Almost Autumn faves!

It's almost autumn....

And I'm savoring every last minute of Summer, when I get out of work, until the 22nd  when the seasons officially change. 

I've been back with my students for 9 days now and they are already doing so well!  Routines have been learned, schedules have been created for therapies, lessons have been planned and materials have been gathered.  Now we begin the arduous task of data collecting but it's all good and our whole team is just in love with these precious preschoolers.  

For now, let's pause and give thanks to the Lord who creates and gives all good gifts. I do this intentionally every week by linking up with Susanne and other writers over at her site.  We share FIVE of our FAVE things from the past week.  Join in!!

Start of trail for Rooster Comb
Lower Wolf Jaw/Snow Mts
8 September
High Peaks Wilderness Area/ADKS

Stone Stairs along the trail up Rooster Comb Mt

Ladder to summit of Rooster Comb

My happy place!
Looking at Giant Mt from Rooster Comb

Ingrid and I on Rooster Comb Mt with Giant Mt in the background

• HIGH PEAKS HIKING!  No, I didn't climb a 4000+ mountain but I DID go into the High Peaks Wilderness area of the Adirondacks and climb Rooster Comb with my dear friend Ingrid on Saturday.  The weather was perfect for hiking. We were on our way by 6:30 a.m. (was supposed to be 6 but she overslept!) and we arrived at the parking area by 8:45.  It was only 48 degrees up there!  But the day got up to the high 50s and with the sun it was just perfect. Oh what a great hike.  It was our first time climbing Rooster Comb Mt and it shares a trail-head with 3 other mountains...one of which is a high peak.  We had a blast and round trip was 5.6 miles plus we did an extra half mile by taking the spur trail to an overlook.  The high peak you see behind us (Giant Mt) is the 12th highest in New York State and I first climbed it when I was 18 years old in 1978.  I've never done it again although I'd like to.  After I climbed Giant, that is when the "hiking bug" really got me.  I'm so thankful for friends who like to hike.  Ingrid and I have only known each other for about a year but we have really become good friends and sisters-in-Christ.

Me with my oldest girl Courtney

my husband Dave

• FAMILY NIGHT!  I came home from hiking, planning on throwing some chicken on the grill and serving it with a big tossed salad and some garlic bread.  BUT...my husband had dinner all planned (yes, he grilled some chicken).  He grilled some potatoes, 2 different kinds of peppers, and onions and I made some steamed broccoli.  It was a lot of fun cooking together and even our oldest daughter got involved as she had no plans for the evening.  She told me when I got cleaned up from hiking, that Dave had suggested a fire as the evening was very cool.  I was so surprised that he wanted this as he's shown no interest in recent weeks.  He even went and bought stuff to make s'mores.  What fun we had gathered around the fire chatting and enjoying dessert.  And of course I was missing our ballerina girl who's away at UNH. I'm thankful for these family evening times as they really are getting rarer!

• PRAISE REPORT!  So Claire's car (my old 2007 Nissan Sentra) now has a little over 100,000 miles on it which is why I gave it to her and bought a newer vehicle. Well, she got it to the university just fine and wham.....3 days into classes, her "check engine soon" light came on and stayed on. That's fine as it can be driven if not flashing.  She took it to the nearest Nissan dealer (in Portsmouth) and they had to make an appt with her for the next weekend (this past Saturday) as they were all booked the first weekend.  They fixed it within 2 hours. And I was praying this repair would be less than $300 and when she texted me with the news of what they did, and the cost, it was less than $300!!  Hallelujah! I'm so thankful we can pray even about these little things.  I'm also thankful it wasn't something major and that she was ok!  Parenting from afar when a car is involved is very difficult.  but the Lord worked everything out!

image courtesy of goodreads

• THIS BOOK!  Oh my goodness.  I have always been a fan of Kathie Lee Gifford from the 1980s all the way to the present.  She's one of my fave celebrities. Mainly because she lives authentically and isn't afraid to speak out about the Gospel.  Well, I bought her book (pictured above) earlier in the summer and took my time with it.  What a gem. I learned so much about Jewish culture and how it relates to Scripture.  I learned things from the Bible that are a part of the Holy Land that I never knew before. And I learned about her husband's story and how salvation and Jesus became real to him before his death. I'm so thankful I finished this book this week and I'm so thankful I bought it because it's one I'll use as a reference tool. The rock of course refers to Jesus.  The road refers to the Holy Land (where she toured to gather info for this book) and the Rabbi is the Word of God. It's marvelous.  A book review will be done in a few days.......and trust me...this gets a huge 10. I'm thankful for celebrities who are born again and aren't afraid to speak out about the love of God.

photo courtesy of the website gallery

• DINNER DATE!  I finally had the chance to meet one of my best friends (Lynn) for dinner Wednesday evening. We both had a free evening, and we went to this place.  I just love it there because the food is fresh, healthful, and inexpensive.  What fun we had catching up on our lives, and sharing about our daughters. Her girl is also a 2nd year college gal and Claire and Marissa have been friends ever since both families started at our church in 2005.  I'm so thankful for long-time friends who get real and go deep.  Our conversation was full of that! And we stayed talking until the place closed!!

That wraps up my week.

How was yours?? Do share!

HAPPY WEEKEND!