Enjoy a bit of fun, today.

Why I celebrate Halloween: It's the one holiday we encourage ourselves to look into the darkness and drag our fears into the light and hopefully see them for what they are: An opportunity to be brave and reclaim our power over them.

Shelley's "Frankenstein" explores the folly of men pretending to be God. Stoker's "Dracula" reveals the horror of those who live by taking from others. I can't imagine a world without Poe, and his willingness to expose the monsters within. We prevail when we choose good over evil.

For the record, I don't do scary. Growing up in it means it isn't entertainment for me. Dress up is fun. I've always had a fondness for jack-o-lanterns, the cheerful flame flickering inside. Not to mention my love of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. The promise of cooler weather, a definite bonus in the desert. The changing color of the leaves, which people generously share through pictures. The prelude to the coming triad holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year (gratitude, giving, and starting anew). Enjoy the day. Indulge in a treat, pizza for me. Laugh.

Some of my favorites to fit a Halloween mood:

Most people will recognize this piece of music but may not know the name. From Carmina Burana ~ O Fortuna by Carl Orff performed by André Rieu:

https://youtu.be/EJC-_j3SnXk   

Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRU1AJsXN1g

Gustav Holst's Mars from The Planets

https://youtu.be/Jmk5frp6-3Q

Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt) by Edvard Grieg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLp_Hh6DKWc

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach needs to be heard as an organ piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY

Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8

 

Sunday Scripture

Galatians 1:1-5

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Saturday Links

Nuggets of God shares Fun Facts. It was fun seeing a Gaius, as I'm a fan of "The Chosen," and Gaius is a Roman soldier. The Wolverine fact was interesting and I agree problematic. The Kangaroo was adorable.

https://joyroses13.wordpress.com/2022/09/18/wolverines-to-the-rescue-where-is-the-remote-kangaroo-comes-back-home-and-other-fun-facts/ 

Chateaux des Fleurs shares Sun Flowers: 

https://chateauxdesfleurs.wordpress.com/2022/09/21/flower-of-the-day-still-life-21-september-2022/ 

God bless.

Are you ready for Halloween?

Celebrate with a story.

Secondhand Samhain 

The seventh novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Jan Connor, the new manager of the secondhand shop Vintage Holiday, loves her job, her town, and her life. She doesn't need anything except a little bit of help. Her annual Halloween birthday party isn't coming together, and her antiquated computer system is only making it worse.

Trent McDonald, computer guru extraordinaire, is looking for a place to call home. His brother, Cowboy, suggested Holiday might offer what he needs but never mentioned Vintage Holiday's pretty shop manager.

Between one breath and the next, God changes everything...

http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Samhain-Holiday-USA-Book-ebook/dp/B01A0IBBQI/ref=sr_1_1

If you prefer paperback, Holiday, USA Anthology 2015

All four novellas published in 2015 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2015-2/dp/153018617X/ref=sr_1_22

Musical Thursday

Tim Janis instrumental hymns and music and video for 2 hours.

https://youtu.be/xcXOtTcXGvo

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

Eight more chapters done, and over two thousand words cut.

Monday Quote

 

Sunday Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:1-2

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saturday Links

Mustard Seed Blog asks "Why do the Nations Rage?"

https://mustardseedblogs.com/2022/09/18/why-do-the-nations-rage/ 

Brad McBride, over at Thus We See..., shared Searching for the Light(s) 

https://www.thuswesee.com/2022/09/searching-for-the-lights/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Soldier Dogs: The Untold Story of America's Canine Heroes by Maria Goodavage nonfiction. Dogs are amazing creatures, and the bond between humans and dogs remarkable. This may be a difficult read for some as the author shares the grim side as well. I almost stopped reading several times. I know things aren't all roses and lollipops but having that confirmed is heart-wrenching.

Musical Thursday

The Piano Guys - Rick Astley' "Never Gonna Give You Up"

https://youtu.be/IT4r92kxR0Y

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

Seven chapters edited and over 3,000 words cut.

Monday Quote

 

~ Holley Gerth

Sunday Scripture

Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saturday Links

Doug Dial, over at 5 Minutes of Hope, shared Nothing Wasted:

https://5minutesofhope.com/2022/09/17/nothing-wasted/ 

Thoughts and photographs shared by Randall Collis of Summer in the Sierra Mountains: 

https://dalocollis.com/2022/09/18/summer-in-the-sierra-mountains/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Secrets of Saint Augustine (Sinister Secrets)  by Traci Hunter Abramson suspense romance. Another great story. This one brings back FBI Special Agent Doug Valdez and his wife Jill, from earlier stories. Loved it!

Musical Thursday

Peter Hollens ft. Tim Foust "Blackbird"

https://youtu.be/kYCWlsF5PXU

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

I've started final edits of "A Promise of Possibilities," editing a chapter and then reading it through.

Monday Quote

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.

~ Marcus Aurelius

Sunday Scripture

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Acts 1:1-4

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Saturday Links

Debbie Kay's daily prayer lifts me, over at Hope for the Broken-Hearted, this is from September 16:

https://hopeforthebrokenhearted.wordpress.com/2022/09/16/prayer-for-sept-16th-7/ 

Big Sky Buckeye shares, trivia, poetry, and quotes. This one is Anne Frank Quotes:

https://bigskybuckeye.com/2022/09/17/anne-frank-quotes-2/ 

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Just One Wish: A Celebrity Crush Romance by Janette Rallison YA romance. The hero and heroine are 19 and 17 respectively. The story is told in first person, which isn't my preference, but I don't think this story could have been written any other way. I laughed and cried and am glad I read it.

Musical Thursday

The Piano Guys' "When You're Gone" 

https://youtu.be/5-UXZwMNV9E

Wordless Wednesday

 

Tuesday Tidbit

Sometimes you have to take a moment to breathe and reflect.

Monday Quote

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

~ Calvin Coolidge

Sunday Scripture

Matthew 1:1 

1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Mark 1:1-2

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luke 1:1-4

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Saturday Links

I love lavender. Chateaux des Fleurs:

https://chateauxdesfleurs.wordpress.com/2022/08/31/flower-of-the-day-still-life-aug-31-2022/ 

Interesting post about using internal thoughts, over at Women Writing the West:

https://womenwritingthewest.wordpress.com/2022/09/08/four-reasons-to-use-interal-thoughts-in-your-writing/ 

God bless.