Fall

What's your favorite apple?

Ten things I Love about Fall:

1. I love the way the leaves smell like burnt sugar.
2. The the Fairfield County Fair, the best and final Ohio county fair of the summer season.
3. The expectation begins to build toward the Christmas season.
4. High School/College football games and Marching Band Contests.
5. Soup season begins.
6. Candy Corn.
7. Trips to Rouster's Apple Farm when there is a fire burning in the fireplace.
8. Big Bulky Cotton Sweaters.
9. The beginning of a new Bible Study Season.
10. Getting away for a Women's Retreat.

Retreat Thoughts

The Fall Retreat is about a week away! Since my thoughts have been focused on this large event for some months now, I will share a few of them.
Here goes:
• What am I looking forward to the most? Watching women getting excited about their personal/spiritual growth. I think we will all learn some great ideas on how to grow for His glory.
• What am I most grateful for? The work, time and prayer that have gone into the planning of the retreat by all those involved. Our two speakers, Ann and Marianne have been involved in more planning than the traditional role of speakers and that time and input is duly noted. Lynda Wick, retreat chair, has done an outstanding job keeping her team on task. (Working with great women is one of the perks of my job.)
• What am I going to miss at home while I am gone? My kids have all graduated from High School so I don’t have to worry about arranging rides to soccer games/band contests and such. That used to weigh on my mind whenever I went away. Now I have other things drawing my attention homeward but I am going to pray against my thoughts going anywhere but on the material and experiences that I am being exposed to that weekend. We only do big retreats like this every other year. I want to make the most of my time away.
• What am I doing to prepare this week? I am trying to cultivate an attitude of expectation. What does God have for me there? What conversations will He guide me into? How will I be used to encourage others?
If you are feeling wistful thinking that you were unable to attend this year … fear not! We will be sharing some of our growth ideas in a format most can become involved in. Details coming.

Safe Harbor

A couple of weeks ago I shared something difficult during Sunday’s sharing time. Its quite humbling to get up in front of a few hundred people and tell them your teenage daughter is expecting a baby. Even more humbling has been the ensuing response of the people at Faith Church. Immediately after the service I was surrounded by a group of women who had walked in my shoes. With tear brimmed eyes they gave me hugs and offered a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. Since then, I have received notes, phone calls and even a personal visit from a former elder, all with the expressed message of encouragement and the declaration that I am not alone in whatever difficulty I might be experiencing. Women continue to thank me for bravely sharing our family trial with the church body.

And there lies the key word, “family”. I do consider the people of Faith Church, family and it is my prayer that you, Reader, do too. Close families go through tough times together. They support, encourage and love one another. I am feeling the love and I am grateful!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.