Friday's Fave Five #837

Happy Friday and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  We are intentionally learning to focus on the blessings God brings into our lives and developing hearts of gratitude.  It's not just a matter of "being positive".  It is working towards having hearts and minds that are aware of the touch of God in our lives whether we are in a great season or whether it's a challenging one.  It's one of actually changing our perspective of how we approach the everyday and all that it brings and being deeply thankful for all the good.  It's about coming to the point of seeing the blessings over and above whatever else is going on.  And that takes discipline and sometimes it takes work.  Here, on each and every Friday, we give opportunity to become part of a community that is supportive to each other in doing just that.  Please join in with us.

~ great Sunday service ~  Sunday morning church was a huge blessing all around.  I got there early and was able to talk to some friends I haven't seen in awhile.  Our church has gone to two morning services so I've missed seeing some people who attend the service I don't.  The worship was wonderful and the Pastor has started a series entitled "Fear Not" with the first session being "We are no longer slaves to fear".  It was so good and many parts of it seemed like it was specifically for me. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

~ Ladies study ~ Wednesday was a smaller group, only 5 of us which is about half of whom normally attend.  But the smaller group made it so that we could really delve into the questions and points from the Sunday sermon.  I really enjoy when the church runs the bible studies this way for a time as it allows questions to be asked and deep dives being taken into what was taught over the pulpit and then in turn, looking at ways to apply it to every day life.  It's a blessing to belong to a group where questions and conversation is encouraged but emphasis remains on biblical truth.

~ special crafts ~ I love doing crafts with the kids for special occasions and this Sunday is, of course, Mother's Day.  So this week we've been busy, busy, busy.  I find it especially fun to see how excited they are and find it amusing how some just can't wait to let the cat out of the bag before the gifts are ready to go home.  And I love how they so excitedly show off all their hard work to their parents.

~ stunning views with memories ~ I was looking for something in my camera roll and came across this picture of a gorgeous walk on an equally gorgeous day that I forgot I had taken.  It was from a couple of weekends ago but it blessed me seeing the picture because of the good memory of the day that it evoked.  Everything was perfect that day:  the temperature was warm but not uncomfortably hot, the sky was a beautiful blue, no wind and when we took the bridge over the river on our walk the water was just this stunning color which is rare.  It's usually clear to a muddy bottom or running muddy depending on how swift it's running.  It made for a beautiful picture with the train bridge in the background.  

~ recipes that make me think of Mom ~ my Mom was such a good Hungarian cook though she always thought she was just average.  I love when I make a Hungarian dish and it takes me right back to my childhood and memories of her in the kitchen always making us a good meal for supper.  This week I made Gulyas Leves, a traditional Hungarian soup consisting of Stew Beef, potatoes, onions, carrots and lots of sweet Hungarian paprika.  Sometimes parsnips are added.  And sometimes caraway seeds, though never in my house.  I can't stand caraway seeds.  The beef is slow simmered until super tender and then the rest of the ingredients and cooked until the veggies are cooked.  Served with bread or buns and butter it evokes warm  childhood memories for me. 

What are your blessings from the last week that you are thankful for?