July Fave Five #5

Happy Friday!

This is one of my favorite memes in the blogging world.  The day where we think back over our week and choose 5 things/people/events that stood out to us.  I like to call them my 5 fave blessings from God!

To play along, simply head over to Susanne's site and link up!

Sometimes it's hard to choose just five. I loved everything about the start of this week so if you missed my post about that, simply click here.

Here are 5 other fave things:

Claire jumping off rock behind beach house
Buzzards Bay, MA
July 2010
photo by Courtney

The EXUBERANCE of SUMMER!
LOVE this pic that my oldest daughter took of her little sister!  (I just discovered this on her Facebook page and asked her if I could copy it.)  Doesn't it express exuberance?? It's great!

PHONE CALLS from BEST FRIENDS!  My "best friend" (one of a few!) Lynn called me yesterday morning and we had the best chat!  We are covenanted to pray for each other regarding 2 ministries we are involved in. She leads a small group for a specific issue and I lead a Moms in Touch group. We both begin our groups in September and we are committing each group to prayer. We both are also volunteering in our church's junior high youth group on a weekly basis. I have also had the privilege to pray for her regarding personal stuff and she has prayed for me. It really helps to know we are there for each other.  Satan does not want us, as Believers, to be successful in our endeavors.  Well, we are taking a stand against him by taking our groups and our selves to the Cross!  Amen??  Sharing each other's joys and concerns is a true blessing!

DINNERS OUT with my family.  We enjoyed dinners out all weekend long.  Saturday nite we ate here at this lovely Italian place in the north shore section of Boston. On Sunday evening, before a late night swim, we ate here at this fun place. My children had never been to one of these. The prices are great and the menu is varied. This college visit thing has its perks!  Dinners out, on a relaxed evening, is always one of my most fave things!  We had lots of fun together. I must admit, though, that it is nice to be home now for a bit and can do my own cooking!

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY:  I can't say enough about how this has been important to me this summer. It's only a 10 week class and there are only 2 left. I had to miss 3 of the meetings, but the women I have met are so spiritually mature and I immediately felt welcomed. It has been refreshing, after struggling with a relationship issue this past winter, to have a group to go to this summer  for spiritual refreshment! We all contribute and it is a blessing!

DATE DAY with DAVE!  Ok...this is actually kind of a bummer. Yesterday was his birthday. His company gives a vacation day for birthdays.  He had planned on taking 3 high school boys from his youth group small group to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.  We live about an hour away from that tourist spot.  He had it all planned.  The evening before, the boys all cancelled on him.  So...he said he'd go hiking with me.  I reminded him we had junior high youth group and wouldn't be able to get up to the Adirondacks and back in time to bring our youngest daughter to group. Plus we are both leaders now so one of us should be there.  So.....he decided we'd kayak.  Of course I was all for it!  We got to the small local lake we wanted to try (about 20 min north of us) and there were posted signs everywhere.  Dave, being the ethical guy that he is, decided that even though there are other cars in the small boat launch site, we would NOT kayak here.  He decided to cancel the trip and just go out for ice cream at a local fave spot.  I bought a new flavor (espresso chip) and he ordered the Brownie Sundae. Poor guy.  They were out of that.  So he ended up with good ole chocolate.  We had a lovely time sitting at the picnic table and chatting about upcoming plans but....I felt so bad that nothing was going right for him!  And I didn't plan a special dinner because he was supposed to be going out with the guys and then heading straight to the BBQ/Pool Party youth group event.  Sigh.....but...at least we got an afternoon date out of his day!  And that's always a fave with me!!


That's if for me......how about you?  do you have a fave moment from this past week?  A fave food or book?  A fave person?  A fave Scripture?
Feel free to share in the comment box or link up with Susanne.


If you leave me a comment and you are a blogger, I'll be over to visit you!