Saturday 22 February 2014

Good things . . .


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 We were just sitting here last night watching a bit of telly and I decided to check out my messages on the ipad and I learned that an old friend of mine, who had been battling lung cancer this past year or so, had passed away.   And I cried.   Oh, my heart knows he is in a much better place, and that we will meet again . . . but . . . it is always hard to say goodbye.  And yet hard goodbye's come to us all.  No matter the knowledge one has . . . it never gets any easier.  Never . . .  and the younger a person is, the harder it is to say goodbye.   It almost doesn't seem fair somehow . . .

We'll understand the whys and wherefore's one day, but for now we must comfort out aching hearts and wash away the pain of goodbyes with our tears.  That's just how it is.

Tears are healing things . . . 

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We had a few sunny days this week and I was able to hang some wash out to dry in the sunshine.  It was nice to see and hear the snapping of sheets, tea towels and pillow cases in the wind.   It was even nicer to run my hot iron over them afterwards and smell that special smell that can only come from a hot iron passing over the smell of the wind and the sunshine which clung to their fibres.  So very lovely a smell that is . . . impossible to describe.  You must smell it for yourself to know exactly what I mean.  If you could bottle that, you would be rich indeed . . . but then again, are our minds not like bottles?  A place where we store all these things, and then take them out to hold in our hands again from time to time.   I am already rich, for I have a deep store of things such as these, and I do take them out to enjoy now and again . . .

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Someone forgot to tell the Camelia bush by the front door that it's not quite spring yet . . .  we saw the tell tale blush of pink on it's buds a week or so ago and this week they have burst open in a blaze of glorious colour.  They are always a reminder to me of my Heavenly Father's love for me.  Four years ago when we thought we had lost everything, they were here waiting for us at our new home to greet us as we started our new life . . . a little gift amongst all the tumult of that very unsettling time.    Every year when they bloom again I am reminded of God's promises and His love . . .  a love which can turn even the darkest shadows into light.   I am always grateful for both . . . without the shadows the light would not seem so bright . . . .  

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 Love which knows no boundaries or fear.  Total trust.  Where would any of us be without it?  That is the love of a parent for a child . . . and a child for a parent.   The love of a pet for it's caregiver and . . . the caregiver for a pet.  The love of the Saviour for us . . . and the love we can have in return for Him.   It's all about choices.   Today I choose to love.  With complete abandon and without fear.

I have been wanting to give you something.    To celebrate new beginnings, and old friendships.   Spring.   Light.   Life.


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First there is an Emma Bridgewater Tea Towel.

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A tablet of Cath Kidston Fold and mail stationary.   I think there are 40 sheets in the pad.

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A set of five of my handmade greeting cards, of your own choosing.

And a complete surprise.  I don't know what it will be yet.  You'll have to wait and see

If you'd like to have these things, then just sign up to my followers list there on the right hand side so that I know you are interested and stay tuned.   The winner could be you.  ☺ 

A thought to carry with you through today . . .


(¯`✻´¯)
  `*.¸.*✻
✻ღϠ₡ღ✻ ✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
Your living is determined
not so much by what life brings to you
as by the attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what happens to you
as by the way your mind looks at what happens."
~Kahlil Gibral  

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻✻ღϠ₡ღ✻✻ღϠ₡ღ✻  


 

Baking in The English Kitchen today . . . Salted Caramel Topped Biscuits.

Have a great Saturday.  The sun is shining again today.   ☺

10 comments:

  1. I am not answering to win a prize. I do love all the choices but must admit that Bethany brought me home the Cath Kidson mail set. It has been such fun to use. It doesn't provide space for a long letter; instead I have been dashing off short notes here and there and enjoying it.

    I am off to drool over the caramel biscuits. I have developed a deep love for that sticky stuff. But drool is where it stops.

    Enjoy the start to your weekend.

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  2. No matter how cold it is I hang my sheets and cases on the line and iron the cases....nothing like climbing into bed on those freshly cleaned and ironed cases at night.....so relaxing

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  3. You are made of sterner stuff than I if you can stop at just drooling Suzan!!

    Linda, you are so right. That is heaven on earth!

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  4. It's always sad to hear such things..

    I can't believe you ahve a bloom already..
    Cute ..cute as always..
    have you seen the photos on the net about the young boy and his new dog and the naps they take? So cute..my daughter sent the link to me..Todd and M..:)

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  5. Your post each day brings Gods Love. I'm most Thankful for it and You. Yes Goodbys are so very hard for us All.And yet they never really leave us, as they are Always in our Hearts.
    And at time's they can feel very close.Lovely post.oooxxx

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  6. ((Hugs))) Marie. I am thinking of you as you deal with the loss of your dear friend with the same beauty and grace that you always exude.

    I can't believe that your camelia is already flowering! Isn't it a weird winter? Last year, spring was six weeks late and this year it looks like being six weeks early here. The very first cranes arrived at the lake on February 15th (last year the first one came on March 26th) and I saw fieldfares and green plovers (peewits) today, which is unheard of in February. I wonder what this year will being us.

    I love that picture of Mitzie - that dog has certainly landed in Doggie Paradise, that's for sure. ♥ ♥

    Now, dare I click on that recipe????

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  7. well MArie I have signed on as a friend...never even realised that i wasn't !! you and I have been friends for so so long...You always give us such lovely messages each and every day....even when you don't think you are LOL....Hope your day got better an dthat you managed a nice drive out. Sorry about your friend but his memory will be with you forever as we both know these partings are so hard though xxx
    take care sending hugs and XXX

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  8. It is so hard to say good by. Right now my sweet Aunt Della who is a 100 years old is in the dying stages. I have been extremely close to her so I am pretty sad. I do know all is well but I will really miss her.
    I love the smell of fresh laundry from being on clothes lines. I haven't smelt that for years abut memories can bring that back a little.
    How fun to have an early bloom for spring. We have a lily plant in our house that has bloomed. I just love it.
    Always enjoy your drawings and I keep telling you I am going to order some cards and then I don't Honestly, I will do this soon.
    Love and hugs with great blessings for you!

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  9. Hello Marie, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, my heart is with you. I do so look forward to your posts every day, I've been a follower for a while. What a lovely giveaway, I love special tea towels, Cath Kidston stationery is my favourite, I write letters to my online friends as I'm mostly stucky in bed and what an honour to own your little cards, they would be saved for special purposes. God bless by friend, may the Lord soothe your sorrow. Kind regards Mandy Currie (mandycurrie@googlemail.com)

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  10. So sorry to read about your Aunt LeAnne. I will keep you in my prayers. The Gospel is a comfort but it still doesn't cure the ache of loss. Only time will do that I suspect.

    Thanks so much for your kind comment Mandy! God bless you too. xxoo

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