Welcome to Friday's Fave Five. Please join with us a we intentionally pause and look back at the week and the blessings to be found in our everyday. This has been a rough week all around. My mental space has been occupied by things that were and are stressful so I need to intentionally hit the stop button on that and allow good things and thankfulness for those blessings to overtake. If I don't my mind works overtimes hashing and rehashing everything until I get to be one worked up ball of stress. Nobody needs that! So taking this moment just to breathe and look for God in the everyday.
~ I woke up each and every single day ~ by the grace of God, yes I did. Each morning I was given another opportunity to spring out of bed and hit that darn alarm, shuffle to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth and face a brand new day. A fresh new day with a new start and full of potential. Thank you, Lord for each new day!
~ My family, safe and sound ~ this week as my community reflects on a local young man who has now been missing for 2 years this week, I am so grateful I know where my family is. I cannot imagine the pain and stress of the last two years on this family, some members whom I happen to know, of not having any more clues today as to what happened to their loved one than they did 2 years ago. My heart weeps for them and I pray they have answers and can be reunited and I breathe a prayer of thankfulness that though we live in different cities I know where my grown children are.
~ my sister's different way of thinking ~ my only sister and I are very different. We think totally different. Though we love each other we react totally differently to various things. Though at times in life I have found this frustrating, as I grow older I have become thankful for this. When things happen with my aging parents, I am so appreciative for the way she thinks. She remembers medical stuff like no tomorrow and those things that totally don't even enter my brain to ask the doctor she brings to the conversation so easily. It happened again this week with something to do with my mom. I'm so thankful she has a brain that absorbs all the medical stuff and asks ALL the questions because if it was totally left to me, I just always be taking things at face value.
~ my neighbor to rant to, discuss and have support with ~ my next door neighbor also has a private dayhome. She has become an invaluable "over the fence" support. We talk about all things pertaining to our dayhomes and share and bounce ideas off of each other. This blessing has especially come into focus this week as our federal and provincial gov't has announced a new childcare deal that has great ramifications to both of our dayhomes and all private dayhomes in the province. The news came in like a bomb going off, with only generalized timeline and no steps for private dayhomes to take and it has been a stressful two days since the announcement was made. As we have met "over the fence" we are both thankful to have each other's support as we face at best a huge change in our child care businesses and at worst having to shut down and look for another job. She's been doing this for, I think, around 12 - 15 years and I've been doing it for 31.
~ a fresh color and cut ~ never underestimate the power of a fresh cut and color to lift one's mood. And a stylist who give you a head massage when she washes your hair? Priceless!
What have been your favorite blessings that you are thankful for this week?
Amen to waking up every morning. Even when the day doesn't go as well as I wish it would have...so blessed to wake up, love and be loved, and end the day with another prayer in my heart.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you but it WAS a very stressful week here too but for different reasons. I'm so thankful we don't have to worry...that we have a God who sees all, knows all and loves us and has grace and mercy to get us through these trying times.
ReplyDeleteI hope all is ok with your mom and that's a great way to look at a sister who thinks differently from you. I need to do that more with one particular sister of mine...boy are we different!!
I hope whatever changes your in home daycares have to go through that it is easy to solve and that all goes smoothly. I know here in NYS things have tightened up for inhome day care providers for which i as a certified with a masters degree early childhood special ed educator am extremely glad about. we've had SO MANY cases of abuse and neglect going on in homes.....with supposed "daycare providers". Some are in it just for the money.....so our state has very strict guidelines now if you want the state funding. Which I'm totally glad about!!
I love a fresh color and cut. I'm trying to grow mine out and it is driving me nuts...it's in the ackward stage! Thanking God for good stylists who can fix us up!! And you got a head massage along with the shampoo!! AWESOME!!!
Enjoy the weekend
Hi Susanne ~ I loved your favorites this week - simple blessings that sometimes we don't even consider. Thank you for sharing this. I am so sorry the week has been a stressful one for you. The government (in both of our countries) can be very frustrating at times, can't it!?! I am so sorry to hear that changes will negatively impact you and your neighbor. As a former working mom of littles, I know that safe, loving daycare is a true blessing. I do hope everything works out. Virtual hugs from Utah.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, the more I appreciate the first one. I can't imagine having a loved one missing. It's a blessing to know where they are and be able to reach them via text or call.
ReplyDeleteThat's neat that you and your sister complement each other so well. It's good to have a neighbor in the same business to talk with. Wow, I hope these new changes don't cause you to close down or cause major headaches (even more than they already have). People who make these regulations just don't realize the impact sometimes. If daycare places have to close, that not only takes away their livelihood, but then impacts parents and their jobs, too.
I just got a haircut this week, too. It helps!
Yes, to waking up every morning. My answer is often just that and I usually add that no one shot at me today.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't imagine the shock of that announcement with NO warning. I'm glad you have your neighbor to discuss things like this. I do hope that things settle out ok.
And yes on hair care. I actually got mine cut a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the family pictures next week.
I hope you have a restful week. Oh and I love that you are so close to your sister (I never had one...so I have adopted my cousin).
Your #1 sure puts things in perspective for me, missing Joe and Sam this week. I gave myself an attitude adjustment, but this reminds me to be grateful. Prayers that the family will find peace in this horrible situation.
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote about not just accepting but embracing differences in others. Something else that is timely for me to hear. Wow, your blessings have blessed ME this week!
Super blog
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing to have a colleague just next door. Praying that you both can adjust or that the rules for private dayhomes will be clearer and less burdensome. Seems we are all watching for new regulations and restrictions....
ReplyDeleteYour mention of your sister's approach and head for details reminded me how God provided Moses with Aaron. A timely blessing indeed.
I love your first and second faves, too. Too often we overlook these most basic blessings.
Wonderful insight on all the things to be thankful for. I can't imagine what that dear family is going through. I hope you can work through those new edicts. Government...sigh. Hope your week is starting out well.
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