Friday Favorites - May 9, 2025

Hello!  It's been a minute (or three) since I've been in this space.  In fact, I have two posts I have started since my last one and never finished. . .and haven't even started my "10 a.m. in April", which will follow "4 o'clock in March" and "5 o'clock in February".  This is where I was last Friday evening:

My aunt and uncle had just picked Tom and me up from the Sarasota airport and we stopped for drinks and dinner on the water!!  I love these people so much - it's been a couple of years since we've been down to visit and last weekend was the PERFECT time to go :)

Linking up with Erika and Andrea for Friday Favorites - not sure where this will go - there's been a lot going on in the last few weeks!

I have to confess, I didn't even catch up on blogs from the last week until last night!  My week didn't really "start" until Tuesday since we didn't fly home until Monday. . .and then I had an unusually busy week at work, with several trainings and meetings on the calendar.  I like being busy so that is a good thing!

Lots of pictures from last weekend on Anna Maria Island - this incorporates LOTS of FAVORITES - my aunt (my mother's sister), my first gin and tonic of the season, and Tom's and my favorite transportation for the weekend - the golf cart her friend loaned us.  THAT was so.much.fun and a great way to get around - 

We ended up with amazing weekend while "back home" everyone was dealing with a ton of rain.  Sunshine and high 70's for us!  O.K., one more picture. . .

our Monday morning walk on the beach.  What a wonderful weekend and wonderful people to spend the time with.

Our girlie, second from the left, sent us this picture from the JFK airport on Friday evening.  She and this group are in the Middle East learning about the culture there and doing some mission work to boot.  We tracked her travel all the way there over the weekend and she's sent a few updates on what they've been up to.  I'm so happy that she is right where she wants to be - growing in her evangelism efforts and getting to travel the world.  This is not her only trip planned this summer :). She will be back at APSU in the fall, on staff with Chi Alpha.  Witnessing her adventures up close is a FAVORITE thing about being her mother!

These two are also FAVORITES - she is graduating from UTK next weekend and he is thriving in his chosen profession (for now) here in Knoxville.  They complement each other well and we love that she is part of his life.  They got to go on vacation with my sister to Kiawah Island two weeks ago and shared this picture with me :)

These two are also thriving in their city - he is working hard in his two businesses (lawn and junk) and she is supporting him in those as well as investing in her own career!  They competed in a CrossFit competition in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago and shared this picture with me along with some videos of their events! Not only are they FAVORITES in this family, they are favorites among the people in their lives :)

Nope, not going to let Tom's FAVORITE (hahaha) slip by this week - she just purchased her first brand-new car Wednesday!

She has worked so hard this year in her first professional job, saving her money and buying exactly what she wanted.  It will be a FAVORITE of hers for years to come I think.  I'm so proud of her and her direction and effort.

Our first lake weekend of the year two weeks ago!!  It was a beautiful sun-shiney weekend, a PERFECT day in April to get the boat out for the first time.  It was extra-great because Robert and Ellie were able to join us.  The water was too cold to get in, but we drove over to Mike's Landing for a drink and snacks.  Afterwards we drove into Cookeville for 

this amazing appetizer and then dinner at Fire & Vine.  

As Christians, Easter Sunday is my FAVORITE day of the year.  It is the fulfillment of the promise that is the foundation of our faith.  I was only allowed ONE picture and this is it ;). Fred & Nancy did go to church with us that morning and then they along with Tommy, Barbara, and Rachel joined us for Easter dinner.

I gave Ellie & Robert their Easter Basket the day before when we met them at the lake - I just love tradition and being together as a family.  

Thanks for reading along today - being able to record these FAVORITES is always special to me.  Please share your favorites from the week in the comments below or link to your blog in today's link-up.

Have a great weekend - I'm off to celebrate Mother's Day with my mom and sister!!  We are going to see A Beautiful Noise together!!  I was lucky enough to see Neil Diamond in concert several times when he still toured - I know I went with each of them different times.  Jodi saw this show was coming to Cincinnati and decided this was a perfect gift for all of us.  I can't wait to see how they put it all together as a Broadway Show :)

Have a great day!

Love,

Jenni