Wichita on the Cheap has a great compilation of area Fall Farm Fun. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, petting zoos and more.

The Sedgwick County Zoo is accepting donations of plants for their Tropics, Gorilla Forest, Orangutan and Chimpanzee Habitats. Bring plants to the zoo from 9:00 to 4:00 this Saturday and Sunday. See details on what types they need here.

 

Wichita Kid Fest is hosting their Inflate-A-Fest this Saturday from 9-4 at Century II. For a $5 admission, you can access 15 giant inflatables, rides and games, vendors and more.

 

Game Night at Reverie this Saturday night from 6-8.

Library:

In Back to the Future, Marty McFly arrived in the year 2015. This Saturday the 17th, come to Alford Branch to speculate what life will be like in 2045. Food and a movie, too. Ages 12-17.

On Monday the 19th, Westlink is hosting a Minecraft event from 2:30-3:30 for ages 8-10. You can make a Minecraft face and go on a scavenger hunt.

Have you been participating in The Big Read? Westlink will be hosting a book discussion on Into the Beautiful North on Tuesday from 1-2.

 

Have a great weekend with people you love!

Spectacular mums

This little pumpkin flower arrangement caught our eye the other day, so we pulled over to check it out

And met a kind lady and her dog

New friends

Friends are good to me

Fun river sighting

October sky

Four Square (sort of)

Swinging never gets old

White pumpkins are fascinating

Friends

 

We had Pumpkin Waffles with Cream Cheese

He was a fan

So were they

Transformers

 

Your 7 Days?

Our small group recently finished The Search for Significance by Robert McGee. We took our time through it, which I appreciate. There is a quote from the last chapter that I’ve been thinking through the past couple of weeks:

 

“…situations trigger false beliefs. In those situations there are almost always individuals whom we blame for our emotions. We think, I feel this way because of Harry. We become upset with Harry both for what he did and for our own response.

 

The next time you become upset and blame someone for your response, think about your tube of toothpaste. This morning you squeezed your toothpaste tube, and out of it came toothpaste. The reason the toothpaste came out is because that is what is in the tube. Someone may have squeezed you once, and out of you may have come responses that were really ungodly, maybe even embarrassing. You blame another for your responses, but you have to understand that what came out of you is what was in you.

 

Often, God allows us to undergo troubling circumstances so that we can see what is inside of us.” (pg 146)

 

This is not what I want to hear.

 

When every detail in a situation is going badly, and the reaction from me is unkind, I want to blame the situation. Or the people involved in the situation. But I can’t. Unkindness came out because my heart is sinful.

The idea that God allows us to be in these situations so we can see what’s in us sounds…mean. But it is actually a great grace.

 

When we tootle along as if we’re basically good people, it is easy to think, I got this. We rely on ourselves, maintaining deep community doesn’t seem as crucial, and we give God a few cursory glances at best.

 

But when we’re allowed to see the depth of our sinfulness, our need for a Savior goes from something we needed once to save us eternally to Someone we need moment by moment every day. To save us from ourselves.

 

And we learn that He’s got this.

 

As long as we’re squeezed in this life, some sin will inevitably come out. Perfection lies in the future.

 

But as He makes us more like Him, the more we’re squeezed, the more His character in us will flow through.

 

And a thirsty world will enjoy a taste of those streams of Living Water.

 

“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:

Our exiles have the foundation laid. This is big. We know the foundation is the most important part of a building. The portion that connects to the shifting earth and holds the weight of the rest of the building shouldn’t be taken lightly.

But this foundation also represented the beginning of God’s fulfillment to His people. And their reaction was mixed:

“And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.  No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.” (Ezra 3:11b – 13)

Those who were around before the exile remembered. Solomon’s temple was far grander, built with many more resources. But there was likely more to their grief, as age tends to open our eyes to what matters most.

The reason our group is rebuilding is due to the sin that led them into exile. And although this temple would be built, it will be missing an important element:

The Mercy Seat.

This mercy seat was essentially the cover or lid to the Ark of the Covenant, which God had Moses build. This Ark was a chest of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold. Inside the stone tablets were placed which contained the Ten Commandments.

And over this, God had Moses make an atonement cover, or mercy seat. He instructed him to make two cherubim out of gold, facing each other on top of the cover.

It was here, on that Mercy Seat, when once a year the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood to atone for Israel’s sins.

And now, due to the destruction God allowed King Neb to wield because of His people’s sin, the Ark and its Mercy Seat were gone.

It would be 500 years before the True Mercy Seat would walk on planet earth. Until then, many who understood likely grieved.

I think it’s interesting the book of Ezra points out that “the sound was heard far away (vs 13).” As in, the peoples around heard them.

Even in the Old Testament, when God’s main focus is on one nation, He makes sure the surrounding nations hear about Him. His love toward Israel was never just for Israel.

Besides, He always has good news for those who grieve with their hope in Him:

“When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,

we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

‘The LORD has done great things for them.’

The LORD has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy…

Those who sow in tears

will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with him.”

There is always a spiritual harvest for those who allow God to use their grief for His glory.

The LORD has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Yes! This is 2nd Saturday.

 

You can build a Haunted Birdhouse at Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop this Saturday. Register here.

 

October is Walktober. October typically lends itself to mild temperatures – perfect to encourage the whole family to get moving. You can register online with Sedgwick County Health Department’s wellness platform – plus track your daily walking minutes.

 

And a quick plug for the Wichita YMCA: If you refer a friend in October and they join the Y, their joiner fee will be waived. Plus you will get your membership free in November. Everyone gets healthy and saves.

 

Saturday is Star Wars Reads Day.

To celebrate, Alford Branch will be having crafts, games and activities for ages 2-12 on Saturday from 10:30-noon.

 

Also, for Watermark’s 10:30 Storytime this Saturday, come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character. There will be games, a costume contest, and prizes.

 

Still on Saturday, from 2 – 4, Watermark will have 10 authors in house for signings for their Local Literary Festival.

 

(Are you a fan of Eat Pray Love or this TED talk? Elizabeth Gilbert will be in Wichita on Monday the 12th. The event costs, but the registration includes a copy of her new book.)

On Sunday, Wichita Parks and Rec is hosting their Free Come Fly a Kite event. It will be from 2:00-5:00 in Chapin Park (behind Starlite Drive-In). Bring your own kite, buy one there, or just show up and watch Stunt-Kite Fliers do their feats. There will be crafts for kids and prize drawings.

 

Library:

Createspace will be at Alford on Sunday the 11th from 2:30-3:30. Enjoy LEGOs, activities, and challenges for ages 5-12.

 

You can make a craft based on the book Ten Apples Up on Top on Saturday from 1-5 at Angelou Branch.

 

Find out what architects need to know on Saturday at Evergreen, as you use gum drops to make a bridge. Event from 2:30-3:30 for ages 7-10.

 

On Tuesday the 8th, come for a puppet show at Westlink from 6:30-7:00.

 

Have a great weekend! May the force be with you.

Pretties

 

The boys had coupons from the Summer Reading Program for free books from the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. I was delighted to find this gem. (P.S. The sweet volunteer lady told me how much they’re needing volunteers for the book store. Just a plug for them.)

A few of the pages included excerpts from one of my favs when I was young.

My chess partner

We do not play correctly

He is Wonderful

 

Your 7 Days?

We’ve been pulling out Fall decor and arranging different displays. It got me thinking about how we decorate on a budget.

 

The following has nothing to do with Fall, but maybe it will get you thinking about how to decorate on a dime with whatever your passion is.

 

I love maps and globes. One fun way I’ve found to get them on my shelves and walls is yard sales.

 

I went with a friend to a sale that had this sweet deal:

A wall calendar featuring quality, vintage map images. For $2. I bought it and ripped out the ones I liked. (I also found a free printable I liked here.)

Next step? Frames. I had a few lying around that weren’t being used. Two of them were an uninteresting color of wood. I happened (sorry, serendipity is a big part of my buying and decorating process) to hit a yard sale where the lady was giving away paint samples she didn’t need anymore. Snatched them up and painted away.

Another tip for finding frames: yard sale framed prints. If you don’t like the print inside, forget about it and focus on the frame. I found an estate sale with amazing prices last spring. I liked the rich-looking, matted frame of a certain print, but didn’t like the picture. But the $5 price was worth the quality frame. And it fit one of my calendar map prints beautifully:

(P.S. My dad made the shelf a long time ago, the globe tray was all a very thoughtful gift from my mother-in-law, the table runner was from the above-mentioned estate sale ($2), and the diplomas were a bargain price of $20,000 each.)

Another example of a yard sale print I’m not crazy about, but with a frame I cannot find for $3 anywhere else:

Next up for a wall cluster? In my little world the answer is: a mirror. I’m a little obsessed with using mirrors to reflect light and open up spaces. Found this one for two dollahs:

And here’s how it turned out. A nice, welcoming wall art cluster at the bottom of the basement stairs. Do you like it?

 

There’s tons of ways to decorate on a budget. This is one of mine. Tell me one of yours?

“Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work, appointing Levites twenty years of age and older to supervise the building of the house of the LORD.”

 

Our exiles finished out their holy month of Tishri, and now it is time to get to work. As in Solomon’s first Temple, our exiles utilized trading with surrounding cities and their goods to accomplish the task. Because you need things like stones and wood to build.

Then in the second month of the second year of their arrival (probably April/May – a year after they returned to Jerusalem) our leaders Zerubbabel and Jeshua started building, appointing supervisors to make sure the work of the Temple is accomplished.

 

Can we talk about Temple?

 

The LORD was very detailed in His description to Moses of the Tabernacle, the first Temple where His Presence would dwell. When talking about how to make the lampstands within, He says to Moses,

“See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25:40)

And the setup:

“Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 26:30)

And the altar:

“Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.” (Exodus 27:8)

 

Whoa. The pattern from the mountain seems to be very important.

 

Let’s talk about why.

Hebrews 8:5 “[Every high priest] serves at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.”

 

So the earthly sanctuary is just a copy. A shadow of what is in heaven.

 

Revelation 11:19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.”

Revelation 15:5 “After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened…”

 

All this matters on earth because it represents God’s eternal dwelling place in heaven.

 

And all of it so beautifully prefigures the ministry Jesus – God Who dwelt with us.

 

“When Christ came as high priest…he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made…

…when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 9:11, 10:12-14)

 

What a Savior!

 

Not only that, but now His Spirit – God’s Very Presence, dwells within us when we accept that One Sacrifice.

 

“God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 b)

 

We are the Temple.

 

He lives in us, drawing a hurting world to Himself – the only One who heals.

 
There is no better news than that.

The Rhatigan Student Center at WSU is hosting a free concert tomorrow night. The event features Adam Capps and The Dirt Road Drifters from 5 -7 pm.  If you are a WSU student, show up early with your student ID and enjoy a free BBQ meal (first 200 students to show).

 

This Saturday’s KMUW free Old Town Concert features Roxy Roca and begins at 7 pm.

 

Wichita on the Cheap has a fabulous compilation of Fall Festivals from around the area. Doesn’t get much better than these.

The North End Urban Arts Festival will be held at NOMAR marketplace this Saturday from 5 – 11 pm. Music, food trucks, art displays and more.

 

Library:

Friday, October 2nd, from 10:30 -11, Alford branch will be hosting a Story time for children and adults with special needs. All ages welcome.

 

Also at Alford on Sunday the 4th, come learn what games your great-great-grandparents might have played when the library opened in 1915. Ages 6-12 from 2:30 – 3:30.

 

Evergreen’s Monthly Book Discussion will be focusing on The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes this Tuesday from 1-2 pm.

 

Have such a good weekend!

Love tea pots

Delicate

Used to love these books – so fun that The Spice Merchant carries these.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies

Skinny Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Kettle Corn

Fresh and local

Kansas Cosmosphere

 

 

Your 7 Days?