FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER FAVES

 It's been a GORGEOUS weather week here in eastern NY....just a perfect late summer.  I've been thanking God every day for our good weather.

I'm  sharing FIVE of my FAVE blessings from the week and linking up with other bloggers at Susanne's site. 

• FIXED LIGHT:  My husband took time to fix a recessed, under the counter light for me in the kitchen this past week. It had been off for some time and he's been very busy with work but he finally had the chance to get the correct stuff and fix the light and reattach it. I'm thankful he took the time. 

• CONNECT WEEKEND: Last Sunday, during Labor Day weekend, and again this Sunday, our church hosts a "Connect" weekend where the small group leaders, Bible study classes, Financial Peace University class leaders, and other groups have spots on tables set up all around our library and cafe area and people can walk around, read or learn about all the groups we offer, and sign up for the Autumn Semester.  I am a small group leader of three groups (SoulSteps Women Walking and Meditation group that meets twice a month; SoulSteps Hiking Group that meets 2-4x a month and a  ladies over 45 book group that meets every Tuesday evening in my home.  My SoulSteps walking group  filled up quickly so I had to close that group for any more sign-ups.  Hiking group got 6 new members so that is now closed as well and my Bible study/Book group still has 4 openings as I close it once there are 8 of us.  I'm most excited that every one who signed up are all people I've never met before!  I also signed up for a Fitness/Toning Class held every Monday AM at the church and a Women's morning class on Wednesday mornings where we will be studying a Jennie Allen book and having a time of prayer and worship. I'm also going to possibly be a volunteer for a relatively new group called Homebound that ministers to shut ins. I'll learn if this is the right volunteer work for me after I attend a meeting next week. While I was at the table, a woman from my previous small groups and who is currently in my walking and hiking groups, approached me with a gift.  She gave me a beautiful card, bookmark and magnet and said she was so thankful that I lead the hiking group and that she and her son really enjoyed the summer hikes that they did and that she's looking forward to more.  It made my heart so happy to hear the feedback and I'm so thankful for our church and the chance to lead groups and be a part of some for Kingdom work!

Labor Day evening

Dave and our oldest daughter 

• LABOR DAY!  In years past, we have either gone camping, to the beach house, or to the cabin we used to rent up north.  As we are empty nesters now, we decided instead of traveling over the holiday weekend, we would get caught up on things around the yard, home, etc and have our daughters over for dinner on Monday evening. Our youngest had to work all day (Warby Parker just hired a new optometrist so Claire had to be the optometric tech to show her the exams, etc.) There's two things to be thankful for regarding Labor Day: that both of our girls could join us for a BBQ dinner and bonfire afterwards (Claire left early as she had to be to work the next day/Courtney stayed with me out at the fire until about 11 pm as she used a vacation day the next day) AND that Claire found out she can do an apprenticeship to become a licensed Optician under this new Optometrist who will be full time in person (the previous one was telehealth only).  I'm so thankful we had a lovely evening together and that Claire has this apprenticeship to look forward to. (in NYS, you have to have a one year  apprenticeship followed by a written exam before you can get your license). 

noon  in the Adirondacks

Schroon Lake from the town beach
eastern Adirondacks

• LAKE DAY! My sister Joy had the week off from her bank job and wanted me to go with her to Schroon Lake Town Beach. We got there a little before noon and were the only ones there for most of the day.  A few couples wandered over but only stayed for more than a few minutes. We saw a group of teens swimming at one point (yesterday was the first day of school for most NY public schools) but they didn't linger as the water was COLD. I was going to swim but the water and air was chilly although the sun was hot. It was a glorious day with a temp of ony 74 up there (78 at my house). We stayed and ate lunch, read our books, did a lot of talking about our fave presidential candidate (Please God let her win!!) and just enjoyed the beautiful mountain air. I'm so thankful we had the day together. 

SOULSTEPS SISTERS!
from l-r: Meg, Joan, me, Pat

The Vanderwhacker Wild Forest Area
from the last lookout on Moxham Mt
before the last half mile up the summit

From the summit of Moxham Mountain
The Vanderwhacker Mt Wild Forest Area
and a view of the Garnet Mines (the bare spot in center)
And Gore Mt Ski Center to the left
The bumpy mountain top to the right and behind the rounded hill
is Snowy Mt in Indian Lake which I climbed a few years ago...it is a High Peak

• SOULSTEPS HIKE #9:  Since starting the group SoulSteps Hikers back in April, this is our 9th hike as a group.  Most of our hikes have included between 2-9 of us.  This one was just 4 of us.  I took them up Moxham Mountain which is located in this town in the Central Region of the Adirondack Mountains. This is about 1.5 hours northwest of my home. Joan offered to drive so we piled into her car around 8 AM and arrived at the trailhead at about 9:45.  We got to the summit (3.6 miles one way) at around noon. It took us 2.5 hours to hike the trail. There were 2 stream crossings and yes we had to rock hop but I love this mountain because there are NO rock scrambles like last week's much  higher one that I climbed with my niece. This mountain is one i have climbed 5 times now and it's truly a gem of a trail. There are 2 steep sections but they are a gentle steep due to switchbacks.  On the summit,  we relaxed, eat lunch, chatted with a few other hikers, and then started the trek down at about 2 pm.  We arrived back to the car at 3:45.  I'm so thankful for this group of ladies. The oldest in the group is Pat at age 80!  We all get all great and I call us the SoulSteps Sisters (we are sisters in Christ).  I'm so thankful we had a marvelous day and that Meg and I who have back issues, were mainly pain free!! I'm also thankful that not only are we hiking members but are becoming good friends!

  

  On the summit of Moxham Mt!
  Meg, me, Joan, Pat

That wraps up the things that made me smile and say THANK YOU, GOD!  What were some of the blessings you experienced this week?  Please share! 

HAPPY WEEKEND and HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL to those of you with  children or grands in the Northeast!