Annie the Bear-moose and sweet trick-or-treats

Bek has been raving for the last two weeks about this Halloween number she picked up for Annie at some half-price consignment shop. Never mind that it's a little small - or that it's made for a climate decidedly more arctic than the one we inhabit - "it's just Annie," she said. And she's right. We call Annie "bear" or "bear-moose", and Annie laughs uproariously every time she puts the outfit on. So it fits, even if it doesn't.

The door bell rings have been few and far between tonight, leading Bek and me to speculate in the down time about the possibility of handing out Bible tracts next year. You know, in case the five kids who came are tempted to come back. The last crew, though, scored major points for ogling (at some length) our twin hand-carved pumpkins. Maybe we can keep a few full-size candy bars on hand for the best brown-nosers next year.





















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the Day that Begged for Pumpkins

As previously posted, pumpkin carving requires good friends and a pretty day. To live with my best friend is a blessing beyond words (I love you, Bek!), and today met the other half of the criterion with graceful ease. Without further ado, some pics from the Day that Begged for Pumpkins.















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Pumpkins!

Bek and I took turns carving pumpkins this afternoon. Pumpkin carving is probably an acquired taste; we acquired it among good friends six or seven years ago (tho both of us have childhood memories, too). Carving takes patience, and I'm not much for patience, but breathing deeply helps because striving - hurried efficiency - is an enemy of beauty. So it helps to have good friends and a pretty day. An autumnal beverage doesn't hurt, either.


The studio.








Master carver at work


with a beautiful smile


Bek's pumpkin


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Bath time with Annie

Hymn of the Day

By Charles Wesley.
Extended version...

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!

I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.

Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.



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Steeeeew!

One of the great delights of autumn is the transition to fall foods, most especially Beks' world-famous stew. Here's a picture. (We closed the blinds, put on hoodies, and pretended that it was cold outside.)



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Hooked on books!

Bek and I are finding strange comfort this week reading books about the faith of friends. Bek finished Lauren Winner's Girl Meets God today, and I'm near the end of Stanley Hauerwas' Memoir, Hannah's child. Not one to be left out, Annie is pouring through her own favorites, too.



Remember this one, Momma?











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