Whew! It’s been a busy week. But a good one, overall. I’m sharing blessings from the week with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story.
1. My last college yearbook. I was in college five years instead of four. During my second senior year, my husband and I were full time students first semester, got married over Christmas break, and then were part-time students second semester. Neither of us received a yearbook that year because only full-time students both semesters got one. I looked at someone else’s and saw I was in one of the candid photos–the only time in five years that happened.
I saw a while back on the university’s alumni page that old yearbooks could be ordered from the school. I finally got around to that a couple of weeks ago, and only had to pay $13. It turned out to be a used yearbook, but that’s fine. It was fun to look through it and to find “my” picture. And even though I was still listed under my maiden name there, my class picture and my husband’s were on the same row across the page. As I put the yearbook on the shelf, it just felt complete to have it there.
2. Connect Four. Every fall, the ladies group at church organizes “Connect Four” groups. All who want to participate are divided into groups of four who get together once a month over the next four months for whatever they might like to do. Our group met at McAllister’s last Sunday. I knew one of them from my care group, but had only met another and didn’t know our youngest member at all. There are always a few butterflies going to a meeting like that, but it was a lot of fun.
3. A nice gesture. As our group left McAlister’s, I stopped by the restroom and then went back to the counter for a cookie. The guy behind the counter, who wasn’t the same person who originally waited on us, saw me reach for a cookie and said, “Oh, wait–we have some fresh ones.” He went back and got a just-made cookie for me.
4. Jesse’s birthday. My youngest son turned thirty-two! Jason and family came over as well and we Facetimed Jeremy.
As a bonus blessing–I faced that cake with fear and trembling. 🙂 Some years ago Mittu made this Lemon Blueberry cake, but with gluten-free flour. Jesse loved it and has asked for it for his birthday ever since. The first time I tried it, it left me in tears–a number of things went wrong in the process of making it, and Mittu had to come rescue me and fix it. She made it for the next several years. 🙂 But her oven hasn’t been acting right since they installed a new heating element, and she didn’t want to chance making the cake there.
So with much prayer and trepidation and reading the recipe over several times, I got started (I had bought a yellow GF cake mix just in case this one didn’t turn out right). It took all afternoon, but the layers came out nicely–praise the Lord!
But I am not good at cake decorating. I got started with this one, and when the icing in the middle started leaking out, I sent Mittu an emergency text.
She came and did a beautiful job decorating it.
4. Answered prayer. For some reason, I get frazzled when the schedule is full, even if I am looking forward to the events. I mentioned last week that we had something going on four days in a row this week. God blessed in allowing me to have some productive days last week, which helped immensely. This week, I asked God to help me remain calm and take each day and event as it came. He did.
5. Time with Timothy. Jason and Mittu are helping with a new ministry at church, and Friday was their first event. Child care was offered, but Timothy wanted to spend the time with his grandparents. 🙂 Jim had recently sorted through some old video games and got out one for Xbox sports. He and Timothy played through bowling, track and field, volleyball, and other options. Here they’re boxing. 🙂
I’m thankful for God’s grace through a busy week, and I am looking forward to a quieter coming week, hopefully.
How was your week?
Stray Thoughts 
I absolutely love your yearbook story!! How wonderful to finally get a copy.
Oh my. You are brave to even attempt that cake. I’d have to order one from the bakery. How beautiful it turned out!!
My oldest daughter just turned 32 this summer!! Happy Birthday to your son!
What a great pic of grandpa and grandson having fun!!
God is so good to answer our prayers and help us remain calm amidst the various storms of our days. I too received some much needed answer to prayer this week although I didnt’ mention it in my FFF!!!
Have a wonderful weekend.
What a blessing filled week you have had, Barbara. I’m so glad that you were able to get a copy of your college yearbook.
I understand how you feel sometimes about entering into a new situation or group of people., such as your new Connect Four group. I am the same way, but I always end up having a good time.
A belated happy birthday to your son. That is one of my favorite cakes, but I have attempted to make it gluten-free. Those layers look perfectly raised and Mittu did a beautiful job of decorating it.
What a blessing that Timothy wanted to spend the evening with his grandparents. I love that.
I love the connect four idea. It is often difficult for parishioners that don’t know many people to connect. Your cake looks delicious!
I didn’t even know colleges did yearbooks! How wonderful that you got one after all this time.
Nice that your Connect Four group meeting turned out to be fun and expanded your friend horizons.
This cannot be right that your Jesse is 32.
the yearbook story is fun! I only have 1 college yearbook–granted my college was massive, and the only reason I ended up with even one was that there was some way I got one free that year?? I love the cookie story at McAlister’s–sometimes it really is the little things! Kudos to you on the cake. It’s so hard getting layers out of the pans even (at least for me) and I’m sure gf makes it harder. And YAY MITTU for helping with frosting etc. I’m not a decorator either! I hope this is a nice QUIET week ahead for you!
I’m so glad you made the cake again. I am not good at cake decorating either – it’s great you got some help – but even the unfrosted cake looked lovely! And what a sweet server getting a fresh cookie for you too. I’m glad you got the yearbook too! Thank you for sharing this little glimpse into your life, Barbara.
How nice to be able to get hold of a copy of the Year book after all this time. And well done on baking the cake. It looked great. Birthday wishes to your son. Always good to get family together. It does sound like you had a busy week. Hope you can relax a bit over the weekend.
I love that Timothy prefers to spend time with you instead of other kids. And oh my, he is getting so tall! (like Tall Boy!)
Happy Birthday to Jesse! The birthday cake story made me giggle. Kudos to Mittu!
I hope we both have quiet weeks next week. Willow
Congrats on the cake! It was a joint venture with your baking and Mittu’s decorating. Such a blessing for Jesse!
I have my senior yearbook from high school somewhere. It is fun to reminisce. That’s great that you were able to get your college one for $13.
I’m happy you got through your busy week. I’m not much for piling a lot of things into one week. You did good!
Your group sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve never played Connect Four. I have been to McAllister’s though! 🙂
Have a great weekend.
So is the cover of that yearbook green? If so, I know one of your friends who is also in that yearbook. 🙂 That cake looked great, and I am sure it tasted great also. A collaborative effort.
Yes! I saw you there! In the special pages in front–among the “personalities,” I think it was called. 🙂
I wrote that previous comment and have no idea what that name is. ??? –Ann
I was wondering. 🙂
The Connect Four idea seems fun!
I know exactly what you mean by feeling frazzled when busy even though you look forward to the events. I have a month like that. Though individually I love each thing I have to go to when I look at the month overall and everything I have to run around to I feel very decidedly “uncalm”. I love the idea of Connect Four groups! What a great story of getting your yearbook that has you in it.
Oh and a happy belated birthday to Jesse!