Bonfire Finale

Lydia finished her Birthday Weekend with a big family bonfire, donuts, and chai. Thank you Uncle Jesse for the spicy sausages for the grill, aunt Janelle for the kraut, and cousin Naphtali for the best ever Maple Donuts! It was a fun finale!
Showing off my pumpkin grain-free baked donuts. We had sourdough apple fritters too! We all had warm bellies and hearts on a cold night!

Reformation Day 1517 Anniversary

October 31st was a special Lord's Day, 1st day, 8th day, and 504th Anniversary day of Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the Wittenbrug Castle Church. Martin Luther's 3 solas are sola scriptura, sola gratia and sola fide, that is, scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. Romans 3:20, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." My sis, Meg, hosted a Reformation Celebration party with feasting, lawn games, dressing up, hymms, and teaching. The believers gathered around the fire, and Justus read the history of the Reformation and why it is important for us today. Lydia dressed up all pretty in Grammy's hand me downs.
Pretty as a picture. My Lydia name with a a spiritual connotation of Beautiful Light, born 18 years ago, an hour and 59 minutes before the day that also celebrates great darkness. Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." My kiddos keeping the light in their hearts, childlike faith and fun.
Gabe was himself, the YouTuber, with a chicken shirt. Disappointingly, I didn't take a photo of the gathering around the fire, but I have a parting shot of these two mountain beauties. Grammy went to a girls' school when she was very young in Lausanne, Switzerland, and brought back fitted Austrian smocks, desses, and aprons from the Alps. It was a joy that these two granddaughters could wear Grammy's special fitted garments.

Eighteen Years!

Grandparents celebrated Lydia's 18th Birthday dinner, birthday pie, and presents! Lydia was so thrilled to have them together with her.

Birthday Desire Satisfaction

Shhh. It's a secret. Lydia longed to forage for secret jewels in the mountain bog for her birthday. The Father of Lights, Giver of all good gifts, gave us all a beautiful final October weekend for a cold mountain bog and many ruby red jewels!

October Fall Leaves

The color of autumn was the most brilliant this year!

Tribute to Crown Victoria

Gabe dressed the part and took some parting shots of his dream car before another young man came to drive it off. "This little town is safe when I’m around, although this car gets all the credit! Ford has never built a better car. The Vic, Crowns all other Cars." (Gabe's Instagram Post)