Friday's Fave Five #349

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This weekend in Canada is Thanksgiving so we already have our minds towards being thankful.  But it's always good to look for things in our everyday to be thankful for whether the calendar date officially tells us to or not.  Please join us as weekly we turn our hearts to look for good blessings in our lives.

1.  Operation Christmas Child kick-off.  Sunday was the official start of Operation Christmas Child   (U.S.A. site) at my church.   Being the one heading this up, I always look forward to this time of year both with excitement and a bit of nervousness.  The announcement went well and lots of boxes went out the door to be prayerfully filled for children in the throes of war, poverty or disease.  Children who have never in their lives received a gift before.  Such a small thing for us who have so much in this country.  I am always amazed when I see the colored map and see only a handful of countries that pack the boxes and pretty much the rest of the world receiving them at some point.  God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to those who have not and to bring joy and the gospel.  What a privilege to be able to be a part.

And just in case you ever wondered if it really makes kids happy to get one of these boxes this is one of my favourite videos recorded by somebody there, not a put together promotional video.  Here is the pure unadulterated reality:

Makes me smile everytime!
2.  Bio-Freeze.  Last month my massage therapist had given me about 3 sample sizes of Bio-Freeze to try out at home.  It's a professional strength cold (cyro)therapy.    I took it out of my purse, put it on my dresser and promptly forgot about it.  Then this week my sciatic nerve was acting up and giving me major grief.  Anyone who's had a sciatica pain knows how awful and consuming it can be.  I was having to get up in the middle of the night to take more advil.  Then 3 days into it I remembered the Bio-Freeze.  It helped. A lot.  It didn't totally remove the pain but boy oh boy it helped to tone it down a whole lot.  I am so going to buy some of this stuff to have on hand.
3.  A trip to the salon.  It's really amazing how a nice trim and refresh of the highlights perks me right up.  It seems like overnight my hair is too long and won't do what it's supposed to do. And the fresh highlights just brightens it all up.  Yup I am very grateful that as of now I get the chance to have someone do this for me.  There have been times in my life where I had to do my own color and let me tell you, I don't have the knack for getting it really nice.  It's not a I will die without a salon highlight, in reality it really is a 1st world problem,  but it sure is a blessing when I can have them.  
4.  A full dayhome once again.  Back in the spring I knew I would be losing two kids to grade 1, but seeing I was having carpal tunnel surgery in the summer, I didn't work real hard to replace them.  I wanted to give myself time to heal properly.  Well come September, in an unusual occurrence, I didn't get one suitable call.  But now just this week, I've got a couple newcomers that seem to be a really good fit.  I like when the dayhome is full.  It really is easier for me than having it only half filled.   I enjoy the fun and laughter when all are here.
5.  Good Reads.  I've been on a roll with some good reads lately.  I always love that.  Add a cup of  good coffee, some beautiful Indian Summer weather and some uninterrupted time and I'm a happy camper!

What were your blessings this week?

And Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian bloggy friends!