Some weeks. we have to look hard for blessings. Other weeks, they overflow. This has been the latter week for us. I’m linking up with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to share the good things of the week.
1. Family visiting. My step-father, two sisters, and nephew from TX flew in Monday afternoon. Jesse came over–Jason and Mittu had previous plans. Then we all went to J&M’s house Tuesday night for a great dinner. My aunt and uncle from Knoxville were able to come to that, too. Then we followed my TX family driving down to SC to visit with two sisters and our niece and great niece there. We enjoyed so much the time together, the conversations, and the laughter. It’s been four years since we were all together, and I hope it won’t be another four years until the next time.
2. Celebrating sobriety. My nephew celebrated nine years of sobriety this week. We’re so thankful and proud of him.
3. Celebratory cake. My youngest sister asked Mittu if she’d make “one of her fancy cakes” to celebrate my nephew’s sobriety anniversary. She outdid herself.
4. Thrift shopping. The last time my TX family was here, we found out the very last might of their visit that they enjoyed thrift shopping. We have two thrift shops near us, so we proposed visiting them one afternoon while they were here this time. It was a fun outing and we each got a little something.
5. Discovering a good restaurant. When my TX family is here, they like to go to local restaurants rather than the chain places they can visit at home. There was a little sandwich place near the thrift shop that we’ve often wondered about but never tried, so we went there. It was so good. It’s a family-owned place that makes its own bread fresh every morning. I got a wonderful brownie there that took me three days to finish. We saw some other things on the menu we want to try, so I am sure we’ll be back.
Bonus: A sweet memento. My aunt brought something they had found while going through things–a Gideon’s New Testament with my mom’s name in the front in her handwriting. I don’t know if she used it, or if it was given to her and stuck in a drawer–but it is special to me.
Today (Thursday) has been a quiet day–washing sheets and catching up with computer stuff.
How was your first week of September?
Stray Thoughts 
I love these faves! How wonderful to have Bible from your mother and to spend good quality time with your Texas family. We also prefer local restaurants vs chain ones!
That cake!! Omgoodness, I had a sugar rush just looking at it. It’s gorgeous!! how does she get that frosting so blue?? I’m not a cake person but i’d go for that ice cream cone looking piece 🙂 Mittu is gifted! If she lived here in NYS, I would hire her to make our oldest girl’s wedding cake (if she and the bf ever get around to getting engaged! 🙂 )
I hope you have a lovely week. Your Thursday sounds similar to mine!
I’m so glad that your family was able to get together like this! And thrift shopping! That’s something I’ve been wanting to get into. So many treasures if you just know what to look for.
What a special treasure – the Bible with your mom’s name in it! I have a couple old ones, little ones with tiny print and one has my grandfather’s name and birth date in the front. The other is an American Standard version – dated 1901. No name but I think it also belonged to my grandfather.
Mittu certainly outdid herself with that cake! And Congrats to your nephew. What a triumph!
Rest up now with your family visits done for a while.
It’s true we have an ebb and flow of blessings — aren’t we glad to have a place to record both?
Your family visit sounds so good. And glad to know you’re all already looking forward to the next time.
Wow! That Mittu is so very talented. What a wonderful way to celebrate family successes. Roomie worked a while at a sober living facility and knows the struggles of those recovering from addiction.
Love all those faves: a new locally owned restaurant, thrifting, and that lovely gift of something of your Mom’s.
Huge congrats to your nephew!! And how wonderful to have so much of the family all together. I was thinking, at my dad’s funeral, how bittersweet it was the the biggest/best reunions often happen at funerals. And another A+++++ to Mittu on the cake — she really is unbelievable! I know it tasted great too. I hope the week to come will contain more blessings 🙂
How wonderful!
Congratulations to your nephew!
What fun to have all that family visit! 9 years of sobriety is definitely to be celebrated! Congrats to your nephew! That is an amazing cake Mittu made! What a special find the Gideon New Testament is!
Your family visit sounds like such a lot of fun! How nice that you all enjoy thrifting together.
Congratulations to your nephew. That’s a huge achievement and so encouraging to hear.
That cake looks awesome!! Way to go (once again) Mittu.