VALENTINE's FAVES

Another tough week..

I have to be intentional, though, and find the blessings in it. So once again I'm joining other bloggers to list our Five Faves from the past week, because of Susanne organizing this for us.  Thanks, Susanne!!  You help us keep an attitude of gratitude!

FIVE FAVES

photo courtesy of NPR

• OLYMPIC OPENING!  Oh my.  In my opinion, this year's Opening Ceremonies in Sochi, Russia were THE BEST I've ever watched.  And I've watched them since I was a teenager. My 9th grade ballerina and I watched the entire program and  we LOVED the ballet parts (of course) and she was helping me with the Russian. Although she is only a 9th grader, she is in her 3rd year of studying the language at school. Her Russian teacher was born and raised in Moscow and Claire has been teaching us little trivia things about Sochi and the culture from what her teacher has been telling the class.  We think the Russians are the best figure skaters and it was very evident when they performed this past week.  But the Dove ballet dance at the opening ceremony was our favorite. It was just breath-taking.  I hope some of you got to see it!  It was a blessing to just sit and rest on the couch and watch this with my daughter.

photo courtesy of upper hudson library system

• BROWSING BOOKS! On Saturday I had to return a book to the library and I had time to browse. The place was very busy! I loved every minute.  I found 3 books by favorite authors and when checking out, I was informed that a book I've been waiting for since Christmas week, was now available.  So the trip was a huge success!  I love our town library.  Obviously from the photo above, (a side glimpse) it didn't look like this....currently,the lawn is covered in snow and the pond is frozen with the fountain turned off.  But come spring, that lawn will be full of people reading in the new reading garden or playing chess and checkers there, ducks will be swimming in the pond,and the fountain will be splashing. Many people will continue to flock there on the weekends. Our library is a popular place in every season and I consider it a blessing to get free books!

photo courtesy of coffeehouse mystery

• VERY VANILLA!  Oh my goodness. I finally found a Starbucks coffee (besides their skinny peppermint mochas) that I LOVE.  I had a coupon for any Starbucks K-cups so I bought a package of the Vanilla ones.  It is VERY vanilla-ey. I mean, like sipping from a vanilla bean.  It is heavenly and yesterday's half snow day really was perfect for a steaming mug of it while I worked on some photobooks.  And it isn't bitter like most of their coffees (in my opinion). My fave brand is still Green Mountain but this vanilla is just amazing. If you've never tried their vanilla coffee, I highly recommend it. It was a blessing to have a relaxing afternoon watching the snow come down and sipping a hot coffee.

winter wonderland in our front yard

• SNOW STORM!  Well, we had yet another snow storm this week!  Yesterday, most of the schools in our Albany County area were either closed or were dismissed early. Ours were dismissed after the morning session and the snow was really falling by then. It made for the commute home a slow one. Claire got home safely, I texted my oldest daughter who's out in Boston to see if she was doing ok in the snow, and even my husband got home early from work.  The snow is very pretty, but we are definitely ready for spring....just one more month! (And let's hope the white stuff will be gone by then!).  It's a blessing to be in the education field....even though the pay is low, the perks are kind of nice :)

photo courtesy of viewpoints

•  MARVELOUS MEDS!  Well, taking medication is not exactly a fave, but the relief (FINALLY!) they brought IS a fave.  I started taking an antibiotic last Friday due to having a sinus infection that the first doc I saw thought was just viral. I knew it wasn't as I don't get these often, and when I do I always end up having the bacterial kind of sinus infection.  The doc I saw last Friday gave me the antibiotic but after the 5 days, I still had the headache although it wasn't as bad.  So, since this particular antibiotic stays in your system for 5 days after the last pill, and is safe to combine with OTC meds, I tried the above tablets, plus a sinus rinse, plus extra strength advil (which the week before wasn't touching the pain at all).  RELIEF!!  Wed evening was the first evening I had NO headache in 13 days and yesterday I felt pretty good......hopefully I am on the way to a full recovery because the schools are closed all next week due to Winter Recess...and I have many plans! The blessing is that I found some sinus relief and started sleeping better.

That wraps up my faves....I hope you all have a very nice Valentine's Day with your significant others and/or family/children/friends. We are ordering Indian food for the 3 of us, calling our oldest gal when we know she'll be in her dorm room near her cell, and staying in tonight to watch a dvd that we watch every Feb 14th. Family traditions are another blessing.

Have a wonderful winter weekend!

BONUS FAVE!!! we woke up at 5 a.m to over a foot of snow! All schools are closed which means our Winter Recess gets an early start!!  and hubby gets to work from home and help shovel!!  Stay safe if you're in an area with lots of snow today!!!