Almost Spring Faves

Friday! Time to look back over the week and share FIVE of my FAVES.  We do this by linking up at Susanne's space.

My faves are focused on little blessings that say "it's almost spring!"

• GIFTS! My husband arrived back home late last Saturday evening from his week-long missions trip to Guatemala.  He brought back some faves of mine:  a ceramic mug and Guatemalan organic coffee.  Can you say amazing????  It is just divine. Rich, strong, smooth.  Perfect.  We've brewed it all week long.  He also brought the girls some gifts and surprised me with a real jade cross necklace and matching earrings (the earrings are in a teardrop shape).  I'm so thankful Dave was able to do this late winter missions trip.

• NEW DECOR:  I put away the rest of the winter decor (we still have had no snow other than about 4 inches total the ENTIRE winter season here in the Capital Region of New York State....it truly is unusual) and bought 2 new items for the home. The "doxology" is something I have always wanted to have as a print and when I saw it in Hobby Lobby last weekend, I rushed to get it.....there were only 3 left!  It hangs on the wall in our half-bath off the kitchen, replacing a winter scene of birch trees in snow.  The wooden box plaque depicts a line from one of my favorite Easter hymns. I'm thankful spring is on its way as well as the Easter celebration.

• DINNER OUT!  Last Friday evening, I drove up to my sister Joy's to meet her for dinner.  We went to this place and it was excellent.  Great service, good food, good drinks, and amazing homemade ice cream (yes, I splurged on coffee chocolate chip!). Afterwards, I stopped at her house to borrow a couple of books and say Hi to my nephew Luke who was home from college for the weekend. It was good to spend time with my sister and the evening had that early spring smell to it. I'm thankful I live close to 2 of my 3 younger sisters.

• SERIES FINALE!  This show. In my opinion this has been the best television show in over 10 years.  Downton Abbey has been amazing.  For those of you who know it, can you believe we said Good bye on Sunday evening??  How my family is going to miss it. It was the one time we all sat together during the week, in the evening, and enjoyed a tv program.  (my oldest of course watched it while she was away at college and now that she is back living at home, she joined us).  We will miss all of  the characters and the Dowager's wit!! I'm thankful the series ended with everything being nice and tidy.  

• POWER OF PRAYER: This doesn't really have anything to do with the end of winter but...I HAD to include it after the week we've had.  I can't go into all the details due to lack of time but my husband ended up in the hospital in the middle of his work day.....I myself was dealing with something physical, on top of a lyme disease flare-up, so having the power of prayer to lean on, really has to make my faves list.  Getting an encouraging text from my pastor's wife while waiting literally HOURS in the hospital for my husband to be released, after a long day at work, just was the icing on the cake.  I'm so thankful for Christian brothers and sisters/friends and for my own biological sisters  who pray and encourage.  My husband ended up being fine, my flare-up could still use some prayer, but we are persevering through with the strength of Christ.

I hope you all are experiencing some lovely late winter/early spring weather like we are here in eastern New York.  It's been so mild.....go out and enjoy the weekend!!