Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story, in which we can share five of our favorite things from the last week. This has been a wonderful exercise in looking for and appreciating the good things God blesses us with. Click on the button to learn more, then go to Susanne’s to read others’ faves and link up your own.
Here are just a few favorites from the past week:
1. My son and daughter-in-law took me out to eat. My husband and youngest son were out of town last Friday, and Jason asked me if I want to go out and try a new restaurant, Cheddars. As we drove to the restaurant, I suddenly realized I didn’t know if they were paying or if I was or if we were splitting the bill — when my husband is here he just normally pays for dinner. It turns out they were planning to pay: I think this may be the first time any of my kids has taken me out to eat, although when my oldest, Jeremy, was home he did pay for lunch a few times if he brought home fast food for us. So that was a neat experience. Great food, too!
2. Good framing coupons. I wanted to get my recently finished cross stitch piece framed, and unfortunately that can get ridiculously expensive. I had seen Michael’s coupons for 60% and sometimes even 65% off, so I was waiting for one of those. But last week both Michael’s and JoAnne’s had coupons for 50% plus 20% off framing. With those and some gift cards I was able to bring the cost down to a more reasonable level of not only that piece but another one I’ve had sitting around for a couple of years. They won’t be ready for another week or so yet. Can’t wait to see them!
3. Listening to the kids play a game. On Memorial Day, after great burgers and sausage grilled by my husband, Jason, Mittu, and Jesse played a game of Seafarers of Cataan with Jeremy in RI via Skype. I was in the next room going through old magazines, but I so enjoyed hearing them play “just like old times.”
You can’t see Jeremy’s face real well in the computer there — they had to angle it so he could see the board.
4. Booking Jeremy’s flight to come home for his birthday in August!
5. Planting flowers in my planters:
There is another one like it on the other side of the garage door. I have to confess I cheated: I wanted a mixture of different plants, and Home Depot had some in containers, and it didn’t seem to me any more expensive than buying different flats. So I just transplanted someone else’s expertise in getting different colors and heights of blooms to work together. I love it!
Hope you have a great weekend! We’ll be helping Jason and Mittu move to their new apartment — busy times!
Stray Thoughts 
I enjoyed listening to our kids playing games during our Memorial Day meal together too…
It’s great when your adult children enjoy each other. I’m glad you got treated with a meal out.
You don’t have to confess anything to me having to do with gardening LOL!
Have a great weekend…
How fun that Jeremy was able to participate! Don’t you love technology when it works? I like your idea of using someone else’s plant combination skills for your containers. Nice short cut 🙂
Family time is always lovely. Glad you guys had a wonderful Memorial Day holiday. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank goodness for modern technology How fun that must have been. I took my niece and nephew to Panda 2. I haven’t been to a movie in a long time and it was so much fun. We had a blast. But I tell ya it’s sure is expensive now days to go to a movie. Great that you got taken out to lunch as well 🙂 Love the flowers. They are beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
Love your flowers! And I like Cheddars, too. Lots of variety and it’s not too expensive. Love the story of your kids playing a game via Skype!
By the way, your newest cross-stitch project is beautiful. I love it. Have a great week ahead.
It’s such a short time between a little baby and then suddenly a son or daughter who invites you for lunch or supper, lol !
I love the idea of playing the game by Skype to include everyone. What a great idea.
Okay you got my mouth watering with that Cheddars menu. Looks delicious.
You’ll have to show us your cross stitch creations when they are done!
That’s amazing — playing a game like that together.
Your flowers look lovely! I see no need to reinvent the wheel when you have such an option.
Your flowers look so pretty!
How nice to enjoy your children – the Skype idea was brilliant!! and now you get to look forward to your son coming home for his birthday – pure Joy!
I could never get anything framed if they didn’t have those generous coupons! Even then it’s expensive, but the work looks so nice framed.. it’s worth it!
What a fun way to get everyone together to play a game – via skype. I think that is inventive.
Love how you planted your pots. I like the idea of using someone else’s expertise. And it already looks wonderful too. You don’t have to wait for the plants to grow before it looks good.
Framing is ridiculously expensive so I am glad you were able to get some good coupons. I always love seeing home made “art” on the walls. That’s a great reminder, “Take time to be holy.”
Can’t wait to see you framed cross-stitch piece. You reminded me that I really need to bite the bullet and get my finished pieces framed too….
Hope the move went well this weekend.
Love the flowers, Barbara. I think you’re smart to use their mix! I too like the variety in one pot, but it can get expensive buying several different ones to plant together.
I’d like to get back to cross-stitching some this summer. I already feel as if the summer is going WAY too fast for all the things I want to do! 😉
The flowers are so pretty! I really like the picture your husband, Jason, Mittu, and Jesse playing game. It reminded me of my own family. 😀