are "a letter from Christ," who were 
"written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God."
2 Corinthians 3:3
"Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the
epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink,
but with the Spirit of the living God;
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
♡♡♡
Paul encouraged the church in Corinth to keep on following 
the true and living God as he had previously taught. 
In doing so, he memorably described the believers as Christ's letter.
Their transformed lives were a more powerful witness to the 
Spirit's work than any written letter could be.
God's Spirit in us writes a story of grace and redemption!
It is our lives that are best witness to the truth of the Gospel,
for they speak volumes through our compassion,
service, gratitude, and joy.
What message might you send today?
Please know that as it states in John 17:3 ~ It is never too late
to enter into a personal relationship with God thru His Son, Jesus Christ.
Open your heart to Him!
"And this is the life eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou has sent."

☆ ☆ ~ ♡ ♡ ~ ☆ ☆

The time has arrived for mom to return home, 
so Arizona, here we come!
I will be driving "Miss Daisy" back home
and staying in Arizona for a few weeks in order to
get mom and her home up and running after being away over the Summer.
Mom will have hand surgery while I'm with her
so I will be able to look after her needs.
Once again ~ may I ask for your prayers as we travel and for her surgery?
There is great peace in knowing others are in prayer with you
and I certainly covet your prayers. ♡

Joy!
Debbie

One Year Ago ~

A big HELLO to you my dear and faithful blogging friends!

I trust you have been enjoying the beauty

of Summer right where God has planted you.

We couldn't ask for a nicer Summer than what we have had.

Yes, our Spring was long and wet with an awful lot of snow,

but boy did it ever help in yielding the most luscious, green Summer.

This past week as I've gone out and taken my daily walks with sweet Donatella,

each day is showing evidence that our Summer is soon coming to an end.

These photos I'm sharing are signs of what has arrived and what's around the corner.

The daisies are in their assortment of color

along with the light shades of grasses mixed with horse tails,
or cat tails as some call them.

August can be cooler with rain here in the Rocky mountains,
my husband's favorite month ~ maybe it's because his Birthday is this month? 😊

September can bring with it an awesome Indian Summer, 
but then the dreary month of October arrives with little to no color at all.

I'm the type of person who takes each day as they are given to me

from our Great God, and I enjoy them all.

It was one year ago when I had my total knee replacement 

and when I saw my Orthopedic surgeon he was delighted with my results.

My x-ray was perfect with nothing showing scar tissue or arthritis

and my bend as well as how straight I am able to put my leg

was awesome according to the Doctor.

I was told to keep doing what I've been doing as it appears to be working.

I've been faithful in massaging my knee with cocoa butter daily

praying that it will help with the scar tissue 

as I've heard it can creep in quickly.

My therapist told me that I was to ride my stationary bike 

 20 minutes a day for the rest of my life.

I guess I had better obey. 😉

Exercise...Mmm ...that's not every one's most favorite thing to do 

but we all know how important it is for our health and heart.

My new knee holds me accountable these days,

and for that, I am very thankful.
I'm reminded of these Scriptures ~
"Exercise thyself rather unto godliness"
~ 1 Timothy 4:7b ~
"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness
is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come."
~ 1 Timothy 4:8 ~
Exercise is important, because the body is God's temple.
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit 
of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;
for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
~ 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ~

 Exercising unto godliness is profitable both now and in eternity. 
We would be foolish if we took care of our decaying bodies 
while ignoring our spiritual lives, which will last 
into eternity and which can be renewed day by day.
"And be not conformed to this world: 
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God."
~ Romans 12:2 ~
"For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man
is renewed day by day."
~ 2 Corinthians 4:16 ~

Like physical fitness, godliness is not developed by being passive 
and does not just happen; it requires effort and is 
maximized through our daily exercise (spiritual discipline).
As much as I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind,
disciplining myself  in exercise both for my soul and body,
ISN'T EASY!

I think we all know deep down the importance of  exercise,
but unfortunately it's easy to find a reason not to exercise.
Years ago, I read somewhere on the topic of exercise
and it has stayed with me, though I may fail at times,
it's still in the back of my mind.
It was something like this, and so true ~
Knowing we should exercise regularly but not doing it can create negative feelings 
toward ourselves, and that is an energy drain.
The way this happens is every time you think of exercise,
all day, if you haven't done it yet, you say to yourself, 
" Well, I haven't done any yet today,
and I probably won't be able to later, so I'll do it tomorrow."
Meanwhile you can't help feeling guilty.
However, if you exercise first thing in the morning, 
then every time you think of exercise during the day,
it's with a feeling like "Yeah! I've already exercised!"
It fills you with a fantastic positive feeling for yourself,
and these feelings spill over into other areas of our life.
Everything is enhanced.
Once we get into the habit of exercising every morning,
we'll get to the point where we'll actually feel disappointed 
if we miss a day.
And that my friends, goes for bodily as well as spiritual exercise.

~ ~ ❤  ❤ ❤ ~ ~

"Horses sweat, men perspire, and women glow."
I like that!
As women, we glow when we exercise, but don't you find 
that we have a godly glow after we have been with Jesus?

Be Lovely!
Debbie

Peaceful Sunset ~

 ~ Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing Who to thank ~

While my husband and I were in Canada back in June

we did as we always do and went down to the beach

to watch the sunset.

This particular evening we had gone out for a delicious fish dinner

with family members on my husband's side,

then headed to the beach.

Southampton Ontario, which is on Lake Huron is known for their
majestic sunsets, many of them with gorgeous pink tones

and this one did not disappoint.

When we arrived it was looking as if it wasn't going to amount to much,

but wow!

I was headed back to the car thinking it can't get any better,

then I turned around and captured this photo of the family silhouetted 

with my phone no less.

What a picture!

As the sun began to go down the colors came alive

and looked more vibrant with each snap shot.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

{ Psalm 19:1 }

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised.

{ Psalm 113:3 }

The day is thine, the night also is thine: 

thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

{ Psalm 74:16 }

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.

{ Psalm 119:105 }

And the evening and the morning were the third day. 
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven
to divide the day from the night;

 and let them be for signs, and for seasons, 
and for days and years. 

 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth:
and it was so. 
{ Genesis 1:13 ~ 15 }

Glory to God in the Highest!

Joy!
Debbie