First Day of SUMMER faves

It's the last day of school until July 8th!!  (when summer school begins for 6 weeks). AND it's the first day of SUMMER!!

It's been a rather hectic week with teaching all day and packing up our classroom as we are moving into a different one on July 8th.  In fact, everyone in the entire building is moving classrooms.....even the therapists.  So we have been crazy busy.

  Plus I've been packing for our week long vacation (we leave tomorrow!!).  AND I'm STILL dealing with some kind of sinus/throat thing.  I have never had anything linger this long (not since the Lyme Disease) and I'm at my wit's end. It's been one month. 

However, I'm trying to be thankful and look for the blessings in the week.  I'm sharing five of them and linking up at Susanne's with others who look for their fave blessings, too.

backyard respite

• NEW COVERING:  This past weekend we were able to get the new covering up for over our backyard swing.  The swing came with a nice awning type covering but last winter we forgot to take it off and put in shed and the winter weather destroyed it!  I tried finding a replacement cover to no avail so I then looked online at Lowe's and discovered this shelter.  It was very affordable and is super easy to put together.  It also folds up for the winter into its own carrying/storage case which we can keep in the basement. Claire and I really enjoy sitting out here and reading and talking in the evenings.  I'm thankful we have this shelter so the birds don't poop anymore on the swing cushions and pillows!

Vegetable Hibachi

• FATHERS DAY LUNCH:  On Sunday, the girls wanted to take Dave to his favorite Japanese restaurant which just happens to be in the same town where we live.  We were taking a chance because we had no reservation but we got there right after the 11 a.m. church service and had no trouble getting a table.  (the hibachi tables require an advanced reservation but we were still able to order off the hibachi menu).  Claire had a tofu teriyaki, miso soup and avocado/cucumber roll, I had the veggie hibachi, Dave had the sushi/sashimi special and Courtney had the chicken yaki udon soba noodles. All the hibachi and lunch specials come with the Clear broth soup and house salad.  Everything was excellent and the service there is impeccable. I'm thankful Dave enjoyed his day.

Courtney, age 25

• COURTNEY'S SELFIE:  I was on Facebook earlier in the week and saw that my oldest gal had taken a selfie in front of the office building where she works.  Since I hardly have any current pictures of my oldest girl, I copied it and saved it to my laptop.  It's hard to believe she is about to turn 26 years old!  I'm thankful she has a good job with hours she likes (9:30-5:30) and that she has a good bunch of friends to do life with.  

Tiger lilies in front flower bed

• TIGER LILIES!  I came home from work Monday to discover that these tiger lilies which did not do well at all last year, had bloomed!  I love perennials and most of the flowers in my front flower bed are all from bulbs so very low maintenance.  The rose bush is doing very well this year as did the peonies which are just now past prime.  But I was shocked to see the tiger lilies!  I didn't expect them at all and actually had forgotten about them.  I'm thankful for this spot of color!  (there are more just to the left of the edge of the photo).

• GROUP DEVO:  I've been doing a group devotional with my cousin and 3 friends via the Bible app. It's been a blessing to read everyone's thoughts on the daily Scriptures and reading.  I'm thankful for the Word of God which guides us through life and for friends and family who know Him and encourage one another to go deeper.  I never want to take God's Word for granted!

That wraps up the FFF for me this week.

I'm bringing my laptop on vacation as the cottage we're renting does have WiFi although it tends to be spotty.  I'm hoping to do some devotional type posts while having my quiet time on the lake.  So hopefully I will be back next week to share in the FFF...if not, I'll be back in two weeks!

Enjoy the weekend everyone!!  It's now officially Summer!!