Quarterly Report – Q2

My Quarterly Report

I find it beneficial to look back over the three months to take note of the things I did, the places we went, the people we saw and to consider how blessed we are to be able to do, go, and see. Do you look back in your journal or day-planner and do the same? Because, if not, you should. We tend to think OUR lives are boring and mundane when in all actuality they are quite lively and productive. Shall we?

April

“Surround us, Lord, with Your FAVOR”

I open my planner to April and find my mom’s favorite verse – well at least one of them!

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5.7

The very first week of April kept me on my knees. Okay, okay, I don’t kneel when I pray only because it’s hard to get up! But, pray I do! Most of you know my mantra…

NEVER SAY AMEN!

This first week found Simon, our now 16-year old grandson, starting his very first job as a cart boy at the Country Club! It also had us praying for Hannah as she took her FINAL and EXIT exam as a senior at Liberty University as a social work major. Both of them did well!

We saw the movie UNPLANNED and our hearts were unglued with sadness over the travesty of abortion.

We traveled to South Carolina to celebrate the life of a dear friend, the husband of a blogging sister.

We learned the deliciousness of “pour-over” coffee!

God cannot be in agreement with sin – Oswald Chambers

A quote I wrote down in the planner. It certainly speaks, eh?

The second week in April my daughter’s husband surprised her with balloons and dinner at a local restaurant. And, our neighbor had her baby son on daughter’s birthday! Presents for both.

This was a particularly rainy week which had me praying for: Hannah’s big presentation; a road trip for daughter to D.C. to see Han; Simon’s job; and flash flooding.

We took a long, wet drive south on the Blue Ridge Parkway visiting State Parks and having our “passport” validated at each.

The FAVOR of God is upon us.

The third week in April we celebrated our SIL’s birthday and our son’s.

Good Friday we walked over to the Methodist Church and worshipped in a Good Friday service; afterward we went to our favorite cafe for lunch. Sunday, we went to the same church for their first-ever SONrise service out on the expanse of lawn – it was glorious! Hubs and I took a ride to Stone Mountain State Park afterward.

In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. John 1.1

The final week of April was both reg’ler and busy! Saturday, the 27th, we contacted our granddaughter and asked if we could come pick her up from D.C. – she was more than ready to come home! We snuck and slept in her empty efficiency flat, which housed her and two others for the semester and on Sunday morning we tied our sneakers and began walking and sightseeing! We walked 11,999 steps / 5 miles and saw the Nation’s Capital. In the afternoon, with sore feet, and soaring spirits we loaded up our pickup and headed south toward home! The Clampett’s were on the road.

May

His FAVOR is upon us.

April’s rains did not bring May flowers – it brought May RAIN!

That first week was ordinary. I began buying porch and balcony plants. Allergies were at an all-time high. On a muggy Saturday I had my hair cut and colored and in the afternoon hubs and I enjoyed a Jurassic Park movie marathon on the iPad!

Because May is the month we celebrate Mom’s – I decided to begin a series of blogs about women and mom’s. If you haven’t read them, you really should!!! Mrs. Lot; Shiphrah and Puah; Jochebed; Esther 1 Esther 2 Esther 3; Jezebel; Hannah; Huldah; Bathsheba; Ruth 1 Ruth 2; Deborah.

His FAVOR is a shield around me.

Graduation week! Found me writing, praying for a friend’s husband who lost his job, seeing family as they arrived for the grad’s events.

Total grandparent fail! We missed Commencement but arrived in time for diploma presentation. Then she walked across the stage and we knew the struggles and stress of the past four years were well worth it! We drove the three-hour ride home in MORE RAIN!

Sunday afternoon we celebrated the graduate. A beautiful balloon arch, great food, family, and wonderful friends. A BIG WIN!

His FAVOR surrounds me.

This week spring arrived with cool, gorgeous days – great for morning walks and golf! Simon worked a lot! The weekend found us traveling to Waxhaw, NC, for our great-niece’s first birthday and more balloons! Sunday, we drove to Lake Norman ELEVATION campus and worshiped. In the afternoon, we girls went to see a play, NUNsense!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3.5-6

May’s almost-final week was once again, ordinary! Hannah had her first job interview in Raleigh. Simon worked and finished school. Our friends in Charleston lost their beloved dog. AND, THE HEAT ARRIVED! Along with it? HUMIDITY and bad hair days.

May Your FAVOR find me.

Memorial Day and a three-day weekend AND, Simon’s 16th birthday on the 28th!

Hubs went to Young Harris, GA, for a gem-faceting class – so, I was home alone. On Monday’s holiday I walked over to the Community College and enjoyed the Community Band perform a Patriotic Concert. It was to be held on the lawn but alas it was SO HOT, we enjoyed it in the cool auditorium.

On May’s last day, the heat and humidity broke and we enjoyed 70° weather – it was clear and beautiful. I enjoyed a telephone conversation with my blogging friend, Sue in San Luis Obispo, CA.

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one. Mother Teresa

June

Saturday, June 1…in my planner I write, “A Perfect Day.” And, it was. We woke up, had great coffee, hubs did my hair (remember he did this professionally for 50+ years), we went to Art in the Park, had brunch at our favorite cafe, and all afternoon I read on the porch. Which brings me to my summer reading…

I have a friend, Tammy, who calls herself the “Book Whisperer.” She suffers from a chronic illness and writes about her wilderness experiences here.

She keeps my ‘to-read’ list full. I’ve been reading fiction, my favorite genre, on my Kindle. I won’t make a book list but if you’re interested, ask.

I bought a Fit-Bit and I’m obsessed.

In early June, the second to be exact, Hannah and I went to Elevation church and heard, what I consider, the best message I’ve ever heard on 2 Chronicles 20. Well done, Pastor Furtick.

FAVOR is the Shield around me.

The first full week of June was, once again, a normal week. Simon is now driving – and I am ramped up on ‘never say amen.’ We had lots of rain. My sister’s hub had a serious procedure, which turned out well with good results! Pops and Simon went to see Avenger’s End Game and they were disappointed. I had a terrible flare up of hip pain so took it real easy after doing 3 weeks worth of laundry at the laundromat! The week ended in a windy, rainy, blustery day and Sunday found us watching church on FB Live!

Let Your FAVOR be a Shield around us and our loved ones.

My hip pain was at a new level and I chewed ibuprofen all week. I did manage to do my morning walks, but in pain. I saw my favorite pseudo-masochist, our massage therapist and she worked on me for 50 minutes. She is a miracle worker. Hubs and I took a road trip to northern Georgia to pick up a piece of equipment. Hannah traveled to Lynchburg to be in a friend’s wedding and Simon worked continuously – he loves making money!

Surround me O Lord with Your FAVOR!

Mid-June found us beginning to get Gracee ready for her Great Alaskan Adventure. I splurged and bought Beddy’s for the twin beds in the travel trailer – oh my where were these things in the days of kids, bunkbeds, and daybeds? THEY ARE LIFESAVERS. I always made my kids make their beds and Beddy’s? Next best thing to a housekeeper!

We made great progress getting Gracee ready – she is looking wonderful and cozy. This third full week of June ended with a road trip to Lyman, SC, to spend some time with our dear friend. We had a glorious 24-hours with her. When we headed north we went into NC and stopped at two parks to have our “passport” validated: Gorges State Park and The Carl Sandburg National Site.

Your FAVOR O Lord is a Shield to the righteous.

The last week of June we continued to prep for our trip. Hubs got new tires and a brake job on our tow vehicle. We dog-sat our granddog, Bella, one afternoon, Simon kept working and building his bank account! The week and the month ended with Tennessee Girlfriend lunch at our friends’ lovely home, overlooking beautiful Watauga Lake.

The Wrap-up

Now that I’ve written all of this I realize what a full and blessed life we have been given. All the FAVOR quotes are mine from my planner. My oneword2019 is FAVOR so I begin each week’s page with a reminder of God’s good FAVOR to us. He never fails and He is always present.

Now, it’s your turn – in the comments leave one favorite thing you did in the past three months!