May Fave Five #2

It's FRIDAY!!!  (actually, it's Thursday...am posting this a few hours early as I have no time in the morning before work to get this up.....and for some reason the scheduled thingy on the blog didn't work!)

I am ready for the weekend, that is for sure.  We had school events/rehearsals every evening this week except for last nite.  Tonite, the teenager and my husband are heading to the Youth Center at church with a couple of Courtney's school friends.  There is a big event for all the students involved in the Youth Group and they are encouraged to bring unsaved friends...so.....the ballerina and I are just hanging out at home.....or possible renting a movie from the town library.

Susanne, from over here, is hosting this weekly meme for those of us who want to participate in writing about our 5 favorite things, memories, events, etc. for the past week.

Here are the 5 ways the Lord blessed me this week.....well...there were many more ways the Lord blessed me but these are my 5 favorite things from the week!

These hanging baskets I bought from the PTA.  I have been a member of the PTA at my daughters' elementary school since 1998. Each and every year, we sell plants, hanging baskets, flats of flowers.  This year I bought 2 hanging baskets (these pink geraniums and the purple million bells pictured below).  I also bought 2 Dracona spike plants and placed them in large pots for my deck steps and the seat of my miniature Amish cart.  The best thing?  They arrive in time for Mother's Day!!!

Claire, age 11 with my mom (75)

on my mom and dad's stairway

Mother's Day!

Dave & I and the girls traveled on Sunday morning to my hometown area to visit my folks and take them out for a lunch buffet at a favorite restaurant of theirs.  My younger sister Hope and her husband Donny joined us as well.

It was a special mother's day.  We enjoyed the conversation, laughter and food.  And....my husband and the girls surprised me by taking me over to LLBean the day before and having me choose a new kayak.  My husband told me to choose a Tandem one!!!  SO.....sometime next week, a 2 person kayak will be delivered to my door.  It is an upgrade from the 2 we currently own, but now all 4 of us can go together and if my teenager doesn't want to paddle her own, which is often the case, she can now just lightly paddle in the tandem!  I was truly blessed and surprised! (I thought I was getting a rosebush or a bracelet!)

These new crackers!  They come in 4 flavors and I chose Toasted Pecan.  YUMMY!  A handful of these on a small plate with a scoop of Nutella makes for a tasty afternoon snack while reading and doing my Bible Study.  And the best thing is:  my daughters don't like them...which means they will last longer!  They are low in sodium, sugar, and no fat.....so...a nutritious choice besides being tasty!

Courtney, my 16 year old, is an artist.  She was labeled "Gifted" in Art (as well as Creative Writing, Math,and Language/Visual Perception) when she was 6 years old.  Therefore, she was in the Gifted program for grades 1-6th and then the advanced classes since 7th grade. She also took Art Explorers once a week for 30 minutes BEFORE school which was a class for gifted art students.  This year, her junior year, she has studied Computer Graphics I and is now finishing up Computer Graphics II which is essentially a Photography class, with digital work.  A piece of her work ("Guitar") was selected to appear in the school district gallery hanging in the United Teachers Association building for the public to enjoy!  2 students per grade, per school building (elementary) were chosen to have their works selected.  At the junior high and high school level, each type of Art class had 2-3 students' works chosen.  The Art Reception was Wednesday evening....we all enjoyed strolling from exhibit to exhibit and we are very proud of her!  Her piece received lots of comments!  Hopefully, once we have it in our possession, she will allow me to take a picture of it and I can post it on here.  It is definitely going in her college application/portfolio!

Claire playing her violin in the 

All-District Recital!

Claire was chosen, along with 5 other 5th grade violinists,to represent her elementary school in the district's annual recital.  This recital is for selected students only.  There is no audition.  It is based on the various music teachers' recommendations.(usually the children chosen were chosen earlier in the year for the All-District Concert, held each February).  4 of the girls played a quartet.  Claire was asked to do a duet with her lesson partner.  We were thrilled that Claire was chosen!  Several students (an hour's worth) from grades 5-12 played their instruments or sang.  We even have a harpist who is friends with my oldest daughter...it is quite unusual for a high school orchestra to have a harpist!

So....we were all set to listen to Claire and her friend Suzanne play their Minuet by Bach.  Claire walked out on stage. ALONE!  She ended up being the only elementary student to perform a solo....because her classmate did not show up!  We were very proud of her.  The violin teacher and orchestra teacher were both there and said she has excellent stage presence....(she has been on stage annually ever since age 4 for ballet/tap and all those HKP shows!).  So....that was definitely a fave moment for me this week!  Dave and I were so proud of her!!

That's it for me....

do you have some favorite things from the past week?

If so, what are they??

I also really enjoyed meditating on this Scripture this past week:

"lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, a Strong Tower from the enemy.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;  I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."  Psalm 61:2b-4