Into each life some leaves must FALL!

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

~ The Byrds based on Ecclesiastes 3:1

It's September 23, the first official day of Fall or Autumn if you prefer. And these days they are a changing, so today's feature is some Fall favorites. What are yours?

Fav Fall memories from back in the day:

Sue
2. Collecting leaves: glorious colors, crayon rubbings, big piles to jump in!
3. High school homecoming: a parade, a football game, and a dance. What's not to like?
1. Halloween: costumes, pumpkins, parties, and of course, CANDY!

Brian (noting that Sue took all the good ones)
2) The smell of Fall in the air - its a combination of rain, leaves, and a little coolness. You can't smell the snow coming yet, but it's not far off.
3) Reading stories - I don't know why I don't like to do much reading the rest of the year, but I've always tended to read more in the Autumn.
1) Camping and a campfire. I liked the weekend camp outs I went on as a kid in the Fall. I loved the night time by the fire, looking at the stars and telling stories.

Fav Fall food or drinks:

Sue
2. Pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream!
3. Taffy Apples with nuts - good! With chocolate and nuts- even better! Making your own - the best!
1. Creamy and savory soups! Some of our favorites 'round here: chicken noodle, tomato, or spinach tortellini.

Brian
2) Cider - hot or cold, spiced or plain.
3) Donuts - preferably from the same place as the cider.
1) Cinnamon things...

Fav Fall activities:

Sue
2. Apple picking - eating, baking, dipping in caramel - yum!
3. Sweater wearing - I have a favorite, it's long and grey, comfy cozy, and I've already started wearing it.
1. Soccer watching - now I know Brian will say watching football, but we are a soccer family in these parts.

Brian
2) ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?!?! (um... clearly I am)
3) Motorcycle rides. I don't have a bike right now, but when I did - it's always been a favorite time.
1) Walks in the woods. I can't get enough of that.

Cough due to cold!

I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately which is not really a good thing especially for me because a simple cold can really wipe me out, not to mention it has the potential to easily lead into something more serious.

Nonetheless, I can muster up three good things that sorta, kinda, hopefully, do make me feel better while battling a cold.

2. A cuppa hot tea with honey and lemon. Add a cookie or two. Ahhhhhh . . .

3. A warm bath with soothing vapor bubbles. You know, like the kind they make for kids with colds. That's right. Sometimes I take the kids' gummy vitamins, too!

1. Lounging around in my pajamas for most of the day. Sometimes I even do this on days when I don't have a cold. I love me some pj's, and my sherpa-lined slippers, too. And I will admit it, sometimes I'm just lazy. I would wear pj's out and about if I could. Maybe.

Although I will take the kids' gummy vitamins, I will NOT take dog medicine like Kramer. Take a look:



Hot tea, a warm bath, and cozy pajamas. What makes you feel better when you don't feel good?

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!

So here it is! ITLAPD again and I couldn't be happier. Last year I spent ITLAPD crossing the international date line and missed September 19 altogether. So sad! But this year YAR, I am BE talking like a true scalawag and on the right day! So, here be three good things 'bout that day of all days, International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

2) Pirate Jokes like this:
Q: What's a Pirate's favorite letter of the alphabet?
A: R?
A: Nay, it's the letter P. It's like R, but missing a leg! Yaaarrrr!!!

3) Generally talking like a Pirate. Seriously, what's not to love?

1) Piratizing many things!
Save this piratize bookmarklet I like to drag it to my browser's tool bar like a bookmark. Then visit just about any page and run it. It converts pages to pirate!

So, now go out there and Talk Like A Pirate!

And enjoy this bonus video:

More Random Good Stuff: Sue/Brian

Here's to Friday! It's the day for listing random lists because it's our blog, and sometimes we just need to be silly!

So here we go . . .

Three types of candy that I like to eat that are NOT chocolate:

Sue
2. Watermelon or green apple Jolly Ranchers
3. Twizzlers - Strawberry and Cherry are good, but I will cheat and note that the Hershey's Chocolate flavor is my favorite!
1. Starburst

Brian
2) Zagnut (like a Butterfinger, but covered in toasted coconut instead of chocolate)
3) Razzles (first it's a candy, then it's a gum!)
1) Gummy things (especially the raspberries)

Three books on a nearby shelf that I've not picked up for quite some time so they are most likely covered with dust:

Sue
2. The Big Book of Juices and Smoothies - (The juicer in the cabinet is just as dusty!)
3. The Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, 2007
1. Betty Crocker's Parties for Children - This book is circa decades ago. My sister picked it up at a garage sale for me a few years back. I have no idea why I keep it on my shelf!

Brian
2)  We Interrupt This Broadcast
3)  The Galileo Connection
1)  If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat

Three fall TV show premieres I'm looking forward to because I'm tired of re-runs, reality shows, and infomercials:

Sue
2. The Big Bang Theory
3. Glee
1. Raising Hope

Brian
2)  How I Met Your Mother
3)  The Big Bang Theory
1)  Mad Men

Well, there ya have it. Random good things. Share yours today!

9/11 Reflections

Where were you when . . .

It's a question that's been asked many times this week with the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday.

I can remember vividly where I was, and what I was doing. I was at home taking care of a then 10-month old Miss O. Her little bro A was merely a peanut growing inside me as we learned we were having a second child just the week before. As I watched the events unfold on TV, I could not help but wonder how we would we raise our babies and keep them safe in such a terrifying, broken world.

Fast forward 10 years. Our children our thriving and growing, and now beginning to understand the enormity of 9/11. So this weekend, we watched some media coverage of the events, and talked about what happened a decade ago.

Here are some highlights:

2. An excellent documentary: We watched the History Channel's "Voices From Inside the Towers, a film documenting dozens of harrowing, heartbreaking stories of love and loss on 9/11." This program featured recorded phone calls from people inside the buildings as they contacted family members, friends, 911 dispatchers and local media as the events took place. T questioned whether or not we should let the kids watch this film, but ultimately it was a good idea. The program was very well done, thought-provoking, and touching.

3. A brief, but poignant conversation: "Could it happen again? Could it happen in Chicago? Those are the biggest questions Miss O had after viewing the program. We told her and A the truth. Yes, it could happen again. And yes, there are people in the world with beliefs different than our own who will harm others. We told them that our president, the government, the military, police officers, and firefighters are always working to keep us safe. "If you're scared" added T. "You can pray."

1. A round of applause: At the end of mass on Sunday morning, our priest asked all the military personnel, police officers, and firefighters in the congregation to stand and be recognized. Everyone enthusiastically applauded, then we concluded the service by singing "America the Beautiful."

Ten Years later

I was working at an accounting firm in Grand Rapids, MI and on the phone with Anna in our Manhattan office when she told me a plane just hit one of the towers. I was picturing a small single engine plane or something, never imagining that it could be anything so major. We kept the phone line open between us most of the day so we would know that we were both still there.

Later that day I met with the worship design team at my church, and I made this video.

Please forgive the amateur quality and clear copyright violations all over the place.

So, what good came out of September 11, 2001?

2) More people came to understand that God doesn't let or make these things happen, but instead we live in a fallen, broken world where awful things happen because of people, not because of or in spite of God.

3) We discovered a renewed pride in the USA, Firefighters, Police, military personnel, and every day heroes without uniforms or medals who made the choice on that day to do what was necessary.

1) With the memory of this day in my life, I do not take for granted the freedom I have to choose and practice religious beliefs, freedom of speech and ideas, and that as a Christian, I have the responsibility to be loving to even those where love is uncomfortable.

Matthew 5:44 "But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

Giving Back or Forward

As this posts on Friday morning, I will be on my way or already in Manhattan, New York City to do something good for the company where I work. With the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 attack approaching this Sunday, we are commemorating it with the Freedom Bible. My role will be somewhere in the city handing out the Bibles and talking to people about the event. In this way, I feel like I'm giving something back to the community where this happened. It got me thinking about giving back or "Pay it Forward" as you might know from the movie.



So tell us about the ways you like to give back or forward. Do you make donations? To whom? Where do you give your time? Here are ways Sue and I like to help out.

Brian

2) Taking the opportunity to do on-the-ground ministry like I will today, instead of just online ministry where I spend most of my time.

3) I'm not doing this right now, but I will get back into youth ministry and work with teens.

1) If a friend ever asks me for anything, I do everything I can to help.

Sue

2. Each year at Christmas, my family chooses tags from The Giving Tree at our church, then we provide gifts and treats for two children in need.

3. Throughout the year, we donate clothing, toys, books, and other household items to various charitable organizations.

1. I lend an ear to my friends and family who might need comfort, support, encouragement, or prayer during trying times.

So really - add your comments about ways you like to pay back or forward!