Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!  I'm linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals for this blog post.

I mentioned earlier this week, how for a homeschooling mom, we have had a busy week!  I have either been gone every day or I've had to get up and get dressed early every single day, except for Wednesday when I cleaned, and then got dressed after.  I am glad it's Friday, and I am glad that today my plans are minimal.  I really need a day off.  (Said my introverted self.)

Here are some of my favorite moments from this week.

I've been looking through old pictures for something I'm working on for Graham, and these are in the running for my most favorites ever.  This is him in his element.  Each summer since he was in the eighth grade, he has been going with our students from church to the inner city in Memphis for a week long mission trip, if you will, through Brinkley Heights Urban Academy.  We stay there at the school overnight, then in the mornings we leave and go to our site assigned to us to pick up kids in neighboring areas and bring them back for a bible club.  This has always been one of our favorite things to do, and his heart has always been with them.  He even applied there to be a summer missionary last year, but they never called him.  I have no idea if we're doing this again this summer, and if that's the case, we will miss it so much.

I never wrote about this night on the blog, but last Friday night was one of my favorite things from the week.  We drove out to the country to some friends' house and burned Christmas trees.  It is so beautiful out there, and watching the trees go up in flames was something else.  I'm surprised at how fast they burned.

At one point, it was raining burning embers on us.

Writing down five things to be thankful everyday has been one of my favorite parts of my day.  I love how this immediately changes my focus.  I can be having a pretty blah day and my mood will change when I start thinking back on things that I can be thankful for.  I cannot recommend this activity enough.

My morning quiet times have been some of my favorite moments this week.  I love the Lord so much, and His word is life.  He has been showing me some pretty amazing things through Scripture.

Also?  This candle is one of my favorite things right now.  A sweet friend gave it to me for Christmas, and it's one that my favorite little shop on the square sells.  The brand is Capri Blue Volcano and it's Holiday Red.  The smell is amazing and literally scents up the whole house.  This was a very generous gift, because these things are not cheap.  (I usually only buy cheap candles.)

This verse is, quite possibly, my favorite bible verse right now.  Along with the book of 1 Peter.  I'm seriously thinking about writing out the book in my journal.  I do that sometimes, because I love to write out the word of God.

And speaking of that...

Themed scripture writing plans are my favorite.  And peace is my favorite and most needed topic.  I'm such an anxious person, y'all, and cannot handle conflict and turmoil.

Writing in this planner is one of my favorite activities.  I love having one place to keep so many tidbits for my week.  I write down things for homeschooling the boys, I keep track of all my plans and grocery lists and dinner ideas in here, and just this week (and thanks to a friend I follow on Instagram) I started writing out prayer requests and people I want to pray for everyday.  Seeing those names on the side of the page jots my memory.

Toward the end of the week, in those blank spaces, I fill them up with bible verses, or stickers, or little things that I draw.  And yesterday I spent some Christmas money on stickers and such for this.  It's often the little things in life that make me the happiest, friends, and this is just one such example.  I also use it as a guide for journaling and the five things I write out each to be thankful for.

I went to my happy place yesterday.  It's my favorite.  I returned some books and checked out eight more.  :/  I meant to just run in and run out really quickly, but y'all.  I spent more than an hour in here.  I cannot believe I lost all track of time.  I was looking for new authors to read and I guess that's how it happened.

I also took down two of their display books and checked them out...have you ever noticed they often put the best books out front for the display?  They do.  I kinda felt bad, but that's the whole purpose of them doing the display in the first place.

The biggest part of our week happened on Wednesday and Thursday, and it's Jonah's and Noah's favorite.  My wonderful stepdad came over to teach them how to properly paint walls, trim and cutting in, and then he helped them accomplish all of that in their room.

I love the color choice they made and how fresh it all looks.  I will post pictures soon, when we have it decorated again.  All the furniture is back in, but nothing is hung yet, so we will work on that today.  My husband is working tonight and I probably will not cook, so we have all the time in the world.

Thanks for reading!  Love to all.