Friday's Fave Five #644

Welcome to Friday everyone!  Are you ready to take a moment or two to pause from the busyness of life and think of the blessings God has sent your way this past week?  Yes?  That is awesome.  Practicing looking for blessings and then being thankful for them leads us to more contentment in life, a more positive attitude and a humble heart.  It builds a foundation of gratefulness that helps us get through on those weeks that are harder.  It helps us to see all the little blessings we might otherwise overlook in life, those small things that add up in our lives to make it special and lets us know God cares for us.  

~ owl spotting ~ I'll not lie.  This was from a couple weeks ago but I forgot to post it last week.  But I was so excited to spot this guy.  I can only think of one other time I have spotted an owl in their habitat.  He was well camouflaged and it took a few minutes to spot him.  We went for a walk in the river bottom and could hear him calling.  I was very excited to get such a clear picture of him.

~ staycation week ~  I have this week off.  We aren't going anywhere but just the fact that I can stay up later reading and sleep in a bit, sit and have an extra coffee in the morning without hitting the floor running is like a holiday in itself.  I've had a nice mix of a week knocking off some chores, both at my house and also at my mom's and enjoying things like walks, bike rides, eating out a few extra times during the week and watching movies in the middle of the day.  I'm trying not to think about it being all over in a few days.

~ cold water ~  One of my most hated chores is weeding and I finally bit the bullet and did some major weeding over at my Mom's house.  But silly me left it for late in afternoon when the heat was atrocious.  During that 3 hours of weeding I was very thankful for my ice cold water to drink and for the cold sprinkler water that I literally went and just stood in at regular intervals to stay cool.

~ these sandals ~ I have been loving these sandals from Keen.  They are so comfortable for long walks and my legs and feet don't get sore at all.  They are rugged yet cute and you can go in water with them.  It's got a good grippy bottom too in case the paths are rockier.  Money well spent for me.

- iced peach green tea ~ we stopped for our traditional St*rbucks during our bike ride the other day and I tried an iced peach green tea minus the cane sugar and no lemonade.  Very refreshing.  I'll be on my list of summer faves.

What were your favorite blessings from the week?

Friday's Fave Five #643

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five!  Staying focused on our blessings and being grateful is our goal no matter our circumstances.  Being intentional in pausing to be thankful to God for the good things He blesses us with in this life.  Won't you join us in sharing 5 of your blessings this week?  Guidelines are in the sidebar if you've never joined us before.

update:  Linky should now be working!

~ earlier darkness~  It's starting to get dark about 9:45 in my part of the world.  And I know.  I'm probably the odd one out but I think this is the perfect time for night time to arrive.  When it was still light out after 10:30 at night I don't get sleepy soon enough. Before 9 o'clock and I feel like my evening is robbed and winter's 5 p.m. is just wrong.  But this 9:45 works just right for my natural body clock.   And the pink night time skies are a joy to behold though it is shrouded in some smoke.  I wish I could keep this 10:00 dusk a permanent thing.

~ neighborhood walks ~ I've been taking the dog out every evening for a neighborhood walk.  We usually go about a mile or so mixing up the directions and streets.  I love strolling the neighborhood in the summer and just seeing everyone's front yards with the flowers blooming and trees filled in.  It's fun to see and glean ideas from what projects people have done to improve or change their homes and yards.  And it gets the pup's extra energy out before bed time.

~ a couple of cooler days ~ it has been really hot here this year.  We have been well above our normal temps for this time of year and haven't had the night time cool downs that we usually get to give some relief.  This past week we got a couple of days that cooled off significantly which was really nice.  

~ free moments in the day ~ with Tamara being home for the past month, she has gifted me pockets of time when she has played with the kids.  Sometimes it been a few minutes, other times it's been an hour.  But each time has been a great gift.  With my job as an in home child care provider with no other staff than myself these moments are very few and far between.  Sometimes I did nothing but take a few sips of HOT coffee in a room that has some peace and other times I've been able to knock off a chore or run to the bank.  I'm going to miss it when she goes back to her city next week.  

~ a dog sitter ~ we have been able to find a young lady who is willing to sit our pup when we need to go out of town.  This is a huge thing for us.  In the past either Tamara or Jeremy lived at home or my mom would take the dog.  But now all my adult kids live out of town and Mom is no longer able to care for a dog.  It's hard to trust your house and pets to someone.  But we think we may have found just the right person.  She came and met the dog last night and we were surprised and pleased when he immediately took to her.  

What has been blessings for you this last week?

Reading Possiblities for July 2021

Oh my, but I am behind in this post.  With everything going on in my life in the last month, computer time has been on the bottom of the list.  And reading time has pretty much been toast too.  I'm still trying to finish one of my choices from last month!  It's good but I'm just so tired at the end of the day that reading has been hard to focus on.  At any rate, I did get a pile of possibilities together for July.  I'll probably only get to one now, and that will one to fulfill the Read Your Shelf Challenge I'm doing this year.  But you never know.  I have a week off at the end of the month so I might be able to squeeze in some extra reading time in my day.

The Read Your Shelf Challenge Prompt for the month of July is to read a book that starts with the first letter of your first name.  I looked through all the books I own and came up with these.  Though a couple of them start with "the" or "a" I usually ignore those when it comes to titles.  I threw in the Charles Martin book as I really, really want to get to that before I forget what happened in the first book.  

READ YOUR BOOKSHELF CHALLENGE (July Prompt:  A Title that starts with the first letter of your first name)

          ~ Shiloh Autumn by Brodie & Brock Thoene

          ~ She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

          ~The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky

          ~ The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

          ~ Sea Change by Karen White

          ~ Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

         ~A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

ON HOLD AT THE LIBRARY:

          nothing

A BOOK PURCHASED SPECIFICALLY IN 2019-2021

          ~ The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

          ~The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister  (finished)

          ~ A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer

What are you reading this month?  I hope the reading is going better for you!

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Amir and Hassen grew up together in Afghanistan. They were as close as could be. Their friendship was unique as Hassen was also a servant to Amir. Amir was from a wealthy family and Hassen's father was a trusted servant to Amir's family. Once the "serving" was done, though, they were as close as brothers and played together all the time. Hassen fiercely and loyally protected Amir when they were out on the streets and the two were inseparable. But as close as they were jealousy grew a root when Baba, Amir's father, treated Hassen so well. Amir felt he never measured up to his father's expectations and never quite had his father's whole love. When the kite fighting competition season came around, Amir felt he just had to win it to gain his father's respect and love. With Hassen as his kite runner, the one who chases the kite that got cut, he had a great shot at it. But when things take an ugly turn with some bullies and Hassen needs Amir's help, Amir cannot find the courage within himself to do what he should and the guilt Amir lives with affects their relationship for the rest of their lives. As an adult living in America with a family of his own, Amir has done well in life but still lives with an underlying guilt of what happened so many years ago and when an old family friend approaches him to help a young boy in Afghanistan, Amir reluctantly agrees. But going back after so many years will be the hardest thing Amir has done and what he finds out will rock his world. As long held family secrets come to light Amir must try to reconcile what he always thought he knew of Baba with what unfolds. Will Amir finally find the courage finally do what he has to and lay to rest the guilt he has carried for so long. 

 This was a very moving novel that painted a picture of a country and culture I knew nothing about. It starts by giving the reader a general picture of what life in Afghanistan would have been like before Afghanistan became a household word in the Western world. The upper class and the servant class life is richly detailed through the lives of Amir and Hassen and their families. Then the events that throws that life into chaos comes: the coup, the Soviet invasion, the Taliban takeover and 911 are all woven into the story and show how the lives of all classes of people in Afghanistan changed. I thought the author did a wonderful job of "educating" me on what it might have been like for the Afghan people of the time. I'd never really given it much thought. Though I found the character of Amir frustrating and honestly not too likeable at times,  his story was what moved the descriptions of the times along. I won't lie, at times the story was brutal to read, and very sad and anger inducing. It will be very triggering for anyone who suffered abuse as a child or who has lived through war.   This book at times was painful and so sad to read.  But I think, in my case, it really opened my eyes to a lot of preconceived notions the West has been fed.  But the politics of the times aside, it's a story of friendship, family, loyalty, lies and betrayal, guilt and redemption.

I gave it a 10/10

Reading Challenge Met: "Read Your Shelf Challenge May Prompt - A book you should have read in high school.  (Technically this wasn't from my era but I couldn't remember any books I should have read and had no desire to reread the one I did think of "The Great Gatsby" so I chose this book from more recent lists of high school reads.

Friday's Fave Five #642

It's time to look back over the week and take a moment to look for our blessings.  I can't believe we're already into the middle of July.  The time seems to be disappearing more quickly than I realize.  And that makes Friday's Fave Five a very good practice for me otherwise I probably would be letting the blessings flit by me without really taking note or pausing to be grateful.  Won't you join in with us as we look for our blessings from the week?

~ house sold ~ after a bit of nerve wracking negotiations my Mom's house sold last week. And it sold for pretty much what we were asking.  I was a wreck during the negotiations even though we did have help from our realtor friend.  Because we knew who was trying to buy it it made it hard for me because I tend to be a people pleaser by nature so getting tough was very stressful.  But my friend kept telling me to not buckle because they market is hot here right now for modest homes and we all knew this organization wanted it.  I'm so glad we trusted his instincts and knowledge.  And now that is out of the way.  Now comes the time crunch to get everything sold and cleared out.

~ clean windows ~ since my son moved away our windows have not been cleaned on the outside and they were driving me crazy.  I'm not a ladder person and though we live in a bungalow it's a bit raised so a ladder is needed to reach them.  I finally couldn't stand it anymore and bit the bullet and did them myself last weekend.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  I took my time and got her done.  

~ crazy daisy ~ this crazy little sprinkler is a summer life saver.  We had one when my own kids were growing up but it broke quite a few years ago.  The kids loved it, even the dog loved it,  and I've always been on the lookout for another.  I never found one until this year.  Hubby ordered me one and the day I put it one the dayhome kids loved it and ran and squeeled with laughter as the thing whipped around.  Don't know how long it will last, they don't make them like they used to, but hopefully we'll get a few good summers out it.  Thankful that hubby went on the search for one!

Pictures of our former doggy enjoying the crazy daisy (2011)

~ cold, fresh water  available at the turn of a tap ~ this week it has been so hot here...again.  And as I poured yet another glass of water it got me thinking how so many people in the world today, even with all our technology, don't have easy access to clean drinking water.  We are truly blessed to just go our kitchens and turn a tap and pour clear, clean, disease free water.  A few years back my son went on a mission trip with Samaritan's Purse where they built and installed biosand water filters for people in Nicaragua.  I remember him telling me stories of how excited families were to have one in their home and how they would call the neighbors to come see and they shared the water with their neighbors.  May I never take for granted our easy access.

 ~ haircut ~ a haircut always lifts my spirits.  My hair goes from being alright to being too long overnight it seems and I was due for a cut.  It was nice to go to the salon and get that done and also to see everyone's smiling faces as mask mandates have been lifted.  The salon I go to are so respectful to their clientele in that if you still chose to wear a mask, and many still are, your stylist would also wear one.  I love that.  Super wonderful owners and management there.  

What have been your blessings this week?  What are you thankful for?

Friday's Fave Five #641

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  Thanks for popping by to take note of the blessings in your life and to share a handful of them with us.  It's been a super busy week this week.  A lot is going on with various things in life and I am so looking forward to the weekend.  But first a look back over the week, to peer beyond the busy and find and be grateful for the many blessings God has sent my way.

~ vaccination done ~ I finally qualified for the second dose and got my shot on Friday.  Glad that is over and done and just in time because Alberta opened pretty much all up.  I have to say it's quite odd being able to go most places without a mask now, though there is lots of people still wearing them.  Still have to wear them to visit my mom and dad in the supportive living places though so can't quite throw them away yet.

~ road trip ~ Saturday we took a road trip to the mountains and though we ended up turning around on our hike before we hit the lake due to the heat, it was still nice to get away from the city.  We stopped at a small town drive thru we like on the way home for sirracha burgers and onion rings ending our day on a tasty note.

~ continued support ~ we have continued to be blessed watching people support our daughter who lost all in a house fire.  It has truly been amazing.  The journey replacing personal papers and ID has been super frustrating, the RED TAPE is ridiculous.  They all want photo ID.  Even to get a key fob for her car!  Well what part of "lost everything" do we need to re-explain? But the emotional and financial support that has been shown to her has kept her positive and pushing forward.

~ worship songs ~ during hard, busy weeks worship songs uplift me and point me to the One who is greater than the things I am going and Who is walking through every step with me.   I'm grateful my hubby takes time to make me CD's and memory sticks full of songs I love.

~ helpful friends ~ an old family friend, who is a real estate agent, offered to help me with the sale of my mom's house.  The buyer's were not wanting to go through a real estate agent but my sister and I were really feeling out of our depth so really appreciated his help and advice.  Sometimes you just have to know when you are out of your league and take the help that is offered.  So thankful for his help.

Well, it's my Mom's birthday today so hopefully I can get in to see her, if not, then tomorrow.  And I am not planning another single thing this weekend.  I need a true rest and I'm going to do my best to secure it.  

What were your favorite blessings this week?

Friday's Fave Five #640

Hi everyone!  I'm so sorry.  I'm discombobulated I totally didn't realize it's Friday and didn't put up a Friday's Fave Five.  Here's the link and I will join in as soon as I can.