Mid-December Faves

 

Here it is!   A week away from Christmas....mid-December...doesn't seem possible but it's true and I don't know about you but it's been a busy week of teaching, chores, appointments, work-outs, and even some snow!

I need a few minutes to reflect on the week and find things to be grateful for.

I do this with other like-minded bloggers for the FAVE FIVE 

posts.  We share five of our fave blessings from the week and then link up together at Susanne's site.  How about sharing one of your blessings from the week?  let me know in the comment section what made you smile this week.

• XMAS EXCHANGE #1:  Due to Covid19 restrictions on gathering in homes, my 3 sisters and I all decided we will skip the large gathering this year on Saturday, and instead, get together in small groups.  So a week ago tonight, my youngest sister Jill and her husband Mike came down from their home to the north of us (they live about 45 minutes away) with their two daughters (Emma, 17 and Mady, 12) and we had pizza and drinks.   The 4 girl cousins sat together in the dining room to eat and us older adults sat in the family room.  Then we had Jill's family sit on the couch together in the family room and the 4 of us were spread out in the other part of the family room and we all opened gifts to each other.  It was such a fun evening!  I didn't take a lot of photos as I was busy being the hostess but I'm so thankful my little sis could bring her family down.

Emma opens one of her gifts from us
 while Mady looks on

my youngest sister Jill,
daughters Emma and Mady
 and her husband Mike

Our oldest daughter Courtney opens a gift from Aunt Jill 
while Claire looks on

• NATURE WALK:  Last Friday afternoon, after my chirorpractic appointment, I headed down the road in that town to a nature area I've only been to twice.  The last time we were there, the town was creating more trails so I was able to explore a couple of them before it got dark.  I loved every bit of my 2 mile walk.  Here are some of my fave photos from the afternoon in the cold sun.  How I'm thankful to have excellent nature preserves to walk in when I can't get to the mountains.

the Erie Canal through the nature preserve

a sign (see soul stuff post)

frozen beauty with spots of life

soft beauty among the deadened branches

• IN -HOUSE DATE NIGHT!  Dave and I had an in-house date night this past week and it was so much fun.  He chose a movie from Netflix that we had never seen and that included some of our favorite actors.  Emma Thompson narrates the story and Will Farrell is hilarious in this flick.  We highly recommend it!  We had some wine and  Christmas cookies and curled up under fleece blankets near the Christmas tree and I'm so thankful for evenings like this.  Simple joys for these weird times of not being able to go out many places.

image courtesy of Am*zon

• CARDS AND LETTERS:  Christmas cards and letters have really begun to arrive in the last week.  It's always so much fun receiving Christmas greetings from our far away friends and family.  My 2nd year  roommate from college and I have been sending cards to one another since 1982!  It's so special to me. I read each card and then try to pray for that person at some point during the days leading up to Christmas.  I'm thankful for good friends far and near!

Our basement door in kitchen holds all of the Christmas cards
 we've received in the last couple weeks.
The cards on the right are Faith's birthday cards from friends and family.
 They will come down this weekend to make way for Claire's birthday cards!

• SNOW DAY!  Well, we had our first major snowstorm..a nor'easter!  Came up from the south and east and it packed a punch for eastern NY and most of northern NY and into central NY.  The thing I'm thankful for is having a snow day!  NO teaching remotely or going in.  Roads were treacherous.  Courtney and Dave work from home anyways although Courtney has to go in today and Claire had an online final for UNH.  I baked, read my book, watched the beginning of The Today Show which I love and which I can never watch unless I'm home for some reason.  My family shoveled us out.  Our small snow blower died halfway through the job.  It just couldn't handle all the snow.  Dave will either replace the blade and meanwhile I am going to hire someone for any future storms. It's worth the money to me at this age and with my back issues and his heart condition.  Both girls dug out their cars and helped Dave shovel.  I tried taking a walk in the stuff but the town plows did a terrible job and the wind was fierce so I didn't walk very long.

Dave tackles the snow!

Our backyard as of 7:30 am 
17 December 

Claire's Nissan is buried under there! 
That's about 30 inches of snow, folks!

That wraps up my five faves.

There were so many other things to be grateful for this week.  One is the power of prayer.  For those of you who asked about my sciatica flare up:  yes my chiropractor has managed to stop most of the pain!  I'm now into the ongoing treatment phase of hypervolt therapy, stretching and massage and active release of the spine.  It's all going well!  I am 95% pain free and I thank each of you who sent me emails and messages saying you are praying for me.  It's so appreciated and I'm so thankful to know you.

I hope you have a safe and restful weekend!!  Last one before we celebrate the birth of the Greatest King to ever live, our Savior Jesus Christ!