Friday's Fave Five #867

Welcome to the first Friday of December.  How can that be?  But it is.  We are almost done another whole year of thankfulness.   Have you developed a habit of looking out for the blessings God sends your way?  Has thankfulness and gratefulness come more naturally to you on a daily basis?  If so, then FFF is doing it's job. If you, like me,  sometimes forget or fall off the train, don't give up.  Just get right back on.  It takes time and effort to build an intentional habit.  And while some habits are not good for you, the habit of sincerely being grateful & thankful to God for His blessings will make your life more joyful and fulfilled.  So thank you for joining in with me and keep on keeping on!

This week I'm thankful for:

~ safe travels ~ we were supposed to leave for the OCC Processing Center on Friday last week but a huge snow storm blew in.  It snowed and it snowed and it snowed some more.  My son was texting me in the middle of the night that the roads were pretty treacherous, even the ambulance was sliding around.  Then warnings of blowing snow on the sections of the highway started.  So mid-morning we made the decision to not go that day but to wait until Saturday morning because the weather reports were much better.  Saturday turned out to be a sunny beautiful morning.  The highways were clear and by the time we arrived the city had already had the chance to start plowing and salting the main roads.  So thankful we made the decision to wait and that we had safe travels there and back.

~ volunteering with my group ~  Saturday was our shift at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center where they check all the lovely shoebox gifts people have packed.  This year along with Hubby, my son and his girlfriend joined us as did 3 ladies from my bible study group.  It was so much fun having them along and getting to share this step in the journey of a shoebox with them.  And if you are wondering, items are never removed from shoeboxes unless item that is not allowed.  The shoebox gift is kept the way the giver intended.  Sometimes if the boxes are a bit on the sparse side they will add filler items to make the boxes nice and full.  Then they are taped shut, indicating to the receiving country's customs that the box has been checked, and packed into cases to be put on flats for shipping.  Thankful to be able to participate again this year and to have friends along with me.  Unfortunately, I forgot to get everyone's permission to post their pictures so here's Hubby and I.  And per usual I forgot to check if I was holding the box right side up.  Every. single. year.  An upside down box is apparently my signature move.

~bed to sleep in ~  a local street mission is asking us to reflect on our blessings by posting a different item each day during advent that we probably have and take for granted that their clients probably do not have.  Yesterday's question was "Do I have a warm bed to sleep in?"  With the cold, snowy weather we have had over the last couple weeks, this really hit home.  I am so very thankful that yes I do.  And I pray I am more aware that not all others do and to walk with more grace and mercy and a giving attitude towards those who don't.  

 

~ celebrating Hubby's birthday ~ after our shift we all went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for supper to celebrate Hubby's birthday.  It's one of his favorite places to eat and we all enjoyed our well earned meals after working all afternoon.  

~ beautiful drive home ~ on the way home, God treated us to one of the most gorgeous skies and then astounding sunsets we have ever seen.  I have never seen such a blazing red sky and then just for a minute it got this bright yellow center.  What a blessed way to end a great weekend.

The pictures just don't do it justice.

What have been your favorite blessings from the past week?