Midwinter Friday Faves

Happy Friday!  Willow's Week was mostly quiet with a few bursts of energy.  In midwinter, that is probably the best way to gratefully walk through a week.  These are my Friday Fave Fives (the link will connect you to Susanne's blog where you can read more or join in).

This week I finished reading a book titled Simple Ways to Be More With Less by Courtney Carver.  At the very end of the book there was a section written by guest writer Joshua Becker about Prayer and Gratitude.  I loved his closing statements and feel they are worthy to be quoted here and used for my first three faves because they have encouraged and challenged me over and over this week. 

1.  "Another benefit of prayer in your life is that prayer leads to gratitude.  Gratitude leads to contentment."  

2.  "Unfortunately, we live in a culture that preaches discontent.  A consumer-driven culture will always attack gratitude.   If they can sow seeds of discontent in our lives, they can sell us on their new product line or latest version with new improvements.  In contrast, those who can find gratitude in their current existence will be less influenced by those empty promises."  

3.  "Gratitude grounds us and focuses our lives on others."

4.  Sunshine and somewhat temperate weather filled me with joy and gratitude this week.  We took several walks in the sunshine, one of them at the local arboretum.

5.  Finally, I read a book this week that challenged me.  Titled Safer Than A Known Way, it is an autobiography of a young woman who worked with Brother Andrew and was also the companion and caregiver for Corrie Ten Boom at the end of her life.  I highly recommend it.

6.  Yes, I have an extra this week again.  Younger Son's birthday was this week.  He was my miracle baby as I was sick with malaria when he was born.  We both lived.  And for that too I am grateful.

Wasn't he the cutest six year old in the world?

Five Quotes to Contemplate

I am out of town right now taking a watercolor painting class (yes, it's true!). 

where I am

 (don't worry; The Professor is home keeping everything safe.)

But even so, I wanted to participate in Friday Fave Fives.  Here is the link to Susanne's blog and directions for how to post your own FFFs.  So here are five quotes I've been thinking of lately.  I share them with you so you can contemplate the truth and beauty of them.

1.  A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot.

2.  Act justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with your God.

3.  Sow the seeds of good health with a generous dose of gardening.

4.  Do something every day that makes you happy.

5.  And The Professor's favorite:  Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.

After I return, I will catch up with you all.  Happy Weekend!

October Fridays, Take Three

Friday Fave Fives

shared through Susanne's blog--see the link up above.

Willow's Week in the Wilderness and at Home

1.  As I stated a week ago, I was out of routine this week.  My adventures involved a solo drive across the Arizona desert.  Really and truly, I don't mind the seven hour drive.  I cranked up Celtic Woman Christmas and The Messiah and sang along.  Since we do this trip from coastal California to middle of the Arizona desert on a regular basis, I know the rest areas, the coffee stops and the cheap gas stations.  And I'm thankful for safety on the highways.

2.  What always amazed me is the beauty of the desert.  (Yes, it was HOT. Fortunately, my car has good AC.)  The desert has its own wonders and I enjoy soaking in the colors and terrain.  The sparse but beautiful foliage with a green all its own.  The majestic and rugged mountains and mesas.

3.  The reason for my visit was to help celebrate this girl's second birthday!  Check out her cake--the girl loves Mickey and Minnie!

She loved driving the ice cream truck at the pizza place.

Her newest friends are Donald and Daisy.

Even big two year old girls can get tired.  The best way to sleep is to snuggle with all your friends.

4.  It was a great visit.  I had one on one quality time with both my son (Chaplain Dan) and his wife.  And of course,  PAL and I had fun, too.  I visited the yarn section of a store with family members and brought home enough yarn to make two more Weasely sweaters and an afghan. (More on those later)

5.  Back home and settled in after sleeping and sleeping, I've been catching up on some reading since this week it has been too hot to be outside much.  (Yes, it was unseasonably hot and super windy due to the Santa Ana Winds which I probably brought home with me from the desert.)

In one of my reading books, I came across this statement.

My quote of the week!

"There is no dignity quite so impressive,

and no independence quite so important,

as living within your means."

President Calvin Coolidge