Friday, July 26, 2013

Friday's Fave Five #243


Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  It's been a bit of a busy week with lots of things on my to-do list but that is the perfect reason to stop and take a breathe and think back over the week to look for some blessings.  Those to-do lists may help me accomplish tasks but they can also make it so that I don't slow down to notice the blessings in my life and they go right on by me without me hardly acknowledging them.  I'm ready to take a look for this past week's.  Take a pause with me and join in.  If you need the guidelines please check them here.


1.  Amazing post on taking the time to live in the moment.  How many times have I been guilty of the "hurry up" syndrome this author talks about.  Even though my kids are now grown, the principle of living in the moment is still one to be adopted and put into practice.  Found via Becoming Minimalist.

2.  Cheery news. With all the bad news coming on the news programs and the papers it's always fun to get a cheery report.  Today's made me smile.   Somebody in Calgary walked into a Tim Horton's coffee shop and paid for the next 500 cups of coffee, just to lift people's spirits after all the stress of the flooding.  This totals to about $900.00!  There has now been 4 Tim Horton's in Canada that this has happened at in a week; 3 in Alberta and 1 in Ontario.  Love it!  I think stuff like this is so fun.  I've been in the drive thru at a local Tim's when I pulled up to the window and had been told that my order had been paid for by the car in front of me. This is now not all that unusual here in Alberta.  Sometimes the "pass on" has lasted an hour or two at a time during morning rush times.  We're a generous sort.   How fun it is to be the recipient of that and how much more fun to pass it on to the car behind.  It's brings an even greater feeling to do it spontaneously and be the first to start the fun.  So to hear that it had gone to an even bigger level by a few kind souls who wanted to remain anonymous, made me smile.  And in turn a lot of those people who were the recipients of the free coffees, redonated the money they would have spent on the coffee to the kid's camp donation jars that are on every Tim's counter.

Updated:  Another Tim's in Calgary has had a donation of 500 cups paid for.  That's now 4 in Alberta, 5 Canada wide. Love, love, love it.  Love when, instead of "copycat" crimes, we have copycat kindness and copycat generosity!  May it keep going!

3.  Cooler evenings.  Though we've had some crazy storms and weather, one good thing that comes with it is the cooler evenings off-setting the hot days.  It's nice to not have to run the air conditioner and to open up the windows and let in that cool, fresh air.

4.  Walks in the park.   A couple of evenings this week, right after supper, instead of sitting on the couch, hubby and I have taken the dog for a walk around the lake.  Even though we are tired by that point in the day and the couch really calls our names, we forced ourselves out that door.  Once there it was lovely and I was so glad we did it.  I'm trying to make it into a habit to get out the door before I let my rear hit that living room chair at least 3 times a week. The other 3 times I go to the gym.   Jerralea is inspiring me to get consistent.

5.  London Calling Candle from Bath and Body Works.  Tea with lemon.  In a candle.  So good.  I have mine on the coffee table and even not burning it throws the odd whiff of tea and lemon.  I almost expect the queen to be sitting across from me sipping from a dainty cup.  Not really but I Love this candle.


What were some of your blessings this week?






17 comments:

Willow said...

Great week you've had! Hurray for all those walks. Keep it up!

What an awesome and encouraging thing to do to bless those people with something as simple as a cup of coffee.

Becoming Minimalist of one of my fave blogs. I've met the writer in person and he's genuine and personable.

Have a happy weekend--more walks!

nikkipolani said...

That Tim Horton's news is cheery indeed. A cheerful giver brings cheer in so many ways.

Your weather has been really crazy! So glad the cooler evening temps are welcome. Maybe cool enough to enjoy that fun candle!

Gattina said...

You had a nicely filled in week ! I am on holidays in the UK at the sea.

LivingforGod said...

I love the idea of giving anonymously to bless others/paying it forward. Very fun, indeed :)! Hooray for cooler evenings (same here in Oregon)!

Have a blessed weekend in the Lord!

Paula said...

I'm glad that you had a reprieve from the bad weather and were able to get out and about. I've not been good about exercising lately. Ugh.

How nice of the person who treated all those people to coffee! I wish I were wealthy enough to do something big like that, but then again I think even just doing it for one person with the right motive means just as much.

Enjoy your weekend!

Hazel said...

People who give anonymously always amaze me. Fresh air and not having to pay for AC is double blessing. Ah the Body and Bath Works candle is just lovely! It's the smell that you described that makes me want to check it out. Tomorrow maybe.

Faith said...

Oh that is just beautiful about the person who paid for all that coffee!! how amazing! i love stories like that!! I love the fresher, cooler air we have had all week here in NYS. that high humidity and hot temps of 98F were just too much for me! I've been walking every day so far this week and it feels great. Even my hubby is working out now before coming home to dinner. Keep it up Susanne!! Enjoy that candle this weekend..looks pretty!

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

What a fantastic thing to do--giving anonymously to brighten others' days!
A tea scented candle? Interesting!

Barbara H. said...

Good for you on the walks! I'm needing to get started walking, or something physical.

What a lovely thing to do with the free coffees! I never think of things like that, but a "little" blessing can go such a long way to lift spirit.

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Oh, I LOVE that post! I've read her things before and always love them. And I think you're right about exercising before you ever hit the couch in the evening.

That candle sounds just lovely. I am looking for that one. And I love the story of someone paying it forward at Tim Horton's. In the darkest of times, there's always a bit of light, I'm convinced. Have a great week ahead.

Heather said...

I will have to read that post. That was my goal last year, to stop living for a moment and live in the moment.

How kind of the person that pays it forward. I need to do that one day. I haven't ever had that done to me before.

The candle sounds like it smells good! I love candles. I keep one burning in the living room and bathroom when we are home.

Karen said...

I just checked out Becoming Minimalist and loved the post about clutter. It makes so much sense.

The guy in the coffee shop made me smile. I love hearing stories like that.

Kudos to you for walking in the evening! Typically I don't watch much television in the evening, but I've become a real couch potato of late, catching up on reruns of 'The Mentalist.'

Have a great weekend, Susanne!

Snowbird said...

Oh....the copycat kindness has me smiling away! What an amazing thing to happen, how lovely it would be if it could spread here!

Living in the moment is something we often forget to do so thanks for the reminder.

I'm glad you're enjoying lovely evening walks, you do feel better for it don't you.xxxx

Jerralea said...

Copycat kindness! I love it!

Good job on being more consistent on walking. It is rough until you get into that habit. Thanks for the link! Who would have thought that I could inspire anyone with a physical goal, LOL.

I'm glad you're having cooler temps now like we are. We should enjoy while we have the opportunity.

Faith said...

You probably don't have my new email address. It is faithe(dot)turner724(at)gmail(dot)com. The book is the one about getting stranded...set in Utah I think? I can't remember the title!! But am waiting for the library to tell me they have it!

ellen b. said...

That is fabulous news about all the giving at Tim Horton's! Love it.
Maybe I should splurge on a London's calling candle...

nikkipolani said...

Just finished reading that post about not hurrying. Beautiful and so poignant. Thanks for that link.