July FFF

It's Friday and time to look back on the week to share FIVE of the blessings...fave things that God brought to our week. 

I do this by linking up with Susanne the hostess of the FFF.

Heroes float
Northville, NY parade

some everyday heroes

• OLD FASHIONED PARADE!  Last Saturday, my sister Joy and I traveled up to the small village where our family had a summer camp in the 1960s until about 1975. We wanted to go to the Independence Day parade they have had every year since we were little.  It is definitely not the same as when we were kids.  Only one school marching band and a few floats.  But a Capital Region fife and drum corps were in it as well as a group of bagpipers and that was fun.  My fave float was the one pictured here.  They had people dressed in hero costumes.  People like Ben Franklin, the Pilgrims, George Washington, the Armed Forces, doctors, firefighters, nurses, police, etc.  It was wonderful.  We connected with one of our cousins who lives up there so it made for a fun afternoon.

• BACKYARD BONFIRE: Saturday evening we had a late dinner because my husband and youngest daughter had to serve at church at 5 pm and I was just getting home from the parade up north.  After our late day dinner, I prepared a fire so that we could make s'mores and just relax.  It was a cooler day with temps just in the 70s and just perfect in my opinion.  I love summer days that are not humid with high heat.  My oldest daugther had to work until 9:30 that night so she was so surprised when she came home to find me still out at the fire....we enjoyed a late night of chatting and just relaxing and reading by the firepit.  I love nights like that!          

the tabernacle at
Pine Grove Camp
Saratog Springs, NY

• CONCERT UNDER THE PINES!  On Sunday evening, my husband and I went to hear a mens gospel quartet made up of men from my parents' Free Methodist church.  (the church I grew up in).  It was held in the Tabernacle at the church camp I attended from ages 7-18.  Those were the days!  Camp hasn't changed much.  The part that makes my fave list is that I ran into some dear friends from my teen years....we hadn't seen each other since my college days.....over 30 years ago...how fun this was to catch up! Even some of the old saints were there..the pillars of the church who helped grow me up spiritually speaking.  It was a very special evening.

Blue Heron as seen from my kayak

Dave resting on the beach
Moreau Lake State Park

Claire and I kayaking on Moreau Lake

• BEACH DAY!  On Monday, since my husband had the day off from work due to Independence Day, we decided to relax in the morning and get some stuff done around the house/yard, and then pack some snacks and head to the lake to kayak and swim.  It was a wonderful afternoon!  My oldest couldn't go as she had to work so we came home in time to cook some bbq chicken and salads.  We then had another bonfire to wrap up the evening.  It was the perfect summer weather.....all weekend long....temps in the 70s and low 80s, no humidity, and perfect blue skies.

• VOLUNTEER WORK:  All week Claire and other high school teens from our church's youth group, plus a few staff members, have been going to a city church in Schenectady (to the west of us) to work with inner city children in a VBS Program. Claire loves it so much that she plans on volunteering there the rest of the month.  I'm thankful she has something to do this month that she enjoys...and this kind of work will look good on college applications!

That wraps up my week.....

how about you? What were your faves from the past week?

I hope you enjoy a relaxing, fun weekend.