Melissa(speaker) Linda (pastor's wife) myself a
nd Bev This past weekend I went on a 'Extreme Makeover' Ladies Retreat ... the soul edition, not the home edition, so Ty Pennington was not there :( though we did have a wonderful young lady named 'Sky' show up from time to time to teach us about all kinds of makeovers :) There where 65 women there along with Melissa Taylor, a wonderful, authentic, honest woman from North Carolina, who came to share with us and teach us from her experiences in life.
During our free time on Saturday afternoon, a few of us took Melissa for some refreshment and renewal in the form of a carriage ride around Historic Philadelphia. Fast-talking Dennis was a great carriage driver ... he took us to the Betsy Ross house. Though we missed half of his conversation, we still had a good time!
Of course, the focus of the weekend was to have an interior makeover that will last. Exterior makeovers, whether it be hair color, manicures or new clothes are nice, but they only last for a while. Our souls last forever and this was a weekend to focus on renewing our souls. Melissa is a busy wife and mother of four and she is allowing God to use her experiences in life, both negative and positive, to help others on this journey around the sun. The theme for the weekend was a verse from Ephesians 4:23-24 ..."
to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." I read that verse and my first reaction is to feel overwhelmed, because I think I need to make myself 'new'. I can't make myself new, Lord knows, I have tried. Only my creator can make me new ... I just need to stay in touch with Him through prayer, thoughts and reading His Word. That is so much easier said than done. Also, I think a big part of the equation is to connect with others that are activity pursuing a makeover with Jesus as their guide.
Jerry came home on Saturday ... not the greatest timing, since I was at the retreat. (
I came home on Sunday afternoon.) He had a good experience while down there ... but we have been having a bumpy time of it since. Actually, tonight all the boys have plans, so him and I are going on a date. We need the time to focus on 'us.'
I love the colors of the leaves in the fall. The ones in this area are just starting to change colors. This a picture taken down the road from my house.
When we moved here last year this garden was already established. This spring Joseph and I planted (well, I sat on the bench and told Joseph where to plant :) a few more flowers. It has done well this year despite our lack of care. I enjoy spending time here reading, talking or doing nothing. Beinging outdoors is calming and peaceful to me. As the saying goes ... a person is closer to God in a garden than anywhere else on earth. 
This fine red maple tree is in our front year. I like the color and the shape of this tree. I like the calm, steady presence it has. This tree did not just start growing here in the past year that I have lived in this house. It has been here for about 25 years. It did not produce these hundreds of beautiful leaves in a day. They slowly appeared last spring over a few weeks time. It takes one day at a time and any growth it experiences happens slowly and naturally with the elements presented with time.
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