SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!

“SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!”

No seriously, would SOMEONE please “SHUT the front door?!?!?!!”

I remember shouting this, as if it were just yesterday, exactly one year ago.  It was moving day into our New Home, North Star, and I needed to dash off IMG_3540(once again) to go get yet another car load of items from the home we were about to let go of.

Our beautiful House Placard!
Our beautiful House Placard!

My hands were full, the warm autumn sun had brought the bees outside to try to collect the last of the pollen they could find, and I could not manage to close the door behind me as I was exiting.  I knew if it remained open a few bees would welcome the idea to take up residence in our new abode along with us!

I summoned twice, to no avail, so my third & final plea turned into a shout and although I meant it to sound URGENT it probably did end up sounding ANGRY, (which tends to mistakenly happen when the soft tone of my voice tries to be taken seriously!)  I am so glad God understands my heart! And then it happened…

Yes, the door was finally closed (by a nearby helper who obviously didn’t hear me either because his final words before he shut the door were “Who left the door open??“)  But it was what I saw next as I walked toward my car parked at the edge of the curb that made me drop everything I was holding,

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Mrs. B!  AP English 11 & 12

IT WAS MY FAVORITE TEACHER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!

There she was waving at me while shouting, “Hello, Neighbor!”

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!  I now lived by Mrs. B!!

(And who knew we both enjoyed shouting???) 

Words cannot explain how much I adore her!  She was, and continues to be, one of the women I have looked up to and admired as a “Strong-Thinking-Woman.”  Besides my god-mother, I had not met another like her!  And she took such a kind, personal, interest in me back then, that it helped me to find courage & belief in myself I never may have found without her.

And she was to be one of my new neighbors!

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Home Sweet North Star!

So many wonderful surprises like this have continued throughout this first year at North Star.

North Star delivery!
North Star delivery!

We love our new home (and have heard those who purchased our former home feel the same about True North!)

God has a wonderful way of surprising us in life.  When we trust in His guidance great grace is given.  We are grateful for all the many ways we have experienced this in our relocation.

Today Cuppycake & I will be taking a drive together and I am sure it will feel reminiscent of a drive we took just a year ago.  It feels good to be looking out the front window as we drive…and yet I’m grateful for the rear-view one too; as we take stock & appreciate what has led us to this new road we are now on, still led by Christ.  And I’m sure before we walk toward the car & pull away we will be certain to…

“Shut the front door!”

hugs n’ blessings to everyone enjoying surprises in their life!

Chicken Little goes to school.

it’s the monday giggles…(with Helen!)

Beef & Turkey,

Meatloaf too.

Chili-dogs,

Ice Cream Bars,

but only

Fried Chicken

will do!

(with giggles on the side.)

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“Chicken-Protector,” Helen!

these hugs n’ blessings are for all those brave enough to tell the truth…i honestly applaud you!

(no chickens were harmed in the drafting of this article and Helen successfully avoided the principle’s office!)

Falling for it.

“What do you think?”

Loaded question on a 3hugs&blessings Thursday!

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Especially today because it’s a beautiful fall day in Erie, Pa.

And fall here is stunning!

Beautiful fall foliage by a white burch tree.
Beautiful fall foliage by a white birch tree.

The trees surrounding our Bay Area & local State Park, Presque Isle rarely disappoint!

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Presquie Isle State Park Erie, Pa
Presque Isle Erie, Pa
Presque Isle Erie, Pa
The Light House Presque Isle State Park Erie, Pa
The Light House on Presque Isle.

Not to mention the grape vineyards in nearby North East, Pa, our local apple orchards, & Paschke’s Mum Farm!

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But it’s our blessings that really outshine even this!

So for today I shall rake through all the ones I’ve been given and squeeze an extra hug into these 3!

  1. Morning walks (with Helen) to Mass at the the Carmelite Monastery.
  2. My friend Tom calling to share the exciting parts of his day with me.
  3. Fall means cider season & Fuhrman’s Cider made in Erie, Pa is officially being pressed!!
Fuhrmans Cider! Fresh pressed in Erie, Pa
Fuhrmans Cider! Fresh pressed in Erie, Pa

Yummy in my rumblin’ tummy!

“Rumble. Rumble.”

These hugs n’ 3 blessings are for you, as I’m praying you’ll count your blessings too!!

“I love Autumn, the one Season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” ~Lee Maynard