Friday's Fave 5

Hosted by Susanne!     

                                 

Does time seem to be flying by? I am getting so I cannot keep up... sos I am doing this post earlier than usual Actually,  in my dotage  I  cannot work at the same pace and  remember  everything that you do to post on blogger.. so I  try to  get at it  so my memory does not fade away.  That is what happened earlier in the week  when I failed to update  what I had written before posting and it was all erased.. 

Bummer!!!

well, it is Wednesday, the 27th of August  and I am  so pleased with the  lovely days the Lord has given us.. I have always dreaded the dog days of summer..  with the  searing heat and  super humidity. these days have certainly been a gift from on high!

Therefore it is time to share our blessings... On Monday I had been missing our  daughter and her family so much.  They live 7 states away so  any time we can spend online is a real treat. but their summer has been hectic with trips,  camps and  establishing our oldest  granddaughter in a new school  that  our Facetime has been extremely limited.

So Monday we  did  get to visit on the computer and it truly seemed our 9 and 11 year old grands had grown  so much.  

Of course,  now the they had added  dear Hugo to the family,  life  gets even a bit more complicated.  But joyful, as well!

I am so thankful  that even  as my  poor knee   has been in a state of decline for up to two years now,  the Lord has  given hours of reprieve  following  ice bagging it  so I can  still get some things done around the house. You might ask  why have I waited so long to take care of it,  but  unfortunately  I have had one  medical  problem after another.  even now I am  hoping to get released from my cardiologist   regarding my ablation I had  almost 2 months ago.  I have one more month to go  before I see the surgeon and get released for my next great adventure.. a knee replacement!even at that.. I was told when I see the surgeon don't be surprised taht he will say  we can't do it for another 6 months.. my schedule is full!  Bah!!!!

So I am reprieved  to  do some  cleaning  around  the lower lever so I can still have my prayer group here instead of going to  the other homes that unfortunately have such steps that I cannot negotiate.  Another  great reprieve was a dear friend offered to bake a lovely dessert for us to serve tomorrow!!   I will offer the tea and coffee! Our prayer group has been meeting  twice a month for well over 10 years.  Praise God  for  special friend- (sisters), who truly  love each other and  love to spend time together with the lord!!! 

The Lord gave me  the will and ability to do some reading yesterday. I used to love to read,  but over time  my eyes sometimes fail me, but  Lynn got me a portable book light  that  absolutely  makes reading a joy!  I was able to  purchase some fabulous books form Thrift Books online and  have found them to be  such a solace and really fun thing to do..I enjoy cosy mysteries  and  now I am rereading Pride and prejudice as well as   a book form my bookcase, I didn't realize was a historical novel  It is entitled Glencoe

a Scottish Romance..I bought it three summers ago while at the Glencoe  information center and assumed it was a historical volume.  And well,  the time frame is  the time following the horrible massacre of Glencoe,  Well, to my surprise it is  the most  beautifully written novel and is described so majestically, I feel like I am right back there entranced by God's  beauty of creation! I feel certain the Lord  allowed me to wait  for just the right moment to pick it up and enjoy reading again!

 Today is Wednesday  and  I must praise the Lord for my dear husband without whom I would be  completely  lost and unable to even survive.  I do so look forward to the days when all my troubles are behind me and we can enjoy our endeavors together. 

Tomorrow will  be  our wonderful prayer event..  we meet at 9:30 and so enjoy our time with  the Lord that we go until after 12! we always begin with a song. I love the time  spent coming up with  the perfect song. 

https://youtu.be/OIahc83Kvp4?feature=shared

Is He Worthy by Andrew Peterson  

and I will end    this week's  post  by  adding.Jesus is  the one and only  Worthy one..

Praise the Lord for his love in sending Him to and for us11

Friday's Fave Five

Hosted by Susanne!     

                                 

This has been a very   hard week for me..  Last Friday I had  an Ablation of the heart... The  procedure went well.   And I was terribly glad that I  opted to  stay the night in the hospital because  at  6 am  the next morning   my punctures  began to bleed..  and from there it has been one thing after another.  But in all I am  thankful that God  had me to  spend that night in the hospital because through all of this week  it seems the enemy has been after me..  But  God    showed me his great mercy  and love!

Over last weekend~ I was  blessed to  be able to  watch our church service online..  Although I truly missed    seeing my precious friends who are such a comfort to me..  Lynn  drove out  after church and picked up  a delicious   Chinese  dinner for us..  chicken and cashew...  yum.

Monday..  I was  somewhat  fearful  regarding my   wounds..  as I bound them with  gauze  I would notice    they were not healing  as I had hoped.. but God  was good.  I prayed the verse from Colossians  1:17  Jesus is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  That verse  has been a mainstay with me....  especially in 2011 when I had  a mainline hysterectomy   and I was afraid to move!!.  That first day  following the surgery a pastor on tv taught that verse and  I cannot  explain the comfort and peace it  gave me. The  same was true  last Monday.  I knew He was holding me in His arms  and that  I was safe!

Tuesday  was my 75th birthday  and  I was feeling really  good.  I    especially enjoyed all the  birthday wishes I  received on Facebook.  I made it  my purpose to write a special note to each of the 88  folks who wrote to me.. It  was a lovely day...  Thank you, Lord!

Wednesday.. I was not feeling that great.. I felt the enemy  was not happy  with the joy I had been experiencing..  I felt  pretty low  and couldn't figure out why!

Thursday...  when hubs checked my  punctures..  he saw  red  around the   wounds and was quite concerned..  I took a shower    and    attended to the wounds,,  then left for  Express Care.. sure enough I had  two sources of infection..  on  both  punctures.  Now I am taking  so much more meds than   before...  but am thankful  for  knowing the truth and attending to it.  I pray  we started  treatment in time..   

Today, I am feeling better.. I am glad I have plenty of medicine  ahead of me.. I pray this infection  completely  banishes in the name of Jesus, my Lord!! I  have absolutely no reason to  believe that He  will  not  be by my side  throughout   the rest of my recovery.  I am glad  to feel so good  that I will be able to go to  the prayer group  we  attend every first  Friday.  This week  it is the  second week due to  last week's holiday!!  I lead   the  prayer   and   provide the  praise song.. That is one thing I must  really think about...     But  I know  the Lord will provide.... God bless you, all, and have a lovely  weekend!!!

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FFF Easter Week

Friday's Fave Five #835

 Hosted by Susanne!

                                                          Welcome to Friday's Fave Five 

This being Holy Week  we give  many thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for His   pouring out of His life on the cross to save us from our sins..   But not only that,  but His many stripes and   scourges,  we are healed of our  infirmities.

Easter Sunday was  a wonderful time of  praise,  teaching, and fellowship  at our precious  church..It  was wonderful to see   the church filled to capacity..   I wish   those  who only attend on  special  holidays  would  make the decision to  come every week..   Church attendance is so crucial to our spiritual growth and understanding!

Monday of Holy Week  was a    time of reflection and study for me.  As a member of  Community Bible Study in our area..  I  had  the week of homework to  work on for class  on Tuesday.   Our test was   Matthew  27, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Wow,  what a glorious  reminder of  what Jesus  did for  us who believe and who love Him with our whole heart!!

Tuesday of Holy Week   we met as  a group  for the next to the last time  this  season..   Wow,   this  year has flown  by.  I was  blessed with a fantastic group..   such dear ladies.. and  3 of them were  dear friends from churches  from my past.  That is what is so great about CBS.  It is non denominational and so  wonderfully deep and  so very  interesting.  Our  leader  was  amazing and  so personable,    and the  group0n of about  15 women  were  constant in their  sharing and   added so much to each session.   I highest recommend   Community Bible Study as a  great  study if  you are not  doing a study    of your own!

Wednesday  of Holy Week  I received a phone call I had been awaiting for  several week.s  I have  a heart  problem that needs addressing and  I opted to  travel  a couple of hours away to  a great University Hospital known for its  top notch  staff..and I  am in with a fabulous   doctor    who  is  amazing but quite busy.  But I  am now  going to  check in at their hospital for 4 days next week  for monitoring  and  meds  checking  to find the best  dosage for my  personal need.

Upon  getting fitted with  this  medicine  at  my personalized dosage,,  I should be able to have my knee replacement soon this summer..Following that , I will  be  able to have an ablation  that will  really help  with my situation.. From there we will  pray and see  how the Lord leads!  I may  be looking at a valve replacement  and or a workman.  It is all in God's hands!!!

Thursday of  Holy Week.We had planned to fine out for breakfast with good friends, but alas she called this morning  sick and couldn't  go,  so Lynn and I    went on  alone..   sad to say, and  did our  marketing.   Lynn has to mow  this afternoon and I will  be  doing  odds and ends to prepare for  my  time away from home next week!  One thing I want to do is choose a great book to read while I am  there!!

Friday of Holy Week,   I    have  been   working on  straightening up the house and    doing some  homework for our last  class  on Monday.  Even though I cannot  attend  I do like to have my classwork finished,  as it is for my   own benefit after all! I did find out this week that  a good  friend from our Connect Group  had a serious health issue pop up and so I  need to get a card out to him  and I do hope to write some  encouraging  words on it for him and his  family!  

What have been your favorite blessings of the week?

FFF

Friday's Fave Five #829

Hosted by Susanne!

This  week has  completely flown by. I am starting to believe the Lord is speeding up time.. It seems I was just writing this post    yesterday...   Even so  this has been  rough week for me. I have an appointment finally to be seen by an ENT doctor regarding my  sinus  headaches and  inflammation.. Over the counter meds have been  a little helpful in    addressing the issues,  but  I do hope the doctor tomorrow can  address it completely  as I have  had this for some time!  

 

 We  had the most wonderful  day  with hubs on Saturday.  Our large Sunday school class  met at a lodge  on the  reservoir property  for a great  get to know  you  picnic..  Our class just merged with a much larger class and it  was  a bit hard to get to know folks.  We had a   such fun..  the food was  fabulous  but the  folks were all so much fun!  I am so  glad we went! 

I am  thankful  for the day of rest  I enjoyed on Monday... It was the first day in quite a while  that I had no where to go or be!   I really needed the rest  as I have had a sinus flare up,  a kidney stone and  a colonoscopy  planned in the next week as well as a knee replacement  soon after that!

Tuesday I did  go to the urologist and got the relatively good news that the stone is small enough to just watch it  til  summer,  so that is one  thing off my medical  list!!!   Yahoo!!!

Wednesday  I had my first  back therapy   to strengthen my back  toward the  knee replacement.  It wasn't exactly  my best  therapy session..  I  have allowed myself to become  quite out of shape..  Well,  my knee isn't that great.   I have my next  session  this afternoon  (Friday). Praying for a better  result!    I'll  let you know about this    after  the fact!!!

Thursday  I  hosted my prayer sisters  and  really enjoyed    preparing for it.  I made delicious  orange  cup cakes form the Duncan HIne Mix and  iced them with the    store bought  cream cheese icing.  Yum  they were so springy and  delish!!!  YOU c a see them in the photo ...

Our daffodils  have sprung up so quickly  so I was thrilled to have a reason to  cut some for the table.  And it was a joy to use my green transfer ware   for this tablescape.  Even in my mobility issues  hosting small events for dear friends is a sweet joy  for me..  Thank you, Lord for giving me the strength and the  ability to  do my best in showing love and   beauty  with my dearest  buddies!

Tomorrow I will  add a pS    regarding  my  ENT visit and the  next therapy session!    GOd bless you all!!   Thanks for visiting!!!
                                     

 This morning I had  my  visit with the ENT..  I met with a new  doctor and I liked him  very well!!!  Thank you, Lord

FFF

Friday's Fave Five #826

Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday and Friday's Fave Five.

I cannot believe how fast time is flying by.. But I must say.  after the back to back snow storms we  had last week this week  is swiftly  fading away  with the wind and the sun! Thank you, Lord.I have a  bereavement meal to  supervise and prepare for  last weekend  and I am  so  glad it is now behind me..  There  was quite a bit of stress  involved that  met me n a tailspin.  I believe at my age and health  I need to step down as leader and just  be a volunteer ...  My cheer has picked up this week with  moderating temperatures that seem almost like springtime!  I am so ready for spring, I have been  decorating spring all over the home!

So this has been a rather quiet week.  It has been great for  catching up as I really had gotten stressed out and not feeling well. One thin  that has me down is a sinus infection that I  took  last week into this week and it didn't  totally take care of it but it put my digestive track into a tizzy! I''ve been pushing probiotics and hoping things will  level off soon!!!Prayers for things to settle  down  soon!!!

I received  the sweetest  lengthy letter form our eleven year old granddaughter  this week.  What a joy that was! And sine then I  have  found out that  both she and our younger  grand  are taking  archery lessons!  At 11 and 9  they  certainly do get to  do some many things I never dreamed of at their age!

  Here you can see both girls .... our lefty in blue and our oldest  in a  white and blue  cap!

Tomorrow will be  America Pray Now  luncheon and prayer time for our city. I do hope to go and  spend  time over a lovely lunch with  some very dear friends. Again, I do  pray this sinus business will clear up soon!!!

I am truly blessed  by my dear hubby who is  preparing our dinner  tonight.!!  He is  a  dear  sweetheart!  Thank you, Lord!!

Friday Fave Five

Hosted by  Susanne

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  What a lovely Valentine's Day  here in the Mid Atlantic..  We  got a reprieve from the rain and snow  today!!  Thank you, Lord!!!

~Our Valentine's Day ~  Hubs and I decided to  dine out  today for breakfast. So we chose our favorite place,  The Toastery. It was pretty crowded by the time we arrived.. around 10am...  so we just  fell in line and waited  to be seated,  but it was lovely to see all the couples, young and old, enjoying their special breakfast out!!

 

~~Serving the Lord~ Lynn and I are committee chairs for  our Bereavement meals.. these are meals following  family  funerals where the family members return to church  for a lovely dinner provided by their friends at church! We have a meal in planning for midweek next week.  This  is a  very special family... the septuagenarian wife lost her husband and beloved sister on the same day, leaving her terribly bereft!   Today after breakfast hubs and I went shopping to collect   items to make the dining experience a bit more special. I like to create  lovely table settings, but on a budget..   So  you'd be surprised to see  what nice items one can find  at the Dollar Tree.  This meal will be serving 80 people which means 13  tables  jsut for seating. So this weekend Hubs and I will be working on  arrangements.. Thankfully there are  common  pieces  that  will be used  for meal after meal  but the  small  seasonal decor  does change. It was  really  fun for me to find something springy to lift the spirits of  those attending. I love this committee, and it is so wonderful to have folks from church call me regularly to sign up to bring  food items or volunteer to help at the events. What a blessing!

~God's Special gift to us~  Wednesday  winter  showed its  wicked head here in the Mid Atlantic  with  ice storms and   tons of freezing rain. Thankfully, we had  no damage and  the ice  was gone  by mid morning today so we were able to get out and about. But I do have dear friends who live at higher elevations who were hit very hard with the ice! Many dear friends  had  trees and large limbs down all around   and on top of their homes on  Wednesday night!.  Hubs  did drive up our dearest  buddies to help him with his  damage control.  Thank you, Lord for sparing us  and our home!

~A Convenient Supper~  Today while we were out we decided to stop at Zaby's to  try out their chicken strips.  We usually order chicken strips for  various locales as the meat for these   meals..  We usually get it at Krogers,  but someone suggested  this newer  place .So we drove by and purchased a chicken strip meal to  sample  and so Hubs and I each tried one  strip when he brought it back to the car..  It was  pretty good, but for the money Kroger's is still best.  But,  anyway,  the boxed lunch was loaded with 2 more strips, a  salad, and lots of fries, so whallah!  Instant supper!

~A New Way to Celebrate~  Well,  I am afraid  we have turned a corner in our married life.. This is the first time we did not share valentine's nor are we  dining out for  our   usual  dress up  dinner out! I suppose this happens to most couples who reach a certain age.. It's not that our love is fading, but our energy is.. I will say I still got my gorgeous red roses delivery and I hope that never falls by the wayside..  But we both decided our special breakfast  was most suitable for this older couple!

What have been the blessings in your life this last week?

Friday's Fave five

     Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This  is a meme   where we are sharing the blessings of the week.

This week  has flown by. ... as usual, it seems!!!   On Sunday we were so blessed. yet sad  to enjoy  our  last session with  our Connect group Leader who,  with his dear wife and our great friend, Cindy,  were leaving our church to  have  great impact in his  rural community where he  is a faithful   Christian  who shares the gospel every weekend.. He travels all over his  county  sharing the love of Christ with the lost  and  he and his wife are  going to start going to a local church where  he can minister   there as he brings new congregants in  each week..  We took them out for lunch following church last Sunday and we had such a great time.. I know this little setback will not  bring an end to our  friendship..  Thankfully,  they only live about 30 minutes away and it is right on my way to Hobby Lobby;  Cindy  can't wait for us to  do a  fall  shopping  visit, soon!  Monday- Thursday  were  free days for me  which was  great because  hubs  came down with a wicked  virus and   I was left to do   the chores that needed doing!!   He  has  helped a bit  carrying things to the basement , etc,, which helped tremendously.  Today he actually went to the  grocer.. I had planned to go  but  I did have an appt with the podiatrist and he whittled quite a bit on my feet and I just couldn't   stand the thought go going to the store..  So  I stayed home and   finished up  the  indoor chores including the laundry and started dinner..  We are having   homemade spaghetti and a lovely tossed salad for supper!   Smells so good!!Tonight I need to work on the   prayer team roster of names  addresses and phone no's.    So  I just about have it all done  and  ready to print out for our  prayer time tomorrow evening!  Corporate prayer is so important in these days! 

  I amso  thankful   for the  cooler days we have enjoyed.  In fact we may  dine out on the porch  in a few minutes..  I love this weather..  It will heat up again  come Sunday   for  all of next week,  then it appears to cool off again  the next week!.  Summer flew by  and Im sure  autumn will, too! But there are several great  church events and classes to  attended..  Plus, I cannot wait to get back into Community Bible Study    starting in September!    All is  great..  if  we can just stay well.!    God bless to all!!  

Friday Fave Five

     Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This  is a meme   where we are sharing the blessings of the week.I am so glad to be this far along with my   Moh's  surgery  recoup!  The stitches were  removed yesterday and  even though it is vertical  scar  down my forehead above my left eye,  I do believe the scar will   fade quickly  once the redness and soreness subside.  For now I have to keep  vasoline on it which is  a trick to keep it out of my hair..   but oh, my, it could be so much worse.  so I praise the Lord for His goodness and  care!

So, Sunday we went to Connect Group, instead of  the  main service,  since I was wearing my  facial bandage.  but my  CG  friends  were praying for me  and I knew I needed to show up! The  sad part is our leader   told us they were leaving the church because he  has a call on him to  share the gospel  all around his community.  He lives about 15 miles from church  and  he has a difficult time inviting folks to our church so far form  their home so  they decided to  start attending a  church nearer to their home.. This means our group will  probably disband and  fill in   on other groups.  We are all so very sad to see Dave and Cindy go,  but their reason is  very commendable.. And  actually we all need to pray for the courage and  desire to  share the gospel.  Time is  short and  we should not wish any to be lost in the Lord!

On Monday I spent my time   mainly around the house and   really cannot remember  anything of special  importance..

Tuesday,  I had a lovely morning..  Our summer  Community Bible Study group met  to   celebrate the end of the season  and  just get to know each other better.I really  have enjoyed this group and hope to  get to  see more of them this fall when I join the larger group  for the first time in about three years.  I am getting excited about it!

Wednesday afternoon I got my stitches out and I must say it does look  a lot better than I expected even if it is a vertical scar.  Thank you, Lord!

Thursday evening we attended  an amazing  monthly  meeting on  Biblical Prophecies  about the End Times.  The  Biblical evidence  is  very  clear  that we are watching the build up  of  events that lead   right up to the rapture.  This means that once  those who  have heard the gospel yet never made a confession of faith  will suddenly  be exempt from  choosing to follow Christ. Oh, my goodness.  that means  that the Christians (The church)  will be caught up suddenly in a twinkling of an eye   to heaven and  soon there after  on earth the most  horrible time of all time will  begin called the  Tribulation..  

You know   in the 50's and 60's  when I was coming of age  I would think of this  coming time  as  some kind of far away event that would  happen way in the future. I had been told about the tribulation   and  I was  rather horrified by it  but  thought well, that won't be for me or even in my lifetime. Funny, how fast time goes by.  and have you noticed that it seems time is really speeding by these days!  I was raised in the church  but  to be honest Im not sure I became a Christian until I was about 23  when I really made my confession of faith. MY life   ebbed and flowed   in and out of church..  But mostly in.... I  served in several capacities and   grew in knowledge. I am so blessed to have  been taught by amazing Bible Study teachers. But  my  most precious  treasure is knowing that when the last trump sounds  possibly in this coming  season of  fall feasts in October, or  next,,, I will be  rising right up to meet my Jesus in the air.  Awesome!

I  do  feel it imperative to share a bit   of the study we heard last night.. 

 Luke 21:28-33

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

This passage speaks of  many  terrible things coming to pass in Jerusalem and the world   all at the same time..    These things are mentioned in Luke 24  in the earlier verses!

• Wars and rumors of wars
• famine and  intense heat
• pandemics
• natural disasters  such as earthquakes     we are now seeing seismic  numbers  at the 7.-8. range
• hatred and murdering of the Jews
• division and lawlessness

Vs 8 in Luke 24  states  all these are the beginning of sorrows.  and in verse 34  "This generation shall not pass, til all these things are fulfilled....  that if we are living to see these things  in combination,  and do not pass   away  from natural causes,  we are the generation to see the  end!  And there are many   scriptures that  point to  things happening during the fall feasts , Feast of Trumpets,  Yom Kippur,   Feast of Tabernacles.   

I can   categorically say  that Christians  are  looking up for  our redemption draweth nigh! 

If you  haven't made a confession of faith I  strongly urge you to spend time looking into these matters.  Attend    church and speak with  the pastors..  Once  the rapture   takes place,   all opportunity    will be   gone.. for  if you have known about the Way, the Truth, and the Life and rejected it,    your chance   will have passed  you by once the rapture has taken place!  Then" Katy, bar the door," the tribulation  is no picnic!There is information on the right sidebar of my  page if anyone is interested   why   and how to  become a Christian!  Many friends   here  on the blog  are praying  you will  make the most important decision of your life!!!  God bless!

Fave Friday Five

     

     Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This  is a meme   where we are sharing the blessings of the week. I don’t know about you, but this week flew by!  

Haha, I started the week with a big boo-boo! At Sunday School, I made the error  in announcing that I’d like prayer for my Monday appointment at dermatology as I have a Moh’s surgery on my face, but my memory failed me, I actually have it this coming Monday. I dread going to church tomorrow without the facial bandage that this would have entailed. Thereafter, I will be confessing my poor memory  and have to request the prayers all over again.  But praise God, I do have a wonderful class who I know love me and will just shake their heads with a smile or a tease, and .I know their prayers will see me through on Monday!

Tuesday I had planned to go to Bible Study but I had a set back with my cold and cough from the week before!The cough just doesn’t want to go away.  I think it must be allergy related! 

Wednesday, as it was the end of July, and our pastor had sent out the birthday dates for those celebrating in August, I worked on the computer using Jacquie Lawson cards online to create birthday cards for about 10 great friends at church having August birthdays. I love to send these cards. Everyone so enjoys getting them. 

Thursday was a quiet day.  I watched a bit of the Olympics and tried to catch up on the Congressional investigations on the Trump assassination attempt.  The prayer list for our nation grows ever longer and longer these days.

Friday was Intercessors for America  prayer night. We meet every Friday night to pray for the nation and these days do spiritual warfare over our nation. 

I hope every one had a great week, and are enjoying a fine weekend with family and friends, God bless everyone!

Friday's Fave Five

Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This  is a meme   where we sharing the blessings   of the week  and this has been a lovely week for us.  First of all, we have enjoyed the wonderful weather, the colorful days of June have been amazing and such a blessing  as  hubs has been working so hard outside  repointing  or  adding new grout  to our   old  brick sidewalk,  but due to the weather  he has  been able to  get the job done in good stead  and we are very thankful!!  Our home was built in 1937 and  is a very well built  house,  which we  have  enjoyed working on   over the 38 years we  have lived here..  But the  brick walk out back had never been replaced as the front walk had, and  when we   power washed it the grout just came flying out!  It looks so much better now!!!

I am so thankful that  my dear friend, Gerri  with whom we attend   church,  but  whom I have, also, known  for over a decade,  encouraged me to  attend  her  summer  Bible Study.  This  group is  from the larger , well known Community Bible Study,  that she  has  been part of for years.. but this little study is a short term summer study  that she invited me to attend and it has been so wonderful.  I love the small group of ladies... we have the most dynamic discussion and  have grown together into a  great group just in the last three meetings..  and with only 3 more meetings   to come before  this study will end,, I am hopeful  we will continue on with another study thereafter!!!

I made contact with one of Lynn's cousins this  week.  We used to get -together every month  for dinner.,  along with three other families for dinner at various local restaurants. We really enjoyed it so much,  but once covid hit  we just  fell away.  This  cousin    I spoke with   is very anxious to  restart  our  times together and I am very hopeful that we  will  very soon get the whole group  back in the groove.  I think it is so important to maintain ties with  family   who  are also good friends!!!  Especially at our age!!!

Today, I had 3  beloved friends  in  for our  regular prayer meeting..  This time was my turn to host!  We  meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday  at each other's home  for  refreshment,  praise and  prayer.  I am so blessed that  these  happenings are as important to each of us and  we always set  the time apart for meeting!

I am   very excited about my new app on my phone... Merlin, sponsored by Cornell University.   When I go outside  to  just enjoy  nature and the  fresh air I take my phone and turn on Merlin.  The app  will listen for  bird song and do a bird id   and a whole list of birds  in  the general vicinity    will  gradually pop up.   The last time I  did this on the 10th of the month,  this list  eventually popped up....Song Sparrow, American Robin, House Sparrow,  American Crow, Chimney Swift, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker,  Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Red bellied Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay,  and Gray Catbird.The more I  do this  the more I am able  to recognize the bird song for each my favorite birds.  To be honest there are a couple on the list I do not  enjoy,  but  I do know  that they are  in our area!.  I love using this app to further the  work I can do in my nature journal!!!

Friday Fave Five

Hosted by Susanne!

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five.  This has been a very full and lovely week for us!  On Sunday following church  a new couple (friends) approached Lynn and I  and a long with  another couple with whom we  almost always  dine out  together after church ,  to  ask if they might join us.  We had  been asking them on occasion,  but it never  was  a good time.. It was lovely to  have Vicky and Dudley   along    and we went to Texas Roadhouse which  appealed to  all.   The conversation  was riveting ..  So many things that  matched our own lives.  I really  am rather  excited to  have  such a dear  new couple  interested in dining out together!!!

ON Monday our  best friends  and actually  the couple we always dine with invited her neighbor couple and us  to their mountain home  for   Memorial Day cookout..  She has  had us all in  now  for the last several years,  and it is perfection..  the views from her  inclosed  back porch are stunning and we always have so  much fun!  It is  a much  looked forward to treat  for us all!!!

Tuesday I went to our Bible Study group on Philippians…always terrific discussion, then from there I joined my “six sisters” from church at Mac and Bob’s for lunch. This is a group assigned by a committee to get women together for friendship and getting together in these small groups.  We are all older and really have a lovely time!

Wednesday, Lynn and I drove about an hour east of here ,  to visit my dearest elementary school friend, Vickie and her husband, Bill. We plan get togethers seasonally, She had us for a beautiful cook out on her gazebo.  It was a perfect day, and the food was amazing. 

It was a wonderful all day into the night visit!

 Thursday, today, was a rest day, and I did some cooking here. I had some fresh vegetables that needed cooking, so I fixed a lovely zero point dinner which I needed , for my weight watcher diet has been stretched to the limit this week!

Tomorrow, I will attend weight watchers but I may not weigh in.  It all depends on how things go. But the sessions are always very good! Following that, Lynn will pick me up and we go yet again to another luncheon where we meet at our favorite restaurant meeting room for America Pray Now with several men and women from various churches to pray for the nation; then we dine and socialize . It is a wonderful group that meets all around the State to pray.

 I have also been asked by a dear friend from church to come by her yard sale tomorrow. All proceeds will go toward her mission trip this summer. So..thus will conclude a wonderful week.  Things will settle down next week.  But we made some lovely memories this week.  Oh, btw, Saturday we drive about 2  hours up into the mountains to the home place of my mother’s family, to celebrate my maternal grandmother’s family reunion.. it has been years since we attended but I really look forward to going! So that’s it.  I look forward to hearing about other’s adventures!