Mid-May Faves

 

It's Friday and time to look back on the week's blessings to share FIVE of our FAVE things that God brought into our lives. I do this with other like minded bloggers and we all link up at Susanne's blog.  Head on over here to read more or to join in. 

Monday Morning

• SCRIPTURE AND SUNSHINE:  Monday was a perfect Spring day....in fact, so was Tuesday.  On Monday morning, I took my coffee into the family room to pray and read Scripture.  God spoke to me while I was watching the sun beam through the maple tree.  It turned into a mini devotional which if you're interested, you can read here.  I'm thankful for the Word of God and sunshine!

Claire and Courtney
Mother's Day at 100 Acres Woods

Lunch at Sake and my girls treated!

Courtney and I at church

• MOTHER'S DAY:  My husband had to go out to his folks in MA for the next couple of weeks so I was alone for Mother's Day until church at 11.  Courtney and I sat together and then Claire joined us for dinner at Sake (my fave Japanese restaurant). Everything was so good and all the moms were given a free bottle of their specialty Ginger dressing.  Then we changed our clothes and did a little 1.5 mile  woods walk in one of our fave local nature preserves. The girls even played "pooh sticks" at the little  creek. It was a lot of fun.  They gave me beautiful cards and the church gave out little flower bouquets.  I'm thankful for my 2 daughters and that they spent the day with me. They even paid the restaurant bill!! (Dave used to but since he couldn't be with us, they decided to each pay half :) ) 

image courtesy of google

• PRAYER POWER:  My sisters Joy and Hope and my self have reached out to our small groups, churches, pastors, friends and Believing family members for prayer for our youngest  sister Jill. She had this in her brain, found after having a seizure in March out of the blue. It formed during her birth apparently but because it was so large, it had to be removed. 11 hours of  brain surgery Monday, but she's recovering very well and  will be going home soon. Her husband thanks everyone for their prayer support, as do I. There is power in prayer for sure! I'm so thankful the neurosurgeon was able to remove all of it and that she's recovering well and that my friends and family have prayed. We are also thankful it didn't turn into an aneurysm!

Guided Prayer and Contemplation

• GUIDED PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION WORKSHOP:  On Wednesday mornings at our church, there is a weekly women's Bible study known as the Daytime Series.  Each year it runs on Wednesdays from Sept until the end of May. It goes from 9:30-11: 30.  There's a leader and she organizes special speakers, or uses a traditional Bible study like a Beth Moore, etc.  Well, I went one year very faithfully as I wasn't teaching that year (our first year at the church in 2005).  I've never gone since because I've always been teaching full time.  This year, since I'm retired but leading 3 of my own small groups, I decided I would just pop in on weeks I was free from appointments, etc. I've been to one meeting this year (the Brunch in April)  and this past week's meeting which  was the Guided Prayer and Contemplation with Worship  time that my friend Diane led.  It was absolutely amazing. We had a room of probably 40 women with about 5-6 women at each round table. Diane led us in guided prayer and Scripture and there was quiet worship music (instrumental only) playing on a playlist while we  prayed by ourselves or read the Scriptures provided and took notes. We used our senses of Taste (honey sticks), Smell (cotton balls soaked in lemon oil), and Sound (listening to a rushing waterfalls or stream) while praying and having Diane guide us through a specific Scripture.  There were 3  different interludes of meditation where we just sat quietly praying by ourselves and journaling. We also had a time of laying on of  hands on the person next to us and praying aloud for them using a guided Scripture prayer. (from Psalms).  After this 1.5 hour-long guided prayer session, we took turns sharing what we got out of it, or what God showed us, etc.  We ended the 2 hours with singing the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness.  My heart and soul were filled.  I'm so thankful my church offers various ministries like this. 

• A WINNER! This beautiful cookbook with amazing recipes was waiting on my doorstep on Mother's Day sent via Am*zon Prime. I was a winner in a blog giveaway of this cookbook by Marilyn.  I LOVE her blog.  She lives in northern Idaho (a place I've always wanted to visit....mainly to hike....) and her blog has the most breathtaking photos AND the spiritual content just fills my soul right up.  If you've never seen her blog, head over here. I'm so thankful for the Christian blogging community. Wouldn't it be fun if we could all meet each other in person?! One day we will......in heaven......

That wraps up my week.  It's been strange having my husband gone all week and he might even be gone for another one.  I'll find out this weekend. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend of rest and doing Spring things you love.