Parchment Paths

This past weekend I went to the second to last closing day of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.  The late autumn weather was perfect, a touch chilly with warm sunshine and of course the lovely leaves dropping from the trees to carpet the ground. The Halloween decorations made a great touch as well. While, I love the faire all season long, the Halloween themed weekends are my favorite time to attend.There's just something extra special about it.  Maybe it's because I love fall and Halloween or maybe because it's the end of the faire season and you look back at the wonderful times and are hopeful for even more wonderful times to come. Another great thing about this fall visit was we had a new person in our group! Corrie had never been to any type of Renaissance Faire, so we were eager to show her around. We followed the story line shows and wandered around the shops. We also go to interact a lot with the cast, which is always great. Sir

I wanted to do a simpler party this October in light of already planning for my Doctor Who party next month. To be honest, I almost forgot about having a party, but I decided to go ahead and have one. I mean who doesn't like a party? I decided on a harvest theme, since it's both fun and simple. I reused some of my decorations from last year's Enchanted Forrest party, like the glitter pumpkins. The food was butternut squash soup, from a box, I worked before the party so I didn't have too much time, pizza bites, not harvest,  but the kids liked them, me too actually. Desert was the best part, however. My friend Aimee, made delicious mini apple bunt cakes with a yummy caramel glaze. My friend, Robin brought pumpkin cake, and Charity brought cookies! Add some apples, apple cider and tea, and it was perfect!

Today, I drove to Francis Slocum State Park to do some writing, reading, as well as just enjoying the fall scenery before it fades into winter.  Fall is such a special time of year.  Even in the death of spring's plants, God creates one last burst of color before the pale winter sets in. I really do wish fall lasted longer than it did. It's my most favorite time of the year. A bagel, coffee, notebook, and Halloween themed murder mystery; I was all set! Viewing the lake from my secluded writing spot. Lovely fall leaves After writing, I took a walk along the lake. I love how the sky and trees are reflected in the water. I neared the dock and was looking for a good place to read. I decided somewhere right by this part of the lake looked inviting. but first I took some pictures from the dock; again I love the reflection. Finally, I found my reading spot! You can't see it, but there was a heron on the tiny island.

Every year in October my church hosts a dinner, but not the usual kind inside the church building. No, this one is outside in the pavilion.  Isn't that chilly? You might ask, Well, yes, it is but that's why we have crock pot after crock pot of hot and tasty soup! From New England clam chowder, to vegan harvest root, to tortellini, to good old fashioned chicken noodle. If that doesn't warn you up there's coffee and hot apple cider, not to mention the enormous bonfire. There's something about a bonfire that just draws me and it's simply the warmth, though that does help. It's the smell, the sound, the memories of S'mores, ghost stories, praise songs, Bible lessons, and just sitting in silence. Yes, a fire, camp or bon is something special. It creates memories, evokes comfort and excitement.   

In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham , Dean Merill   is the true story of a missionary couple's  year long captivity by terrorists. At first I had a hard time getting into the book as the writing style seemed a bit choppy. I was also distracted by the extended back story chapters that came after the couple's abduction. However, once the story came back to that point, it was quite compelling, made especially so as it is a true story.  The story flowed better, enabling me to pay attention. It shows that you don't need to be perfect to be used of God even during terrible time. It's very realistic however, it doesn't gloss over the hardships or the times the narrator, Gracia had understandably a difficult time coping, but it still ended with a hopeful attitude, that while things are not always perfect, things are always under God's control and are for the b

I know people say this is a selfish, unChrist like view,  but I can't help but think that Christ intends for His children to not just serve others, but for them to be served, after all, if we are surrounded by other Christians who are serving others, won't everyone be served at some point? I also think that God wants us to grow, and that He wants us to be happy. So, if my time is being bogged down by something that no longer serves me, grows me, or makes me happy, then am I serving Christ, growing in Him, and being made happy in Him? I think not. I've let go of some things that were just a burden to me, things that had long ceased to grow me in any way, so I let them go and that's ok

Up until a year a go, I had this wonderful habit of once a week going to a Starbucks, or a park with my notebook, laptop or both and writing. While, I still write whenever I am online or on breaks at work, I have neglected that habit. I thought, it used time and money, because of course I need food or drink to write, so I can just write at home. BIG MISTAKE. Really, what was I thinking?  Yes, I do have my writing time in the evenings into the early  mornings, but going someplace new to write can be beneficial to the creative process. So, I have slowly begun to get back to that.  My fantasy novel is waiting at another publisher, but I have plenty of of other writing to do and I mean to do it.