Dear Reader:

In ancient cultures and most other cultures around the world fall meant harvest season. It was a time for gathering all the produce planted and tended to in spring and summer so there would be enough food to survive winter each year.

Thus a good harvest brought many celebrations, feasts, and gatherings to thank God for enough food to make it through the tough times ahead. In Gracelaced...author Ruth Simons describes the metaphor between harvest rituals and spiritual rituals. She writes:

“Leaves turn, and the last of summer’s bounty is gathered. Fall finds us grateful, hopeful, and wonderfully poured out. Just as fields slow down and quiet themselves, so we embrace Fall’s changes, knowing Who supplies all things when the blooming season comes to an end. When one chapter closes and another is still not ours, the beauty we to experience is seeing how the Father provides in the now and not yet.”

The “now and not yet” pretty much sums up where I am right now. Life has slowed down with my “now” consisting of resting my foot and observing life from my chair. I am grateful for the time spent to reflect on things I have never found time to decipher from my past. I do know that I have been provided for bountifully in the “now” and I know God will provide for me, just as plentifully,  in the “not yet.”

Since January of last year I started putting a certain amount of money into a second checking account…kind of like the squirrel collects nuts for the winter. Now I see why God wanted me to take this action and save up for what was to come….medical expenditures and buying  another vehicle (which I never thought I would do.) But God knew and He set me on the path preparing for the challenges awaiting me in the “not yet.”

God allows us the opportunity to help ourselves and then (where the deficit still lies) He moves in. We are a partnership of faith. “Fall Faith”…that special kind of faith that addresses the “not yet” stages of life.

So until tomorrow…Let us recognize that it is God Who holds all things together to help provide for us as we travel our paths through  the four seasons of God’s Creation.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*It was supposed to rain most of the day yesterday…but instead it was a mixture of clouds and sunshine… with little rain. It gave me a chance to look over my garden and see just how God ‘holds all things together.’

Jake and Lachlan’s two Japanese Maples continue to brighten the garden….while the other three maples are dormant for the winter.

The sassafras tree and oak-leaf hydrangea love this time of year.

HOPE lives on the deck with a beautiful indoor plant that has decided it prefers outdoors until it gets too cold. Gorgeous!

I love weeds that produce beautiful blooms…especially in fall and how my little camellia bushes are producing gorgeous blooms too.

This Confederate Rose bloom took my breath away…love these blooms!

While observing my fall garden I noticed that the wind had knocked down the Clemson sign….bad foot or not…I had to hobble-wobble out and get it put back up where it belongs…after all the big game was about to start.

*It was a hard-fought game…what a rivalry football game should be…glad to see my Tigers come out on top!

*Anne’s sister, Kathy Martel, and family (husband Steve, son Andy and his girlfriend Caitlynn) were all down for Thanksgiving…and planned to hit Dukes for supper but they were closed. They went, instead to Five Loaves and then brought me some of their delicious broccoli soup and a chicken salad sandwich. So sweet! A wonderful family! I know their presence made Anne’s Thanksgiving!

And Kathy brought me a taste of New England along with lowcountry orange zinnias….a chocolate moose and a red lobster lollipop….too cute! Thank you….so much fun seeing everyone!