Saturday 20 March 2010

To live each day . . .



If you only had one day left to live . . . how would you spend it? I was thinking about that the other day . . . what would I be doing if this was the last day of my life and I knew that it was??? Twenty four hours, one thousand five hundred and sixty minutes . . .

Would you make every minute count?? Every second?? I like to think that I would. Each second would become very precious indeed.



I'd want to drink in all the good things in my life . . . the things I take for granted . . . like birdsong in the back garden and flowers blooming. I'd close my eyes and smell the air . . . really smell the air.

I'd taste the dew that falls on the grass every morning. I'd hug my Todd and breathe him in and really feel his arms around me, instead of just taking for granted that they were there.

I'd speak to each one of my children and all the people that I truly treasure in this life of mine, and I'd tell them that I love them . . . no matter what, and always will.



I doubt I'd turn the television on at all. I wouldn't want to waste a second of my precious day watching someone else live their lives . . . I'd be far too busy living my own.

I'd put on my favourite music and spend a few minutes in quiet thought . . . eyes closed, drinking in each note. I'd dance . . . with Todd, or alone . . . just dance . . . across the garden grass in my bare feet, so that I could feel each blade against my skin, smell the lovely green smell of the grass being crushed beneath my toes and feel the air brushing against my cheeks.



I'd lay on the lawn and look up at the clouds for a few minutes . . . watching them move, ever so slowly. Every hum of every bee, every butterfly's kiss . . . would count.

I'd memorize each moment of the sun's descent across the expanse of sky and wallow in the twilight, thinking of firefly lights and warm summer nights . . . the night-time chorus of the birds echoing through the tree tops.



I'd watch the stars come out and count them, and thank God for all my blessings.

What makes that day, my last day . . . any different than today? I should do all of those things today! I should live each day as my last . . . squeezing every moment out of every day, the good and the bad . . . and be glad for it. Say all the things that need to be said, when they need to be said, and not put off for tomorrow . . . anything.

Live life as it is meant to be lived . . . with gusto and appreciation.

That's what I am going to do today. How about you??

When I was growing up it was a real treat if my mom made us a Date and Nut Loaf. It was always moist and delicious. We'd have it sliced thin and spread with soft butter. Oh my, but it was delicious . . . so simple to make and yet . . . so very, very tasty.



*Date and Nut Loaf*
Makes 1 loaf
Printable Recipe

Moist and sweetly studded with sticky rich dates and crunchy, meaty walnuts. This tasty loaf is a real keeper. If anything, it gets even better upon standing.

1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup white sugar
4 TBS butter
3/4 cup boiling water
1 egg, well beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter a nonstick loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Butter again. Set aside.

Put the dates, butter and sugar into a bowl. Pour the boiling water over top. Stir to melt the butter and than let sit until it cools to room temperature. Stir in the egg, baking soda, salt, flour and chopped nuts, blending all together well. Spoon into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 50 minutes in the heated oven, until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let stand in the pan for 5 minutes before removing from the pan to finish cooling on a wire rack. If you can resist it, try to leave it overnight before slicing. Store in an airtight container.



Over on The English Kitchen this morning, delicious Cod Fish Cakes, and some yummy Tartar Sauce. Oh my, but they are good.


12 comments:

  1. Oh I lovee this! Its actually a big favorite of mine.Im so glad I joined your blog!

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  2. Such beautiful images, beautiful thoughts...a beautiful friend.

    So happy to count you among my dear friends, Marie...you always bring joy to my days--thank-you! I don't know how I missed yesterday's post in your kitchen, but I loved that, as well...your next kitchen will be just as lovely, because you will make it so.

    Much love to you tonight--I'm off to bed! My husband & I just taught a fireside on parenting--boy, was I nervous! It went well, though, and we're done!

    Talk to you tomorrow! Hugs...

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  3. Hugs and love Marie. This morning I was remembering a childhood wish to sleep in the clouds and then my adult self told me it would be wet and cold. Dreams are so much better and you paint such beautiful pictures.

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  4. I always try to do just that. If it were my last day of life, it would probably be spent just like I spend every day. Enjoying it to the fullest! I am thankful for every moment of every day.

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  5. Hi, Marie! I echo your sentiments wholeheartedly! To drink in the days--each day while we're hear--but especially if we had only one...oh, yes! I'd sing, dance, place, eat, dream, LOVE! :o) This early afternoon I'm still feeling a bit under the weather so not up for much dancing... but dreaming a-plenty! ;o) This date nut loaf looks sooo good--I love dates! Hope you are having a great day, dear friend... find some time for dancing and fun between all that packing! LOVE YOU HEAPS!! OXOX ((BIG HUGS))

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  6. I would like to THINK I would do all of those things if I knew it was my last 24 hours but........could I really? I don't know, I will have to give it a big think.

    love, Angie, xx

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  7. My dear Marie for me you are an special friend, you know, and for this and because I love you so much I pray by you.
    The best is this: Live each day Im sure, you know all we have bad days by many things, but always God wam my soul and comfort me, because He is there I feel that and you Marie too. That is all the difference, Have a lovely day and send you hguss and love to you and Todd, gloria

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  8. Very thought provoking Marie, especially as I had put off going out this morning just because it is raining! I would certainly want to eat thos fish cakes and chips in my last 24 hours :-) Thx so much for remembering about the Lamingtons, anytime you remember and when you are settled and have more time it would be a lovely surprise for me, so no rush at all x

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  9. I so enjoyed my visit with you today...a lot to think about cause we just never know! Have a happy spring...love ya! :D

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  10. In spite of the hard times you are facing, you see the world in such a beautiful way. You are a beautiful person...inside and out.
    Thank you for the joy you bring to me and to others. You are special my dear friend.
    I don't think this will be my last day ....but just in case I'd better get busy and get a few things done that I have been putting off. I send love. Lura

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  11. well, lets see today what did i do...i didn't get to enjoy nature as the weather is total CRUD right now:) but our family did enjoy some shopping and lunch together. that was fun! hoping spring weather comes back soon! tired of this wet cold yuckiness. but as long as i'm spending time with the people i love most-joey and the girls-then i'm happy with my day and what i've done with it!

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