On the Road Faves

 Hello!  I'm writing this very late on Friday night.  I just wanted to check in and let everyone know we are  okay.  Our trip is going well.  In fact, we have just spent five wonderful days in Arizona visiting PAL and her parents.  Oh the memories we have made.

I really don't have time to write down all the blessings of this time with Chaplain Dan, J's and PAL (and many other family and friends here). Let me just say that  many many more than five faves should be mentioned.  But here are five fast faves.

1.  Safety in all the hundreds of miles we have traveled.

2.  Watching PAL's theater rehearsal.

3.  Listening to PAL sing during practice time in Arizona Girl Choir.

4.  Lunch with long time college friends.  Coffee with J's parents.

5.  Singing many hymns and other songs with the family.

No photos.  Sorry.  I'll be back on regular schedule next week.

Friday Fave Fives, Easter Week

 Happy Easter Week!  And Happy Friday.  These faves for Friday Fave Fives will be really short because we are traveling.  I'll do my best to be around and comment on blogs, but it's not going to be easy.

1.  Road trip!  We've had this trip planned for quite awhile.  Dates got moved around, but now we are on our way!

2.  We were able to spend two nights in Arkansas with some very dear friends.  Our time with them was spent laughing and talking and singing nonstop.  It was wonderful!

3.  Also, we were able to connect with former co-workers from our mission days in Indonesia.  All the memories and stories and conversations.  I am so thankful we were able to spend that time with them.

4.  Safely on our travels.

5.  Today is Good Friday, the day Christians observe and commemorate the dead of Jesus.  As a Christian, I always love and honor this day and  Resurrection Sunday. My faith is founded on the fact that Jesus' sacrifice of his own life is my only way to salvation and life with God.  For that I am most thankful.

PS:  I am sure you have noticed that there are no photos of the road trip.  Yeah, I forgot my camera!

April Showers, Birds and Hikes

It's been a busy time here at Willow's Cottage and this is the first post I've written all week.  Time to catch up and think about the good parts of the week.  Friday Fave Fives really helps me do that.  Susanne at Living to Tell the Story leads us in choosing five things from our week that have helped us to be thankful and notice gratitude.  Here are mine:

1.  Encouraging words from friends concerning a difficult situation.  I meet weekly via zoom with friends.  We call ourselves the Art Girls (you can guess why).  Because I was stressed about something, they encouraged me and really helped me focus on the right way to handle things.

2.  The birds are back in force at my bird feeder.  I love watching them snack on the seeds I provide for them.  Birds make life happier and make me smile.

3.  More hikes.  It really is spring!  On Tuesday evening, the Trail Life troop hiked in a local preserve again.  Although it had been raining quite a bit this past week and the creek was up, we ventured through the mud and water, up and down the banks of the stream and had a great time.  (I'm the honorary grandma who hikes with them)  The best part?  Tall Boy was very solicitous for my safety as we crossed creek beds on rocks and climbed up slick and muddy edges, even holding my arm and escorting me along in front of his buddies.  Then we also had a fun hike at the local arboretum again.  Almost three miles.

4.  I guess I should be thankful for all the rain we are having.  April showers bring May flowers.  I need to just focus on being thankful that we aren't in drought.

5.  The spinning wheel is out and I've been working on some merino and silk fiber.  No photos yet.  But hopefully, in the next day or two I will have finished a skein of it.

Now I am off to watch my older daughter (she who is a rocket scientist) dance in the local production of Swan Lake.  Happy Happy Friday to you all.

Rainy and Sunny April, Fave Fives, Take One

Happy Friday to you!  I am writing my Friday Fave Fives while staring out the windows at a very grey sky loaded with clouds filled with rain and more rain. But the daffodils and grape hyacinths are blooming and the grass is green in the back garden.  There is always beauty and gratitude in the midst of grey and rain.  That's why I write out my five choices of gratitude every week.  It helps me stay focused on the sunshine of life.  I hope it helps you, too.  Susanne, as always, is faithful to lead a group of bloggers in posting our FRIDAY FAVE FIVES.

1.  Our grandson arrived home safely after his spring break trip to Seattle to visit his other grandparents.  He had the best time!

2.  A good visit with my Primary Care Doctor.  I appreciate how she listens to me and takes the time to explain and even write down information for me.

3.  I am so thankful for some sunny days this past week.  Because we have had lots and lots of rain, the sun and warmth have been especially appreciated.  In between the rainstorms, we were able to take a long walk/hike with the grand-dogs (and the daughters) at our local arboretum.  And I was also able to begin working in the garden beds, clearing debris and pulling some weeds.

4.  One morning, Nurse Daughter and I enjoyed a visit to our locally owned garden nursery.  We wandered around and checked out all the plants and seeds, picked a few to bring home, and even found a couple of cute garden ornaments on sale.  There's not much that's more fun than wandering among plants with your daughter.

5.  It's definitely spring! Our beekeeper guy met with us and a neighbor to discuss bee hives and all the details about keeping your own hive.  Then one afternoon, he came out to our house and checked our hive.  Best news is that it is thriving and we will be able to add another hive box to provide our daughters with their own hives.  More hives!  More honey!

I do hope you are encouraged and are thankful for the many ways you are blessed this first week of April.