The weather, I think, will be taking a nose-dive. We have had such a wonderful fall. Now, to brace ourselves for what is to come!

We who live in the northeast have the pleasure of four seasons. Of course, some seasons are rated higher than others. Winter is a season most of us try to coast through, and always hope it is mild.

There is a remarkable beauty, though, in freshly fallen snow covering the aftermath of fall----something to look forward to.

Certain kinds of change are hard. We will be experiencing a family change this year.

Since my dad died in 1974, we have gone to my mom's to spend Halloween with her. For some reason we didn't want her to be alone that night, and it stuck all these years. She would put a big pot of chili on; and, one by one, we would all come for supper.

Sooner or later the torch always gets passed (or dropped), and that will be true for us this year. As we age (sadly), change is necessary.

I am starting this new week in a tired state---not a good way to begin a work-week.

I packed too much into the weekend, and now I am dragging. I slept an extra half-hour thinking that would solve my need for more sleep.

Another lesson learned---I'm not thirty anymore!

What a fast-moving week, but I'm thankful it's Friday. I feel I need to take a deep breath and regroup.

I love my life, but I feel it is in charge right now. Somehow I need to slow this all down and get a feeling of a better balance.

I like the chart that Super Nanny uses on her show to bring sanity back into the family-in-need. I wonder if that would work for me?

My head is in a flurry. I am in the process of changing the menu from adult guests to children/adult guests for Sunday night's supper.

It won't be that hard; it's just getting past the initial surprise. I need to regroup and stay focused on the important factor----my guests.

This is what makes life so interesting; our plans are always tentative.

Yesterday was a better day than the day before, but today needs to be better than yesterday---as far as my food choices go.

It has to register that what I eat determines how extreme my (Type 2) diabetes becomes. It is a very destructive disease but one that can be tamed.

My journey to good health has hit several bumps in the road, but life is that way; it is a classroom.

My eyes are opened a little wider today; I need to get very serious about my health.

My eating habits have become more and more relaxed to a point where one would think I had no diabetic problems. Well, I am a diabetic. I need to eat like one.

Even though my dessert at work today is Coconut Cream Pie, it won't be my dessert.

Today I see the doctor-----which means I get weighed.

Truth is not always easy to swallow; it's too overwhelming. I know I've lost inches as my clothes tell me that. I stay off the scale, though, because I have been so optimistic getting on it, only to see I am still where I was.

But I will step on the scale with my head held high (and my eyes closed tight) knowing I won't have to do this for another three months!

It's funny how a series of events, started by a casual comment, can change a lifestyle. I went from being a stay-at-home mom for thirty-five years to being an employed fulltime cook.

I took to it like a duck to water thinking I only wanted a taste of employment. I was almost immediately launched into a fulltime position and loving it.

Isn't that what our walk is like. Who can stay parttime with God!

I woke up with people to pray for on my mind. God is so faithful. He is always prompting and drawing us toward Him.

I look back at my thirty-six years of being a believer and am forever grateful. Where would I be today if I were still unsaved? I was headed toward destruction and would still be on that path. That is a frightening picture.

I thank God for Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior.

My son is burning the candle from both ends. He has a little over a semester left, and I see signs of burn out.

How do you instruct a twenty-one year old the importance of rest? Sometimes the simple solutions are the ones most rejected.....I see that in my own life.

Oh, for wisdom to let what we think is urgent be sifted out, and only the important remain.

My life has gotten a little more complicated; my boss wants me trained this week to learn a new position. I will admit I'm fearful.

If I don't like it, can I just go back to being what I was? I don't think so. I think I am entering a defining moment; we all have them. I need to push myself harder and open my mind up wider.

My Christian walk gives me the same challenges; I can't go back.

The house is back to quiet again. All our kids and grandkids were over for chili/chili dogs, French dip sandwiches, French fries, and salad.

It's been an enjoyable weekend, full of fellowship and relaxation. It's good to seek the balance in life: God/others, family/others, friends/others, work/others, relaxation/others.

I love learning how to keep my life simple.

As I look back over these last three months, I'm still amazed and in awe of the job God has given me. He has a plan in all of this, and I have had many opportunites to blow it.

I am rubbing shoulders with temperamental cooks; one has left, one is still in God's plan for me. When Jesus gave the "marching orders" to His newly chosen apostles, He said to be "as wise as serpents, and as harmless as doves."

I take that as my admonishment each time I enter my place in God's plan. It is easy to react; it is hard to give a soft answer.

Each day seems a little cooler; it's hard to believe we are in the second week of October.

We are switching to winter recipes at work. Partly, that means we will be using less fresh fruit. My boss asked me to go through my recipes for new salad ideas; I felt honored.

Tomorrow we will be serving lunch to a Sunday school class from my church, and I am making one of my salads; my debut of personal recipes!

Brrrr! It is cold this morning. Fall is definitely here. This is such a favorite time of year for so many who enjoy living where there are four seasons.

I love putting the away the summer clothes and getting out the long-sleeved garments. With my renewed interest in losing weight and the arrival of my favorite season, I walk with a lighter step.

All may not be perfect; but, all is well.

It feels like Monday, since I took yesterday off. It will be a good day, though, whatever day it is!

This is Birthday Night where I work, so I will be making a birthday cake for the evening celebration. My decorating skills are limited, but some decorating is required in order to have it bear the title "birthday cake."

This monthly event always brings more hustle and bustle in the kitchen. It is a day when all the cooks work extra hard to make this day very special for all those celebrating birthdays this month.

This has been a long week, though it has gone fast. It seemed long because each day had its trials.

The weekend is a good time to sort through "the good, the bad, and the ugly," so I'm not dragging a bunch of it into the next week. I have to ever be reminded, "It's not about me."

Knowing that makes it easier to continue on with a renewed spirit, always striving to be more like Christ.

Today I will be making Strawberry Shortcake for lunch. I love making that dessert pretty.

I have my sugar-topped biscuits already made so feel well on my way. I always make fresh strawberry "spears" to plunge into the mound of whipped topping that I pipe onto the top of strawberry-covered biscuit.

Of course, the fun part is when they are presented to the partakers; I almost get a standing ovation!

Have you ever thought you needed a haircut----right now? That's what hit me two nights ago while I sat at the computer.

I thought, "How hard can it be to cut a couple swaths off the back of my hair?" It was just a thought; but before I knew it, I was grabbing a pair of dull paper scissors and two inches of freshly cut hair was in my hand, at an angle.

I have a new appreciation for hair stylists; mine is going to have quite a time correcting this impulse (after she stops laughing!).

For days I have been looking at my son's girlfriend's white, cotton, box-pleat skirt (freshly washed and dryed) that she asked me to iron for her. Where do I start?!

My husband vounteered his help this morning; I think he thinks I'm a bit over-whemed! I am tempted to take it to the dry-cleaners and let them press crisp pleats back into the wrinkled skirt.

Life is full of these heart-warming adventures. I don't want to miss a single one of them!

I'm excited about starting a new week. The weekend was a blessing and has equipped me to enter Monday morning with a song in my heart.

Blessings all come in different packages. One of my blessings is my dear friend who has seen me through trials and hardships, who has prayed and cried and laughed with me, who has gone to Bible studies with me as we grew together in God's Word---- and now who has shared with me she doesn't have long to live.

To know God is in control keeps that song in our heart.