End of September Faves

 

It's the last Friday of September already and I'm here to share five of my fave blessings from the week. Head over to Susanne's site to learn more about being intentional in gratitude for what our weeks bring. 

FIVE FAVES 

in front: Tyler and Courtney (my oldest girl)
l-r in back: Ridwan and his wife Lisi, me, Meg
at Stewart Creek Falls and Flow
southern Adirondacks 

• MEDITATIVE HIKE:  Last Saturday was my hiking group's last Summer semester hike. I chose an easy trail (just 1.5 miles to the falls, our destination) for us to do our completely silent hike. The goal was to get the members to either pray, reflect on a Scripture, or just enjoy the silence to hear the sounds of nature/enjoy God in His creation.  It was a hit!!  Once we got to the bridge wher the group pic was taken, we shared what we thought about or sensed God saying to us. It was a really special time. I got so much positive feedback from it and even Courtney and her boyfriend loved it. In fact, they led the hike and it was so special to me to see her doing this.  I'm thankful our Summer season wrapped up with a good number of people on the hike. 

Tyler and Courtney lead the way

Stewart Flow in the southern ADK

Stewart Creek Falls 

• WORSHIP and the WORD:  Last Sunday was excellent worship at church. The songs were ones I really needed to hear and my friend Joan sat with me since Dave was working production.  I like sitting with a friend at church when Dave cannot join me. Our pastor gave his 2nd sermon in our new sermon series about God Sightings. It was about Abraham and Isaac and how Abraham fully trusted God even when he was told to sacrifice his son. We also learned that this was an example of Jehovah Jirah (God our provider) because God provided a ram in Isaac's place and spared Abraham  that pain of killing his son.  Of course the spiritual lesson is that Jesus died for us, was the sacrificial "lamb of God" so we can be spared and saved from our sins.  I'm so thankful for a good church where Truth is preached and the worship music is powerful.  

I'm teaching from this book on Psalms

Tuesday evening book group 

• INTRO MEETINGS:  Every Monday for the next 14 weeks, I will be teaching a class based on the book Everlasting (about the 5 different kinds of Psalms: see side bar) and every Tuesday evening for the next 7 weeks, I will be facilitiating a book group discussion based on the study of Gideon (see sidebar).  My Monday morning group has 7 of us and the Tuesday evening group has 6 of us.  Many of the women have been in my groups in the past.  I had Intro meetings this past week and everyone shared why they wanted to do the study, along with a short testimony of how they came to Christ.  I'm thankful all went well and everyone is excited about getting together to learn in the coming weeks. 

on the summit of Rooster Comb Mt
l-r: Joan, me, Joy S
Giant Mt (my first mt climb at age 18, and a high peak) is in the background

• FAVE MOUNTAIN HIKE: Wednesday was a perfect early Autumn weather day and absolutely my fave for hiking. I had planned for my friend Joan to join me on my all time favorite mountain in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks.  This mountain is 2 hours and 15 min north of my house and it's my fave climb for a mountain under 3000' high.  The elevation is 2788' with an elevation gain of 1770! The entire hike was 5.98 miles.  So...relentless going up but there's a ladder to help.  This was not a SoulSteps hike because I just wanted to go with one other person but Joan asked if our other church friend Joy could go so of course I said yes. Joy is training to do some hiking in Yosemite next month so she was happy I included her. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people and I'm so thankful on this, my 6th time hiking up, that I didn't have to get on all 4s to get up the last granite slab like I did 2 years ago.   I walked easily!  So thankful for that.  I felt very fit and accomplished.  Here are some of my fave scenes, pictured below, and here is a link to a devotional I wrote based on my time with God at the summit. 

on the summit of Rooster Comb Mt 
high peaks wilderness region, ADK
Wed 23 Sept. 

Check out this tree on this boulder. 

relaxing in my fave spot on Rooster Comb Summit
looking at the very first mountain I ever climbed:
Giant Mt #12th highest in NYS

Quiet time with God
Pic is compliments of Joan 

fave flavor

• SURPRISE:  I must have bought these when they were on sale a while back  and stuck them in our dining room small cupboard because this week, when I went to that little cupboard to take out some battery operated tea candles, I discovered this bag in there!  I don't typically eat candy, but chocolate-maple is a fave of mine so I've indulged in 1-2 in the late afternoon as a treat.  I'm thankful I saw these! 

Those are my top fave blessings of the week. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend doing the things you love. 

Lifting my eyes

 

on the summit of Rooster Comb Mt
(photo compliments of Joan B)

It was a perfect, early Autumn day.  God totally blessed us here in the Northeast with temps in the low 60s (my fave to hike in), clear skies and full sunshine.  The perfect day for hiking up my favorite, small mountain in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. This was my 6th time going up.  It was probably one of my favorite times.   I was so thankful I didn't need to crawl on my hands and knees on the last thrust up like I had to do two years ago.  I guess all of my work-outs and  chiropractic alignments have paid off!  It's a small mountain meaning the elevation is less than 3000' high.  But it packs a punch because it is relentless in the approach......

.........like I'm relentless in my pursuit of peace and  seeing God. 

I wanted to hike this by myself. And maybe one day I will. But most of my family and friends don't like that idea so I had asked my friend Joan if she'd like to hike it. And she asked another friend to join us.  I have to admit I was a bit intimidated by the thought of Joy S coming along because she is so strong physically, and fit.  I thought she might think it was too easy of a climb.  But once we got there, all those kinds of thoughts just left my mind because I was in my happy place.  This mountain is just so special to me and I have shared it with 4 friends and my niece in the past.  Each time it was just 2 of us hiking. 

When we started out, I was super pumped. I could feel my body start to relax, as well as my mind. I've been struggling with thoughts of "how am I going to manage leading three groups this semester, 2 of which are Bible studies and both are books that "go deep" spiritually speaking. Both are "easy" reads and one is workbook style so homework....but....the other one, the Psalms one, will take a lot of preparing for  us to get to the "meat" of the study.  I know I'm supposed to lead this group, though, and it was confirmed by more than one person. But all of those thoughts were just slipping away as I trekked up those boulders and across the pine needles.  I was starting to doubt, though, if I could actually make it, physically,  up the summit. My spine issues scare me sometimes and although I was 95% positive I could get up it, that 5% of  "what about my knees?" was causing me to doubt. 

But these women I was with were very encouraging, which is a plus when hiking with other people.  They didn't seem to mind that I was trekking rather slowly. 

From the lookout on the way to the summit
This is a view of the Brothers which I've climbed in the past
and the Keene Valley below 

And I realized, when I got to the lookout, that our paces are all going to be different because we are all different. God made each of us unique. It doesn't matter that I was hiking with this woman whom  I barely know who is so fit in her upper body due to CrossFit weight workouts. She's so muscular!!  But I realized, that although I'm thinner, I also have good muscles in my legs.  Which is needed for mountains. So I thanked God quietly that I get to hike. I can still move my body! I thank Him every day for that. 

More importantly, though, to me, is the spiritual lesson He showed me once we got to that true summit. 

Giant Mt...the mountain I climbed at age 18 in 1978
and that just made me fall in love with hiking 
When I see it, I feel "home".  I feel safe. I feel at peace. 

I went off by myself to my favorite spot to sit when I scale this summit and I was anxious to see if God was going to "speak" to me while I journaled about the hike. 

He did. 

my fave spot on top of Rooster Comb

Here's what He showed me: 

First: He was confirming some things about an emotional/spiritual battle I was in this summer: 

"you're stronger that you realize, both physically and emotionally. Even spiritually, my daughter. I am healing you~~ the mountains I've created are very healing for you~~ you feel closest to Me here but I am everywhere, even at home in the valley." 

And then:

"See those dead trees? Those represent the people whom I've removed from your life~~they're  fading like driftwood just like I told you! More and more, as you draw closer to Me, you will find that they fade and yet you'll be surrounded by my beauty in your new friends~~ they're like the colored trees....all are different yet all stand tall in their faith just like you are striving to do.  Do life with them". 

a hint of autumnal color in the High Peaks Wilderness below
if you look closely, you can see "dead" trees just below the summit
and scattered throughout the forest 

And then a little bit later, while I was eating some lunch, I heard this from Him:

"Just like you're standing on this rock, stand on Me! I am the Rock and your fortress~~ in Me you will find strength to lead your groups and to share your own healing~~Keep putting one foot forward like you did going up this mountain. Sometimes it will be slow and steady and other times your growth will be a sprint.  Keep your feet firmly planted on Me your Rock and your Redeemer. " 

summit of Rooster Comb Mt with Giant in the back

Why am I sharing these words from my journal?

The hope is that it would encourage you as you walk your own journey....that we can hear from God when we are quiet...and still before Him....that He does answer our questions, when we take time to be intimate with Him.....

Are your feet firmly planted on the Rock? 

HodgePodge Meme

Elizabeth Point on 13th Lake
Central Adirondacks
Oct 2022

I like these hodgepodge questions so am playing along and linking up at Joyce's blog.  Head over here to join in. 

1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall? 

It doesn't really look like Autumn yet here in eastern NY although in the mountains, some of the trees are at 10% peak foliage color with reds and oranges dominating.  I'll see some of it tomorrow (actually I'm writing this on Tuesday afternoon so if you're reading this on Wednesday, I'm hiking a mountain today.  It's a small one...just 6 miles)  I'm hiking a mountain up near Lake Placid/Keene Valley. It won't reach peak color for another 2 weeks up there.  

The last couple of days have felt like autumn as the temps dipped into the high 50s/low 60s so as I type this (Tuesday afternoon) I'm wearing shorts and a sweater in the afternoon sunshine. 

Something I love to do this time of year is hike mountains, have backyard bonfires, and take morning power walks in the brisk crisp temps.  I also love kayaking in September and October although I don't know if we will have a chance to go again this autumn or not. I also love sipping my morning coffee on the deck wrapped in a blanket and do my Scripture reading in the morning sun. Who am I kidding? I also do that in the late spring and all summer long as well! Decorating with pumpkins and cinnamon candles is also something I like to do. Here's a pic of some early decorating I did on Monday. 

 

2. What's a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?

Dusting or cleaning the bathtub/shower. I do keep daily shower spray on the edge of the tub so Dave and I can spray it down when we're done for the day. Actually, dusting isn't a daily task.....it tends to be weekly for me. But it is the thing that falls by the wayside if I'm super busy with other things. 

3. What's something you're falling for lately? 

Cherry-lime sparkling water by Waterloo. the best!

Also: the pecan crunch latte with a drizzle of oatmilk, 1 pump of the pecan syrup, light on the pecan crunch  topping and only 1 shot of espresso.  I also usually ask for light vanilla cold foam.  If you haven't tried this, I highly recommend it! SO much better than pumpkin spice!! 

4.  Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year.  Are you a fan? What's your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?  

I do not like pumpkin drinks at.all! Nope, no way. It's so disgusting to me. 

My fave way to eat pumpkin is my pumpkin brownie recipe.  It's a vegan recipe and it's delicious. I also make pumpkin spice cookies sometimes although it's been a long time. 

5.What's something you wish would never change? Explain. 

The clocks.  the whole Daylight Savings time thing bugs me. Can't we just leave them alone???!! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

If I make it to the summit tomorrow (today, Wednesday) of Rooster Comb Mountain, this is the first view I'll see.  It's Giant Mountain, a NYS High Peak and the very first mountain I climbed with friends when I was 18.  Dad says he took me up Catamount Mt but I have no memory of it as I was younger than 7.  At age 8 we would hike all over the woods at our camp. Dad taught me well how to "read" blazes, etc in the Adirondacks. 

Giant Mountain as seen from the summit of Rooster Comb Mt 
High Peaks Wilderness region, Adirondacks

HAPPY AUTUMN 

WEEKEND WRAP-UP

 

Algonquin Lake
southern AdirondackMountains 
Saturday 19 Sept

What a weekend!  It was the perfect last weekend of summer.  A half day of hiking and lots of down time to relax and recharge for this busy week ahead. 

FRIDAY:  Friday, I woke up, did a 30 minute power walk even though it was supposed to be my recovery day from the difficult mountain hike the day before, and then did laundry and housework.  I also had to run an errand on Friday.  Dave worked from home and in the evening, we had a "date night" of a picnic in the family room while watching a Michael J Fox movie from 1987 that we had never seen!!  In fact, in September of 1987, (I had just completed my MS in EdPysch/Special Ed in June and earned my NYS permanent teaching certificate/license to teach birth through geriatric) I was a first year Master Teacher of inner city PreK children and Dave was in grad school! We knew each other just as acquaintances!  And neither of us had time for movies...or the money to go!  So we had a blast eating our leftover sloppy joes, salad, and he had a beer and I had a glass of my fave Riesling. 

a comedy that was loads of fun!

wine on the deck at sunset 

SATURDAY:  I had 9 people originally signed up for the Meditative Hike in the southern Adirondack Mountains.  It was a flat hike (only 1.25 miles one way) to a little waterfalls on a creek and to a  flow.  It ended up being 6 of us due to one person  who had an injury, and two who had something come up last minute in their families. In my car there was my friend Meg (who is also taking my Psalms class I'm teaching on Monday mornings), my oldest daughter Courtney and her boyfriend Tyler.  Our Indonesian members Ridwan and Lisi followeed us in their car.  Here are some fave pics from our beautiful  quiet hike!  We all hiked in silence to pray or meditate on a Scripture or to just reflect on whatever we were thinking about and at the waterfalls/bridge, we could then share what we learned along the way or just start chatting.  Everyone seemed to really love it.   The feedback was great.  We hiked from about 10 AM to 12:30 PM  and were home around 3:30 pm after popping in quick to the lake pictured at the top of this post which was on the way home. 

Tyler and Courtney lead the way 
along the Stewart Creek Falls trail
aka Oregon Trail
Southern ADK 

Meg, Ridwan and Lisi enjoy some quiet time 
along the trail on the way to the falls 

Stewart Flow
in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest area 
of the southern ADK 

beautiful wildflowers...asters I think? 

Stewart Creek Falls 

SoulSteps Hikers
in front: Tyler and Courney
l-r back: Ridwan and Lisi, me, Meg

Saturday evening, Dave and I had dinner together.  He was tired and fighting either the beginning of a head cold or autumn allergies. (I think it's allergies as this happened last year too!) I made a chicken pasta broccoli casserole with some bean salad on the side.  It was delicious and kind of like "comfort" food as the temps were chilly Saturday evening.  It had that "Autumn" feel to the air. We both read in bed for a bit and talked about some family things that are going on in his family. 

SUNDAY: Dave had to be at the church by 7:30 AM to work on the Production team so I slept in until about 7, had coffee with him and then did a 15 minute cardio workout inside since it was a very rainy day.  In fact, it rained most of the day on Sunday and was very cool.

Church was awesome as always. The worship  was especially meaningful and the sermon was excellent!  Pastor Rex began a new sermon series last weekend called God Sightings. We will be learning about when God showed up (mostly in the Old Testament with Scriptures in the NT to back it up) and revealed a new name He goes by to the people of Israel. For example: this week's name was Jehovah Jirah. God our Provider.  The sermon was centered around Abraham hearing the voice of God to sacrifice his son Isaac and how God showed up and provided the ram instead.  The whole point of the sermon is to Obey what God is telling us and we will have that mountain top experience and of course the One who gave us His only Son (Jesus) who was sacrificed for our sins.  It is going to be an excellent sermon series! 

In the afternoon, I did some reading and watched an episode of Call the Midwives and Dave took a nap. 

 For dinner, I made a "steak tips" dish we enjoy: Beyond Meat steak tips, peppers, (red, green, yellow)  onions, broccoli, garlic, carrots sauteed in a drizzle of Asian Ginger sesame sauce and served over brown basmati rice. We also had Apple Crisp for dessert as I had spent the afternoon baking apple crisp with some excellent early apples I had purchased from a local farm. Dave went to bed early and I spent the evening reading and prepping for my Psalms class. 

All in all, it was a good weekend and I just can't believe the first day of Autumn arrives tomorrow!!