Summer Fun in Summer Sun FFF

It's August!!  and in 2 weeks from today we will be moving our oldest daughter into her college dorm and spending a couple of days for Orientation before heading on vacation...it will seem strange to leave her at her college while the rest of us head  down to the Cape....for the first time without her!!

For now...it's time to join Susanne and other bloggers in thinking back over the week and finding those 5 favorite things that God gave us. ...for my family, that meant lots of summer sun and fun!  

My Five Faves:

the Princess Courtney and Daddy Dave at the baseball game
c. faithe MTPics 29 July 2011

• CELEBRATING HUBBY'S BIRTHDAY!  My husband loves going to the minor league baseball team here in our area.  So we bought tickets for the 4 of us to celebrate his special day last Friday evening......the Valley Cats won so he was very happy!  We even surprised him by having his birthday announced! We also stayed for the fantastic fireworks display after the game...and because we are friends with one of the team workers from church, she managed to get our seats moved right behind home plate!!  Dave had a great day!

Ballerina Claire with cousin Emma
and Aunt Hope's dog Mona
c. faithe MTPics 30 July 2011

• FAMILY BBQ!  One of my sister's (Hope) and her husband had a family get together last Saturday. The princess and Dave couldn't go as they had other commitments.  My sister and her hubby live in the Central part of New York State (about 70 minutes from here) and they have a "little house in the big woods" which is slowly turning into a farm.  They raise chickens, goats, dogs, and are growing some vegetables.  Claire had a really good time with her younger cousins (daughters of my youngest sister Jill).  And I had a good time chatting and catching up with all 3 of my sisters and my parents.....family time is always a a fave!  And Claire and I even enjoyed a swim  with Hope and Donny in one of the little lakes up there; the water was so refreshing and we were the only people swimming!  We followed our swim with ice cream before heading back to the Capital Region. 

• HOUSEWORK/ORGANIZING!  On Monday, I was determined to make a dent in some major housework and organizing that needed to be done.  Even the princess got in on the act, and totally cleaned her room, organized shelves and dresser, and continued to pack for dorm living.  I thoroughly cleaned, did laundry, changed sheets, washed the car...it was a productive week....i even managed to re-arrange the living room furniture, moving the rocking chair up to a corner of my bedroom for a "quiet night time reading area" and moved another chair into our living room.  Sometimes it's just so nice to have everything all fresh and clean at once.  2 days of heavy cleaning and organizing gave me extra time the rest of the week for fun in the sun and reading good books...always a fave!

at the beach!
2 August 2011

• BEACH DAY!  The girls and I headed to this place. It has always been one of our very favorite lakes in the foothills of the Adirondacks. It is just close enough to the mountains to be a day trip, yet because it is only in the foothills, it takes us just about 40 minutes from our house to the park where the lake is located. When the girls were younger we would go a few times a week! (gas was cheaper then, too!) The ballerina was especially happy because 1. the water was warmer than the last 2 lakes we visited and 2. the princess decided to go with us....she had so much fun swimming with her sister..they swam for one hour and then enjoyed their snacks and books. I swam quite a bit more than usual as well....and it was so relaxing. We left later than usual so stayed until a half hour before closing. The late part of the day at a lake is always a fave with me!

• THIS SCRIPTURE I read last evening and the words of Thelma Wells in the mini devotional from my Women of Faith Bible.  She writes on this verse and states:  "Hope is the confident expectancy that Jesus, the Peace Speaker will bless us and empower us with God's qualities, so we can have more than enough of His peace in our hearts as we trust in Him."

I don't know about you, but sometimes we can hope for something and have anxiety about the situation instead of peace.  But...by trusting in Him....and placing whatever that "thing"is in His Hands...we will have His Peace...it's a promise.  Are you hoping for something?  I am.....and I am learning to have peace about it as I place all of my trust for it, in His Hands.

What about you?  Do you have any special hopes this week?  

Do you have a fave from the past week?  Please share.....

Have a great weekend!