Friday Fave Five

I'm joining in with Susanne of Living to Tell the Story to share my five favorite things in the past week.

1.  This has been a very  busy week...On Tuesday  we had a  great  day. One of my very best friends from  my early school days  and I have been  trying to get together for  a couple of years...  she and her husband live    about an hour  away...  not so hard, you say,   but we both live very  busy lives...Tuesday we  laid everything aside and decided to meet half way  for an amazing lunch! The following photo  was taken  from our  first grade group photo... my friend Vickie, was sitting on the front row and I on the row behind..  from the various  angles of our  seating  we look a bit incongruous,  but  I  will admit Vickie   was   a spritely and very  cute,  sweet  friend to me...  I lived a couple of blocks away and  I walked to her house  to pick her up and we continued on to school... another  5 blocks to  our elementary  school.

We got together this week for lunch at a renovated

 

old train station  about  30 minutes from each of us..
We arrived at 11:30  soon after they opened.. and  had such a marvelous time, it's a wonder they didnt scoot us out the door.. almost 4 hours later.  It  is  amazing how similar our lives have progressed... even our husbands' careers and work experiences  were  so  aligned... everyone  had a  wonderful time getting to know one another after 50 years.... and we  can hardly wait to  get together  again!

2.  Monday and Tuesday were cooler days and the humidity  was  much lower making for  temperate days for  working outside. How happy I was to  begin tackling the  garden   by the garage  that we see  every day coming and going.. it had  mastesized into a tangle of overgrowth of vines and weeds..

Nothing was blooming except theMorning Glories  that  had  been left to  take over the space.  Hubs actually surprised me by  taking on the far  left end of the garden  Monday evening.. Now the perennial mums  have a chance to  bloom and  share their autumnal glory! 

Then  it was easy enough to uncover the remaining sections  and  trim back  the lavendar that was  crowding out    the  statuary  I enjoy so much.

Here you can barely see the merest dot of color as the buds are beginning  to open. 

I love my little garden kids... our lil gardener and his  friend  really helped to quell the sting of  the empty nest  a decade ago... WHen the grand kiddies came along we added garden fairy lights   to  brighten  the  play area and  put smiles of wondering faces.

A couple of fall bedding plants  bring the garden back to life , await the  gold, crimson and  orange of the mums to come to full  bloom! 

3.  Last night our Sunday School class  met at  the Lake for a cook out.... true  the  high temps and  horrid humidity were back but the environs more than made up for our discomfort.

The pavillion is situated on a knoll over looking the lake  and the  whole area is absolutely beautiful..

This whole area is built upon a peninsula that juts out into the lake and the  shining water is seen almost in every direction.

Nearly every couple from class  attended and we had so much fun playing shuffle board,  croquet, and just sitting in the  shadows of the pavillion  and  sharing stories.

4. Some of my  most favorite  moments  were  when I took a stroll at dusk and captured some  gorgeous sunset water  shots.

I always   hoped and dreamed of living  by the lake someday.... but  the good  Lord had other plans for me... and I wouldnt change a thing...  but I  still love  a lakeside sunset!

5. This last  thing happened today...and it is all about me.... I  got my hair cut...  and it is quite a bit shorter than usual... but I really like it...

and with that I bid you  all adieu!

Friday Fave Fives

Sharing my FFF with  Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.
1.  Hubby and  celebrated the Chinese new Year a bit early  ...  stopping at  Sechzuan,  our favorite restaurant.. we  got there at  4:15...   and beat  the Friday night  crowd!!  I was hungry for  General's chicken...  hoping  its spiciness will  help clear up my  sinus and allergy woes!   


2.  Spent a   fabulous 90 minutes in praise and prayer this morning  with  our  transform  through prayer  group.....  I  absolutely  love   the praise music of Terry Macalmon... I first heard him when  he  worshipped at our  previous church....
 Our prayer leader  shares  his  cd's  at out    prayer gatherings...  I just think he is  so  precious and  anointed  ..

3.  Last night was the first meeting of the new  Lifeway  Bible study  I am  beginning....  and I had to miss it.  I  was  feeling so bad  and  feverish yesterday with this  sinus problem...

I do  really believe that    many of us who  are  attempting to interceded  against the wiles of the enemy are undergoing   terrible  warfare  with  the enemy... he will  really attack  you and thwart you  when you   step out in the open   in intercession..  so many   I know  are suffering  all  kinds of trials...   but we will   overcome...  I really need this  study...
Author's note: " bold, practical, and communicated in a way designed to set readers free from the negativity that erodes happiness. This new revision now includes study application questions in each chapter to help readers identify the attitudes of the heart that need change in order for God's abundance to flow."
I know that  when I  become bewildered over  things that are outside of my control, I sometimes have a very hard time seeing  God  at work...  behind the scenes  because  things  aren't lining up with  what I  think they  should be,  biblically,   righteously,  etc...  but  then I  must  give  my  heart and mind over to God  because He is the one    working ALL things for our good and  He may  allow things to happen  that  may not appear  to be    my way,,,  but that doesn't mean  they a re  wrong.. especially  because He is in control...  That is a real hard one for me....  my  hard head  cant seem to  wrap itself around that one....sometimes!! Anybody know what I'm talking about?
4.  Yesterday  our precious  new granddaughter turned one month old...  I cant wait to see her again... I had hoped to see her  yesterday on face time,  but things didn't  work out... I will content myself with  how  she looked the last time I saw her...

Here her older sister  is   being shown how to hold her... 

 Our precious lil  Cuddle bug....   she loves to cuddle!!!  Wish I was there  right at this moment...  cuddling with her!!!!!

 5.  Today while we were out we stopped  by Barnes and noble and  I found a  newer  Lynn Kurland  time travel book...    I just  love these  love stories..  she  keeps them  adventurous and not    steamy 

 She has  two  Scottish families   going the  MacLeod's and the De Piaget's. Mine is  from the  De Piaget line...  and it is best to read her books in  chronological order not the order in which they are written...Of course, the fact they a re  Scottish really  appeals to me...  I find  I really enjoy medieval   stories  very much....   I  am a true  romantic and love  chivalry!!!