Holiday Shopping

Oh the joys of holiday shopping...

Fall: Season of Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is fast approaching here in the United States. It is a holiday where everyone steps aside from work and focuses on family, friends, and everything one has to be thankful for. But as I look at society I have to wonder... do people remember how to be thankful anymore? Do people even believe they have anything to be thankful for? Because to recognize we are thankful means to recognize that there are things we experience, we have, that were given to us and not earned... things we both need and desire.

It means we can't do everything for ourselves and in a society where hard work and independence is idolized, being thankful is not very popular. Whining and complaining creates much better gossip.

We tend to forget that in life the most important things are freely given... but sadly, not always appreciated. It is true that we cannot earn love, we cannot earn forgiveness, we cannot force respect, choose where we are born or under which circumstance our lives will begin. But we can choose to recognize and cherish the significance of living.





We are surrounded by beauty anywhere and everywhere we go but many times we are too busy, too miserable to notice. We are even more blind to the beauty in ourselves, preferring to compare who we are to what we think is better in others and creating a prison for our own potential.

Are you thankful for who you are at this moment?

Many of us would hope to be better than what we are and that's fine. But the moment we let the hopes for our ideal selves overshadow genuine contentment, genuine thankfulness in what we are as an individual and what our lives contribute to others, then we miss out.

And if we're truly honest, the moment we're no longer thankful is the moment we lose one of the greatest joys of life... to be aware and appreciative of our own existence. Not so that we become arrogant or selfish, but that we might love more deeply, work with greater excellence, and strive to become who God created us to be... His joy and pride through Jesus Christ.

" Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." ~ Psalm 136:26

Fall: Season of Life-sized Mazes!

My brother and I live in the suburbs of Lancaster Pennsylvania, surrounded on all sides by Amish and farm country. Many times the views are just breath-taking. I love watching the seasons come and go because the fields and hills and meadows and valleys are always changing.
And while every season has its own beauty the Fall/Autumn season is always filled with extra excitement where I live. Why? Well one reason is because of the Amazing Maize that is open to the public as soon as the corn is tall enough!

If you've never been to a corn maze you have to do it at least once. But be certain to go with someone you enjoy spending time with. There's a good chance you'll get lost for a while. :) And depending on how late the season is when you go it might be a good idea to dress in layers. Food is normally provided outside the maze and you can eat before or after getting lost.

I was in the maze below.


I went with a friend and the experience of being in a maze was loads of fun! Most corn mazes also provide " flashlight" nights. You are normally required to bring your own flashlight in the maze for these.

Some of the mazes are quite complicated such as the world's largest corn maze in Dixon, California.



While others aren't anything too tough.



Its a bit late in the season now to find too many mazes still open but who knows... maybe you could still make a flashlight night! :)

"He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's." (NLT)
~ Psalm 103:5