The peace of the porch.
"Every so often. Go where you can hear a wooden screen door slam shut".
Although I don't know who wrote it, I love the quote above. It's basically telling us to relax and find a space that we can listen with our heart and hear that 'still small voice' of God whispering to us.
During fall porches are decorated by nature with colorful autumn leaves swirling around, the smell of fireplaces or back yard bonfires filling the air, beautiful sunsets splash across the horizon, dogs bark in the distance as the harvest moon rises in the sky, and warm blankets wrap us in coziness on a porch swing with a steaming mug of hot cocoa in our hands. The porch...is the perfect setting for fall as we relax from busy days. It's a place where we can savor memories as the leaves fall.
The season of fall, and the approaching holidays, have been hard for me since my mom went home to heaven in the fall of 2017. Fall was one of my mom's favorite seasons and God graced us with many beautiful fall days in 2017 before she went home. During her final season of fall on earth we spent many evenings on the porch at my parents house. We would sit on their front porch, my mom huddled in a warm blanket, watching the world go by remembering old times, and basking in the final days of my mom's earthly journey. I can still see her sitting on her chair, blanket wrapped around her, savoring every moment on the porch. As the leaves began to fall...she transitioned to her heavenly home. We transitioned to life without a mother and for my Dad, life without his wife of almost 60 years.
I am always reminded as the autumn colors begin to light up the Midwest, how fast life changes, and to be grateful for every day...every blessing from God. As the leaves fall, mimicking life on this earth, filled with unknowns, and unexpected gusts of life that can cause us to lose our steady footing...and yet, beneath it all...even during those seasons, there's a beauty and peace that comes from God. As beautiful as this autumn season is...it's true, the best is yet to come if we've placed our faith in Jesus Christ. I know that's a bold statement for a magazine, but if there's someone out there whose reading this and they are questioning during a hard season of life, if God loves them and if they can trust that there is a better life waiting; as God's child, the porch swings of heaven will be greater than anything on earth. The seasons set by the Lord in heaven will be ones without tears, without pain, and filled with joy...with even greater splendor than the brightest colors of autumn.
If we sit quietly on the porch this fall, hearing screen doors slam as we watch the colors change, we can hear that still small voice assuring us that everything will be all right. We can find a peace that will comfort us in our struggles on hard days and remember to be grateful for every good gift from above on days of laughter and sunshine. Knowing we are never alone. In the stillness of the porch, we can find peace and refreshment as the fast paced world keeps on moving...we can find quiet and solitude to listen for that small whisper from God...as the leaves fall.
In this issue, you'll find those who have listened and made some decisions that were scary, but these hard decisions turned out to be absolutely amazing for their lives. You'll read some great words from Coach Brenda Wyatt. And of course, along with our encouraging faith based articles, there's pages of inspirational decorating ideas, creative inspiration, and a few awesome recipes...and did I mention that we have FIVE new candles that have arrived as part of The 5th Street Candle Company!
Fall is blowing in a season of change and before the winter winds howl...I hope your heart is filled with warmth and peace as we approach the stillness of the Thanksgiving season. A time to be grateful. A time to reflect. A time to remember the Hand that provides everything.
Grab a sweater and find a cozy place on your porch, brew a cup of hot tea or steaming coffee and enjoy the the November of our online magazine 'For your Heart and Home'.
Blessings, Shelly
Publisher
The Notebook Café
Millie McKeever’s Vintage & Home Decor
Although I don't know who wrote it, I love the quote above. It's basically telling us to relax and find a space that we can listen with our heart and hear that 'still small voice' of God whispering to us.
During fall porches are decorated by nature with colorful autumn leaves swirling around, the smell of fireplaces or back yard bonfires filling the air, beautiful sunsets splash across the horizon, dogs bark in the distance as the harvest moon rises in the sky, and warm blankets wrap us in coziness on a porch swing with a steaming mug of hot cocoa in our hands. The porch...is the perfect setting for fall as we relax from busy days. It's a place where we can savor memories as the leaves fall.
The season of fall, and the approaching holidays, have been hard for me since my mom went home to heaven in the fall of 2017. Fall was one of my mom's favorite seasons and God graced us with many beautiful fall days in 2017 before she went home. During her final season of fall on earth we spent many evenings on the porch at my parents house. We would sit on their front porch, my mom huddled in a warm blanket, watching the world go by remembering old times, and basking in the final days of my mom's earthly journey. I can still see her sitting on her chair, blanket wrapped around her, savoring every moment on the porch. As the leaves began to fall...she transitioned to her heavenly home. We transitioned to life without a mother and for my Dad, life without his wife of almost 60 years.
I am always reminded as the autumn colors begin to light up the Midwest, how fast life changes, and to be grateful for every day...every blessing from God. As the leaves fall, mimicking life on this earth, filled with unknowns, and unexpected gusts of life that can cause us to lose our steady footing...and yet, beneath it all...even during those seasons, there's a beauty and peace that comes from God. As beautiful as this autumn season is...it's true, the best is yet to come if we've placed our faith in Jesus Christ. I know that's a bold statement for a magazine, but if there's someone out there whose reading this and they are questioning during a hard season of life, if God loves them and if they can trust that there is a better life waiting; as God's child, the porch swings of heaven will be greater than anything on earth. The seasons set by the Lord in heaven will be ones without tears, without pain, and filled with joy...with even greater splendor than the brightest colors of autumn.
If we sit quietly on the porch this fall, hearing screen doors slam as we watch the colors change, we can hear that still small voice assuring us that everything will be all right. We can find a peace that will comfort us in our struggles on hard days and remember to be grateful for every good gift from above on days of laughter and sunshine. Knowing we are never alone. In the stillness of the porch, we can find peace and refreshment as the fast paced world keeps on moving...we can find quiet and solitude to listen for that small whisper from God...as the leaves fall.
In this issue, you'll find those who have listened and made some decisions that were scary, but these hard decisions turned out to be absolutely amazing for their lives. You'll read some great words from Coach Brenda Wyatt. And of course, along with our encouraging faith based articles, there's pages of inspirational decorating ideas, creative inspiration, and a few awesome recipes...and did I mention that we have FIVE new candles that have arrived as part of The 5th Street Candle Company!
Fall is blowing in a season of change and before the winter winds howl...I hope your heart is filled with warmth and peace as we approach the stillness of the Thanksgiving season. A time to be grateful. A time to reflect. A time to remember the Hand that provides everything.
Grab a sweater and find a cozy place on your porch, brew a cup of hot tea or steaming coffee and enjoy the the November of our online magazine 'For your Heart and Home'.
Blessings, Shelly
Publisher
The Notebook Café
Millie McKeever’s Vintage & Home Decor
Shelly Thompson is the Publisher for The Notebook Cafe -- Inspired Words for the Journey, and owner of Millie McKeever's Vintage & Home Decor with 201 Coffee located in the quaint historic town of Walnut, Iowa. 'The Cafe' offers a place where women gather to share a time of fellowship, devotion, and a tour the circa 1875 historical bank building restored by Shelly and her husband. Shelly is the author of two books. Entwined; now in its fourth printing; and Heart of a Warrior; in its sixth printing. Taking a giant leap of faith Shelly left the corporate world in 2015 to pursue a dream God gave her of developing a monthly inspirational faith based online reading café of words and encouragement. Today, The Notebook Café reaches over one million people each month. Shelly has also developed The Notebook Cafe Annual Woman's Conference and women's retreat. Shelly and her husband, Dave, spend time with their family and many weekends working on home renovation projects…that thankfully never seem to end.
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