So Grateful for You (and. . . On Bad Housekeeping)

Dear Friends,

This Thanksgiving week, we are grateful for our family and friends. Our dear friend Matty sent us this butterfly portrait a couple of weeks ago, and its cheerful colors bring cheer on cloudy fall days.

Growing like a weed is little Hyrum, who still has his sweet dimples~

Evangeline is really and truly learning to read, and she and AnnaMarie spend twenty minutes each day reading scriptures together. Everyone is growing up fast!

We've enjoyed a few beautiful days this fall which were nice enough to be outside. This picture was taken before the freezing cold came and drove us indoors!

Thankfully our silver maples were not harmed by the snow that was supposed to be a lot deeper than it was.

Our favorite rosemary plant has burst into blooms, which is so lovely to see! I have never successfully raised another rosemary, so I hope she continues to thrive on the windowsill this winter.

Cool days are perfect for burning outside. Since we don't have a fireplace in our home, we get lonely for the smell of wood smoke and have to get creative to have some.

This week we are deep cleaning the kitchen (it's probably bad that we can't remember when the last time we deep-cleaned was!), and making lots of interesting discoveries . . . Like the fact that a cantaloupe went through the entire process of decomposition in our kitchen and we did not know it (granted, we were in Idaho when it must have happened, but STILL!). Yikes! We are having an elderly friend over for dinner on Thursday, and this will be the first Thanksgiving when we have not gone to one grandparent's house or the other. We must be growing up, to be entrusted with the whole thing ourselves!

May you have a safe and peaceful week, my friends, and may you know how much we are thankful for you.

Love,

Marqueta

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"Te Deum"

   Not because of victories
     I sing,
     having none,
     but for the common sunshine,
     the breeze,
     the largess of the spring.

     Not for victory
     but for the day’s work done
     as well as I was able;
     not for a seat upon the dais
     but at the common table.

~Charles Reznikoff

A Little Poem for Sunday

Dear Friends,

A merry Sabbath to you! I found this poem tucked inside an Ideals Magazine Autumn issue, and thought I would share it with you.  They just don't write them like this anymore!

 

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's highway a long time ago,

When I saw a sign that read "Heaven's Grocery Store."

As I got a little closer, the door came open wide,

And when I came to myself I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels they were standing everywhere,

One handed me a basket and said, "My child, shop with care."

Everything a Christian needed was in that Grocery Store,

And all you couldn't carry you could come back the next day for more.

First I got some Patience, Love was in the same row,

Further down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom, a box or two of Faith,

I just couldn't miss the Holy Ghost, for it was all over the pleace.

I stopped to get some Strength and Courage, to help me run this race;

By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some Grace.

I didn't forget Salvation, for Salvation that was free.

So, I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.

Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill,

For I thought I had to do everything to my Master's will.

As I went up to the aisle I saw Prayer and just had to put that in,

For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful, they were on the last shelf.

Song and Praises were hanging near so I just helped myself.

Then, I said to the Angel, now how much do I owe?

He just smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."

Again I smiled at him and said, "How much, now really, do I owe?"

He smiled again and said, "My Child, Jesus paid your bill a long time ago!"

Love,

Marqueta