Free Fall Desktop Wallpaper + Bonus

Can you even believe that it's October?!? It's crazy, right? 

I've been recovering from foot surgery so I've not been able to walk for 3 weeks and yesterday, with the help of my crutches I walked out onto the patio and was surprised how much the leaves had turned. I came in and realized that it's time for a new desktop wallpaper. 

I will tell you that I'm terribly torn between my current wallpaper (our sweet 2 year old grandson Garren) and replacing it. 

OCTOBER WALLPAPER

BTW, if you're still looking for the bonus, getting to see my Garebear was the bonus; you're welcome.

Free Thanksgiving Printables

I love seasons! I love decorating for Christmas and Thanksgiving, not so much the rest but I love the holiday seasons. I discovered that it's really easy to dress up the house and make it feel festive simply by printing beautiful themed art and putting it in already existing frames around the house. Hey with the internet and printers it's super easy to spruce up our homes for the holidays. The great thing about doing this is that when the holiday is over you can simply take out the festive art and put your everyday image back. I even leave the images in the frames behind the everyday image so it's easy to change for the holidays. Anyhoo, here's a list of some great Thanksgiving art offered by some very talented bloggers available around the blogsphere.

1. Mallory over at Classy Clutter has some lovely printables available. Very easy on the eyes!

2. Janet has some great subway art over at Today's Fabulous Finds

3. Erin has a really nice Thanksgiving chalkboard print available at  a Bird and a Bean. 

4. Jenn also has a chalkboard printable available over at Ruffled Sunshine.

5. And yet some more chalkboard art and Kelli has some great ones over at Nest of Posies. 

6. Look at the nice subway art that Kristin has to offer. Pretty!

7. Look at Amy's lovely Thanksgiving art over at Positively Splendid.

8. Katie over at Sweet Rose Studio has some really nice poetry prints for Thanksgiving. 

9. Laura Beth has some really nice different printables to match really any decor. 

10. I love what I found over at Stay at Home Artist, Kacey is very talented.  

11. look at the pretty printable from Bitty Birdie! 

Anyhoo, hope you find a printable you like, I know I did!.

12 Awesome Fall Lowcarb Dessert Recipes

I'm sure most of you already know but last April we started a whole new way of eating. First of all I'm completely gluten free and feeling amazing and then at the same time Johnny and I both started Atkins. The last 6 months have been a real learning experience but we've both grown to love this way of eating and we've successfully made it a life style. Between the two if us we've lost a total of 75 lbs and we're not finished yet! Actually Johnny is finished and maintaining but I still have about 20 lbs left to shed. Anyhoo, the old adage: You have to work your plan! is so true with this way of eating but it's worth the time it takes to feel amazing!

So here are some of my favorite picks for Gluten Free / Low Carb Fall recipes from around the blogosphere!

1. I'm so excited to fine this recipe for Pecan Pumpkin Butter Cups at Worth Every Chew. Don't they look delish!

Seasons Come and Go

   Life has been so busy here lately with visitors, baptisms and life in general that I hardly noticed that Summer was on its way out. Can you believe that it's already almost the middle of September? Crazy! I'm not complaining at all 'cause Autumn is my favorite all time favorite time of year. I love the crisp air, the colors, the food and just that warm cozy feeling you get from wearing sweaters and fuzzy socks!

We have some great stuff lined up for this Autumn including; Harvest Sunday, mission conference, a trip to Rome and some much needed fellowship with our friends from the States. It's gonna be good awesome! I love Autumn and everything about it but I can't believe that we're already here. 

I love how God has allows the seasons to just melt into one another. There's no bumpy change but a wonderfully smooth transition. God is so marvelous.

Here are a few really good Bible verses about seasons.

It goes without saying that Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 has a ton to say about the seasons and most likely the most famous phrases about the seasons come from the Bible, but there are more.

Psalms 1:3 - And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Proverbs 15:23 - A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Proverbs 26:1 -  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 

Daniel 2:21 - And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Acts 14:17 - Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Hebrews 11:25 - Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

There are many places the Lord talks about times and change and these are just a few place where He mentions seasons. 

Happy everything FALL y'all!!!

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!!!

 

punxsutawney phil....WRONG!

I have never really known who Punxsutawney Phil was until this year. I always knew there was a groundhog somewhere and that he had some sorta bearing on winter but had no idea what the whole deal was with that.

Anyhow, I seen the whole Phil frenzy the other day when Phil announced (yea I know he can't talk) 6 more weeks of winter. Are you kidding me? How does he know? I mean really!

Well I'm sad to announce that Phil was WRONG, at least in my neck of the woods. At 11:47 AM it is officially 57° F in Croatia. I'm not joking, it's glorious!! The sun is shining and the birds are singing and I'm happy!! I know the weather shouldn't determine my happiness but it does and today I'm ecstatic.

Guess what I just did. I hung out the first clothes of the year on our clothes line in the yard. It's that warm outside and the sun is in full bloom! I'm so excited about Spring. It's been a long winter with lots of snow and I'm ready to see the Crocus come peaking out.

God is so good to give us such variety. Do you realize what a blessing it is to have 4 distinct seasons? Can you imagine how bored we would be if it were always 75°? God sure is good even in the little things!!!

Finally, some white stuff!

Croatia has gone through a major climate change over the last 10 years that we've been here. When we first came snow was expected form Nov. until around February. We usually have at least a foot and many times more on the ground the entire time. Over the last several years the winters here have warmed up and this winter has been pretty warm so far.

I'm delighted to say that today our hopes gave way to rejoicing as the fluffy stuff began to fall. The kids were so excited that it didn't take long for them to head outside for some fun in the snow. Oh and this snow was perfect for snowballs.

Cody and Joshua in a serious game of snowball war. There were no winners!

Poor Hannah after a while outside. "It's cold!"

On Mondays Johnny and I usually go out on a date. Usually only the town center to have a cappuccino and a pastry. It was magical tonight with all the Christmas lights on and the snow blanketing the ground.
You would think with 20 degree weather people would be inside but many were out. Even the adults were excited and hey I even seen some sleds!
Right outside the little coffee house we go to was one of the two Christmas trees in town. This one stands in front of the Catholic church. With the snow falling and the architecture of the old building it was beautiful. I cold have wandered for hours if it hadn't been so ridiculously cold outside.
Hey we did get two Christmas gifts bought while we were out. That means that we are almost done. One or two more and we're finished!!

Anyhow, it's suppose to snow here for the next 3 days and you know what I say??? BRING IT ON!! I love it and it's about time.

Looking Forward → → →

So if you know me you know that as soon as Christmas is over I begin my year by looking forward to Fall. No, really I do. I absolutely love the whole holiday season. I love the crispness in the air, the warm sweaters, big pots of hot stew, smoke rolling out of the chimneys in the neighborhood and the overwhelming feeling of happiness this season brings. For me the pending celebration of the earthly birth of our glorious Savior lights the whole season. It fills the air with well meaning for mankind and a patience that alludes me most of the remaining year.

Anyhow, as I bask in the joys of the holiday season which for me begins the first of September, my mind is drawn to gift baskets and visits to the neighbors.

Okay so as much as that sounds like Better Homes and Gardens it's not always the case with me. Although I always have well-meaning plans I don't usually work hard enough or early enough to bring those plans to pass. NOT THIS YEAR!! This year I am on program and already looking forward to Thanksgiving.

There is a possibility, for the first time in Croatia that we will have Americans to share the Thanksgiving holiday with, maybe not but maybe yes. Anyhow I'm already searching for recipes and planning the big meal.

Today I made it to my favorite recipe site: All Recipes.com and found a goldmine of Thanksgiving recipes. What's really cool about All Recipes.com is that they feature holiday TOP 20s for all the holidays.

So here are the top 20 Thanksgiving recipes on All Recipes.com. BTW, these recipes were the highest rated recipes, rating 5 out of 5 stars and reviewed by more than 800 cooks each.

1. Banana Sour Cream Bread

2. Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing

3. Homestyle Turkey, the Michigander Way

4. Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

5. Grandma Ople's Apple Pie

6. Sugar Coated Pecans

7. Sweet Potato Pie I

8. Pumpkin Bread IV

9. Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole

10. Perfect Turkey

11. Rosemary Roasted Turkey.

12. All Day Apple Butter

13. Pumpkin Gingerbread

14. Turkey Brine

15. Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

16. Easy OREO Truffles

17. Chocolate Bar Fondue

18. Pumpkin Cake III

19. Alyson's Broccoli Salad

20. Pumpkin Pie Bread

Hope you find something new to make this year, let me know!!