Friday's Fave Five #821

Hi everyone and Happy Friday.  Last night when I usually write this post, I was fighting off a horrible headache which made just being on the computer difficult.  So I cried uncle and gave up for the evening.  Seeing as this post goes up at 12 a.m. Friday morning and you Easterners will be ahead of me, I'll have to join in when I can on Friday morning.  But you guys go ahead and get started.  See you soon.

UPDATED:

Hi again.  I'm back and feeling much better this morning.  We had a horrible wind yesterday and I woke up with that brain fog kind of headache that comes with air pressure changing, big temperature change type of wind we get around here.  And sure enough we had a huge drop in temperature and some snow overnight.  But back to our purpose of being here.  I'm ready to ponder and be thankful for the blessings of the last week.

~ steal of a deal ~ My down puffer jacket somehow got some stains on it that I have tried since last season to remove and though it did fade it didn't totally disappear so I've been on the hunt for another one.  Missed out on them from C*stco in the fall because I just wasn't thinking of it then so have been keeping my eye out.  I found an LLBean one at Winners (Canada's TJMaxx) for 1/4 of the price that they were on the website.   Just because it was last year's color.  And bonus my hubby had given me a gift card for the store for Christmas.  I love the thrill of a great deal on a quality item.  

~ supportive work help ~ there was an issue that arose with work and I was so thankful for supportive help from the agency.  It's nice to know that when help is need it is available and respectful and understanding.  The ladies who run the agency I'm contracted with have been in the business for many, many years and have all that wisdom that comes with experience and are so helpful with all the ins and outs of dealing with gov't and policies and parents and providers.  So thankful for them.  

~ checking in texts from my daughter ~ my sweet youngest daughter has been checking in with me regularly just to make sure I'm doing ok.  Sometimes the hardest days after a parent passes are when the busyness of everything is over and things get quieter.  It's so thoughtful of her to be thinking of me in the midst of her own grief.  

~ back to a semblance of routine ~ while I love the holidays and everything that goes with it this last December was a tough one with all routine and normal everyday thrown out the window for the whole month.  This last has been one of getting back to a more normal everyday routine and rhythm.  And it is doing my physical and mental state a whole lot of good.

~ grace from my sweet hair stylist ~ I always book a few months ahead with my stylist because I can only go Saturdays and she fills up fast on that day of the week.  At my last appointment, I had booked for this month, but in all the chaos of what was going on, I neglected to put it in my phone calendar.  And I also somehow unsubscribed from the reminder service.  So Saturday I'm sitting around, having slept in for the first time in weeks thinking I was going to do a whole lot of nothing on Saturday morning when I got a text from her asking if I was just running late or if I had forgotten.  Yikes.  Good thing the salon is like literally 2 minutes away.  I've never thrown clothes on so fast.  I still ended up being 20 minutes late but she was so graceful about it knowing everything that had been going on.  She didn't make rebook but took me at the time I arrived.  So thankful for her.  

I am so thankful to God for the everyday small graces that all add up to make wonderful days.  They may not be perfect days but the grace and touch of God to get us through even the hardest of times is there if we are but open to see them.  My prayer is that in the coming year our eyes and hearts are even more open to see the touch of God in our ordinary everydays.  Thanks for sticking with me through not only the past month but, for some of you, through the many years of Friday's Fave Five!  

Friday's Fave Five #820

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Welcome to Friday's Fave Five. We're intentionally looking for our blessings in our every day lives, whether big or small. Whether it's been a good week or a difficult week. Looking for those moments God has sent us good things to lift us up. Won't you join us?

~ crockpot meals ~ Sunday was the first Sunday back to church for me since my Mom went into hospital at the beginning of December.  It was a hectic morning trying to get back into Sunday routine.  Days like this I'm so thankful for my hard working crockpot who cooked us up a fine meal of bbq pork chops while we were away at church.  In the winter months my crockpot gets a good workout as it's used quite frequently because it's such an easy way to have a great meal ready at the end of a long day.  Basically just toss, season and go.

~ tea ~ I always know when I'm coming down with something is when this coffee loving gal turns her nose up at coffee and seeks out the tea cupboard, even in the morning.  Such was the case this week as the weekend's "feeling off" turned into a winter cold.  There is something so soothing and healing about a hot cup of tea when one isn't feeling well.  I've got a good stash of them, both herbal and black teas, so I just went with whatever my body was craving at the moment.

~ organization ~ I have had a to-do list of getting certain areas of the house organized and cleaned up, but it has been on the back burner for so long.  Finally this week I took the plunge and got started.  Though it was tough going at first the longer I spent at it the more motivated I became.  It felt so good to finally be dealing with all the chaos.  By the weekend hopefully I'll have made a good dent in the dayhome storage room which has blown up with all sorts of stuff that has nothing to do with dayhome.  

~ cozy lounging outfit ~ my friend gifted me a cozy outfit to lounge around in for my birthday.  I don't usually have separate clothes to lounge around in but this comfy outfit now has me questioning why not?!  It's so soft and warm and comfortable.  Perfect pairing with a good book.

~ sunshine and fresh air ~ December was a month where I was not able to get out much so it was a pleasure to be able to get out into the sunshine on a beautiful day yesterday.  What a blessing the crisp air was with the warmth of the sun.  So thankful for those moments.

What were your favorite blessings this week?

Friday's Fave Five #819

Happy New Year!  Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  It's a fresh new year, one of many great possibilities and blessings to be thankful for.  I feel like I have been away forever and I am still getting confused as to what day it is.  December of 2024 was one of the hardest months of my life ever but still there is much to be grateful to God for.  One day I may be able to put it into a post but for today I will stick to the theme and share 5 blessings from my last week.

~ quiet New Year's ~ I am no longer a big New Year's Eve partier, preferring to just spend it with family or really just at home.  Driving home after midnight in the cold while tired no longer appeals to me as fun.  LOL.  I spent it a home this year drinking hot chocolate in my new birthday jammies reading my book and watching movies.  It was blessedly peaceful and quiet.  

~ birthday blessings ~ my birthday was last week and I was so spoiled.  A lovely dinner out treated by my son at one of my favorite restaurants topped it off.   I decided to go bold and change up what I usually get and try something different and I wasn't disappointed.  Phone calls from my girls and some very thoughtful gifts from them and my hubby left me feeling very spoiled and was a truly blessed way to wrap up the hard month.

~ meal train ~ a lady from my bible study group organized a "meal train" for me after Mom passed away.  At first I was going to say no but decided it might help with everything that needed to be done.  It was extra busy as not only did we have to deal with service preparations but Christmas and getting all Mom's things moved out of the supportive living facility because it was the end of the month.  What a blessing it turned out to be!  There was so many things to think about and do it was nice not having to also have to think what on earth to make to eat for supper after a busy day dealing with every thing must do when a family member passes away.  

~ dayhome "reunion" ~ while shopping with my daughter she texted me from another part of the store telling me a certain mother and son were in the beauty section talking to her.  I knew who they were right away and went right over to say hi.  They were a little boy and mom who used to come to my dayhome.  Except he was no longer the little kindergartener who used to arrive and sleep on my couch so early in the morning.  He was a full grown young man.  And what a personable young man he turned out to be.  It was so fun getting caught up with them and where life had taken him.  What a blessing to see the fine young man he has turned out to be.

~ house back to normal ~ I love Christmas and all the fun and festive decor that comes with it but I'm always glad on January 1st to get my house back to normal.  It almost gives "breathing" room to get all the decor packed away.

What were your favorite blessings from the week?

Friday's Fave Five #818

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  Once again I will be putting up Mr. Linky for you all.  Mom's Celebration of Life and interment is today.  My heart is just too full of all that we must face today.  Please go ahead and join in.  Thank you so much for sticking with me through this difficult month and we'll be back to regular scheduled programming in the New Year.  And in the words of my Mom:  "I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year.  God Bless You!"

Friday's Fave Five #817

Hi everyone.  My sweet Mom has passed into the arms of Jesus.  And while I am heart broken that on this earth I will not get to hug her again and will miss her greatly, I rejoice knowing that because of Jesus I will see her again.  It was not a forever goodbye.  So once again I am putting Mr. Linky here for you all and will not be joining due to time constraints of not only Christmas but now planning a funeral in the middle of it all.  I have lots to be grateful for even in the midst of the pain but not the time to do up posts.  But please go ahead and leave your FFF link in the Mr. Linky.  I wish you and your families all a very Merry Christmas.  Love on them an extra bit and hug them tight.

I'll leave you with my favorite Christmas song this year, the one has been on repeat for me as we've gone through the last couple of weeks.  It's from a powerful and beautiful Christmas concert you can watch the whole of here:  The Birth of a King: Live in Concert.  But meanwhile here is Noel.  

Friday's Fave Five #816

Hi everyone!  Welcome again to Friday's Fave Five.  Once again I will be leaving Mr. Linky for you and I will not be able to join in.  Thank you for your continued prayers for my family as we face saying goodbye on this side of heaven to my precious Mom.

Friday's Fave Five #815

Hello and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  I am putting Mr. Linky up for you all.  My Mom is in hospital and all my spare time has been spent with her.  I don't know if I will be able to join in this week but I will try.  Please enjoy each other's posts of thankfulness!