Friday's Favorite Five - First of 2012 Because I did not notice it was Friday last week.

If you look down at my "Busy Week in Photos" post, you will see how it was that I forgot what day it was 7 days ago.

This week, being a little quieter, I have actually looked at the calendar a few times.

Each Friday, a group of ladies link up on Susanne's Blog to list 5 things that made us smile or blessed us in the past 7 days.   Why not click on over to her blog for instructions on 'how to join' and  make this exercise part of your weekly habits this year?

For me, since I missed posting last Friday, some of my blessings come from the first week of 2012 and some will come from the second week.

1.   I recieved an email from an old friend awhile back.  The subject line said "Thank you for the gift".  I wondered at that, because we had certainly not sent this friend a gift - at least, not in the last 20 years or so.  The email proceded to recount that when he became a grandfather he was at first uncomfortable with being alone with his grandbabies.

Then, one of them had to remain in hospital for a couple months.  Since his job was the most flexible of any in the family, he was able to spend hours every day or so with the baby.

Here is what our friend writes. . . . .  "I probably wouldn't have bothered visiting [the baby] in the hospital so much, after all there are people at [the hospital] whose job it is to hold babies, and I wasn't that good with kids anyway. But I remembered you guys getting me to hold Jennifer and how important it was that she have contact with people that loved her during her short life so I thought the least I could do was hold my own grandchildren. Now I spend as much time as I can with the kids and enjoy every minute of it.


So following through with the principle of giving love to little ones 25 years later has immensely enriched my life. So thanks for the gift of giving love."

I was so touched when I read this note.  I cried - and I cried again just now, re-reading it.

He did not have to share with us that our experience in 1988 with our baby girl had anything at all to do with his own experiences in the last few years, yet he did.  

And we were blessed.

2.  Seeing my son be interested in and participate in his wife's hobby and seeing her take interest in and participate in his hobby.   Such a joy to see them share these things with each other.

3.  When Kaden and Ava were getting their boots on to leave last week, after being here for 2 days, Kaden turned to me and said "I'm going to miss you, Gramma".   Not to be left out, Ava called up "I'm going to miss you, Gramma".  

How could that NOT make my week?

4.  My hubby is home this week.  

5.  I had reason last weekend to be SO thankful for the way my children raise/discipline my grandchildren.  I was exposed to a child who made being around him very unpleasant.   I'm so thankful that my kids are not afraid to train their children so that they are polite, well behaved, obedient little people who are fun to have around. 

Since I missed last week, I'm using that as an excuse to continue on, past the 'suggested' five .......

6.  The blessing of my DIL, Krystal.

Last week, when I made an unexpected trip to Killam to visit my #1 son who had been admitted to hospital, she stayed at my house longer than planned in order to take care of Kaden and Ava (whom I was 'babysitting' at the time).  Then, she came back the next morning to look after them again so that I could go to town for an appointment.

This week, after Kathryn and Vinj had endured 2 nearly sleepless nights due to children with very high fevers and at least 3 trips to the ER, Krystal called Kath and said "Don't worry about supper tonight, I'm bringing it over for you".  Not only did she bring supper, she brought a birthday cake for Seth, a box of oranges, a bag of grapes, a boquet of flowers, and some Mackintosh Toffee.  (Daniel had something to do with some of those things, as well)

Such a blessing to see my kids taking care of each other.

7.  My "Salt and Pepper Twins", Seth and Kaden turned 4 years old this week.

Here they are, at one week old - their first meeting.  (Kaden was born 24 hours after Seth - almost to the minute, but in a different city.  They also weighed in exactly the same at birth.)

They shared a party for their second birthdays......

And here they are at Seth's party this past Saturday.



They look so grown up!

These two boys have been SUCH a blessing in our family and I thank God for both of them.

8.  Seth called me last night, just to talk.  And boy, did he talk!  All about the animals we should have on our 'farm' - horses, cows, pigs, sheep. . . . . It wasn't much of a 'conversation' because I didn't have to say much, but such a blessing that he wants to call and talk to me.

9.  The best blessing this week - In spite of the fact that we are obviously not done with hospitals yet (you'd have to be a regular to know all about that comment), I am so very thankful for God's hand upon my family. 

Although Robert was hospitalized for a potentially serious condition last weekend, he seems to have recovered.   You never get past that heart-squeezing moment when someone tells you your child (even if he is over 30 and a father himself) is in the hospital.

Under this same heading. . . . . So thankful Taliah did not suffer any lasting effects from the seizure she had last Sunday due to high fever. 

These two incidents brought our hospital/ER experiences in the last 7 weeks up to 7 (unless I missed something).  Two more trips to ER for the Muyabas in the past few days bring the count to 9.

God is good to us - in the midst of all these emergencies, He has sustained and healed, filling us with peace in the midst of this storm.