LAST of MARCH FAVES

 

I can't even  wrap my head around the fact that today is the last Friday of March!  This month positively flew for me! It was definitely a busier month than February. 

I'm looking at the past week and sharing FIVE of my FAVE blessings from the week and linking up with Susanne, our host. It's good to look back and see things we are thankful for. 

trail at Fox Preserve
Albany County, NY

SoulSteps Beginner Hike: 
 Me, Suzanne, Charonda, Anita
(photo used with permission and compliments of Courtney) 

• BEGINNER HIKE  Last Saturday, since I'm the leader of SoulSteps, the hiking group I formed for adults over the age of 21, I had to lead a beginner hike as I have 5 new members who have never hiked before!  Two of them are shown in the photo (Suzanne and Charonda).  They did great!  My oldest daughter Courtney and our family friend Anita wanted to know if they could also tag along and I said of course. (they are both SoulSteps members too). I took them to a local nature preserve that has a little bit of everything except a rock  scramble and a mountain summit. There's a narrow board walk to single file walk on through the mud, an incline, a meadow, a deep woods trail, and a stream. And mud. Lots of mud.  I'm thankful the new beginners enjoyed it and want to stay in the group!  I'm thankful I could have a couple people with more experience along, as well so they could describe the types of hikes they generally sign up for. 

image courtesy of Am*zon

• PIZZA AND MOVIE NIGHT:  Our oldest daughter invited Dave and I over to her apartment for pizza and the movie Wicked which she rented from whatever streaming service it was available on. We are all about the Wizard of Oz in this house and Dave and I hadn't seen the movie yet. We loved it!  I wasn't too impressed with the singing other than with Cynthia's voice (Wicked Witch of the West) and the woman who played her sister had a beautiful tone. But the dancing, in our opinion, really made the movie. WHomever the choreographer was did a superb job.  We're thankful Courtney invited us over to share the movie and we look forward to Part 2 coming out later this year. 

 photo courtesy of Taste of H*me website

• FAMILY DINNER!  We finally had both girls over for Sunday dinner at the same time!  We hadn't gotten together..all four of us...since Christmas Day!!  I made a huge pasta salad, vegan chicken for my self and youngest girl and regular grilled chicken for Dave and oldest girl. They love steamed french green beans so I had a dish of those as well along with dinner rolls.  We followed it up with glasses of wine and Girl Scout cookies from a young girl in our church whose mom used to be one of our youngest daughter's youth group volunteers. It made me so thankful to God for having the entire family under one roof, enjoying good food and wine and just fellowshipping together. We sat at the table for 2 hours!!  I'm so thankful both girls were free!

image courtesy of CBS news Alb*ny

• SAFE!!  Our oldest daughter lives about 3 miles from us in an apartment complex and her best friend Nathaniel, whom she met at Gordon College, also lives in a building there. His building is the first one into the complex.  He also has a young roommate..a girl...who rents out his 2nd bedroom. Nate was at work when he got the call from roommate K that the building was on fire and everyone (12 apts) had to vacate.  K went to my oldest daughter's apt as my oldest daughter drove home from work to finish her workday at home.  She hosted K for 2 nights and then K went via the Red Cross to a local motel.  We (Dave and I) are hosting Nate until he can find out where the complex is going to move everyone.  It might end up being a month before they can get into a new unit!  The thing I'm thankful for is that everyone got out safely.....and that we are available with our guest room to host Nathaniel. I've been taking him to work as he has no car right now, and Dave picks him up.   If you think of it, please do pray that he can get a new unit ASAP and that his computer equipment isn't too damaged by the water. We've donated some clothing items to him. The police are saying the building will most likely be determined "Condemned".  (to the right of the flames in the photo taken by the news crew, is Nate's bedroom window!). I'm also thankful the fire was quickly contained although it caused major damage and that my own daughter's building was safe. 

• GOOD THERAPY:  I'm thankful for a good chiropractor who did some good therapy on my back this week.  She was a bit concerned regarding the sciatica going into both legs so put me through some strength and walking tests. I passed them all so she said it most likely is coming from either the pinched nerve in the lumbar/disc issues I have there or more concerning is coming from the cord compression in my lower  cervical spine. Either way, she provided a bit of relief for me and will use another therapy on me next week that involves gently stretching the spine to hopefully open up space for the vertebrae. I'm thankful that our health insurance covers these visits as I'm now back to going weekly. Of course I'm praying for complete healing before our vacation in May. 

That wraps up the week!

Happy Weekend, everyone!