FINALLY SPRING FAVES

It's been a crazy, busy week but now that it's Friday, I can pause and reflect back on it to find the blessings from it.  I'm linking up at Susanne's to share FIVE of my FAVES this week. These are just some simple things I'm thankful for.

photo courtesy of google images

• SAFE ROAD TRIP:  I had to get Claire, our college freshman, back to the UNH campus on Sunday as Dave had an obligation.  It took about 4.5 hours to get there and about 5 to get back to my house in eastern NY. We had no issues and traffic was not bad at all going north.  A bit heavy going west later in the day but roads and skies were clear and sunny!  Hallelujah!  The entire trip took a little over 9 hours.  I'm thankful all went well.

•  NEW TEA!  I discovered a green tea I really like!  I spied it at our local Target store and had a coupon for Lipton tea.  I don't usually buy the Lipton brand but this beckoned to me because of the orange-passion fruit flavor.  I usually only like green teas iced but this one tastes fantastic steaming hot.  I sipped a mug of it on Wednesday afternoon after work because I was wanting something hot and didn't feel like making coffee.  I know...shocking, right??!  I'm thankful to try new flavors and have them be yummy and on sale too!

my new tulip coasters

family room wall shelf is all set for Easter

• SPRING/EASTER DECOR: I started decorating the house for the new season/holiday. (even though we still have some snow on the ground)  It felt good to put the last of the winter/Valentines decor away and tidy up.  I put away the Valentine coasters and set out these new ones I found in a country store up in the Adirondacks.  I love making my home cozy for a new season.

• GRASS AGAIN!  The snowstorm we were supposed to get on Wednesday didn't happen thank the Lord!  The sun was out for 3 days in a row and much of the snow melted in our front yard.  This photo shows the corner of the deck where snow is finally starting to melt....one of the last places in the yard every year.  I'm thankful we've had more days of sunshine even though it still has been pretty cold with temps in the low 30s.

• 25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!  Our church held it's 25th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday March 21.  It was exactly 25 years ago that date that our pastor officially began the church after being here for a Billy Graham Crusade in 1990 and hearing the prompting of the Holy Spirit to stay and plant a church.  Albany, NY (the church is in the suburbs of the Greater Capital Region and our home site, where Dave and I attend, is located right in our suburb of North Colonie).  Anyways....Albany, NY is considered one of the  most post-Christian place in the USA!! In fact, most of the major metro areas in the Great Northeast fall into this list.  Check out this link.  Yup.  Sad.  But we are slowly changing that as we make more and better disciples.  Anyways, Dave and I didn't join Grace Fellowship until the summer of 2005 so we've only been there half the time the church has been in existence.  But it is HOME.  We wish we had discovered it long before now.  The anniversary celebration was amazing.  Our sanctuary holds about 1200 people and every single seat was taken.  All 4 sites were represented and the music for praise and worship was astounding.  And that cake!!  We had many desserts to choose from and the top of this cake pictured here went to the Pastor and his family.  (the bottom part is unedible).  I'm so thankful for our church and for the vision our senior pastor has for the next 25 years! :)

That wraps up my week.

I have a hike planned for tomorrow morning and I'm super excited!  First time out on a hiking trail since early November!

Happy Weekend!