Autumn Faves Around Our House #1

I am tired.

It was tiring physically and mentally.....this week...all due to work situations in the classrooms. Yes, you heard that right. Plural. I am working in 2 different classrooms every morning. With multiply handicapped children. And it is wicked tiring!  And it might change......there is much turmoil due to budget cuts in the district right now.....

But I can find 5 blessings from God because He brings us those things even when we might not be looking  for them.  And that's the whole point of this, I believe.  Thanks to Susanne from Living to Tell the Story, our gracious hostess each Friday! Do you have some faves  from the week?  Please share....

• SUNDAY WORSHIP!  Oh my.  This past Sunday was just some awesome worship in our 11 a.m. service.  This song, a traditional hymn, was done and it just moves me to tears almost every time I sing it during corporate worship. There is nothing like lifting up your voice along with about 1200 other people in the sanctuary, and praising God together.....great worship with the body of Christ...always a fave!

image taken from cookingfortwo.com

• FRENCH TOAST WITH VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP!  I totally splurged last Saturday morning and made French Toast with Italian bread and Vermont Maple Syrup.   YUMMY! It had been a very long time since I had this for breakfast.....it's one of my very faves!

Claire and Daddy Dave kayaking on Dunham Resevoir
Grafton, NY

• AUTUMN KAYAKING!  We had a glorious Sunday afternoon with our friends, Wade and Kathy.  Kathy was the maid of honor in our wedding.  They are good friends of ours who happen to like kayaking as well!  They live right next door to a popular state park, that we have kayaked at in the past, but this time we decided to take their lead and try a new lake. It was beautiful and I didn't know how big it was!!  We spent alot of time paddling the main part, and also took a little side tributary under a bridge to explore beaver dams.  The going was a bit rough at one spot due to blowdown from the Hurricane.  But we all got our kayaks through it.  It was one of the more challenging paddles I've done in awhile. Here's a pic of one of my very fave scenes along our route....kayaking, good friends, and the gorgeous handiwork of God is always a fave.

our friends lead the way on Dunham Resevoir

image taken from verybestbaking.com

• PUMPKIN BROWNIES!  Oh my goodness....this recipe is super easy and the brownies were a huge hit with Dave and Claire.  They make 16 large but I cut them small so got about 2 dozen from them......they are soooo moist! The best pumpkin recipe I've had so far......pumpkin with chocolate is always a fave around our house.....

image taken from AR Productions website

• JOSHUA 1:9!  This Scripture!  It's been in my mind alot this week so I've been meditating on it, and I was searching images online for a good picture to email to my oldest daughter.  She is going on a required camping/ropes trip to the White Mountains of NH.  It is for a course she is taking.  She is not really a camper even though she has camped her entire life beginning at 12 months old!  They have to do a one night in the woods, in a tent, (brr.....) and do some alone time with a Bible and journal.  This is the perfect picture for her....she does like the outdoors even though she won't admit it. And as a mom, who hasn't seen her other than via Skype, in over 4 weeks, it is kinda freaking me out that I won't be there or won't be the one to help her prepare for the trip. But, the really cool thing is that I saw this Scripture mentioned on someone else's blog earlier in the week! I took it to be some kind of sign :) ! I love how God grabs our attention to important truths....always a fave with me.....