Fall Colors

As I kid I didn't really like fall... everything was dying. The weather starts getting colder. I'm not a big cold fan except for the snow. I like snow, it's fun and I can ski!!!
As an adult I have grown to like fall, mostly for all the colors. I love colors!
Vermont is absolutely beautiful in the summer, but fall is looking very promising as well! Now don't get nervous I am still loyal to NC!

Symphonies

Have you ever seen the movie "August Rush"? One of the lines in the movie is "the music is all around us... all you have to do is listen". Have you listened to the music around you?

In North Carolina the background of the symphony is bugs - crickets and other amazingly loud creatures. Then you'll hear birds put their two cents in.

In Vermont it's different, the base music is usually the wind. Then a babbling brook will come in and out, and if you're lucky there is the occasional bird. It's interesting to me the different sounds of places.

What does your backyard sound like? What music does it make?

Adventures in Vermont

Today I took a half day off and went exploring. As I set out it was a beautiful day! A crisp blue sky with just the right amount of clouds - perfect for laying on your back and watching them roll by. Do you ever play that game where you say what a cloud looks like? Today was the perfect day for that!

The trees reminded me of Gabon... they look like broccoli covering the mountains. The clouds gave the mountains different shades of green as they floated over.

So I went hiking a little south of here.

Here a few pictures...

Found a few neat mushrooms...

What? Not a mushroom fan? Maybe you'd be more interested in seeing the animal I saw. When I encountered this animal I tried to talk soothingly and not alarm him. "I have eaten your kind once, but the meat tasted a little like olives - and though I like olives I never really enjoyed your meat. So you just meander on and don't worry about me."

Those of you that know me well - know that I talk to myself. So is it really surprising that I talked to a porcupine?

As I am writing this blog a four year girl notices a bandaid I have on my finger. I tell her that it is from a blister that popped. She asks if the porcupine popped it?

Children

Do you have children? Me neither, but if you do...
Want do you want your children to grow up to be? Choose 3 -
Loving
Responsible
Lawyer
Hard worker
Law abiding
Compassionate
Dentist
Teacher
Kind
Paramedic
Godly
Honest
Policemen
Persevering


Did you find yourself choosing characteristics or occupations?

I definitely believe that some people are called by God to specific occupations... David was called to king, Paul called to be a missionary, etc. But for the rest of us who don't hear from a burning bush - what does he want us to be/do?
Most New England towns have what they call a "green" - a beautiful green (hence the name) lawn with some benches and maybe a gazebo. So I was hanging out on one of these benches the other day pondering God and who he wants me to be, and it made me think of most parents - what do they want their kids to grow up to be? Now don't try to deny that you want your kids to be millionaires so they can support you later on! :)
Maybe it is more important to God who we are instead of what we do or where we live... just a thought.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Another Adventure

So for those of you who still check this site...

Since Africa I've been wandering the countryside staying with friends and family (usually for less than a week - trying not to outstay my welcome). A huge thank you to those who have housed and fed me!!! I helped a friend of mine with her business for the month of July, but have not obtained a permanent full-time job as of yet. This has turned out to be a blessing!

Because of this blessing I have the freedom to pretty much go wherever I can afford to - last weekend it was to DC to visit a college friend of mine. This week I'm up in Vermont, and I might like it so much I stay for awhile.

A dear friend of mine has recently been been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So I am going to crash with her family for awhile till I wear out my welcome here. Please pray for her and her family! If you would like more information you can visit...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joyhubbell/journal

Here's a picture of her climbing a hemlock tree a few years ago... now she's doing a different form of climbing - please be praying for her strength and endurance!

Moving Target

So I did my presentation at my church a couple of Sunday's ago... sorry for the delay. Kate & Bess did their best to capture me on film, but when I speak I tend to move around a lot and use my hands. They did a great job and got a few shots of me standing still!

Notice my hands on the shots... always moving. In this picture they are touching the mike I had on - not a good thing!

Things went pretty well, until the end. I just ended with "That's it." Later I thought of what I wanted to say. Joseph, who was a driver for me while Tim & Meredith were in the US, used to say "Ton travaille c'est obliger" - Your work is to forget. Which is very true!!

So what I wanted to say was a huge THANK YOU to my Whiteville family that prayfully and financially supported me on this adventure!!

Also part of the "moving target" title is where I am living now... today I am at my dad's house. Next week I will be at a friend's house. The week after that I will go down to Whiteville. Life is a little crazy right now.

Here's a picture of where I normally stay in Whiteville - yes, it's a barn. But actually a well equipped barn that is actually better than most hotels I've stayed at!!

Presentation

For those of you close to Whiteville and interested in hearing about my African adventure; I will be speaking at my church the first Sunday in May.