It's been an absolutely crazy week here in our home. Husband is still out in MA helping his parents. His Dad turned 90 on Wednesday and is failing quickly, choosing to be home vs a nursing home. It puts an awful lot of strain on the family members though, so Dave is working remotely from there since May 11 and will continue to be there for at least another week until his older brother comes back to town. I'm there now (arrived yesterday) to help out for a couple of days but then I have obligations at my own home and with my youngest sister who is recovering from major brain surgery and the walking ministry so will have to come home Saturday afternoon. At any rate, it is good to pause and find FIVE blessings from the week, even if it HAS been a crazy one.
I'm linking up at Susanne's site where others join in on this weekly meme.
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| beginning of Basin Pond Trail Berkshires, MA |
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| delicate wildflower: Spring Star along the lower trail |
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| loved this design over a stream |
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| Dam Spur Trail to overlook on pond |
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| Basin Pond from the Overlook |
- SOULSTEPS HIKE! Last Saturday was our 2nd hike as a new ministry group that I am leading and organizing. I had 5 people originally signed up. One had to go help family so then we were 4. The morning of the hike, when I was just waking up to get ready, my phone alerted me to 2 texts: one woman's mom who has dementia had gotten very ill during the night so she needed to stay home with her and the other person was called in to work and couldn't say no. So that left just my new hiking friend Karen and I and oh what fun we had exploring this new-to-us trail in the Berkshires of MA. The trail is only about 50 min east of my home so we were there by 10 and began to hike, noticing that the black flies were not bad at all! The trail is a "lollipop" trail for those of you who hike and are familiar with the various terms, and we chose the lower route to the pond first, (you have to get off and follow a spur trail for about a half mile to the overlook...there is no trail leading directly down to the pond) and then after eating our lunch on the bench at the overlook, we turned back and followed the spur to where the 2 routes link up and Karen chose to go the upper route. As a leader, I don't want to make all the decisions if the group is small so I was thrilled she chose that route because secretly I wanted to hike it but didn't want to leave her alone on the lower route back to the car. Total mileage was 3.5 miles. What a wonderful day we had. AND the sun came out about half way through our hike and the rain that was predicted stayed away. I'm so thankful I had this time in the woods!!
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| totally plant-based "steak" bowl! |
- FRESH VEGGIE BOWL: Saturday evening, since it was just me at home, I decided to make a totally vegan dish: beyond beef "steak" tips sauteed with just a dash of black pepper and herbs de provence along with a drizzle of ginger dressing and sauteed carrots, onions, potato, fresh french green beans, and broccoli. It was amazing! I'm so thankful the Beyond Beef company now has steak tips!
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| post-surgery goodie bag and baby girl shower gift |
- GIFTS DONE! I put together a baby shower gift for my youngest daughter's good friend who is having a baby girl in July and also a goodie bag for my youngest sister who just endured 11 hrs of brain surgery and is now at home recovering. I'm thankful these bags are done and I was able to deliver the goodie bag to my sis when I went to the hospital Tuesday. I love putting together gift bags since Gifts is my primary love language. I'm so thankful I had the chance to visit my sister in the hospital this week (she's home now) and I'll get the baby gifts over to Claire next week, before the shower.
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| Putnam Station Presbyterian Church Eastern Adirondacks |
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| The Old Log Chapel Putnam, NY |
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| Courtney in front of the Star Trek Museum Ticonderoga, NY |
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| La Chute Falls on the La Chute River Ticonderoga, NY |
- ROAD TRIP! Our oldest daughter, Courtney, had the week off from work (she's so excited that the company she works for now has given her 3 weeks off a year plus certain holidays) so we took a road trip, per her idea, on Wednesday. It was an uncommonly early -in -the- season hot and humid day so we were thankful the car had good air conditioning. We chose to explore 2 towns in this challenge I'm doing. We found the towns but it was more of a challenge to find actual taxpayers to sign the book! Both post offices were closed as were the town halls. We ended up finding a resident who owns the now closed diner, and we found the one and only human we saw in the town of Dresden (a real estate agent). It was a lot of fun and we were able to poke around 2 of the historic churches in the town of Putnam. We then traveled another 10 miles north to the village of Ticonderoga, located on Lake George on the west) and Lake Champlain (on the east) and ate lunch at a lovely 1950s styled cafe. We walked part of the La Chute River walk but it was so hot we didn't really linger. I'm thankful we had the day together and now out of the 102 Adirondack villages I need to get stamps, seals, or signatures for completing the challenge, I only need 20 more! (keep in mind I've been working on this challenge since about 2017).
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| Basil |
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| Purple Irises on the south side of the house |
- SURPRISE GROWTH! I was totally surprised to see my irises actually blooming and opening up. I have a large corner of the front flower garden with Irises (behind a small rose bush) and then these along the southern wall of our home (this is a side yard). For the last 3 years, those irises have not bloomed at all. In fact, this summer I was going to dig up the bulbs and just toss them out but surprise! They came up, popped open and I'm thrilled. They're so pretty. Also, I was surprised to finally see some growth from the basil seeds I planted inside my house in April. I plan on making my own homemade pesto this summer. I'm thankful these surprises showed up this week.
I'm also super thankful for blogging friends who have either emailed me, texted or made Marco Polo videos (Susanne, Deb J) and my church friends and extended family members who have said they're praying for Dave, his parents (they still need to accept Christ!) and my little sister Jill and her recovery process. There's such power in prayer and I never wanna take praying friends for granted.
I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.
9 comments:
I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's dad struggling like that. Thankfully your husband can be with him and work remotely and that you were able to join him for a bit.
I love the idea of your walking ministry! What a lovely thing. Hiking in nature is such a wonderful to experience God.
Oh, that Star Trek museum! I would really enjoy that! I've been a Trekkie for a long time - the old classic series though. I don't know much about the newer ones. I remember Ft. Ticonderoga as a child. We visited the fort there.
Have a great weekend, Faith. I'll keep your husband and his dad in prayer.
Hi Faith. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's parents. I'm sure it does put a lot of strain on the family. I'll be praying for all the family and his parents. Praying for strength, comfort, and direction. Also. praying his parents become believers and accept Christ. I'm glad to hear your sister's surgery went well and she's now recovering at home. Praying for a quick recovery for her. There is so much power in prayer.
Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope you have a great weekend! Oh, and your fresh veggie bowl looks delicious by the way.
I'm so sorry to hear about Dave's dad, especially that they are in such a condition unsaved. I pray God will open their eyes to His truth and give them clarity to receive it.
I'm glad you were able to hike with one of the people from the group.
I hope your sister is recovering well.
I didn't know there was a Star Trek Museum! I don't know if we'll ever be up that way, but that would be a fun place to visit.
How neat that the irises came up!
I'm sorry that Dave is having a difficult time with his parents. It's hard when they want to remain at home because caring for them can get so complicated. Good to hear your sister is already home after such a worrying surgery. I hope she continues to make a good recovery. Sounds like you had two good outings this week with the walking group and with your daughter. Hope your weekend is good too.
Hi Faith, I enjoyed all your pictures today. That is nice that you have a group to walk with. I understand your husband wanting to be with his dad. We took care of our parents at home and also had Hospice which is a great resource. Have a great weekend!
Hi Faith! I am always happy to pray for you and your family. I love the pictures from your hike. I would love to hike through woods like that! I think it's great that you took a day trip with your daughter. Looks like you found some interesting places - especially the Star Trek Museum! I hope that your sister continues to recover after her surgery. Will continue to pray for her and for Dave and his parents. I hope you have a good weekend and safe travels back home!
It is hard to watch your parents fade and become ill. It is good though that Dave can take the time to help. In the future he will be thankful he did that.
Love your time with Courtney on that day trip. And congrats on getting those two signatures.
I hope your sister continues to make a good recovery.
Enjoy a love,y long Memorial weekend. Maybe another hike in the woods or on the beach?
Your poor husband ! Moving somebody in a residence it's not an easy task. My son was lucky, because I could choose myself organized the move so he only had to carry my personal belongings. He helped later with hanging up my paintings and other things. How nice that you could have a little travel with your daughter. As it is still cold and raining I prefer to stay home. Now we are nearly in the half of the year and it's still winter ! Summer will come in December for Christmas, if it continues like that !
Still praying for Dave and his family. Praise God he has a job where he was able to work remotely. Your day with Courtney sounds fun. The Iris story kinda made me chuckle. I can imagine them holding an emergency meeting saying we better step up to the plate this year or we're goners! Hubby and I would love to visit the Star Trek museum. We went to the science center in Calgary when they had the big Star Trek exhibition and it was lots of fun. There is a town around here too named Vulcan so their theme is all about Star Trek and they have a small museum there. I think "Spock" showed up there years ago at their anniversary.
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