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 a few favorites from the past week:
1. Canvas tennis shoes. I tried on the tennis shoes I’ve had for 30+ years, and they didn’t fit. Imagine that! 🙂 I guess it has been a while since I used them. As I looked for new ones, they all seemed to have a very thick and long tongue that irritated my foot and ankle. Finally I found some like the ones I had, plain canvas without being encased in all the extra plastic. They did have some spiffy laces, though.
2. Half-batches. I was craving the kind of Rice Krispie treats I make, with peanut butter mixed in and melted chocolate chips on top, but with just three of us here, we didn’t really need a whole 9 x 13 pan full. I halved the recipe, and it was just about right.
3. Leftovers. With just the three of us, some times I can make smaller meals, but sometimes I make what I always make and then have the leftovers on hand for lunch. That’s really my favorite thing to do for lunch — just microwave something leftover from dinner, though one of my favoritist lunches from this week was quesadillas made from leftover taco meat.
4. Resolution of the difficult situation involving my mother-in-law’s care which I mentioned last week, at least for now, though we will have to face it again in the future. But we’ve got some time to think and pray about the best decision rather than having to make a rushed decision with only two days’ notice, as we faced last week.
5. A writing opportunity. Several months ago, our newspaper asked for submissions for “community guest columnists” whose work would appear on Sunday’s editorial page. My husband pointed it out to me and encouraged me to apply. So I did and sent in a couple of requested samples of my writing. I did tell them I wasn’t very politically minded and I was used to writing from a Christian viewpoint, and that I knew I shouldn’t use that space as a “bully pulpit,” but anything I wrote would be shaped by my Christian worldview. I figured because of those things that I wouldn’t be chosen. I had mixed emotions while waiting to hear back: sometimes I hoped I’d get it, and sometimes I hoped I wouldn’t. Then I just got an e-mail this week inviting me to be one of the columnists! I know over 70 applied: I’m not sure how many they chose and how often I’ll need to submit something. They’re going to send the guidelines and schedules soon. So, I’m excited! And a little scared! What few magazine articles I’ve had published have been for a Christian audience, and though this blog is open to the public, I think most of my readers are Christians. This will be my first experience writing publicly for a secular audience. There’s no remuneration, and it’s only for a year, but it will be good experience. I’d appreciate prayers for wisdom and the right words!
Have a great weekend!
Stray Thoughts 
Love those spiffy laces. My niece made some rice krispy treats with cake mix last weekend. I couldn’t really tell a difference, but they were still yummy. Add in peanut butter and chocolate? That would be irresistible to me.
Congratulations on being a community columnist!!! You will do wonderfully at it! Our newspaper (Huntsville Times) does that as well, and I opted to submit a few samples after the first year. Like you, I had mixed emotions about it, but I ended up being selected also (about 10 years ago).
It was a really neat experience, although a tad frustrating at times. They would always edit my words a little here and there, sometimes cutting out something that was important to me. I tried not to use it as a bully pulpit either, but I did come from a Christian worldview, obviously, which sometimes made the cut, sometimes didn’t.
I’ll be praying you have a great time with this. I know you will be ministering to many people through this opportunity!
Congratulations, that is exciting news and I know you are going to do wonderfully because I know you are going to be seeking the Lord on what to write.
Leftovers for lunch are the best. I always make more because my kids (19 & 16) eat the leftovers from supper for breakfast.
That’s really great! I’ll look forward to hearing more about your writing adventures.
Your writing opportunity is just AWESOME! SO very neat, Barbara. I read about your mother-in-law this week, and though I haven’t walked this specific path, I’ve encountered a few of the intersections. So glad it has worked out for now, and I do think you’re wise to think — and pray ahead.
I’m hankering for some Rice Krispies treats now! I love having leftover dinner for lunch!
Have a great week ahead, Barbara!
Congratulations on your columnist selection! That’s what I did from June 2010 to June 2011 for our paper, but I wrote for the Saturday religion page. You’ll do a great job. Make sure I know when you publish something!
I love your canvas sneakers! I used to wear those kind all the time and have been thinking of getting another pair. They are just CUTE!
Congrats on the writing accomplishment. We definitely need more Christian voices in the papers. You’re voice is so worth listening too.
Congratulations Barbara on being chosen as a guest columnist. I felt the same way about the magazine I joined. It is a church publication but it goes out to a wide area. Also, I didn’t feel I was as good a writer as they usually have. I am dreading the editing. It is always hard to take criticism. It is so personal.
Mama Bear
Barbara that is really great that you were chosen to be a columnist! Well done.
I’m sure you’ll do well. It’s time for me to look into half batches around here, too! Have a wonderful weekend.
And to think that I knew you before you became famous! Glad that I have some cards with your autograph to prove it! : ) Congratulations! I know you will do well.
WE were out of town all of last week so I’m playing catch up with my Google Reader this weekend. Starting with this post! Very curious to get to the one about you MIL.
In the meantime though….man, those rice crispy treats look delicious. I’m going to try not to think about that too hard.
And CONGRATULATIONS on the columnist job! That is VERY exciting and I will look forward to hearing more about that in the future!
Congratulations to your future job as columnist ! That’s wonderful !
You kept these tennis shoes for 30 years ? geez they are antiques now !
Congratulations on the new writing job. It will be good for a community to get a christian worldview of things. Everything seem too secular nowadays.
Really 30 years with those shoes! Love those laces and the blue color.
Congratulations on the new writing job. It will be great for a community to get a christian worldview of things. Everything nowadays seems too secular.
Really. 30 years with those shoes! I love those spiffy laces!
Hazel
What cute tennies! The laces are just the right touch!
The writing job sounds exciting. Good for you! I’ll pray that your words touch the hearts of your readers.
I’m sorry that you had a difficult time with the AL facility, but I’m glad it’s worked out for now.
My boys love home made Rice Krispie Treats – you’ve inspired me to whip some up.
Love your new shoes 🙂 Especially the spiffy laces.
Congrats on being chosen as a guest columnist! What an honor and opportunity.
We often make regular sized meals for the two of us and then have leftovers all week 🙂
Ha! I made rice-crispies, too, though not with peanut butter. I’m excited for you with this writing opportunity — a chance to get published and get hopefully great experience, too!
I can see why you were unsettled, Barbara, about the situation with your mother-in-law. So glad its been resolved and that you all have time for the next phase of her life.
I am a leftovers kind of gal too especially now that it’s only me in the house.
I’ve never made rice krispie treats with peanut butter. Since it was paired with chocolate, I am sure the taste buds were very happy!
I also send my congrats on your writing gig. What an awesome opportunity for sharing your “world view.” Who knows where this will lead?!!