End of July Faves

 

Here we are at the end of July almost. Wow....it's flying, isn't it?

Let's push pause, grab an iced drink, kick back in your fave chair, and share FIVE of your FAVE blessings from the week. I'm doing this because several days this past week were tough. Those headaches and neck pain have been on again (4 days in a row!) and  off again and it's getting so annoying that no doctor seems to know what to do or even the exact cause....everything has been a guessing game.  I'm so over it.  But...I can only trust God who is the divine Healer. And give Him thanks for all the blessings that still come my way. 

I'm linking up with Susanne to share the blessings.  Join in!

photo courtesy of Saratoga newspaper

• BALLET NIGHT!  Last Friday evening was the night that I had two tickets to the New York City Ballet for Claire and I.  Some of you know that our youngest daughter studied classical ballet from age 4 to 22.  (along with lyrical ballet and tap for a few years). When she was 8, we started getting tickets for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center at this place because the NYCB performs up here every July.  It's always spectacular.  This year we saw a condensed Swan Lake including that amazing pas de deux(Tchaikovsky); a summary of Fancy Free (1940s style by Leonard Bernstein), and pieces from Firebird (by Stravinsky).  For those of you who know ballet, you know the Tchaikovsky and the Stravinsky were choreographed by Balanchine and that Fancy Free was Jerome Robbins). It was glorious. I'm so thankful the weather was cooler and that Claire and I had a wonderful evening out...our balcony seats were third row spot on center...perfect for the ballet! 

the garden flag I bought Hope and Donny

Dave, Kai (Courtney's friend), and Courtney in the pool
seated on the side is Nathanael (Courtney's bff)

FAMILY BBQ:  Saturday  was a perfect summer day...breezy, temps in the high 70s and bright, blue sky and no humidity.  We loved it. Dave and I packed up our contribution to the family picnic and I drove us out to my sister Hope's where she lives in the woods of central New York State with her husband Donny and a mess of chickens, goats, baby goats, ducks, cat, and dog. Joy, the sister who was born 2 years after me (Hope is 5 yrs younger than me) was there with her son Luke. Our oldest daughter came with her 2 friends and Claire didn't come because she thought she might have covid.  (Thankfully, she didn't!) I didn't take many photos because we were so busy fellowshipping, and eating good food. I'm thankful it was a beautiful day and we all had fun swimming and enjoying each other's company. (sadly, our youngest sister Jill and her family had to miss it due to a softball tournament our youngest niece was in). 

Queen Anne's Lace
along the canal walk
Monday 24 July
I used to be allergic to this ever since childhood
but apparently I'm no longer allergic to it! 
I was fine sitting on a bench in a large swath of it. 

The path along the Erie Canal
Vischer Ferry Crescent Nature Preserve

• RELAXING WALKS:  After a very early morning neurology follow up appointment on Monday, I decided, since I was in the area (the town to the north of us), that I would take a leisurely (vs a "work out" walk at a fast pace) walk while the morning air was still cool. It was a pleasant 76 degrees and the sun was shining with a slight breeze. I walked .6 miles to a lovely bench in a Queen Anne's Lace swath and discovered I was no longer allergic to that plant!  For years, as a child and young adult I was very allergic to this delicate wildflower. Seems like I no longer am so that's cool. There were many other walkers, joggers, and bikers on the walking path and it also began to get quite humid so I turned around after drinking some water and walked back to the car.  I'm thankful I was able to get in a 1.2 miles walk before it got super hot and I'm also thankful for pretty places to walk along the Erie Canal. 

• PRAYER TIME: This book!!   The discussions in my home Wednesday night were just awesome and powerful. We were discussing chapter 7 (about the Peace that God brings to His people).  The prayer time afterwards was so powerful you could sense the Holy Spirit.  How thankful I am for my cousin Trisha and my dear friend and spiritual mentor Monica. I have a difficult decision to make regarding a med and let's just say, although I am still in debate about taking it, I have a tad bit more peace about the direction I'm probably going to go. I'm so thankful for God's power in prayer. 

Hometown Hero
General Herkimer

Where Dad and Mom are laid
I put the Army flag in the ground today, the potted flowers and American flag
are from 2 years ago when my oldest girl and I went, and the spinner/pinwheel?  
NO idea who left it but it wasn't any of my 3 younger sisters. 

Dad to the left, Mom on the right
Oak Wood Cemetery 
Herkimer in central NYS
foothills of the Adirondacks

• ROAD TRIP:  Yesterday, although my head was pounding most of the day, I took a road trip to my childhood hometown out in central New York State. I met a friend for lunch at this amazing cafe and then she had to leave so I went on to the graves of my parents by myself. They are laid to rest in the cemetery near their  Free Methodist Church. The church (where I attended my whole childhood until I left for college) used to be on the park where the statue of General Herkimer is located (see first photo).  They sold that building sometime in the early 1980s and built a bigger, more modern building up on the Herkimer hill where it is thriving today.  I prayed while at the graves, and then drove through the village to the new park that is for people of all abilities/disabilities.  The Herkimer ARC developed what used to be our old playground and baseball field.  The pool has been upgraded (not seen in the pic....it's to the far right of the playground on the right) and I'm just so happy to see this space being utilized.  It made my special ed teacher heart happy!  I'm so thankful I had the day to "go back home".  I'm also thankful I stopped in at the Farmers Market to pick something up from my sister Hope who sells her goat's milk soap and other odds and ends there.  I found amazing farm fresh tomatoes there at a much better price than what is around here. I'm thankful I took this road trip. 

ARC PARK
a park and playground for people with all abilities
Herkimer, NY

That wraps up my favorite blessings from the week.

I hope whatever you have planned for the weekend, that you find time to rest and relax in nature!

HAPPY WEEKEND