February Faves

It's February.....this winter seems like it's dragging at times but at other times, like this past week, it seems to be moving fairly fast. Either way, I'm happy that we are only about 6 weeks away from the start of Spring. 

I'm also happy to have had some good things in the week. Blessings from God. I'm sharing five of the ones that make my "faves" list. Head over to Susanne's blog to learn how to join in!

image courtesy of product site

• RESULTS! I chose to do this test vs the standard diagnostic one for my 2nd screening (my first one was 11 yrs ago).My new primary doc ordered this for me since I'm considered low risk for colon cancer based on family history and diet. I was thrilled to find out this past week that my results were negative. Thank You, God!

 

• IN HOME DATE NIGHT:  Dave and I have established that most Friday nights are going to be at home date nights in the winter and early spring months. This past Friday night was no exception but instead of ordering out, I made a slow cooker bison stew with bison tips, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, onions, summer squash, zucchini and onion soup mix as the "broth". We also had some leftover mashed potatoes to use up so we put that on the side. It was so very good and perfect for a cold winter night's dinner. We ate it picnic style in the family room and chose the movie pictured above which was on Netflix. I highly recommend this movie....it's perfect for about ages 10 and up. It's so well done even though it's a bit sad.  But it's just one of those all time "feel good" family friendly movies. Based on a true story and they show the real people at the end. I highly recommend it. I'm thankful we had a nice night in and afterwards we talked and read books together. It was the kind of evening that reminded me of our newlywed days. 

image courtesy of RWU

• UNIVERSITY ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT!  I was totally shocked when I received an email from the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at the undergrad college I went to for 4 years out in Rochester, NY. She was writing to say congratulations for being chosen by the Marketing Team for the University to be one of the "Redhawks Who Soar" alum being featured in their digital magazine.  I had no idea!  I was featured as having been recently retired from a full time career of Teaching Special Education Prek. They had my photo (now I know why they requested a photo a few months ago!) and my year of graduation (1982) and my major (Music Education). I was featured along with 16 other alumni.  I'm thankful for this fun surprise and a connection to my alma mater. 

• QUIET EVENINGS:  This past week I only had one obligation in the evenings: a "Welcome to small group" intro night for the new members of my book study.  Other than Tuesday evening, I was able to catch up on my Wednesday class homework and just spend the evenings talking with Dave or reading library books. 

my current fave

a great find!

• SALES:  This week I've been enjoying my current favorite tea after boiling water in my new tea kettle.  I found it at a greatly reduced price at this place.  It's one of my fave places to shop for home decor and kitchen items. I'm thankful for the cozy warmth of a steaming mug of herbal tea in the evenings and for good sales!  My former teapot was not performing well.....it no longer whistled and it was getting worn looking. I love the look of this new one!  Copper kettles....a fave! 

Those are five things that made me smile and say "Thanks, God".

A couple other mentions:

Texts and phone calls from both daughters this week

an email from my sister

Safe travels for my husband during Thursday morning's snow squall

great discussion with the other 7 ladies I sit with at the class I take on Wednesday mornings after the teaching by our table host. It was on the Incomprehensibility of God and was SO good. Each week a different table host (there are 7 tables)  does a teaching on whatever chapter we were supposed to read that week. We have a time of worship, brunch foods, teaching and the discussion followed by prayer. I'm so very thankful I get to be in this class!

It's good to find things to be thankful for. 

HAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!