Friday's Fave Five #766

Hi everyone!  Hope you all had a beautiful Christmas time off with family or friends.  Unbelievably it's already Friday and that means a very needful pause in all the festivities to take note of our blessings and share some of our favorites.  Please join us in ending the year with grateful hearts that take the time to say thanks to God for our blessings.

~ family home for Christmas ~ my biggest blessing was having all the family home at one time or another during Christmas holidays.  My oldest daughter came before Christmas and has been here all week.  Youngest daughter came Christmas Eve and was able to stay until the 27th.  And my son arrived yesterday.  Not home altogether at the same time but everyone here at some point.  When they are all adults and have jobs and lives it's hard to co-ordinate them all at once but so thankful they all made it safe and sound sometime during the holiday.

~ another opportunity to have Christmas with Mom ~ Though how we do Christmas dinner with Mom has changed I'm so grateful to have her with us for another Christmas.  She is 91 and in an assisted living facility.  Due to mobility issues she no longer can come to either my home or my sisters so we book the family dining room on her floor and take dinner in.  We've tried various dinners over the last few years, some have worked, some have been a miss but this year it was definitely a hit.  I made bbq ribs and kale salad and my brother in law made cabbage rolls and brought buns. My niece baked cupcakes and made a little dessert plate.  It was delicious.  And being able to be in the dining room instead of the community room made it really nice.  We've always had to be in the big community room which was impersonal and too big and echo-y because of a limit of 5 in the dining room due to covid distancing.  Being in the cozier family dining room with a real dining table and dining room chairs and a microwave was so much nicer.  Unfortunately our son was working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but I'm very grateful for all those paramedics who are away from their families so that they can help those in medical distress!  

Of course it wouldn't be a holiday without some shenanigans going on during the picture taking.

~ celebrating our Christmas day baby ~ Yes she was born on Christmas day.  12:05 noon to be exact.  Made me miss my turkey dinner that day.  LOL.  But that's ok.  She's a blessing in our lives and a lovely young woman.  I can't believe my baby is 29.  She didn't want a fuss, didn't even want a candle or writing on the cake, or for us to sing Happy Birthday (but we did anyway).

And just in case you were wondering, Biscoff cake from C*stco was delicious!!

~ sleeping in time ~ this week has been opportunity for me just to sleep in a little bit each morning.  I am so not a morning person but being a working gal my alarm goes off at 6:10 each morning.  Sleeping in up to 8 each morning of my week off has been heaven.  

~ beautiful weather ~ we have had gorgeous weather here for this time of year.  Makes it nice to get outside for walks with the dog and get that vitamin D.   

What have been your blessings this week?

I want to wish everyone a very happy New Year and may God's hope and peace surround you in 2024.