BIRTHDAY WEEK FAVES

 

Here we are back at Friday and it's been a great week.  It was my birthday week!  And next week I have 2 friends with birthdays and my sister Joy. 

I'm sharing FIVE of the blessings God brought my way...these are the top 5 that made me smile or say a special  prayer of thanksgiving. Won't you join us? head over to Susanne's site to learn how to link up. 

SoulSteps Hikers for 7 December
l-r: Dave, Dave D, Me, Courtney, Hannah, Pat, Maggie
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve 
photo compliments of Joan B

Erie Canal at Vischer Ferry Preserve
photo compliments of Maggie B 

Our destination...the old Lock on the Erie Canal.
This is where the canal ends. 
l-r: Pat, Joan, Dave D, Hannah, Dave, Courtney, Maggie

• LAST HIKE OF 2024: Last Saturday was cloudy but dry.  It was the afternoon of the last official SoulSteps hike for the year. I had 9 people originally signed up and we ended up with just 1 person bowing out due to a family medical issue. I was super thankful that my oldest daughter and husband signed up, giving our new members, Hannah and Dave D, someone they could relate to.  Hannah and Courtney are just a couple years apart and are already friends from church; Dave D is someone we have known for years who joined our church shortly after we did and when he discovered I have a hiking group, he joined. He's  also friends with my husband Dave (who rarely hikes but knowing another guy was going to go, spurred him to sign up!). I'm so thankful we had time and energy to hike on 3 inches of snow in a local nature preserve (some of the trail was just muddy or frozen grass) for 4.7 miles.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and everyone said they can't wait for March so we can get up to the mountains! 

Bruschetta Pizza and Orange Wine

Birthday cards and treats from family 

image from ballet website
The Snow Queen

image from ballet website
Kai and Gerda from The Snow Queen

• BIRTHDAY FUN:  My birthday fun began last Friday evening when my youngest daughter treated me to the Grand Kiev Ballet Company's performance of The Snow Queen (scroll down the page after clicking the link to read about it)down at this amazing theater I hadn't been to in a few years.  We had a marvelous time and the performance was spectacular. Then on Sunday, after  church, my husband and both daughters took me to a newish Italian place where we each ordered different  things and drinks and just enjoyed the fellowship and good food.  I had the Bruschetta Pizza and an Orange wine from California.  My oldest daughter bought a bacon, pesto and roasted red pepper pizza and Dave and my youngest bought the vegan roasted veggie ravioli with a glass of Chianti for Dave and Prosecco for Claire. Courtney stuck with Pellegrino.  We were so full we had no room for dessert and in fact, Courtney and I had leftover pizza for the next day. The girls both gave me beautiful cards with handwritten messages inside and my oldest bought me a pin painted/made by an artist on a website she discovered. Dave bought me Belkin screen protectors for my iphone which i sorely needed. I'm so thankful that although it was kind of shocking to be turning 65 on Monday, that the birthday celebrations brought me smiles and I thank God for my family. I also received 9 birthday cards from far away family and friends. I'm thankful for all the loved ones in my life. 

town park bike path
Tuesday 

Downy Woodpecker

• NATURE TIME:  This past week I had a couple of days out in nature. God's creation is marvelous and I really do enjoy it in all seasons. Tuesday I was running an errand and happened to have my sneakers on so popped over to the bike path to  walk on the path and into the woods a little bit.  There was some icy patches but for the most part I was able to do a good power walk and then a more leisurely one through the trees.  When I got home, I had to refill the bird feeder and spied this guy at our suet feeder in the pear tree. We also saw a hairy woodpecker this week although he was more timid and I couldn't snap a pic. We also get bluejays, cardinals, and nuthatches at both feeders. I'm thankful for time in  nature and for God the Creator of all this December  beauty. 

our home in the evening

a Christmas Display in the church cafe area

• CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS: I'm thankful for all of the beautiful Christmas displays I"ve seen in the neighborhood and at church and in the community.  It's a magical time of year and the pretty displays and lights really make the concept of the "Light of the world" come alive.  I'm hoping to get some more photos at church this weekend as the staff decorated a bit differently this year from previous years. And I'm thankful my oldest daughter was one of the people who helped to decorate the lobby! 

image courtesy of blu-r*y website

image courtesy of w*lm*rt website

• CHRISTMAS MOVIES:  This past week I had time to watch two Christmas movies. The first one pictured above was on Hulu and was so well done.  Not sappy like most of the modern day holiday movies and the gospel was even included in one scene with Jesus' name proclaimed which is very unusual for a secular holiday movie on a streaming service.  The 2nd one is one that is a traditional movie classic.  We started watching it as a family when our youngest daughter was about 4 yrs old. We have watched it every year since, usually on her birthday or mine. Yesterday, she had to pop in on her day off to pick up some packages that were shipped here and so she asked if we could put the movie on. I had nothing planned for the morning and didn't have to leave the house until about 1 pm.  So we watched it together while she did laundry here and it was so much fun to have the morning with her.  I'm thankful for good quality movies.

That wraps up some special blessings from the past week.  As we head into the week before Christmas, I hope you all take time to spend reflecting on the varsious aspects of Advent and keep worshipful eyes on Christ...our real reason for the season.