miscellany monday

+ "autumn." Even though it's not technically autumn yet, Starbucks is selling pumpkin spice lattes (which makes it autumn in my book). Mornings have been cooler for the past week, so I've been able to turn off the central air and keep the windows open. I can spend my morning devotionals in a rocking chair outside or at the kitchen table with the back door open and a cup of tea. It's the little things that brighten my day.

+ bake. pray. love. The Baking Brigade distributed over 400 cookies, cupcakes, and brownies (and a loaf of banana bread and two lemon pound cakes!) in September. Some people volunteered for the first time--I love seeing new people!--and we made our rounds through two barracks buildings. I am continually blessed by this outreach.

+ five. For the first time in my life, I ran over five miles without stopping. It almost took me an hour and my knees (and calves ... and ankles) were sore by the end, but I ran five miles! Two miles is now my short/fun run and I hope that I'll be able to say that five miles is my short run within a couple of months.

+ breaking bread. Only five adults attended home life group last week so we were able to eat dinner together at the kitchen table instead of spread out in the living room! It was a nice change because the setting was friendlier. I also made a bacon cheeseburger soup for the first time. For not following the recipe, it turned out pretty well. I'm going to make a shoofly pie next week. Also, even though two of my friends are also from the slightly southern east coast (i.e. Virginia), no one has ever had Pennsylvania Dutch pot pie. I'm going to break out that recipe at some point in the future, too. And maybe make some whoopie pies.