Friday's Fave Five #140

Hi everybody.  It's been a very grey, very rainy week here in my part of Canada.  I needed some color and perking up so a new banner with cheery colors fit the bill.  Feel free to use it if you like it.  Now it's time to look back over our weeks and find those things in our lives that were a blessing to us, big or small.

1.  A short week.  With it being rainy and cold all week I'm really glad this was a short week with the dayhome kids.  A week without getting out and running around in the fresh air makes for a very antsy group that tends to start misbehaving just from being cooped up.  Monday was Victoria Day here in Canada so that meant dayhome was closed leaving only four days to plan and try to amuse up to 6 pre-schoolers.  Hopefully next week we'll be back to getting outside everyday.

2.  Extra reading and lazing around time.  One a good note, the rain on the long weekend saw all my yard work being  put on hold.  Which meant I could just be plain lazy and sit with a good book and my coffee and read to my heart's content.  I enjoyed every. minute. of. it!  I'm down to my last book of the Spring into Reading challenge and it's a big one, 493 pages (it's the big fat Fannie Flag book on the bottom left of the picture) so it's good I have the extra time now to get it read before the first day of summer when the challenge is done.

 3.  Bedding out plants purchased on the holiday Monday and for the most part paid for with Canadian Tire money.  I know I've mentioned my love of the CT money before, but for those who don't know, CT money is "store money" you get when you purchase anything including gas at Canadian Tire stores.  It adds up pretty quickly and each year my hubby is gracious enough to share his dollars with me so that I can get flowers.  So this year I'd say about half or more of my bedding out plants and a big bag of potting soil were free.  I love free!  Free is good!

4.   More purging of stuff.  Not sure why this keeps making my list this spring but I seriously am getting giddy with getting rid of stuff.  I've gotten tough with myself and this week my beloved book shelf got hit up.  And believe it or not , I purged about 10 books out of there.  If you know me at all, you know my letting go of books is a miracle.  LOL.   Now there is some nice space on the shelves and the books actually get to lean a bit instead of being jam packed in there.  Looks and feels good.  Next up was the linens for the spare bedroom.  With this post encouraging me on, I got rid of two sets of bedding I really don't need or use.  Now I can actually easily close the dresser drawers instead of fighting with them.

5.  Movie night out with Hubby and Younger Daughter.  We so rarely go, I always really enjoy when we do go to a movie at a theater.  It was the discount theater but it was still fun to see the movie on the big screen.  We went to "Soul Surfer" and all of us really enjoyed it.  Hubby is not a sports oriented movie type of person but he loved the story in this one.   And no one makes popcorn like the theater.







What were your favorite things from your week?  Were you able to find how God was bringing you blessings by purposefully looking for them?  If you've done a post please link up and join us!

Book Review ~ Secrets

I cannot believe I only have one book left to finish on my Spring into Reading list.  This last weekend being very wet and rainy allowed lots of time for reading and I finished #10  out of my pile.

"Secrets" by Robin Jones Gunn  is book 1 in the Glenbrooke Series.   Jessica Morgan arrives in Glenbrooke, a small town to start her life over as a teacher in the high school.  But not only does she want to start fresh but she wants to run away from her old life and forget about it. Changing her identity had seemed like such a good idea but things start to catch up with her as she starts having to cover her tracks.  It seemed so simple when she didn't know the people of Glenbrooke, but as she gets to know them, she finds it harder and harder to be decietful especially when she catches the eye of the local paramedic who has secrets of his own.

This is my first book by this author and in most respects I really enjoyed it.  It was an easy read romance that was clean and heart warming.  The "secrets" intrigued me but when revealed weren't as huge as it was built up to be.  This was the author's first adult novel as she usually writes for a teen audience and in a few details I could sort of tell that, especially in the last sentence that ended the story.  The character of the new principle really mystified me as I felt her negative reactions to the main character, a new teacher in her school, very over the top and vicious.  I couldn't quite believe a new principle would be that unprofessional as laid out in the story and would direct vendettas at a member of their staff almost immediately upon meeting them when in my experience principles try very hard to build unity in their staff.  I thought her actions very immature, quite high school-ish,  and unworthy of her position.  Some of the reactions of the main character also surprised me considering her age was 25 in the story.  That said it was a good story line and a sweet romance.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

It's been raining, raining and raining here.  There were big plans afoot to go buy my flowers this weekend, trim my cedar bushes and at least dig up my flower beds in prep to plant my flowers.  But the weather had other plans.  I still was able to go however, and spend way too much money, once again, on bedding out plants.  Funny how rain does not get in the way of money flying out of pocket.  I go with such good intentions of keeping it minimal and then I get in there and see all the loveliness and before I know it, the cart is full and the register is ringing.  And I'm still fighting with myself not to go back to Costco and get a certain pot that I've had my eye on. Sigh.  For someone who doesn't have a green thumb at all, it's really quite pathetic.

The flip side of all the rain is that there was lots of reading and coffee time.  Which I will never turn down.  I was looking forward to getting all caught up on blog reading and visiting.  I was however, shut down.  Locked out.  Blogger's back is turned to me.  I cannot comment for the third day now.  Is anyone else having this issue or am I the only one who's being shunned?  Sigh, it's like being back in high school.

Friday's Fave Five #139

Welcome to Fave Fives.  Are you all ready to look over the week and find five things from your week?  Yes?  Okay, let's get rolling.

1.  Finding a book that I was wanting as a "keeper" for $3  at the library for sale.  Love it when that happens.

2.  Celebrations such as my Dad's 80th birthday last Saturday.  It wasn't a long, drawn out affair but a really nice morning coffee surprise.

3.  An unnoticed deal.  A week after buying a shower curtain and matching hooks I dug the receipt out of the bag and lo and behold it was on sale.  Whoo Hoo.  That makes them even nicer.  :v)

4.  After the rain smells.  How I love the scents that the rain brings out in the spring time.  It's like all the dust and dirt is washed away and the smell of the new grass and earth and buds is given license to just freely waft.  I could stand outside drawing in big breaths all morning when it's like that.

5.  Last but definitely not least, my youngest girl being on the mend.  After a horrendous weekend and beginning of the week with a huge infection of the skin deep inside her ears, 3 doctor visits, 2 specialist visits, 3 different eardrops, 2 different anti-biotics, a boatload of tears, a missed orchestra concert, 3 and 1/2 days off school and enough Tylenol 3's to knock out a baby elephant, she is finally starting to feel better. Whew.  That was a rough one.  It's not easy watching your child in that much pain.  I'm so glad she is feeling better.  Q-tips are now banned from within her reach.

What were your favorites this week?  Take a pause in your busy day and reflect back to your blessings.  Join us as we post on them and then sign on to Mr. Linky!  If you need more info it's here.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Monday Mish Mash showing up late on Tuesday

I cannot believe it is the middle of May already!  What happened to April?   And for that matter January, February and March?  This half of the year seems to have just whooshed by and it doesn't show any signs of slowing the pace.

We've had another busy weekend.  My Dad turned 80 years old on Saturday.  I can hardly believe it.  My mind does not compute that he is 80.

We threw him a surprise coffee party in his condo building and he seriously had no clue and was totally shocked.  Which totally cracked us up because there were so many clues that something was not quite normal,  not the least of which was me showing up out of the blue at 9 in the a.m. insisting to play pool.  In everyday life this would NEVER happen.  Not the playing pool thing, but the 9 a.m. thing.

No matter how early, it was fun and a nice surprise for my Dad.  BTW, don't you just love the "1960's" editing on the pic.  Funny how I hated it way back then but love it now for certain pictures.

My youngest would have had her end of year orchestra concert on Saturday too, except she ended up having to pass as she was pretty ill.  She went to the practice but just couldn't handle it.  She has now missed 3 days of school which is really scary because her school is on the quarter system rather than the semester system.  Which basically means missing one day is like missing three.  She'll have a lot of catching up to do.  Another doctor appointment Monday night, another doctor appointment today and we walked out with a referrel to an ear specialist.  Also today.

Not much fun that ear specialist.  After a pretty painful visit we walked out with yet another prescription, our fifth in as many days and another appointment for Thursday.  Can I say I am tired. I can't imagine how this poor kid feels especially with this being Day four of regular doses of Tylenol 3.   I just want to do what this guy is doing.  As I'm sure she does.

Book Tour ~ To Be Perfectly Honest

"To Be Perfectly Honest - One Man's Year of (almost) Living Truthfully Could Change Your Life.  No Lie" by Phil Callaway

Phil Callaway is a humorist who was challenged by his publisher to not lie for a year and then write a book about it.  Though not thrilled at first, he accepted the daunting challenge.   This is the written culmination of his year, the good, the bad and the ugly.  Sometimes funny, sometimes eye opening, and at times daunting, Phil writes the book in the form of a daily journal.  Catching himself in little white lies, experiencing successes at full truth, then at times struggling to be totally honest and fielding questions from all sorts of people out of his past that want to know the truth about past situations, we are taken on the author's  journey of always telling the truth.  Each chapter ends with an "honest confession" by the author where he gets really real with himself and his readers.

Not only is this book laugh out loud funny, but I also found myself being challenged to take a look at my own ways of telling "untruths",  even to myself.  I really liked how he wrote an honest, vulnerable summary at the end of each chapter and how easy the format of the book was to read.  A fun read with a serious element that will have the reader laughing out loud even while asking themselves if they could take on such a challenge and how one's life would be changed if total honesty were the only option.

Thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah for providing this book for review and my honest opinion.  All opinions are my own.

Friday's Fave Five #138

Well it looks like Blogger is finally up and running.  Whew.  That had me stressed right out last night.  LOL.  For once I am happy to honestly say "It wasn't my fault FFF was not up on time".  :v)

I know it's already going on to supper hour for some of you but I'm going to put up Mr. Linky anyway in case any of you want to linger over a cup of coffee this evening or on the weekend reading the Fives.

1.  Cards that make me cry.  My daughter and my hubby both got me cards for Mother's Day that touched my heart.  Hubby's was beautiful with a hummingbird approaching a gorgeous flower.  The bird and flower were embroidered.  It was beautiful.  And the words in my older daughter's card just made me want to cry it was so touching.  I love cards.  They sometimes say perfectly those things that we find hard putting into words.

2.  A beautiful day for Mother's Day.  It was really nice outside on Sunday.  So after a huge lunch which hubby went and bought, I enjoyed a nice walk with my sister.  Haven't done that in forever with her and it made the day extra special just having that time.

3.  Perfect gifts.  Instead of flowers this year, my kids opted to get me Flashpoint season 2.  They know I love this show and didn't have this season yet so it was perfect.  Thanks again guys.

4.  Happy Hour at Starbucks!  All this week, we found out quite by accident when we went to pay, that between 3 and 5 pm until May 15th, Starbucks Frappuccinos are on for half price!  Whoo.  And just for your info, the toasted coconut mocha frapp is as delicious as it looks!

5.  New website for my library.  Love it.  It now shows pics of the books and I can put things on my "bookshelf" labeled as in progress, completed or for later.  They have reviews and ratings.  Now I don't even have to leave home to get lost in the library.

Have a great weekend everyone.  Jump on in even though it might be late or not even Friday anymore.  It's never to late to remember our blessings!

Decisions, Decisions

I need to make a decision that will change the world.  Well, my world at least.  Is anybody else out there a horrible decision maker when it comes to something as simple as a shower curtain in your home?  Seriously, what is wrong with me?  We're repainting the bathroom and have put in a new counter top and do you think I can make up my mind about a shower curtain.  Hubby is ready to roll, as in the paint, and I have yet to decide.  Although the walls will be a neutral color, the trouble, I think may be in the fact that I want to go a total different color with the accessories, from my usual neutrals and greens

 to browns and blues.

 I think I'm afraid to take the plunge of change.  Maybe it's the fact that a decent shower curtain nowadays runs a pretty penny and if I change color that means I'll have to splurge for new towels too. But I love a new fluffy towel. But what if I decide that what I had is what I like better?  But what I had is probably at least 10 years old.  See how I drive myself nuts?  Lots of "buts" in there. Where is my oldest when I need her.  She makes up her mind within a second and rarely, if ever, rethinks her decision.  I need some of that to rub off on me.

 Sigh.  I create such dilemma for myself.. Such a silly little thing that causes such waffling and second guessing, yet I'm good with making the bigger decisions of life.  What is up with that?   I must not have enough drama in my life.  Or something.

Friday's Fave Five #137

** Edited to add Mr. Linky.  Sorry everyone.  I've added you early risers as I could so please check to make sure you are not already on the linky if you've come back a second time.**
Hi to everyone and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  We're taking a moment to pause and think back over our week and find those things that were blessings to us.  Please join us.  If you need details you can go here first.

Of special note, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who gave me such kind words last week.  They really helped carry me through.

1.  Friends and family who are there for you when you need them, even when it interrupts their lives.  What a blessing those friends were during the last coupld of weeks and I'll never forget their love and support.

2. The chance for my oldest to see her Grandmother before she passed away.  K. had not seen her grandma since Christmas, before the stroke.  God granted her the chance to spend some time with her before she passed.


3.  Doing the funeral ourselves allowed us to do what we felt in our hearts would really honor my hubby's Mom and please her had she a say in it.  Yes, it was extra work but everything was done with how we thought she would have wanted it and that felt good.


4.  Safe travels for my girl.  I'm always so thankful when she makes it home safe and then back again to the city she lives in without incident.

5.  My son being passing exams and interviews to be accepted into the second year of the Paramedic course  (EMT).  Twenty four interviewed and twelve got accepted so we are very proud of him.

What were your favorites from this last week?  Share it with us in a post and then log on to Mr. Linky.  Please remember that the Linky is for those participating in this weeks Fave Five.  Have a great weekend everyone!  

Routine Is a Good Thing

We are getting back to some semblance of routine around here.  Whatever that is in this household. It's been a trying four months for my family, but we know the Lord was with us through it all.  He was there at the hospital, He was there through the tests, He was there through the uncertainty.  He was there in the victories and He was there shoring up our faith when we felt like faltering.  Stroke is a vicious hard thing.  It is hard to watch a lovely, active woman not be able to talk, walk or swallow and not return to her former life.  It is hard to watch a secondary stroke 31/2 months later take whatever progress there had been.  And it is hard to let a beloved mother and grandmother go, even though we knew God was calling her home.  But thanks to the miracle of the cross and the resurrection we know she is with the Lord and that we will see her again.  What a blessed hope believers in the Gospel have.  That is surely "Good News", which is what the word gospel means.

So life has slowly been chugging along.  I can't believe I haven't blogged with any semblance of consistency and haven't been on here for so long. I guess I'm actually not one  that can write out all my thoughts, emotions and private happenings so freely.   And you know what?  My mind still seems like mush.  Like I have nothing to say.  And if I do, stringing the sentences together seems an impossible task. It's like I'm slowly dipping my toes back into the regular blogging waters, not sure of the temperature.   But I know once I get back into it, it will come.  So I'm very excited to get back to Friday's Fave Five tomorrow.  I'm so glad that I have been practicing that exercise for the last couple of years.  So see you all tomorrow.