Friday, September 04, 2009

Friday's Fave Five #52 Partay Time!

It's a Party! Welcome to week #52 of Friday's Fave Five (details here if you're new). Grab a punch or coffee and your favorite snack and let's celebrate. I'm not quite sure why if I started on August 1st of 2008 the 52nd week lands on September 4 but I'm too tired to go digging through the archives to figure it out and besides who am I to turn down a bloggy party. I have been so blessed each week that you have all joined me for this. Even if I'm having a so-so or even a horrible week, searching for those things within it that have been a blessing or made me smile has been a wonderful exercise for me and helps me to be thankful in all things. It has also made me look for the blessings in the midst of the week that I take for granted or might otherwise miss. And having you all join me has been the icing on the cake. By the time I read all the things that have been a favorite for all of you over the week, I am grateful and happy.

Now I was going to have you all look back over the year and find your five favorite things from the year but I thought that would be too daunting a task. How could one ever narrow a year down into 5 favorites. So we'll just stick with the usual 5 favorite things from the week, but we'll have a giveaway. A basket of 5 of my favorite things: a book, a candle, a starbucks, stationary and my favorite chocolate. So if you do a post this week and sign Mr. Linky then your name will go in the hat! Good luck! Now let's party.

1. Grapes. I love, love, love grapes. And this past week I had a inordinately juicy, sweet, tasty batch. Icey cold from the fridge they are so refreshing on a hot day. And something I am finding out in my reading is that grapes can help lower blood pressure (which I need) and grapes have high levels of anitoxident phytochemicals which may help reduce heart disease risk. Mmm, mmm. Yummy and good for me, can't beat that.

2. Flashpoint. I look forward to this show each week. It is a Canadian police drama written by Canadians and filmed in Toronto, but don't let that make you hesitate to watch it. It's about a Strategic Response Unit team. It is not your typical police show, in my opinion, and it really has stories that tug at the heart. It shows this highly trained group of individuals as humans with hearts not just tough automaton cops. The stories are awesome and well written. I think I've cried in most of them, they have such a human element to them. The one about high school bullying I couldn't get out of my head for days, same with the one about a young couple who kidnaps back their baby from the adoptive parents, or the one about a young woman who has a brain disease which is quickly killing her and because of the progression people assume she is on drugs. It's been nominated for 19 Gemini Awards. I can hardly wait for the next season. I think you can catch back episodes at CBS or CTV.

3. Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado. This was a book I had encouraged my church library to get in and then it sat there for months (and I mean months). I'd look at it sitting there and feel guilty for not taking it out and then one Sunday I just felt strongly that now was the time to read it. And thank God, this time I listened to what God was saying to my heart. It was exactly what I needed for right now. I love the way Max Lucado writes. So inspirational and he breaks down details of the bible and stories of biblical characters in ways that one can apply it to their own lives.

4. Potluck with my ladies bible study group. Not only yummy food but great company too. Our studies are good but it's nice to just get together for fun, too.

5. My dog and cat. A couple of simple pleasures in my life. When they sit beside me and just bask in me petting them, it is also a stress reliever for me. And the goofy things they do just make me laugh. I swear my Samson thinks he's a four legged human.




Look at those faces. How can one resist loving on them?

What were your favorites for the week. Don't forget if you do a post and sign on the Mr. Linky you'll be entered in our 52nd week celebration.


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on one year. I've only been participating for about 6 months or so, but I so enjoy this. It's a great way to reflect back on your week. You had a great week my friend. Have a great Friday and a wonderful Labor Day Weekend...oops...does that count for you LOL. Again Congrats :)

ellen b said...

Hard to believe sometimes how time flies. Sounds like you had a great week. It's been fun to do this meme every week Susanne. Have a good weekend. Love the photos of your cat and dog. I think I'm ready for a good ole fashioned potluck! :0)

Jientje said...

WOW!! One year already? I have no idea how long I've been playing, but I would not miss it for the world!! Congratulations Susanne, and thank you so much for hosting this! Like you said, even in a so so week, you look for all the good stuff you'll want to talk about and share at the end of the week, and you live the good moments much more intensely.
Thanks Susanne!!

Sandy@ Jesus and Dark Chocolate said...

Happy 52 Susanne....oh, that sounds like you are 52! LOL Anyway, glad you do this each week, thanks for all you do! :)
You bible study group sounds great, isn't it good to share Jesus and food together?!
Your pets are adorable!

Melli said...

Well! I know why the 52nd week landed on September 4th! It's so we could PARTY!!! *tosses confetti* And we shall!

I am sO new to FFF ... but I used to take part in Sunday Seven which was almost the same... I'm certainly no stranger to sharing happy moments and giving THANKS for them! I do thank YOU for hosting this wonderful meme though, and bringing us all together to share our moments in life! I know God has blessed you through this meme as you have blessed others. :)

Islandsparrow said...

Congratulations Suzanne! A year of favourites! This is the only meme that I do weekly - and I really love it. Thanks so much for hosting it.

Barbara H. said...

Happy FFF anniversary! I feel exactly as you described. There are some weeks that have me thinking all through the week, "Oh, that's a good one for FFF!" There are other weeks I get to Thursday night or Friday morning and think it's either been a bad week or a blah week and I don't think I'll have five favorite things...but then as I think about it, I can always find five or more. So this has been a blessing in many ways and a reminder that God always has blessings -- sometimes they are obvious, sometimes not so much, sometimes I just need to refocus.

I love grapes, too, especially when they are just the right stage -- firm and sweet. I like that I can grab a few, rinse them, and eat without having to deal with peels or seeds.

I had not heard of that show. I have had the same thing happen with books -- having one sit on a shelf for a long while and finally feel impressed that now is the time for it.

nikkipolani said...

I can't believe it's a whole year already! I've really enjoyed this series, Susanne, and appreciate your hostessing. Your week's list sounds great. And I love seeing those darling fuzzy faces again.

Melissa said...

I enjoyed your list, and congratulations on your anniversary!

I just finished a Max Lucado book, too, and I'm eager to see which other titles I can find at our church library. He's so encouraging!

Hazel said...

Max Lucado is a frequent mention of my church friends. Now I'm getting more and more curious about his books. I soooo love your dog and cat. *hugs!

Lisa notes... said...

Thank you for giving to this ministry for one year! Definitely reason to celebrate! I love the Max Lucado book, too, and getting together with women is always fun.

Chris said...

Great blog. Congrats on one year~and yes, the church potlucks are how I get my fill of really delish and not so good for me food. Yay!

Kari said...

WOW! 52 weeks. Where have I been. Well congrats on one year. it really is a wonderful thing to do - to look back on the week and find 5 things that made it happy.
I love your list for this week - Grapes, books, potluck and simple pleasures. Your pets look so cute.
great week!!
happy weekend friend.

Sabrina said...

I love cold grapes too! I used to eat them alot when I was pregnant right out of the freezer.

Great post!

Unknown said...

I love hanging our with my church book group...we recently had a dinner party and it was so much fun! Wow one year of this great meme! I love checking out everyones week!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

This was a great idea, Susanne, and your first paragraph today really hit home about appreciating things.

Love that doggie. I want to squeeze him.

TXDidi said...

Potlucks are so much fun, aren't they? I'm in a group of ladies who meet once a month to have a potluck and pray. We have so much fun together, and have gotten some really great recipes over the years, I might add.

Jerralea said...

Grapes are definitely a favorite of mine. Actually my whole family loves them so much that I have to buy at least 5 pounds at a time! Which is why you can see me do a happy dance when they are 99¢ lb.!

Congrats on 52 FFF. I really enjoy participating. I write in a lot of memes but FFF is my fave!

Brenda said...

Flashpoint is probably my favorite show right now too. I have not seen it over the summer, but I am waiting for the fall shows to start and hoping it reappears.

Lets do a "best of the the year" post towards January. Maybe a top 10. . . . but give us plenty of warning. . . some of us prepost ;)

Willow said...

Susanne, Thank you so much for hosting this meme for a whole year! Let's keep going! It's the only meme I do and like so many others who have posted, it has made a difference in how I look at my week.

Your FFF were great again. Love those doggy and kitty photos. My mom used to pop her grapes in the freezer and eat them like little ice cubes.

The Professor and I are huge NCIS fans. I'll see if we can get Netflix copies of the show you mentioned. I think we'd like it!

Have a great weekend!

elizabeth said...

Thank you so much for hosting such a positive weekly party. I just love doing these posts and am hopefully getting into the groove now of always doing them.

I absolutely adore Max Lucado books! I had the opportunity a few years back to attend a live event where he was speaking and he just amazes me. Such a godly man and able to say things to where they really make sense.

Linda said...

Sweet faces - they do look like sweet, little friends.
I have been enjoying grapes too Susanne. I don't remember them ever being this sweet and yummy.
Have a blessed weekend.

Karyn said...

Congratulations on one year! I haven't been here the whole 52 weeks - I had done a similar exercise on my own last year - with limited success....it has been so much more fulfilling to join with others in counting our blessings! I joined in on January 2 of this year and am thankful for this group of people - you are all a blessing, for sure!

Thanks, again, Suzanne, for hosting this meme!

annie said...

Such cute pets! and I love Max Lucado.