What is unique about a moment that has the power to bless us and the potential to feed us is not so much the power of the moment itself, but rather the quality of presence we bring to that moment.
A Tree Full of Angels; Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary by Macrina Wiederkehr
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Hello, Friday! I can't speak for everyone who participates in Friday's Fave Five, but for me it's a lesson in how to be more present as I go through my days and to soak up those moments of joy. They come in all shapes and sizes. Here are a few from the week:
Church bells ~ The church down the street has the most beautiful bells that ring every Sunday before the 9 o'clock service. In the winter, when the house is closed up, I don't hear them. But last Sunday, I was outside working in the garden when the bells rang out. The sound was as clear as the blue sky, and it was as if they were heralding the arrival of summer.
Water aerobics outdoors ~ Class is meeting outside again for the summer. We skipped last summer because of Covid, so it was like old home week when we met up on Monday. It was so good to see familiar faces, and to start the day out in the sunshine working out to music.
Books ~ What would we be without books? I'm loving a new fiction book that I picked up for my Kindle on Amazon for only 99 cents (see sidebar). I mentioned a couple of weeks ago the book I'm reading with friends (quoted above). We finished our discussion over coffee on Wednesday. There is so much in it, it's so rich and full of meaning, that my copy is underlined from cover to cover. Second to reading a meaningful book is having friends to share its wisdom.
Alone time/Together time ~ Dan was away last weekend for the car race that I mentioned in last week's FFF. He and the team had a blast (no trophy), and are ready to go again in September. I usually LOVE having the house to myself to work on projects or just putter. This time, I found that it was a bit lonely at times. I made plans with some friends on Friday, and kept pretty busy all day Saturday. I found that I enjoyed the alone time, and was so grateful for the together time that Dan and I have now. He came home early on Sunday and we went to a graduation party. I am reminded that everything is temporary and to seize the moments of alone time and especially our time together.
New sofa ~ Yay!! After waiting for SIX months, our new sofa was delivered on Monday. This is for our basement which Dan made into a beautiful family room. The love seat arrived in May, the barstools came a couple weeks later. Now, the set is complete and we are hanging pictures and setting things in place. We celebrated with the new sofa by watching the last two episodes of a series we've been enjoying, McCleod's Daughters, on the big screen TV.
Bonus #6 ~ Roses are in bloom and the scent of lily of the valley wafts through the yard. The best time of year for gardening, when everything is new, and the heat and weeds haven't taken over yet!
Happy Friday everyone:)
That's a great list of faves. I enjoy being in the house on my own but I haven't slept in this new house on my own yet. Not sure how I'd feel about that. Have a good weekend Karen.
ReplyDeleteYes, we need the focus on our blessings. Someone else called it being a blessing hunter. I like that.
ReplyDeleteYay for getting your sofa. We finally received shipment on our two recliners. Still waiting for fencing...
Yes,alone and together times are both important.
I love that some churches still ring bells. It's great you got to get back to water aerobics. I had a similar situation with alone time this week. My husband had to travel overnight for the first time in a long time. I was looking forward to some time alone, but then didn't quite enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. I want to be able to enjoy the time together when we have it and the time alone when I have it and not constantly wish for the opposite of whatever I have. Yay for the new sofa and being able to put the basement room together.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good week!
ReplyDeleteHaving friends enjoy discussing a book with me does not often happen. It's great to have like-minded friends.
Alone time is good - and so is couple time! It's great you had both.
I'm a big fan of church bells. A little town 8 miles over has them. I wish I could hear them at home!
We have church near our neighborhood that rings their bells
ReplyDeletedaily at specific times. They are so comforting.
I think we have spent so much together time with spouse that we think
time on our own will be great. Mr. Ken goes to the office on Monday's
so I thought I would enjoy the time while he was at work, all it
did for me for awhile was confuse my rhythm. We'll see how this Monday
works.
New furniture is awesome. Enjoy.
Have a great weekend.
M : )
yay for church bells and new furniture!
ReplyDeleteThat's really neat that you do a water aerobics class outside!
I am SO READY For my husband to go back to his office. He is still working from home....UGH...not that it matters REALLY as I teach outside the home but with my 10 days of vacation coming up at the end of the month, I'd like to be able to thoroughly clean the upstairs but his home "office" is in our bedroom so.....
guess I'll just have to go to hte lake alot and on hikes until he is free. HAHAH...
I love that quote you have at the top of the post. GREAT.
Church bells are wonderful. No churches around here ring bells, that I can hear. I love that you got some new furniture. I would like to replace a couple of chairs in our living room, but hubby still finds them perfectly fine and very comfortable. Me not so much. I love to read and enjoy it when a friend reads the same thing and we can talk about it. I would like to get back into a book club or two. They are fun. Hope you have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo many fun things to think about. I ordered two new sofas a few weeks ago, they are due in to be delivered in October! I have to get some painting done so that timing is not bad. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet list of blessings - church bells, time alone, a new couch, roses - and a book! That, my friend, is a good life! Shalom ~ Maryleigh
ReplyDeleteI love that...being more present through your days! For me, being on autopilot is too easy to fall into. I love the smell of Lily of the Valley! I don't think I've heard church bells since I was a kid. No church around here rings them anymore that I know of. How nice that your family room is all finished now and can be enjoyed! How fun to have a group of ladies to discuss a book like that. While my ladies group always used to do studies, I basically had a group of mostly non-readers and discussions were hard when half had not read the chapter.
ReplyDelete