Our little mountain in Tennessee is actually having a traditional, authentic autumn season. Instead of boiling hot weather followed by two weeks of what feels like a classic autumn, to be immediately trounced on by our local version of bitter cold. I’ve lived here 31 years – and this has been the first autumn that has felt like a traditional autumn all season long – a soothing, refreshing, just-right coolness, brought by winds kissed by God.

Our squirrel (we finally have one, much to Sadie’s delight) shaking acorns out of the towering Oak – and the sound – like a jar of marbles tumbled over onto a thick carpet. A blue jay jumping and flapping branch by branch, mostly hidden within the cloak of leaves, pecking snacks for elevensies. The last harvest of the Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary and Basil. Faltering tomatoes and spent zinnias have been pulled out. Burning Bush trimmings along with the Japanese Rose and her sister, Kerria Japonica’s so they won’t have to work so hard to keep warm this coming winter were gathered for a dusky fire.

We’ve pulled out the sweaters and blankets, piled logs on the chiminea, and filled the soup pot with goodness.

“Fall is more the season of the soul than of nature,” wrote Friedrich Nietzsche – and I agree. At what other season do blanket wrappings and cups of soup warming feel like healing and not survival? At what other season can you dance with twirling leaves and the wind feels like a frolicsome companion, while the wispy cirrus and cumulus cloud bales crouch low to see the goings on, drawing so close you feel you could stretch out your fingers and shake hands with them. . .

If Spring is about rebirth, new chances, renewal, resurrection, salvation, Autumn is about the Comfort of the Father.

“Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth!
Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people
And will have compassion on His afflicted.” ~ Isaiah 49:13

The Comfort of the Father – who is our God, our Creator, our King, our Savior
who comforts us with His fruit:
the fruit of love,
joy and patience
faithfulness and peace,
kindness and goodness,
and gentleness
The Comfort of the Father who has laid down
His Battle Bow over your house and mine
The Bow of Promise from The One who Battles
for you, for me
The One who Protects in Big and little Ways,
Who Teaches in little and Big Ways
Who Comforts in All Ways In Between
What other King fights for us like our God?
What other King stands for peace without compromise like our God?
What other King cares to see both you and me like our God?
What other King Comforts His Children like our God?
Our God, our Creator, our King, our Savior. . . our Father
Comfort’s Author
Surface, Soul-Deep
and All Ways In Between

Sometimes that comfort looks like a miracle or a yellow leaf shower from heaven. Sometimes it feels like a crisp wind or a warm quilt wrapped around. Sometimes it sounds like acorns falling to the ground. Sometimes it tastes like just-right warm soup.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and
God of all comfort.”
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3

Muddy’s Tortellini Soup

My Aunt Shirley gave me a homemade family recipe book long ago – and this is one of the recipes she included. It started out as “Anne’s Tortellini Soup,” but over the last twenty years, I added squash and more zucchini, Thyme and Summer Savory, doubled the garlic and added Hot Italian Sausage. From the beginning, though, I threw all the vegetables in the food processor because my boys would have balked at all the vegetables. This way they never knew. . . until a few years later, it was such a favorite, I thought they could handle the truth about the squash and zucchini. The Tortellini Soup lost a few followers that day. . . but most of them turned up their brave and remained loyal to the soup’s deliciousness. Our new daughter-in-law asked me to send her the recipe a few weeks ago – I think it has worked its soupy magic on her heart. I hope it brings you as much comfort and satisfaction as it has brought my family!

3 Zucchinis, peeled
3 Squash, peeled
1 Green Pepper, de-seeded and cored
1 Large Spanish Onion, quartered
4 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 Tablespoon Oregano
2 Teaspoons Thyme
2 Teaspoons Summer Savory
(2)32 Oz. Chicken Broth
24 Oz. water
(2) 28 Oz. Cans Diced Tomatoes
2 lb. Sweet Italian Sausage
1 lb. Hot Italian Sausage
2 cubes Chicken Bouillon
1 Small Ketchup to taste
1 Tablespoon Accent seasoning mix
Salt and Pepper to Taste
4 Tablespoons Parsley, chopped
16 Oz Cheese-filled Tortellini
Parmesan

Brown Italian sausage in a separate pan, drain. Sauté the pepper, onions and garlic in the Olive Oil. Place the peppers, onions and garlic in the food processor with your peeled zucchini and squash. Add the browned sausage and vegetables to the soup pan, adding all other ingredients (except Tortellini and Parsley) to simmer. Twenty minutes before serving, add Tortellini – 2 ounces per serving. Only add the Tortellini that you plan on eating at the sitting, otherwise it absorbs all the soup. Garnish with Parsley and Parmesan.

Remember Me Monday: #79 & Link-up

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
.    love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.

Let us delight in Him by telling the  stories of what He’s done!  If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!

Rules?  Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!

Places I’m Linking at This Week:
 Inspire Me Monday,   Instaencouragements, 
Legacy Link-Up, Recharge Wednesday
 Faith on Fire, Tell His Story, Grace&Truth
Let’s Have Coffee Wednesday Celebrate Your Story
Scripture&Snapshot, Sunday Scripture Blessings
Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up