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fall

Blog, Books, Business, Faith, Family, Parenting, prayer, Speaking, Speaking Events, Spiritual Gifts

Beautiful changes

sunflowers & purple flowers

sunflowers & purple flowers

It’s officially Autumn (Fall), one of my fave times of year. The leaves haven’t changed to glorious colors yet here in Missouri, but will soon.

“Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” Heather Stillufsen

I’m knee-deep in writing my next book (on repentance – the book cover reveal is soon!), attending a ladies’ Bible study at my new church (Hope City Church in Harrisonville, Missouri), and leading a writers’ Progress Pod for my writing coaches CJ and Shelley Hitz’s membership site, Christian Book Academy. The brilliant idea and software for Progress Pods with The Next Tiny Step were created by Richard Ralston of New Zealand.

The progress pod helps with accountability and support to reach your goals and dreams faster. I love the ladies in both my Bible study and my pod each week! They are so sweet and encouraging. Some women in our pod are just starting to write their books and others already have published several. Many of us also write blog posts, speak, and coach. The main thing is just to keep going and not quit!

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

If you need help coaching to step out to speak or to write your book, here’s my coaching page for beginner speakers and writers. 

One of the ladies in our pod, Constance Diakow, just published her first book; it’s a cute children’s book called Henrietta and her Special Rain Boots. You can find it for sale at Amazon here. Another author, Jill English Johnston, has written a Be Still book series with beautiful photography, such as this one, Consider: Trusting the Abundance of God.  

dolphin Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

dolphin
Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

I was so honored that my writing coach Shelley asked me to lead one of the progress pods. I asked my husband Ray to help me name the pod. He has a quick wit and said immediately, “Dolphin Pod,” because dolphins swim in pods. He also knows that I LOVE dolphins.

When we got engaged, Ray didn’t have a lot of money then to buy me an expensive diamond engagement ring, so he bought me a gold dolphin ring. I still have it and keep it in my jewelry stand. (He later bought me a beautiful diamond one!)

dolphin engagement ring

dolphin engagement ring

This past Friday, I attended the ladies’ retreat at Hope City Church with our beautiful daughters Heather and Eden, and Heather’s beautiful, previous neighbor, Samoy. God’s presence was there and it was so fun! Over 260 ladies signed up for this first-time ladies’ retreat at Hope City – wow! This blew me away.

Ladies' RetreatL to R: Beautiful ladies! Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

Ladies’ Retreat
L to R: Beautiful ladies!
Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

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Blog, Faith, Marriage, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Writing

Hot chocolate with marshmallows and such

Image source: Lightstock.com

Image source: Lightstock.com

Golden Hues

“Autumn brings cooler days

Effusing fiery golden hues.”

~ Copyright 2012 Joseph May

I have a new addiction this fall: pumpkin spice cappuccino. Between that and Sonic grape slushes, I’m not doing a very good job of conquering my sugar addiction, so please pray for me! (Yes, seriously, pray.)

Below is a picture of me with my cappuccino before church yesterday. Pastor Jeff taught on discipleship and I was challenged by his question: who is discipling you and who are you discipling? We all need a Paul (teacher) and a Timothy (disciple) in our lives. 

Me with pumpkin spice cappuccino

Me with pumpkin spice cappuccino

I’m also loving the beautiful colored leaves. This is my fave time of year, besides spring. It used to be winter until the last couple of icy winters, where our car’s tires were sliding on the highway and it freaked me out. Planning to get new snow tires soon! (I also dislike all the germs and how people get so sick during the winter…especially if it involves anyone in my family!)

changing leaves

changing leaves

 

colored leaves

colored leaves

 

yellow leaf

yellow leaf

Although fall and spring are now my fave seasons, I’m still a snow bunny at heart and love how pretty the white snow looks outside, but my husband Ray (a paramedic) says I don’t have to work in the slushy mess like he does. He’s right. I get to enjoy looking at it from inside our toasty warm house, under a soft blanket with my fuzzy socks and drinking a hot chocolate with whip cream!

Heart socks

Heart socks

My sweet Facebook friend Debbie Oliver is constantly posting pics of delicious hot chocolate with marshmallows, whip cream, and sprinkles that inspire me, like the one in the pic below! Debbie is founder and group leader of Debbie Oliver Ministries. Isn’t she beautiful? Her heart is, too! I hope one day to meet her in person. 

Debbie's hot chocolate

Debbie’s hot chocolate

Debbie Oliver

Debbie Oliver

We’re now in the final quarter of the year. It’s a great time to examine the goals you made at the beginning of the year. Which ones have you accomplished? Which ones remain undone?

Let’s finish 2016 with intention and obedience. God still has things He wants you and me to do this year! Pray and ask Him what that is, and then obey. 

Metamorphosis: Transformed from Fear to Faith

Copyright 2016 Beth Jones

The remaining goals I have for this year are:

  • Improving my health and fitness (eating healthy and walking/jogging 3-4 times a week; I need to get back on track!);
  • Working on my marriage (improving communication; dating; intentionally building intimacy);
  • Praying daily for Ray, our children, grandchildren, and other family and friends;
  • Outsourcing help for my newest books – hiring a formatter to format my Word file for Kindle at Amazon for my new book, Metamorphosis: Transformed from Fear to Faith, and hiring a graphic designer to design the cover for my eBook, How To Write Fast: Making Your Writing Dreams Come True, to get it ready for print (a physical book copy) for you.
  • Traveling. I have a specific place where I’m praying to go this year, if God provides financially (just one of many!). Where do you want to go? “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” (Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!)

Are you enjoying this fall? What are your fave things about autumn? 

What remaining goals do you have for this year that you need to get done? Leave your comments below. 

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Organizing, cider doughnuts, and Pumpkin Pie candles for fall

autumn leaves quote

The last couple of days, I’ve been doing chores, cleaning out my closet, and taking clothes to GoodWill. Fall and spring are a great time of year to clean, organize, and declutter. “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Here’s a few tips to organize and declutter:

  • Haven’t worn that piece of clothing in the back of your closet in 6 months to a year? Sell it, give it away to GoodWill (if it’s still in decent shape), or if it has holes, rips, is badly faded, etc., then throw it out. Some consignment shops will take gently used clothing, that you can sell to make a little money. It’s taking up space, which you can use for good, new things to come into your life!
  • Are you a book-aholic like me, and have stacks of books? Go through your personal library and choose some books that you’re already read (or haven’t), that you can part with to bless someone else. Some book stores even pay you a few dollars or cents for your books, so you can make a few bucks–or buy more books!
  • Is your Tupperware cabinet overflowing with extra lids and plastic bowls? Organize this space. Put all the same size bowls and containers together. Do the same for the lids. Or close the containers with the lids and neatly stack them on top of each other. Throw out or give away that extra lid! Like the one sock that has lost its mate, it will do you no good.
  • Tackle your junk drawer. Most families have one in the kitchen, bathroom, office, or somewhere, that is a place where everyone tosses random things in a messy pile: screwdriver, hammer, nails, picture hooks, scissors, cords, etc. Recently I went through ours and organized it, getting rid of anything we didn’t need. You’ll feel so much better–until it piles up again!
  • Look through your supply of sheets, pillow cases, and blankets before winter. If they are ripped and torn, get rid of them and buy new ones. Make sure your electric blanket isn’t real old and in good shape to prevent a fire hazard. Now is a good time to buy fresh, new pillows because of dust mites. You can find cute, colorful, soft pillows for your couches or loveseats at Walmart, Kohl’s, and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Walmart has pretty, soft blankets to curl up in and read a good book this cold winter. 
  • Go through every room, closet, and drawer in your house. Look at with a sharp eye. Are there piles of papers? Drawers stuffed with junk you don’t need or use? Cobwebs and dust? Things are in disarray and needing organized? I highly recommend Jennifer Ford Berry’s cute, orange book, Organize Now!, for a complete guide on getting your home and life organized. Get it all done before the holidays hit, so you can just relax and have fun with your family and friends, not worried about your house looks. 

It’s also fun to buy inexpensive fall decorations, like this set of two appetizer plates inscribed with “Thankful/Grateful” and the ceramic orange pumpkin that I found at Target.

appetizer plates

appetizer plates

A fun, annual event that our family does in the fall is visit the Louisburg, MO cider mill, where we buy hot apple cider and eat delicious cider doughnuts. 

fresh apple cider

fresh apple cider

cider doughnuts

cider doughnuts

In autumn, we can enjoy deliciously-scented candles, too, like Pumpkin or Apple Pie or Cinnamon. Light your favorite one at meal time, or take a hot bath soak with lavender, with the lights dim and soft, instrumental music playing to de-stress after a long, hectic day.

Pumpkin scented candles - Pinterest

Pumpkin scented candles
Pinterest

And of course fall is time for Thanksgiving, when we celebrate God’s goodness with family and friends over a feast. My personal faves are the turkey, dressing with gravy, and pumpkin pie! (My mouth is now watering at the thought of the pie!)

http://www.promopro.com/shopping-tips/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Five-Best-Thanksgiving-Apps-for-Your-Perfect-Holiday-Meal.jpg

Thanksgiving meal

What are some of your favorite things about this season? Leave your comments below.