5 Friday Favorites: December 17, 2021

  

It's time for my Friday link up with  A Little Bit of Everything and Momfessionals. 

On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.

Happy Friday! This will likely be my last Friday Favorites for the year of our Lord 2021. FOR SURE this was not my favorite year ever, but God  did show up a lot for me including when Steve and I went to see Eric Church last weekend and it felt like all was right with the world again. He was playing at the Anthem at the Wharf in DC, so we went early and strangers offered to take our picture and people were chatty and happy and not scared of each other.  

It was all Christmas-y at the Wharf so I dorked out in front of this Christmas Tree because who wouldn't be excited about a Christmas Tree sponsored by Jack Daniels?

After my photo shoot, we met up with some friends for dinner and made new ones and then sang our little hearts out with a special kind of "church choir".

Everyone was smiling and no one seemed angry. Here's my favorite thing about the whole night:  not one person told me their opinion about ANYTHING unless it was something along the lines of "That pink martini drink at Rappahannock Oyster Bar is incredible!" or "Ohmygosh! This is my favorite song!" or "I love your boots!" I literally almost cried.

Here are some more favorites from a week when it seemed like God was saying, "You can count on me, kid. We're gonna be okay."

1. Like Jesus Does - Eric Church

I actually did cry when Eric Church sang this song. Just the first few verses are some kind of magic songwriting. I don't know who wrote this song for him, but that person is brilliant. I'm a gal who appreciates someone who can string some words together and these lyrics stop me in my tracks.

2.  Game of Phones

We're spending Christmas with 14 people ages 12 - 81. I know we're going to have a great time. However, that's a big range of folks. You know what I know about every single person in the group? They each have a phone and I don't want us all locked into our own world for the whole time. So, I found this game. Apparently it allows all of us to use our phones to go on a digital "scavenger hunt". My family loves an old-fashioned board game, too, but I thought this might be a good way to keep us all engaged without fear that one of us old folks will freak out and threaten to throw a teenager's phone in the lake. We'll see! 

3. Mixology & Craft Whiskey Set

My husband is practically impossible to buy gifts for. Last week I mentioned how I was likely going to spend way too much on a lazy man's coffee mug for him and this week, I've got another gift idea for men - still squarely in the beverage category. In the last few years, Steve and his friends have gotten themselves deep into the bourbon . . . so to speak. I have no idea what the deal is with the special ice cubes for whiskey drinkers, but apparently it's a thing. So, I was thinking of just giving him ice molds, but then that made me sad. So, I found this whiskey set. It looks manly and less like I'm phoning it in this year. So at least we know my man will be hydrated from morning until night in the new year.

4. Candy Cane Oreo Cheesecake

misandmatchmama.com

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how much I love Mix & Match Mama's Christmas recipes - mostly her appetizers and desserts - because they are generally pretty easy to put together and so good. I haven't made this Candy Cane Oreo Cheesecake yet, but I think I'm going to try this one for Christmas Eve. 

5. Mary, Did you know?

I was honored to be invited back to Aldie Methodist Church last weekend to fill in for my friend who is the pastor there. What a blessing to be able to deliver the message on The Annunciation when Gabriel appears to Mary with a pretty intense message. Also, it was a gift to have Drew there. It was the first time I've had one of my boys present to see me speak. He didn't heckle me so that was a bonus. ;-) The congregation there was also very kind to me. I'm so grateful.

That's it for today, Friends, and pretty much for the year. Thanks for stopping by here and letting me share all the silly stuff and some serious stuff, too. It's been a year of challenges and change, but also of God's provision and presence and I am so grateful for so much - including people who read here. Have a beautiful Christmas and a happy new year. God bless you, each and every one.

Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com. Post might contain other affiliate links as well.