It's been a week of just the regular routines around here. Teaching, after work walks, early morning yoga/stretches, meditation times, dinners, chores, errands, small group, church. But in the mundane days of winter and working, there are still blessings to be found....things that made me smile and say "thank You, God". Here are FIVE of those blessings.
I'm linking up with other bloggers who also find things to be grateful for. Head on over here to learn how to join in!
FIVE FAVES
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| image courtesy of cbd website |
- SMALL GROUP! The small group study that Dave and I co-lead began again last Friday evening after a month off for the holiday break. We meet every other week until the book/guide is complete so we are a little more than half way through the book. The discussion was on forgiveness and we continue that topic next week. It felt so good to all be together again, gathered around our family room, drinking hot herbal teas or sparkling water and sharing with one another on this important topic. I'm so grateful for a group of friends and fellow sisters/brothers in Christ to do life with and to learn alongside.
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| "chik'n salad sandwich and sweet potato fries with melba sauce |
- MOTHER-DAUGHTER DATE: Claire and I were saddened last week when we heard the announcement from this place.......our fave vegan eatery in one of our fave small cities to the north of us. The owner has to close due to staff shortages, product supply issues, and a few other things. So Saturday we had a lunch date one more time before they shut their doors on Sunday. Everything in that place is made to order with all whole foods. The entire cafe is vegan. They have the BEST lemonade too. It doesn't contain refined sugar and is just sweet enough but still sour to be so refreshing. I'm thankful we could support this local business the last few years and that we also had an afternoon together.
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| image courtesy of adobe stock |
- FRESH CITRUS FRUITS and SICK TIME: This past week I've been very thankful for the clementines and ruby red grapefruit I bought. I was fighting a mild sore throat and stuffiness of an impending head cold....my first time getting sick since 2018. Eating clementines twice a day and grapefruit every morning combined with throat coat tea and On Guard tablets helped me to not get worse and also I'm thankful for acquired sick time so I could stay home Wednesday and Thursday and rest/get well!!
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| 2023 Calendar from my childhood friend |
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| each month features a different place along an ADK trail and is titled. all photos are by Cheryl A Blask |
- SURPRISE PACKAGE: After work on Monday I came home to find a package in the mail addressed to Dave and I from my childhood friend and hiking partner, Cheryl B. She is an avid photographer (hobby) and tweaks photos to look just amazing. She loves making calendars for Xmas gifts and she sent us one for 2023! I'm thankful for the exquisite nature scenes and some of the months are photos from hikes we completed together! I'm also thankful we have been good friends since 1967 when we were in 2nd grade. We literally walked to school every day together from 2nd grade until we graduated from good ole Herkimer High School in 1978.
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| my new Born bag!! |
- SALE!! Tuesday after work I had to dash to our town mall to exchange a pair of earrings Dave bought me for Christmas (one clasp was broken). The exchange was quick so I had a few moments to wander the store as there was a huge sale going on. I was wanting a new tote purse for work/church/whatever. I've always loved the Born bags but couldn't justify paying the $100-$200 price tag I was finding in stores that sell these pure leather bags. BUT. The store I was in on Tuesday had ALL Born totes for less than $60!!! Guess who bought one! I sure did. The leather is the softest I have ever felt. I'm thankful for a good sale and even though I was beginning to feel lousy (sore throat, head-cold symptoms) this totally perked me up.
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| beginning of wooded trail at Fox Preserve |
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| mid-afternoon sunshine on the steep part of trail |
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| looking up on the ridge I had just come down from the lower part of trail |
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| last part of trail with some frosty areas |
- SUNDAY SOLO HIKE: Sunday afternoon was gorgeous although only 30 degrees F. I bundled up with down jacket, thick socks, hiker shoes and a scarf, hat and gloves. Drove to the western part of town to hike in the Fox Preserve across the road from the Mohawk River. There were 3 other cars in the lot but I only saw one family (parents and 2 young children). I loved hiking solo on Sunday. The fresh air felt great and there were only 2 muddy spots plus one icy spot. The muddy spot was on the steep part of the trail where the sun was shining (photo above) so I had to navigate this section very carefully. It was a wonderful walk in the woods.....I came to the stream with a wonderful waterfall but sadly, my photo didn't come out! I'm thankful for places to hike in town.
OOPS....And I JUST realized that I shared SIX fave blessings vs Five. Oh well......
Susanne won't mind.
I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing weekend. Even though these winter days are just mundane and routine for me, I hope to do something fun this weekend now that I'm beginning to feel better.
HAPPY WEEKEND!
11 comments:
I don't think any of us will mind that you shared 6 lol. I hope you're feeling better now. Love the bag! Have a good weekend.
Hi Faith. I always "over share" when it comes to gratitude. It is a rare week when I just have five things. So sorry you haven't been feeling well, but I am glad that the natural vitamin C of the Clementines and grapefruit has helped. I love your new bag. Glad you could get it at such a good price! Sad that the vegan cafe is closing, but it is good that you and Claire could enjoy one last meal there together. So glad you have a good small study group. That book you are reading sounds interesting. The calendar with original photography is a very thoughtful gift. That is so nice of your friend to send you one. I also love that you got out and did a solo hike. I always enjoy seeing pictures of the trails you hike. I hope you are feeling better and that you have a good weekend! See you again soon.
I'm sorry you've been feeling a bit sick. I'm glad things are better, and you were able to rest a couple of days from work. I've been battling sinus issues which makes me cough but so far, it's not been too bad. That's too bad about your favorite cafe closing. I see this in so many businesses - not enough staff and supply issues. So sad. I've never been to a vegan cafe. I'm glad you got to go before it closed.
I wish there were pretty hikes near where I live. I live close to the Smokies but that's an hour's drive. Knoxville has Greenways but again, a half hour drive. Your walks are always so pretty.
Have a blessed weekend.
Hooray for an unexpected sale find....and for something that you actually have been wanting!:) Love your new bag. So disappointing when local restaurants/businesses can't make it. Especially due to staffing shortages. I really feel for these owners who have invested so much into their business. Glad you got in one last yummy meal. And I hope you are feeling 100 percent - if not yet, then very soon!! Have a great weekend!
Hi, Faith, a Chalk Talk is a super entertaining storyteller who draws an amazing illustration as she goes, then erases part of it then moves on. This is all highlighted with colored lights on stage or perhaps it is special chalk that changes color with various lighting. Any way as she goes along the story she adds to a drawing or erases a bit of it and creates anew. The amazing thing is when all is said and done when the room lights come on and the stage lighting is gone there is a glorious masterpiece . Now this is an Amish woman who was drummed out of the Amish community because she and her husband left, travelled across the US, pursuing her art and found Jesus on the the way. She came home to teach young women Bible study and was subsequently removed from the Amish community. Her story for us when we first saw it was her life story. The masterpiece at the end was Jesus on the cross. It was mind blowing. She will do a more child relating story this time as the group will be more kid-like. She also writes books on several topics.
Wow Shotzy!! Thanks for explaining this!! Sounds really intriguing and yay they found Jesus!!
That is a great deal you got for your purse! My small group starts back up next week. There is always lots to be thankful for! Good that you could take some sick time to get better!
I think we all have the same problems with little shops, restaurants, bakeries etc, they all had to shut down due to lack of personal or too high energy costs. Lots of boutiques here had to close too. I haven't been sick since 5 years (almost like you) and now it got me ! A virus flu without a running nose, fever, sore throat etc, just feeling bad and weak ! Now it's OK but I am still quickly tired. The weather here is awful, it's now one month that it rains every day and the temperatures are too high for the season.
Oh dear. I hope you are feeling better now. That cold has been going around (we have it now too and our kids have strep), and since we are seldom sick, we've been hitting the teas and zicam.
Love that hike! I always enjoy hiking 'with' you through your photos.
Sad that the vegan cafe has closed. Small businesses are on a tight budget. This is why we try to support them. I hope you can find another vegan spot.
And no, I don't think Susanne will mind :)
I'm sorry you've been sick. I'm glad you had some sick days so you could stay home and rest. That's too bad about the cafe closing. It's good you got to go there with Claire one last time. What a sweet and thoughtful gift from your friend! And yay for a great sale.
Nope don't mind at all. :)
That's too bad about the vegan restaurant. There has been a few local restaurants around here that have shut down too. One that was a very popular mainstay in the downtown. They blamed it on the pandemic and the currant economy. It's sad. Everyone was shocked, no one saw that coming for them. A leather bag for under $60? That is a great find!! I love the color. What an awesome calendar gift from your friend. Sorry you haven't been feeling well but glad you had that sick time built up so you could recuperate.
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