All the rest! – Page 9 – Skelton Sketches

Grace for the journey…

Posted on November 1, 2012April 29, 2017 by lindaskelton

All packed up and on her way—our sunbeam, fourth of five children to fly the nest…

And within hours we are more lightly packed and heading in the opposite direction…

Accompanied by two daughters, torrential rain, a rainbow spanning the horizon, dense fog and much beauty…we journeyed the 700 miles to memorialize a Mom who has forever changed our worlds…

…and to catch up with eight weeks of growth that has taken place without us…

The memorial service was precious, and memorable. The much family gathered—all five children, four spouses, 12 of the nineteen grandchildren and 10 of the fourteen great grandchildren–a tribute to God’s incredible and continuing faithfulness …

Even in the stark chill of winter there is beauty, because of grace.

Thank God for the love of mothers, so like His own.

–LS

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Prov.31:28

Heralding October

Posted on October 5, 2012April 30, 2017 by lindaskelton

In all the recorded history of our town never has there been a September so rain-free as the one just past! And now October has come with a token rainfall and the sun lingering yet…

We had our first frost this week and our first fire in the woodstove. I’ve dug out my turtlenecks and my new woolie socks…

We’ve commenced our fall birthday season with strawberry chiffon and black forest cakes and a whole quart of whipping cream consumed between the both of them!

But for this morning I’ve come out to savor the brisk brightness of autumn and see what’s smiling in my garden…

I find honeybees harvesting last pollen and nectar from summer’s merry-golds…

Pole Beans hang on the vine fattening seed for spring planting.

Other more exotic seed pods do likewise. Here’s ‘love in a mist’…

I stumble upon my fall crocus nearly spent from its blooming, its beauty almost overlooked. And I am glad I came out to see the morning…

Nasturtiums ramble brightly still, holding their faces to morning’s cold dew for a few more days.

Jim’s homegrown Christmas trees, backlit by morning sun, await their season of celebration…

While this year’s lone duet of wee pumpkins herald October.

The neighbor’s grapes are plump and tart as ever. Rachel tries her hand at jelly. We’re surprised to see the color green grapes produce!

The firewood’s all dried and split, gathered in to clear the chopping lot for next year’s logs.

And I sit out back in the Adirondack, cherishing the gentled chill of this fine October morning… Whoops, roosting crows in the willow branches straight overhead are intent on making a mess of my meditations…must move on.

–LS

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Gen.8:22

Back to our Beginnings…

Posted on September 6, 2012April 28, 2017 by lindaskelton

The roots of our marriage lie here on the prairies…

…in a small town nestled like an oasis in the middle of vast stretches of farmland under a big sky…

This is where Jim and I met way back when we were young—one from the East Coast, one from the west, converging here to study the Bible and prepare for future ministry…