Wow! Happy first day of Autumn!! My very fave (weather wise) for hiking, biking, and sitting outside in the early evenings.
Let's take a breath and pause to give thanks for the blessings God brings to us each week. We call these the Fave Fives and we share them on Fridays by linking up over at Susanne's site.
- ROUTINE: We have now ended our 2nd full week of school and the children are starting to learn the morning routine of unpacking their bags, putting their lunch in their cubbies, finding their names (with help) and going to wash their hands before play centers. Some of them are starting to improve their attending skills at group times and some are beginning to use more language throughout the day whether it is in the form of sign language, verbalizations or picture systems. It's a blessing to come alongside these special preschoolers and teach with them.
- HEART HEALTH! I had my follow up visit regarding the heart tests that the cardiologist wanted me to have done. I had the PET Scan and Echo cardiogram and he said everything looks absolutely healthy and the functioning just great. I was so relieved! (he said the reason I ended up in the ER was probably due to something in the vodka drink that just didn't agree with my esophagus, thus the chest pain. He also assured me that yes, it is normal to have chest pain radiate from upper back pain which I experience every so often...a few times a year actually and then my chiro helps me ). He told me to continue with the (mostly) plant-based diet I have my self on, along with the no dairy (other than my cheddar cheese which I am slowly learning to eat less of) and that I should definitely continue to hike, bike, kayak and power walk. I'm thankful for good medical care and I never want to take it for granted.
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| me on the summit of Hurricane Photo courtesy of hiker friend Anette who didn't wait for me to fix my shirt! |
- HIKING! Last Saturday my friend Cheryl (pictured in black walking up the granite to the fire tower in the photo below) wanted to finish up the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge like I did a couple years ago. She wanted to end it with this mountain (Hurricane) in the high peaks region. I'd climbed it in 2013 and suggested to her to do it from the Northern Approach as, although longer (3.6 miles one way) is less steep. There were 3 of us who hiked it together last weekend and what a glorious day. Although it was a bit humid, it wasn't too bad in the mountains. We had so much fun and as always, the summit views did not disappoint. It only took us 2 hours to do the 3.6 miles of climbing....a good pace!! And then only about 1 1/2 hrs to come down. It ended up being a wonderful hike! I'm thankful to be still hiking this month.
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| Cheryl gets to the summit and fire tower! Hurricane Mt High Peaks Region Adirondacks 16 September |
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| The Jay Mt Ridge as seen from the summit of Hurricane Mt (my next goal is to hike the Jay Ridge....it's the far back ridge under the clouds) |
- EVENING WALK: Wednesday evening, Dave and I had an early dinner as he had to get to the middle school youth group meeting where he serves 6th-8th graders after taking a few years off this ministry. Courtney has a Bible study she attends on Wed nights so eats when she gets home from work and flies out the door so since I was done early, I headed over to the town park to meet my friend Lynn and get in a 45 min walk. We ended up walking from her house which gave us an extra mile so we did 3 miles in an hour. It was great to catch up with her and get some outdoor time before the evening chores set in. I loved every minute even though the temperature was still pretty hot. (78 at 6:30 pm!) I'm thankful for our town park and for a walking buddy.
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| My dad's headstone from the Veterans |
- FINAL HOMETOWN VISIT: Yesterday, the schools around the NYS Capital Region were closed due to the Jewish holiday so I took off for my Central NY hometown area to finally see the headstone that the Veterans put on my dad's plot. I didn't stay long....about 5 minutes....getting too choked up...and then I drove through my hometown one last time. It is just too decrepit these days..the village is struggling...lots of poverty there, run-down homes, too many bars, just depressing. I don't plan on ever going back unless another funeral is required. We do have several old friends who still live in that area but I don't plan on visiting my parents graves each year. It is not where they really are anyways as they are both in Heaven! I'm so thankful they both knew the Lord and are no longer suffering. I'm thankful that I did get to see the headstone and that no mistakes were made on Dad's.
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| Where we buried Mom and Dad |
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| The foothills of the southern Adirondack Mountains that hug the outer edge of the cemetary in Herkimer. |
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| the back of my parents' church Oak Ridge Free Methodist, Herkimer NY Right next to the Oak Ridge Cemetary. Mom and Dad's plots are close to the side road |
That wraps up my week......tomorrow morning EARLY, Dave and I leave for UNH for Parents Weekend! I am so excited to see our baby girl!!
Enjoy whatever the weekend brings to you.
6 comments:
Great news from the doctor's visit and test! That's always a sigh of relief. It's so good that the children are getting acclimated. Glad you got some good hikes and walks in. I haven't been to either of my parents' graves since their funerals, mainly since we live out of state. I agree, that's not where they are now, so I don't have a strong pull to go there, but if we ever do get back that way, I'll probably stop by. Hope you have a great visit with Claire this weekend!
Learning a routine is an important skill for all of us. Glad to hear the kids are settling in.
Congrats on your clean bill of health! It's hard to see places that are dear to us that fall in disrepair. We live down the street from our very first home, and it isn't being tended to at all. Makes me sad whenever I drive by. We put so much of our hearts into that place. My mom is buried close by, and I visit a few times a year. I agree, she's not really there, but it is a nice place for contemplation and prayer. Enjoy your weekend!
Hi Faith,
I had hoped to make the recipe you left at my blog, but this "week" didn't cooperate. Hopefully this week will be more manageable. Thanks for taking the time to write it out.
How fun that you and a friend had an evening walk. You just about walked a 5K. I walked one yesterday - a sponsored walk for the heart and stroke association.
Exciting news that all is well with your health and that you can continue your lifestyle. Sounds like you have a great relationship with your doctor. I am still looking.
Have a great weekend seeing your college girl.
Hi Faith - so glad your cardiologist gave you good news. Keep up the healthy life style. So glad you were able to go visit your dad's grave but so sad that your hometown isn't doing so well. I drive out to my old hometown - about 10 miles north of where we live here, about once a week and drive past my parent's home. My parents are both buried about two miles from where I live, but I haven't visited their graves as often as I should. You have inspired to visit their graves again soon. I hope your weeks go well. So glad you were able to spend some time with your daughter this weekend. Also, glad to hear that your school year is off to a good start. Have a good week.
That looks like a great hike! Mountains are just so beautiful. Glad to hear you got good news at the doctors. That would be really scary. Sad to hear about the town your parents are buried in and how it's faring. So many towns are going downhill as young people move out to bigger more exciting cities.
Hurray on that amazing hike on Saturday! And the background of the photo showing the ridge you want to hike-- I can see why it is calling to you.
It is great too that you have a neighborhood walking buddy. I have one and it's so nice to just call and say, "Let's walk!"
My parents are buried together in a national cemetery near where my brother lives. So I know he checks on their headstone...and yes they are not there. They are in heaven!
I hope you are having a great week.
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