Here we are at a Friday again and time to pause in order to find FIVE of our FAVE blessings from the past week. There's a whole community of bloggers who engage in this gratitude practice and we all link up at our host site, Susanne. Head over here to learn more.
My faves this week revolve around special people and moments.
FIVE FAVES
 |
| my dad and mom's final earthly resting place |
- CHILDHOOD HOMETOWN VISIT: Last Friday I was supposed to go to NH to visit our youngest daughter but that plan changed to Saturday so instead of cancelling my time off request, I kept it and went west to central NY to my hometown where I grew up and where my parents are buried. Mom has been in heaven for 8 years today and Dad has been in heaven for 2 years. I placed some pumpkins between their graves and just reflected for a moment on their lives and my growing up years. I then had lunch with my friend Donna whom I've known and loved since 1965 when we were both in the same kindergarten class! I also took a couple of pics from the Park in town. The tree is on the side of the church (United Methodist) where Dave and I got married and across the street from the former site of the Free Methodist church where I spent my birth-age 18 attending. That church now stands next to the cemetary on the hill outside town as the congregation expanded and they needed a new building. I'm thankful I spent the afternoon in my hometown and having a 2 hour lunch with my dear friend!
 |
| General Herkimer statue Myers Park, Herkimer NY |
 |
| foliage is past peak in the central NY area |
- MOM-DAUGHTER DATE! Claire and I met in what I call "hippy dippyville" aka Brattleboro, Vermont on Saturday at lunch time. She had called in an order for a totally vegan meal for the both of us at the amazing Superfresh Cafe which due to Covid19 is only open right now for dinner on Fridays or lunch on Saturdays and you cannot even enter the cafe. You must pick up. We ended up eating in the sunshine in a little park near the cafe. It was so much fun to see Claire! She looks great, classes are going well and she's in the Autumn Ballet Company production the first weekend of November. Of course, we cannot attend but we are praying we can come Spring. It's so hard for us parents to miss all these special milestones of our children due to this darn virus! She said it might be livestreamed and it's definitely being taped for a DVD so we will have to settle for that. They cannot even perform on stage in the big theater. They'll be performing in the ballet studio and only 2-3 ballerinas will be dancing at any one time. But our visit was awesome. We ate, talked, shopped/browsed and hugged. Then we both went our separate ways. I also did a bit of Christmas shopping at Hogback Mountain Gift store. The sunshine and the foliage were just perfect. Here are a couple of pics. (Claire refused to get her photo taken so I'm using one of her amazing Ballet Company 2020-2021 professional photos). I'm so thankful I got to hug on my girl!!
 |
| the White Mountains of NH as seen from Hogback Mountain 16 October 2020 |
 |
| Claire, senior Sociology Major minors: Russian, Ballet, Psychology member since 2017 of the UNH Ballet Company 2020-2021 Photo shoot |
- FOOD and FELLOWSHIP! Sunday after the 9 a.m service, I went home to change and head to the town bike path for my mile run/walk. While on the path, I decided to invite our friends Ingrid and Ken over for a bonfire and homemade chili and cornbread. It's not like me, usually, to plan something spontaneous like this but I felt like God was nudging me to do so. I also told Ingrid to feel free to bring her daughter Amanda and son Matt (she has 4 other children all scattered around the area). Amanda and Matt still live at home. We all had so much fun! The chili came out great and we only had a little bit left! Our oldest daughter came out to say Hi but had things to do so couldn't hang out with us. It was such a lovely evening and I'm so thankful for good church friends to hang out with.
 |
| Matt, my husband Dave, Ken |
 |
| warmth from the fire |
- MOVIE! I watched a Netflix movie Monday and Tuesday evenings while chopping veggies for dinner and folding laundry, etc. It was one of the best flicks I've seen in a long time. It's called The Trial of the Chicago 7 (google the Chicago 7 if you're under age 50 and have no idea what I'm talking about). One of my all time favorite actors (Eddie Redmayne) played Tom Heyden and he was excellent as always. I highly recommend this movie if you care at all about peaceful protests/social activism and the way police handle things. It's just so good!! I'm thankful I had time to watch a complete movie in just 2 afternoons and that it was a good one.
 |
| image courtesy of the observer website |
- AFTER WORK HIKE/RUN: After work yesterday, it was about 72 degrees outside (about 3 pm) so I headed over to the local state park to hike and run the Deer Run trail and part of the perimeter trail. It equals about 1.8 miles. I slowed down in many spots to snap some pics because we are just about past peak foliage season here in our area and the colors are still spectacular. Here are a few of my fave photos from yesterday's hike/run and I'm so thankful it's been a mild autumn with breathtaking color!
 |
| beginning of Deer Run trail I was able to run part of this trail |
 |
| Mohawk River on Perimeter Trail |
 |
| a peaceful place near the end of the Perimeter Trail 22 October 2020 |
What are you thankful for this week?
Please share in the comment section or write a post and link up with us!
HAPPY WEEKEND!
5 comments:
How nice that you were able to visit your parents graves and leave some pumpkins for them. And, you did get a date with your daughter as well! It is such a beautiful time of year for hiking.
It's nice to take some time out and just be reflective now and again and also catch up with the important people in our lives. Love your pics of your hiking route. Sounds like a really good week. Enjoy the weekend.
Thinking of you this weekend, Faith. Nice that you were able to visit your hometown and be able to reflect on the good lives lived by your parents. Looks like a great day with Claire. I miss my girls. We threw out the idea of a day trip to see Tamara but well, the snow hasn't quit! The walking trail looks lovely.
Such a nice visit to your hometown. My mom is buried close enough that I go often. It is comforting to me to be able to have that time of prayer and reflection. The photo of Claire is lovely!
It was nice to be able to have a time of remembrance of your parents. Your date with Claire sounds like so much fun!
Post a Comment