JUNE Faves

 

What a beautiful month June is to me.  I love the lushness of all the green, and the flowers that have all bloomed (some are past  prime) and the grass is so thick and lush.  The skies have been blue and the sun has been hot here in eastern New York for most of the week. This leads me to think about all the blessings God brings my way so ......

I'm sharing five of them with other like-minded bloggers and we all link up at Susanne's site. 

Ann Lee Pond
Albany NY
1 June 

• SOULSTEPS WALKING GROUP: Last Friday and Saturday morning was my last weekend to lead the meditative walking group.  We're on a break until September. We walked in a nature preserve instead of our usual paved path and both groups really liked it.  Both days were beautiful.  The pond in the photo is the focal point of the nature preserve. I spoke on the passage in Mark 5 where Jesus calms the storm and where the disciples had to learn that Jesus will calm our storms/trials if we just ask Him. He will bring peace even when our trials are storming all around us. I'm thankful the ladies who joined the walking group are now becoming friends and some of them are in my SoulSteps Hiking group so I'll see them on the hikes this summer. I'm thankful I get to be a small group leader at my church. 

Courtney chose Moscato from CA
I chose Riesling from WA

Roasted Beet Salad with Grilled Chicken

Glen Lake at about 8 pm
near Lake George
Eastern ADK

• DAUGHTER DINNER DATE: Sunday afternoon it was my turn to bring dinner to my youngest sis and her family who live up near Lake George. We chatted a few minutes (and Courtney my oldest came with me to help carry the food)and then Courtney and I went over to this restaurant as we hadn't been there since the summer before the pandemic. And we even scored a table under the tent!  It's situated on a beautiful little lake named Glen Lake and is just south of Lake George. We had a wonderful dinner and there was so much food so we were able to get 3 meals out of it. I shared my leftovers with Dave the next day for lunch.  I'm thankful Courtney and I had this time together. 

• SAFE TRAVELS!  Dave left his parents home mid-morning Sunday after watching church online with his mom. He arrived about an hour before he had to be at a missions team dinner and before I had to leave for my sister Jill's house. (by the way: thank you to those of you who said you were praying for my sis, my husband and his parents.  She's recovering well, Dave was able to come home and then about 8 hours after he arrived back here, he got the call that his dad passed away in his sleep Sunday night.) I'm so thankful he had a safe trip back to NY across the Mass Pike. There's always so much traffic. 

• FRESH FRUIT:  One thing I love about Spring, is that here in New York, we begin to have really good, fresh fruit in the local grocery stores and farmers' markets. I bought a pound of fresh cherries this past week and Dave and I have enjoyed them for snacking, lunch, and dinner. They're so good.  I'm thankful for good crops and for the farmers who grow these. 

coffee and books on the backyard swing

• SLOW STARTS:  One thing I really appreciate about spring and summer into mid-October and being retired, is the fact I can have my morning coffee and quiet time in the Scriptures and in a book, outdoors on my backyard swing or on my deck.  I love the slow start to my mornings that retirement has brought me. This was Tuesday morning. The days have been hot to the point where we've needed the central air most of the day but the evenings, until Wednesday evening, were cool enough to sleep with the windows open. The back of our house faces east so the mornings in the backyard are especially nice.  Yesterday was a day of rain on and off which we needed but all the other days, I enjoyed coffee outside. I'm thankful for slow starts. 

That wraps up my five fave things from the past week. 

I thank all of you  who have sent texts, emails, social media messages saying you are keeping Dave and his family in your prayers. The funeral and family luncheon won't be until the last week of June as there are many details to work out (they didn't have things pre-planned as my parents did) and his mom struggles with memory at times so.....planning is happening...we also have a lot of extended family living all over the states and Canada and Scotland so......we're not rushing into having a service. I'm thankful for the technology of texting and group chats, Facetime, etc to help ease the strain of communication. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!