Hope Renewed

I sure did have a good time this weekend.  I had the privilege to attend the Apple Festival in downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.  As you know, I love apples.  This little town is famous for its apple harvest and the way they choose to celebrate and share the bounty of goodness with everyone.  There was every type of fresh picked apple, barbeque, roasted corn, apple cider, and carmel apples too.  All of main street was lined with booths and people.  It was like stepping back in time.  Like stepping back in to a time when you could let your kids play outside until the street-lights came on.  Like a time when ladies would chat over the back fence as they hung out their wash to dry.  Like a time when daddies came home each night at five. Like a time when TV only had 3 channels and the phone was in the hall, not in your purse.  

There were all kinds of folks there.  Families and friends were celebrating and enjoying all the festivities.

 
 

Great entertainment on the main stage in the town square.  Patriotism was running high.

Look who else we ran into!  Like I said, It was like stepping into Mayberry. 

All the great food and fun around me in the name a celebrating the joy and gratitude of a harvest had me thinking of Nehemiah's speech to his people.  Their land and way of life was under siege.  But they had just found a book of scripture and Ezra had read it to them and all at once they returned to the Lord.  So Nehemiah ordered them to celebrate.  In Nehemiah 8:10 he says, " Go, eat of the fat, and drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared."  This was after they had set out to rebuild their city walls.  They were fearful and frustrated when they said, in Nehemiah 4:10, " There is too much rubble.  We are not able to rebuild it".  I too, was feeling overcome with worry and fear for the future of our country,lots of rubble there too.  I needed a reminder that our land is made up of hard-working, common sense, enterprising, personally responsible folks who are the back bone of this great country.  Far removed from the liberal elite, yet ripe with hope in God and Country.  We all stood around the town square as "God bless America" was sung.  I know that if recovery is to be, it will be due to the lavish grace of God who rules over all!  He provided a rich harvest from this land of ours. He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers with robes of splendor.  I know he cares about the souls of men enough to send His Son.  His sovereignty can be trusted.  He's coming back someday to defeat evil and death and give us a New Earth to rule with Him.  

So I washed my apple treasures and made some turnovers to share with a friend.  

I went walking with my friend in her pasture and fed carrots to her horses.  Then we sat in the shade on her porch and watched the kids play tag with a kite. :)

My friends and I shopped at the Mast General Store sidewalk sale, and hit the Labor Day sale at the Dillard's clearance center.  Another friend also spent a morning with me in my kitchen canning fresh applesauce with me from my apple loot.  Thanks Gina. We canned 12 pints and I have had the pleasure of giving 5 away and keeping the rest.  Gonna be great on peanut butter toast!  

So, on this lovely crisp fall holiday monday, my heart is full as I write. I can hear my son laughing at cartoons on TV in the basement.   Worship and rest on Sunday was a benediction to my soul.  But so have been the festivities of the Apple harvest.  I love this land.  I love these people God has given me to make a home with, and serve.  I love the Giver of Good Things.

I feel like I am living out Nehemiah 8:12, " And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them."    

check out all the fun at: www.ncapplefestival.org 

Here is the applesauce recipe I used:  www.pickyourwon.org/applesauce

This is the recipe for the turnovers. I used Fuji:  www.allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-turnovers

Comments

[Brundi Crawford]

Your words are so sweet! I love reading your wonderful blogs.

[Jennifer]

Lori, this was beautiful. You inspire me.

[Lori frank]

Thanks Jennifer, and thank you for stopping by the blog. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.