Thursday, February 19, 2015

More February Fave Fives

How was your week?  Can you even watch the news any more?  I take a deep breath and focus and CHOOSE to be thankful, to not take life and beauty for granted.  Friday Fave Fives helps me do that.  Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for providing this venue each week.

1.  After almost completely ignoring my garden for the past several months, this week I have been able to spend a bit of time out there.  This is what I found.  The first California Poppy is blooming in my garden!


The lavender and Point Sal sage are growing chummy and attracting the honeybees.



2.  I have been knitting through several skeins of wool yarn.  Around here in SoCal, people don't wear wool.  It's too hot.  So this yarn is being made into hats to give away.  I'm almost done.  Eleven more hats finished.  The fave is really double--I use up my stash and I can bless other people.





3.  Lent began this week.  It had kind of sneaked up on me, and I wasn't prepared.  Usually I choose something to 'give up', to focus my attention somewhere.  On Thursday, I was still pondering it when I had an interaction that brought everything together.  A young man who lives on the other side of the world and who I have never met in person has been part of our lives for more than ten years because we sponsored him through secondary and technical school in his home country.  Now he lives a long way away and keeps in contact with people through our amazing world wide access to social media and other internet venues.  My communication with him deeply touched my 'mother's heart' and I immediately realized that my Lenten focus is supposed to be increasing my prayer times for my children and grandchildren, including this grown up orphan who is making his own way in the world.  Having found an unused notebook, I decided to write the Bible verses which I am praying for them.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I can do this small thing for the children of my heart.

4.  I know that I have mentioned my TA and how much I enjoy her.  But she just keeps on blessing me each week with her attitude, her conversations, her talent in helping in class.  How can you not love a coworker who enters the room and exclaims, "I'm so happy to be here this morning!"  And she brought me a scone and an Americano.

5.  A little love from Phoenix showed up in my messages.


So that was Willow's Week!  So full of blessings!

19 comments:

Faith said...

What a wonderful list of faves for you this week! Guess what? I was on FB the other day, and the woman you made the hat for who has been struggling with cancer, had it on!! There was a photo of her and her hubby. She is doing well, praise be to God. And my daughter wore hers last weekend when we had a lunch date. I should have taken a photo!!! I'll try to get one. Your grandbaby is simply adorable and I love your idea for Lent. I need to pray more consistently for my children too and for some of their friends. thanks for the reminder!!

Monica said...

Right about now I am wishing for some color in my world. It's so...WINTER that I am so looking forward to colorful days ahead.
What a beautiful joy from AZ! That would bright the darkest of days! :)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Would love some of those hat patterns! :) I think I can I think I can!

Ann said...

You make beautiful hats!!

Gattina said...

No flowers showing up in Belgium, it's still too cold. Your knitted bonnets are beautiful !
Cute picture of your little granddaughter !

Penny (A Penny For Your Thoughts) said...

What a beautiful list for the week :)

Jerralea said...

Your colorful hats are so lovely! How kind of you to make them for others.

I love the idea of a notebook with scriptures and prayers for each child and grandchild. I'm going to copy your idea!

Susan said...

I love the idea of writing down the scripture and prayers for your children. I have been thinking about that for awhile. I have been asking God to show me how to pray for my kiddos. So far I have 2 verses for my daughter. It is so exciting to see how perfectly God knows and loves our family members.

LOVE the knitted hats - so colourful.
The recipients will be blessed indeed to receive them.

CA poppies are my fave indigenous plant.

Have a GREAT week, Willow.

Barbara H. said...

So nice to see blooming things - we have had snow and ice all week with more predicted for tonight.

The hats look nice!

I love that you still keep in touch with this young man after his schooling is over.

Your TA sounds like a dream. Love the photo of your little sweetie at the end.

ellen b said...

Oh that precious little Phoenix baby! She is so so cute!
Great choice for Lent!!

Karen said...

Wonderful list! Your TA sounds like a gem!

The poppy photo is so beautiful. And that baby! OMG, those cheeks! So beautiful.

I found myself nodding my head in agreement. The news has been so discouraging. I'm grateful for exercises like FFF to remind me that gratitude must prevail.

nikkipolani said...

What nice blessings this week, Willow! I love that your TA is so enthusiastic. Makes all the difference to start the day like that. Beautiful spring blooms in your area.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking the time to post your week in such an encouraging format. I loved the hats, Mary

Unknown said...

What a great week!! Those hats are darling! I'm praying that you'll have a great week.

Susanne said...

What sweetness in that last picture! Such a cutie! Love those hats, you have been a busy gal. I have a special place in my heart for your California poppies. We used to call them "Nagymama's" (grandma's) flowers because my parents had brought some seeds from her garden in Hungary in 1970 when we visited. It was the only time I saw my grandma.

Mereknits said...

You are so lovely my friend.
Hugs,
Meredith

Brian said...

Hello Willow, beautiful blog, beautiful flowers and knitting.

Brian

Deb J. in Utah said...

I love the little knitted hats and that you are using them to bless the lives of others. That is so great that you have helped that young man along in the world. I love to do just that same kind of thing whenever possible. I love your garden. I great TA truly is a blessing. I just found out that mine got in a fight on campus this morning so I'm on my own for a while...Your grandbaby is just darling. Grand kids are the best! Mine are far away in Utah and Maryland. Have a great day and thanks for always visiting my blog with happy, positive comments! Have a great week and a blessed Lent.

Julene said...

One week full of gratitude leads to another! You have much to be thankful for!! :)

Melanie - Author/Editor/Publisher said...

Those flowers are beautiful!!! We can hike here in upstate NY now....just with a lot of snow!! Great pics!!

I've never tried knitting; my sister has but I never tried. Maybe I'll add that to my “must dos”!!! Those hats are great!!

What an adorable baby :)