Friday Favorites

It's been a little while since I've participated in a Friday's Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story and I thought I'd hop back in again this week. It's a good time to sit back and reflect on five of your favorite things (i.e., little or big blessings!) that happened over the course of the past week. Here are some things that were and are particularly meaningful to me at this time:

1. We are now down to the FINAL MONTH OF PREGNANCY! (That could likely be numbers 1-5 on the list right there!) Very ready to be done. Very thankful that the end is very reasonably in sight! (Can I hear a hallelujah and amen!?) One more month and then the general population can stop commenting on my size! (You have no idea what a mental and emotional relief this will be!!)

2. I'm grateful for books and movies which help to pass the time. That might not seem like a very big deal, but when you can't move around a lot it's nice to have things that keep you company, keep you engaged, and keep you thinking about something other than pregnancy. We recently finished watching John Adams miniseries which was interestingly good. I'll have more to say about that later but in the meantime, I recommend it. (Thanks to the friend who pushed it in the first place!)



I've been watching documentaries and saw the Nanny McPhee movies (didn't care for those much) and, uh, if you read this blog - you know I've been reading!

3. This should be up higher on the list but I'm particularly grateful for my husband who has been doing double-time at home, taking care of (and playing with!) the kids when I'm out of steam and can't move. He has been making lunches and dinners and cleaning up afterward and does it all without complaint! He never makes me feel guilty as I close the bedroom door and collapse for naps. I have a fantastic husband.

Speaking of which, way back when - when we were getting to know one another while taking ballroom dance classes - we used to waltz to this particular song which I liked then but like much better now. It was stuck in my head the other day and I was remembering. This song was becoming true "way back" then. It's very true now.



(This is still my hands-down favorite song to waltz to. Makes you feel like you are flying in oh so many ways!)

4. Aaron Keyes. He's my "new discovery" in the world of contemporary Christian music. I've been enjoyed his song "Psalm 62" and when I started following the Youtube suggested links to his other music, I found that I liked it! His lyrics are solid and his devotion to truth obvious. I've never heard his songs played on the radio although they should be. It feels like I found my "other SCC" (i.e., I know I can buy an album and not be disappointed - or infuriated - by lack of substantial truths.) After listening to the Youtube videos, I tracked down a copy of his album, Not Guilty Anymore.




He has interesting hair, to be sure, but if you haven't given him a listen, I recommend him. Close your eyes if the hair bugs you. He wrote a blog post re: having Concrete Foundations (linked) in choosing worship music. He requires his students to list 10 Bible verses to back up the lyrics of any song that they want to sing in a worship setting. That's admirable. Love it! Wish more worship leaders would do the same thing for themselves and anyone on their team.

This is his song "To Make Your Name Great" which I discovered on my Youtube binge.



5. A couple of date nights here in the not-too-distant past. We haven't had very many in the past few months and I kinda didn't realize it. Then we had a babysitter lined up for twice in one week! What are we to do with our sweet selves!? First, went to go see The King's Speech in the theater. (Loved it.) Then we went to go and see comedian Tim Hawkins perform and that was a hilariously good time! One and a half hours of solid-and-very-much-needed laughter. We were so grateful for the blessing of being able to get away by ourselves for a few evenings. I don't anticipate that happening very much in the next few months as we adjust to life with a newborn so we'll take what we can get and be enormously happy with it!

What about you? What things are you grateful for this week?

Thanks, Susanne, for faithfully hosting and reminding us to look back and be grateful for the "little" things, as well as the big things, that God sends our way.