Symphony, Saturday, Supplies, Sandwiches, Soul Stuff

Friday.  Already!  Time to reflect back on the week and find those 5 special things that we call the Five Faves that God has blessed us with.  Many thanks to Susanne for hosting this each week! It's a lot of fun..and very uplifting, to read everyone's faves...if you wanna join in, just link up over here!

I had a fun summer week....we went from one extreme to the other here in the Capital Region of NYS.  Last weekend was very hot, humid, sticky!  We had a couple of pop up thunderstorms/downpours, and we even had to wear a sweater the last 2 mornings because the temps got downright chilly (perfect in my opinion) and although the sun was out in full force, the humidity had broken overnight on Wednesday and it was just  the faint hint of an autumn chill in the air.....I love it though...I love living here in the Northeast where we have a variety of seasons! :)

MY FIVE FAVES THIS WEEK WERE:

• DAUGHTER DATE NITE!  the Princess and I had half price tickets from the school district music department while the ballerina got in free with her orchestra teacher, principal and a few of the orchestra/band students.  We saw CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE with my absolute fave US orchestra, the PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA at my fave music venue SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AMPITHEATRE.  (pictured below).  This was a truly magical nite. My 12 year old said "I liked it but I like ballet better"(no surprise there) although the gymnasts in the show definitely had some "ballet type" moves. It was absolutely breathtaking and the music, of course, was superb! And of course, while Claire sat with her school group, Courtney and I had lots of fun sitting and chatting before the show and commenting on how cute the guy performers were.  Yes, I am the kind of mom who does that with her teen daughter! :) Seriously, it was a fun daughter date nite...always a fave with me!

 

Flowers at Farmers Market, the Crossings

fresh corn on the cob from the Farmers Market

• SATURDAY MORNING FARMERS MARKET!  On Saturday morning, the sky looked a little overcast but I jumped in the car, texting my friend Lynn to see if she wanted to meet me at the Farmers Market at the big park in the south part of our town (she lives very close by to the park).  It's been a couple of years since I've had a friend who can spontaneously do something and this type of friendship works for us....Lynn loves to get together at the last minute and I so appreciate that!  It's much more fun to browse around the various tents/stalls with a good friend. She walked away with some flowers and veggies and I bought veggies (plus the corn above) and some decadent fudge for the family. We put our purchases in the car and walked around part of the nature trail.  This is always a fave with me....a friend and fudge at the Farmers Market!!

image taken from tablespoon.com/recipes

•  COBB SALAD SANDWICHES!  I have a recipe for delicious, simple Cobb Salad Sandwiches on a croissant.  It is similar to the pic above except I replace the turkey with shaved deli ham, and I don't use the avocado, I use an extra lettuce leaf.  I used "real" bacon instead of turkey bacon (which I normally use) and wow...I had forgotten just how SCRUMPTIOUS real bacon is.....I won't eat it all the time as the fat content is just too high...ugh...but wow....real bacon once in awhile is a true fave...especially on this sandwich.  I also served a pasta salad, and fresh fruit and it made a great dinner for a humid summer evening, which is always a fave with me.

• SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING!  Yes...this makes my fave list this week because 1. I am done shopping for the ballerina who needs reams of color-coded supplies as per the Junior High instructions.  It only took 2 trips...and I saved 15% off the total bill both times with the special savings pass from this place. and 2.  the princess had a gift card for same place and was able to get a few things for the start of her first semester.  She'll have to wait until she meets her art professors to find out what she needs for the design course she is taking...but she managed to get a really neat binder/notebook system for only $10. and a couple of folders and another small notebook, plus a stapler.  And now she is all set except for her college textbooks.  I think she'll buy them on campus, or rent them or download them....she has that covered.  For now....my part is done...always a fave with me!!

•  READING AND PRAYER TIME!  I had some good Bible reading, book reading, and prayer time every morning this past week (or late evening).  Especially important was the prayer time.  Although I don't pray for long amounts of time (I tend to pray throughout various portions of the day while busy doing other things), I did have some time to just sit on the deck with my morning coffee, and meditate, think, and pray.  It's important because I am still dealing with a loss.  A friendship loss. And it can be tough! Especially because I really like the person, we got along, and so much was shared!  And yet...Satan comes along, and we allow things to happen or words to be said or negative emotions to get in the way and wham...the friendship is frazzled, the other person gets angry, distrustful, or bitter and unforgiving.  In cases like this, when others have asked me what to do, I usually respond with something like "pray and give it to God" or "keep being her friend" or something like that.  But now that it's a personal thing happening to me...or has happened to me...it's tough!  But, like my pastor said, I released her to the Lord.....and will continue to show kindness, compassion and caring.  God knows the future...He knows where she is coming from and He knows both of our hearts.  That is all that matters...and that's always a fave with me....that and the Peace HE brings when we release burdens to Him!!

And I want to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to a FB friend, Melanie L.  She has a new blog, titled AS REAL AS IT GETS.  She is the youngest daughter of a good friend of mine from my childhood years/hometown.  Melanie is a young Christian woman in her early 30's, married with 2 stepchildren, runs a daycare center in her home, and has a dog and cats...she is a comedienne!  She has a great sense of humor and always keeps me laughing....plus her mom, although a few years older than me, is one of my very dear friends from my preteen/teen years....we have a special bond and I always love the times we can get together...usually about once a year!  Anyways...head on over to Mel's blog to check her out and say Hi!  She's new to the blogging world so let's welcome her!

SO....how about you?  Can you find some special blessings in your week?  Let's encourage each other to find the simple things that God blesses us with...and share them!!

and....PRAY FOR ME AND MY HUBBY DAVE!!  This is our last full weekend with the princess at home.....at this time next week we will be moving her into her dorm room at the Christian college she is attending in the Boston North Shore area.....thanks, friends!

HAPPY WEEKEND!