Homestyle days…

I’ve been home just a week tonight.  I find it a wonder to be able to traverse in hours distances that would have been unthinkable to all the generations before us… Anyway, left Alaska with winter seeming imminent…
P1030769
…and came home to take my weekly Saturday prayer hike in our lushly carpeted woodlands.  It’s mushroom picking season and we gleaned some chanterelles in the process, and had a little lunch break on these rustic little ‘toadstools’ in the middle of nowhere…
P1030779local shag
P1030783
Canadians jump the gun on Thanksgiving celebration so Monday we marked our pumpkin harvest with homemade pie and the classic accompaniments…Our garden also contributed the potatoes,tomatoes, sage and table decorations, oh! and the apples for the apple pie!… The best part was having all the kids (minus Micah of course)  around the table for another year.
P1030798
Cycling days are another commodity not to be taken for granted at this time of year.  We had one of those glorious bright fall afternoons today and got to accompany our very own MP (Member of Parliament) on a promotional ride to catch the ferry—He’s “riding his riding” and was glad for the company.  A local bike shop saved the day when John needed an emergency pedal replacement enroute!
P1030809
And tonight just when I thought the possibility for picture-taking gone, God tinted the sunset to catch my eye and give me just one more…
P1030813
“Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!”  Ps.150:1
–LS
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Ps. 27:4

Wondrous Works

P1010794

“…on your wondrous works I will meditate.” (Ps.145:5)


P1010793

Some signs are just too cool to miss…

P1010795

Another trail, another bridge, another hike with praying friends, but this time, no dog…

P1010796P1010799

And on the home front this harbinger of good things to come!

P1010807

and my ‘flower corner’ comes to life…

P1010809

You’ll have to excuse the repeat  iris performance, but I just can’t get enough of these luscious blooms!

P1010818

But that’s enough for this week.  It feels at last as though summer has come.  Wishing you many happy hours of relaxation and sunshine…

“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!” (Ps.145:10)


–LS

Prayer-Hikes

Thanks to a visionary and persevering friend with a truck and a passion for the lost, I have been introduced to one of my favorite pastimes: prayer-hikes.  Every weekend we load up whoever’s available and strike out for a trail.  After the initial chatter of greetings and playing ‘catch-up’ we settle into a rhythm of walking and praying for whatever comes to mind—may be the nation, may be the church, may be our neighbors or ones we’ve just met… But always we pray, sometimes we sing, and always it is good to be together united in prayer and faith, celebrating this wide world of nature around us, rain or shine!
I commend the practice to you and whomever you are arm-linked with there. It is good.
Here are pictures from  a recent hike, this one was new for us and is part of the famed Sunshine Coast Trail system…

P1010512
P1010521
P1010525
P1010530
P1010537
P1010538
P1010547

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations…I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph.3:20-4:3)