Hey Ya'll!
I just love this time of the year, don't you! Chilly mornings, leaves crunching underfoot AND Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattee's, Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffins, Pumpkin Scones with creamy icing and Pumpkin Bread Loaf!!! Yummy! I LOVE all things pumpkin!
Yesterday was yet another difficult day for me at the nursing home with my sweet mama. I'm thankful she was having a better day and I treasure every moment I have with her, but the reality of her diminishing health and seeing her like this breaks my heart and takes an emotional toll on me.....I'm just being real, ya'll! I know that the Lord is with her and gently walking her (and me) through this last season of her life, thank the Lord! But observing my once vibrant Southern Belle sweet Mama coping with such frailties and physical challenges is some days more than I can emotionally bare (real again!)!
As I tearfully drove out of the nursing home parking lot yesterday with a heavy heart and heavy sighs, I began to wish I could just get away from it all for a moment and take a little break. You know, a moment where you can press the pause button, take a deep breath and shake off the heaviness of the stuff of life! And suddenly, I remembered the Starbucks gift card that I had in my purse from
Beth Endeans wonderful giveaway package I received the other day!!! And wouldn't you know it, a Starbucks just happened to be right around the corner! Hallelujah!!
Oh and I must stop here and show you a pic of the winning goodies I received from Beth! By now you know I absolutely LOVE a Starbucks gift card and the two Christmas ornaments she surprised me with are just adorable...LOVE them too....Thank you Beth!!
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| Thanks Beth!!! |
Continuing on at Starbucks : ))......
I unashamedly
lusted drooled over all the aforementioned profusely decadent pumpkin pastries but resisted the temptation to TOTALLY blow my diet (note the last piece of pumpkin loaf in pastry case above that I ALMOST had to have :)) ) and only ordered my fav Pumpkin Spice Latte, decaf! As I was waiting to order, I noticed a gal in line who looked vaguely familiar sweetly smiling towards my direction but wasn't sure if her smile was directed at me or not. You know, one of those awkward situations where you're not sure if they are smiling at you or someone behind you. A few moments later she approached me and asked if I was Chris and Laraine's mom and also asked about Katie. She began to share that years ago we attended the same church in Phoenix and she was friends with my kids and remembered me also and had moved to live in the same small N. AZ town that I now live in. My memory was delightfully jogged and we stood and talked about the Lord and the importance of the Body of Christ loving and accepting one another unconditionally based upon our Love of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour!! Her radiant smile, sweet spirit, laughter and conversation so ministered to my sagging heart and emotions. Our brief time together was just what I needed! And I thought it was for the luv of a Pumpkin Latte that I was being drawn there! Nope, it was His Love setting me up and drawing me to a Divine Starbucks encounter that would refresh my soul, strengthen my heart and lift my head!
He's AWESOME isn't HE! He is the One who notices when we are sad and dispairing and ministers strength and hope to our hearts and emotions and lifts our head again!
But You, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord
and
He answers me......
Psalm 3:3-4 NIV
Thank you Jessica!
THANK YOU JESUS!
HE IS FAITHFUL!
Love and Hugs and Sweet Blessings!
Pumpkin photo via Google Images
