Friday's Fave Five #84

Hurrah! It's Friday!  Time to look back on another wonderful week.

1.  This time of year, I so love to see beautiful fresh-cut flowers!  These are all from the garden of Ludine, an amazing 89 year old lady who works in our church library. She arranged them herself and left them on my desk for me to enjoy.  There is honeysuckle included in the bouquet. Mmmhmmm ... delicious!

2.  This week is Administrative Professionals week.  I received this beautiful bouquet from friends, Don and Alma.  They are always so appreciative of the work I do.

3. A load off my mind:  A task that I had been unable to complete finally got done this week.  Ahh!  The feeling of freedom is so sweet .  (I've written about this before - why do I do these things to myself? Procrastination is evil!)

4. A step further in my calling.  For a long time now, I have had the dream of being a speaker and an author for the Lord.  I was asked to speak at midweek services.  Even though I've been teaching for over five years, it feels different to speak in the sanctuary. (For one thing, you don't get participation like you do in a classroom setting.)  I was nervous because I was afraid that I would just end up reading my notes and be done in 5 minutes, but it  worked out very well.  I managed to talk for 20 minutes and only lost my breath a couple times!

5. Quote of the week:  You knew it was coming!  I just have to share quotes, and I love this one because it speaks to my dream of being a speaker and writer:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination and hard work make the difference." -- Calvin Coolidge

I hope you had a wonderful week.  Please consider going to Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and linking up to share about YOUR favorite five highlights of the week.

Friday's Fave Five #83

Wow! It's been a fast and furious week and it's hard to believe that it's Friday already.  You know, last week's Friday's Fave Five post bothered me a little because it seemed to focus so much on material things.  I do NOT believe in materialism, I don't think that is what this life is all about. However, sometimes God just blesses us in this way and I certainly want to give Him praise for material blessings.

This week, in between all the deadlines at work, meetings at night, preparation of meals and just day-to-day tasks, I really focused on some important things to me:

1.   I just had joy in living!  One of my favorite scriptures is John 10:10, Amplified Version:

"...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

In the midst of my busy-ness, I felt flashes of pure joy.  I am so blessed and it is a favorite thing for me to realize it!

2.  Time with my hubby:  This past Saturday, my husband and I took a little road trip to a town about an hour away.  (We wanted to see how our van drove on the interstate - it was awesome.)  We had a great time of visiting, did a little shopping and ate at one of our favorite restaurants.  It was great!

3.  Enjoying the beauty in nature:  I am loving springtime and the flowering trees!  In my area, the purple flowered trees (don't know what they are called) are blooming everywhere.  All the dead-looking trees now have leaves on them. My drives to and from work, church and meetings have been enjoyable just because of the scenery.

4.  I love it when my lawn gets mowed!  Yesterday, Jim mowed our grass and the yard looked so nice.  I love the smell of fresh-cut grass.  Bonus:  my hydrangea that looked so brown and dead has popped out all over with green leaves.  Can buds on the branches be far behind?

5.  I've received much inspiration this week and hope to be sharing in upcoming posts. For today, I will share a new favorite quote:

"Mess causes stress. Getting your home in order will help you get your life in order. " Kathy Peel from Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy Organized Home

I hope you had a fun interesting week.  Why not join in and share about it at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story?

Friday's Fave Five #82

It's Friday! Time for one of my favorite blog parties, Friday's Fave Five. This is the time to reflect on my week and choose five highlights.

1. Like so many of you, last weekend was very busy.  In spite of the busy-ness, I took time out to do an Easter craft. (I love me some crafts, but since I began working two jobs, I rarely make any.)  I was inspired by Lori at Life As Lori to make Easter egg topiaries.  Pictured below is my attempt.

The sad thing is that I didn't buy enough materials to have my creations look like Lori's.  You can see hers here.  So, I had to make do with what I had because I would have had to drive 24 miles to get more supplies.  (Story of my life--that's the joys of living in the sticks!)

My next four highlights all happened on the same day!

2.  On Tuesday, our new computers were delivered!  Recently, I had gotten a new computer at work, but now we got two new ones for home.  (We usually buy something for the home once a year and this was it.)  In our family, delivery of new computers is definitely a red-letter day! Now, I should be able to blog more often. (If only I could buy more hours in my day ...)

3. Next, I took off work to go with my hubby to test drive a new vehicle.  We ended up buying a new-to-us Chrysler Town & Country van.  We missed driving a van - we've had a car for the last five years.  Now, I've more space for yard-saling ... and for going to Florida! (I'll post a picture later.)

4. Our monthly "going out to eat" with our extended family.  Since Jim's mom passed away, his brothers and sister all agreed to making it a priority to go out to eat with each other once a month so that we could keep in touch.  All our lives are so packed with activity that if you don't schedule getting together time, it won't happen.

5.  Last thing that happened Tuesday was that my sweet hubby went while I was at a meeting and picked up my new shoes that I had ordered.  I don't often order shoes, but I was blessed - they fit!

How did your week go?  Link up at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story and share.

Random Dozen - Chicken Edition

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?

I, myself, am not crazy for them, but my kids. Have. To. Have. Peeps.  It's not Easter without them.

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
I listen to Praise and Worship Music. I hear that some "chicken ranchers" play music in their henhouses to calm the chickens ...

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
I enjoy a gentle spring rain when I can stay home and curl up with a book.  I dislike deluges on the days I'm getting groceries.  Slinging sacks of provisions into a wet cart and then loading them into a trunk dripping water onto my head is not my idea of enjoyment.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
I would rather die than have a tattoo.  (Sorry for expressing strong feelings.)

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
See answer #4.  Ditto for nose rings. 

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
We do have certain traditions for Easter.  I always get the fam a new outfit to wear to church for Easter Sunday.  I always do Easter baskets even though the kids are grown. I just buy them peeps, some sort of chocolate, and one gift.  We always have ham and hawaiian bread for dinner.  We always dye Easter Eggs (well, I dye them - the kids don't like to do it.) Then I put them in my cut-glass bowl that is shaped like a basket and admire them.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
Reese


8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
My table set with my favorite dishes and salad fixings just because I thought it looked pretty.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
Robert Whitlow's "Greater Love."  I just love Robert Whitlow books. (He writes fiction about Christian attorneys.)

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
Washing windows ... I've always hated that.

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
2 pair, one of which is barely broken in... I'm not really a flip-flop person

12. Which color makes you happiest?
Yellow!

To join in randomness, visit Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.