Ohio + Autumn = Magical

The name -- of it -- is "Autumn" 

-- by Emily Dickinson

The name -- of it -- is "Autumn" --

The hue -- of it -- is Blood --

An Artery -- upon the Hill --

A Vein -- along the Road --

Great Globules -- in the Alleys --

And Oh, the Shower of Stain --

When Winds -- upset the Basin --

And spill the Scarlet Rain --

It sprinkles Bonnets -- far below --

It gathers ruddy Pools --

Then -- eddies like a Rose -- away --

Upon Vermilion Wheels --

 We are loving the Autumn in Ohio. The colors are amazing and the feeling in the air is a bit magical. I love Autumn! It has almost always been my favorite season. The leaves putting on their color show and the wind helping them to rain down is just incredible. I'm so glad we are getting to see Autumn in Ohio, love it!

 I had such a good time walking down this little lane with my family. Enjoying the beautiful color show God puts on for us this time of year. 

We are leaving Ohio on Friday morning headed to one more conference in Iowa before we head back to Texas. I'm so excited to get back to Texas and see our oldest son Cody. We have been on this road trip for 3 months and I miss my kid. I'm actually doing great on the road without him, which has really surprised me but I still can't wait to see him. Also we'll be packing up all the Bible and things for the container and loading them up and shipping them the end of this month. One our things are gone we only have 4 more weeks to wait. I'm so excited.
By the time we get home winter should be in full swing. I can't wait!!!

 

Meeting Cyber-Friends

Sunday moring we were in Westview Baptist Church in Warren, MI and were so happy to meet Pastor Watson and his sweet wife Karen. They have a great church with a wonderful spirit. 

Anyhow, this church was special because two of my blogging buddies go there. I have been reading the blogs of Amy and Kristy for years now. Amy sadly doesn't blog any more but Kristy still does. Anyhoo, they go to the same church so I was so excited to get to see them both on Sunday morning at church.

I had so much fun getting to meet Kristi for the first time and see Amy again. 

Hannah had a ball with Amy's two oldest daughters. They got along great. 

After church was over around 12:00 we stood around the church and fellowshipped fellow-shipped  fellow shipped chatted for about an hour and a half. I was amazed. These folks love each other and church so much you have to remind them that they haven't had lunch yet. Finally we headed out to lunch around 2:00. 

We had such a good time and the kids loved getting to know their new and old friends. Joshua and the Pastor's son Christian got along great, they're both 16.  

I'm not sure who took this picture of Johnny talking with some men but I liked it and that's why I'm posting it! HA!

 

We sure have a great life and we're blessed to know so many wonderful people around the country world. Just another fringe benefit to saying YES to God.

Dreaming of Home

Well with home just around the corner I have been spending lots of time thinking, planning and even dreaming of home. Hey I know they mission field isn't about making a house beautiful but my personal mission field (my family) sure does appreciate it. Anyhow, we rented a home in Croatia before we left for furlough. We moved in and then 1 month later we flew back to the states. We really didn't have any time to decorate so the house sits as it was when we moved it. 

Anyhoo, I took photos of the house before we left so I would have some ideas of space, windows and layout. I'm gonna share them with you but don't be critical of the mess!

Below is our living room. I know it's so dark but we didn't have curtains so I had to keep the out door blinds closed because our neighbors were super close. 

Anyhow, I found a few photos I really like, some of them are not possible but I still like the feel in the room. 

Love the color of these walls and my couch is brown so that would actually go. 

I just love the vintage feel in this room. 

Don't know what all that stuff is, I just like it!

Like it!

This is our entryway, It's very typical for a Croatian house. Sorry it's so dark. We are going to strip all the wall paper off the walls and paint when we get back. The big, ugly glass door is gonna be a job. I was maybe thinking of using trim to make it look like a french door. Big project but it may be nice. 

I love this little idea for a foyer, I think it feels so natural welcoming. 

I like this one too!

This is our dining room, it's really small but it'll do for us. See all the snow outside? Man it really snowed right before we left. Isn't it purty?

Okay so I don't have any inspiration for the dining and living room. I would love to keep the wall color the same since we did it right before we left furlough.

Our kitchen is in major need of help. Since we are renting it we can't replace the cabinets but I would love to paint them. Any idea? The fact that they horizontal lines is a big of a bummer but I'm determined to make them work. 

Then lastly I love this bright yellow wash room and guess what, I have one, a washroom! How cool is that? Don't think I'll stencil but I love the brightness of this room. My washer and dryer are pretty similar too. 

Okay since you all are such faithful readers, I'm gonna give ya a bonus photo. This is the WORST room in our house. 

Are you ready?

Really? 

Get ready for a blast from the 70-s European era. 

Guess I'll be doing a lot of this...

It's gotta be better than the green. I'm gonna try to take that whole wall of cabinets out, wish me luck!

Anyhow, these images have been filling my dreams lately along with dozens of dirty, little, smiling faces. Can't wait!

My Old Black Book

Okay, here's my old black maroon BOOK. Of all the things that belong to me my Bible is probably the most valuable. It's been with me for a long time and it is filled with memories and messages. 

I've had this KJ Bible since 1999. It was a gift from a church in Dearborn Heights, MI. They asked us to give them a few items we would like and they would try to get them for us for the missions conference. I had a Bible but it wasn't very nice and so I asked for a Bible and they gave me the Old Scofield Study Bible. I immediately fell in love with this Bible. It had great references in the back including a proper name concordance. I know that Scofield was off in a lot of places with his doctrine and I wouldn't suggest this Bible to a new Christian but for me it was great. 

I've personalized my Bible through the years. I have pictures of my family in the front and back. The above pictures are: 

(the left cover across the top and then bottom) 

Johnny reading his Bible in 1997 in Hungary on our survey trip to Croatia, My babies while we were on deputation, my family also while on deputation, my dear Daddy who died when he was 39, he's 38 in that photo.  

(the right side across the top and then bottom) 

the photo on our second prayer card, Joshua and Cody looking cool, and my sweetie

My Bible is filled with great quotes and sayings I have heard through out the years. I only have one signature in my Bible, that of Bro. McCracken's wife Nancy. I heard her testimony in a meeting in Romania and was so moved by her faith after a terrible crippling car accident. 

Anyhow, I have some pretty nifty sayings too. 

Treasures in Heaven are laid up as treasures on Earth are laid down. -Dr. Todd Lasseter (my pastor)

You can't clean a polluted well by painting the well house. -Dr. Bob W. Smith 

I'm narrow minded because I travel a narrow road. -Bro. Floyd, Fellowship Baptist, Jackson, MI

I'm not shouting on credit, I'm should on a "paid in full" bill. -Johnny Leslie

85% of being successful is simply being in my place. -Dr. Smith

I'm a nut but I'm screwed onto the right bolt! -unknown

You fall the way you lean. -Charles Wetherbee

Meekness: Having strength under control. -unknown

To be a missionary you don't have to cross the see but you do have to see the cross. -unknown

Joy is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus. -unknown

Stay in the Book till the Book stays in you. -Dr. Raymond Barber

I don't know how often Noah fell down in the Ark but I know he never fell out! -Dr. J.C. House

No man can ever be used of God until he's willing to be forgotten by all. -Veteran Missionary Jimmy Rose

If it doesn't move you enough to pray about it, don't whine about it! -Pastor Wes Bailey

A tear today is an investment in a laugh tomorrow. -Dr. Lasseter

A heart touched by grace brings joy to the face. -Dr. Lasseter

The church is not a museum of Saints. -Pastor Bocook

Anyhow, those are just some of the little sayings I have in my Bible. I love to go back every once in a while and read them all. They're like mini sermons!

I have on one of the front pages of my Bible this poem: 

There is a treasure,

Rich beyond measure, 

Offered to mortals today;

Some folks despise it, 

Some criticize it, 

Some would explain it away.

Some never read it, 

Some never head it, 

Some say, "It's long had it's day";

Some people prize it, 

And he who tries it, 

Finds it's his comfort and stay. 

God gave this treasure, 

Rich beyond measure, 

His Word, we call it today. 

Let us believe it, 

Gladly receive it, 

Read, mark and learn to obey. 

                              -A.M.N.

Over the name of each book I have the name in Croatian. Several years back I realized I didn't know all the names so I thought that would help, it did. 

Also above Genesis 1:1, I wrote DEAR TORI. Our preacher Dr. Smith preached once about the Bible being a love letter from God to us. He told us how he wrote in his Bible at Genesis 1:1: DEAR BOB and after Revelation 22:21 he wrote: LOVE, GOD. I loved this idea and I did the same with my Bible. It's a love letter to me from God!

My Bible is bilingual too. I have notes in both English and Croatian. I have many wise quotes from the national pastor, Rajko Telebar. 

And again on the back cover I have more photos. Actually a lot less than I used to have. I need to add some more current ones soon.

(the left cover across the top and then bottom) 

My best friend Amanda Rasbeary, Preachers wife in Wylie, Texas and I, Madison (Johnny's sister's oldest daughter), Johnny again, Madison and her little sister Kaitlyn (I super-love those girls)

(the right side top to bottom) 

Johnny again (can't get enough of him), and my Daddy back in 1976 sitting with Santa

Anyhow, that's my Bible. It means a lot to me, not only because it is God's inerrant, preserved Word but because it holds 12 years worth of memories. 

Anyhow, if you decided to share your Old Black Book, let me know so I can check it out!!

Taking advantage of the trip

 I have always been a little interested in the different styles of homes and their periods but have only learned a little from watching HGTV, while on furloughs :0). Anyhow, we're in Ohio now and I am loving the variety of homes in the area. It seems like every other home is from a different period and I was baffled. I mean, I do know what the Victoria home looks like, but I didn't know that there are 4 different periods of Victorian homes.

I've recently learned about the Georgian style house.

and the Colonials are pretty easy to spot too. 

But what about all the others; like the one below.

Or this beauty.

and this country cutie?

There are so many that I have no idea what they are. 

So, while visiting the Half Priced Book Store in Cincinnati I picked up this gem. 

The Abrams Guide to American House Styles. AWESOME!! 

I have had so much fun reading this book and finding matching styles along the way. (yes I'm a little weird that way and I do think it's fun) This book is so full of info and is really a beginners dummy guide. It's not exhaustive by any means but it's a great jumping off point. 

Sadly, it won't shed any light into styles below but for the normal, sometimes boring world of American homes this book is a keeper! 

No, the photo isn't upside down! :0)

Oh yea and just think how smart you will look while out garage-selling with girlfriends when you say, "Oh wow, look at that Stick Style Victorian. I tend to lean towards the late Georgian styles." HA! how fun!

Say "HEY" if you love Andy!

I remember watching Andy Griffith ever since I was a little girl. I loved Andy and Barney was great. Anyhow, I'm so glad God allowed us to see Andy Griffith's home town of Mt. Airy, the very town and people the actual show was made after. It was awesome! Here are some snapshots!

If you grew up with Andy and Barney then you have to go to Mt. Airy, NC. It was one of the neatest things I've seen and believe me I've seen some things!