One more choir concert for us, then Halloween and October will be over.  It’s finally starting to feel like fall here in Texas and the cooler temps are like a balm to me.  Taking my exercise outdoors has been a treat and putting on a sleeve feels sweet.  And yet it hasn’t been the easiest month for me.  Chuck’s doctor wanted to take another biopsy and waiting for the results sent us both into a little tailspin.  I am so grateful that the results were benign, but my reaction to it showed me that my mental health needed more attention that I’ve shown it.  A call to my doctor and a medication increase has me feeling more myself.  So I’m OK with saying au revoir to this month.

 

Nice weather accompanied the last Homecoming parade and pep rally for our high school senior.  This pep rally is no joke – it includes fireworks.  We enjoyed taking Shelby who gave astonished, “yeah”s throughout the display.  It is sometimes sweet to have a child who never grows up.

 

Allie and her date exchanged mums and enjoyed the football game and the dance.  Afterward, a group of friends retreated out of town to a supervised lake house for the night.  It was even warm enough to play on the water the next day.  On a side note, if you want to go down a fascinating rabbit trail, google Texas Homecoming Mums.  If you are not from here, you will not believe what you find!  My daughter chose to tone it down from the traditional senior mum and garter.  And she was glad.

 

After HOCO

 

My mom, sisters and I escaped to the Texas Hill Country for the Big Boo Cast Live – an in-person version of one of my favorite podcasts.  Together we are carrying some hard things in this season, but it was nice to get away, laugh and shop.

 

While I was away, my husband decided to arrange a date between my daughter Shelby and a friend from her school days.  I wrote a little about Matthew in Graduation and Complex Feelings, and they had not seen each other since that May ceremony.  They were delighted to see each other and go to Lyle, Lyle Crocodile with Chuck.  Matthew held Shelby’s hand throughout the entire show, even as she slept through half of it.  He wanted many pictures taken of the two of them and posted one on his social media.  So precious.

 

In the Middle

 

Mid-October brought Allie’s Fall Choir Concert and an invitation for her varsity choir to sing with the University of North Texas A Capella Choir.  We also worshipped again with Allie leading at church.  And we capped off a musical month with Allie performing in the Sing Out solo show, and her jazz choir performing with Voces8, an a cappella ensemble from the United Kingdom.  My former choir boy husband lapped it all up.

 

October’s Entertainment

 

My sister recommended Glad You’re Here:  Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences by Walker Hayes (the pop country singer and songwriter) and Craig Allen Cooper.  I’m so glad she did.  My ears devoured the audio version in two days time.  I recommend this beautiful story of relational evangelism and community.  Autumn in Sycamore Park by CP Ward popped up as a free Kindle book.  I can’t resist a theme, but confess it’s a bit of a slow slog.  But true to form, I’m not ready to give up on it yet.

 

We went to see Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts at the theater.  I loved this old-school light hearted comedy – a lot more than critics did.  And now as this month is almost over, this post definitely is.  I love you, I thank you and I hope November treats you well.

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

I loved studying Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis a few years ago with my life group and also love that Lois Flowers has pulled out some key quotes for easy access in Mere Christianity:  7 Helpful Quotes for Modern Day Readers.

The Link Up

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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LAUREN SPARKS
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
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