In the busyness leading up to Christmas at the end of this month of December, let's pause and continue to be thankful as we were in November.  Giving thanks isn't just of Thanksgiving week.  It's a daily exercise.  Friday Fave Fives helps me focus on that.

1.  I had the week off last week.  It was wonderful to have a few extra days to just relax and rest.  The Professor called it having three days of Saturdays in a row.  In fact, I completely forgot that Friday was Friday until it was Saturday and didn't post any Fave Fives although I did complete the November Thankfulness Thirty Days of Gratitude posts.  I think we needed those rest days.

2.  One afternoon we decided to take 'a real walk'.  We drove to the university and hiked in to an area along a (mostly dry) creek, past the abandoned dairy buildings and into the hills.  It was great to 'take a hike'.  As always, I love finding the flora of our mediterranean climate although there isn't much in bloom in the mountains right now.

California daisy (maybe the chocolate daisy?)

Fennel

Where we were hiking, we could still see evidence of the fire which swept past our house and through these hills all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  That was two and a half years ago, and we still haven't had any rain to replenish what was burned.

3.  I've often mentioned my wonderful friend and former TA who is now a co-teacher.  I woke up with a headache and knew I'd need extra coffee at class to help me combat it and function well. So what did I do?  After I was in my classroom, I called and left her a message.  Her reply text was, "Latte is a comin!"  She knows what I like and truly blessed me.

4.  Recently I was invited to join a prayer shawl knitting/crocheting group.  It meets only once a month, so it doesn't take up too much time.  I am thoroughly enjoying becoming acquainted with the ladies in the group--people I would likely have never met any other way.  Each month, my friend asks me a knitting question which challenges me.  This time it was, "How do you make a central double increase?"   Hmmmm, we looked at youtube videos, we consulted, we practiced.  I think we got it.  And I learned something new.

5.  A need was expressed in our Adult Bible Fellowship class.  It was a simple request from the 'secretary' who sends cards and encouragement to people who have been sick or absent.  When we found out that she had been paying for supplies and stamps, I asked if there was money in the church budget for it.  The result?  People simply handed me rolls of stamps and bags of cards which they generously gifted to the cause.  These acts of kindness encouraged me.  It was a small thing, but I loved how people simply stepped up and helped.

What blessed you this past week?