Monday 15 December 2014

Small and Wonderful things . . .

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"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard  

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.    




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Watching the children present the Nativity at the Ward Christmas Party on Saturday evening.  I can't help but remember all of the Children's Nativities I participated in when I was growing up and how very wonderful they were and all of the lovely feelings associated with the re-telling of the story of the Saviour's birth.  That feeling of warmth and love associated with it all.  I love to see the Nativity each year and to sing the carols in church every Sunday.   That spells Christmas for me.  

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My second cousin Stephanie and her husband had the first child of their own this past weekend.   They had already adopted two children, who are the grandchildren of my Uncle's wife.  They never ever thought they would be able to have any children of their own, so this little girl is a miracle to them.  It's always a special thing to welcome a new baby into the family, and there is no more special time of the year to do so than during the Christmas season.  No name yet, but this will be one very loved up little girl.   Congratulations to Stephanie and Aaron.

 
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This is my cousin Sheri's little boy Sawyer.   I think this is just about the most beautiful Christmas photo I have seen this year.   Sawyer is a little miracle too.   He's a delightful little boy and the light of Sheri's life.

Sheri is my Aunt Freda and Uncle Harold's youngest daughter.   The other day she posted on facebook how devastated she was that she had lost a necklace charm that my Aunt had given her 10 years ago.   It was a heart and a key and my Aunt had told her that she would always have the key to her heart when she gave it to her.   It was one of the last things her mum had given her.  My Aunt Freda passed away after battling lung cancer about 9 years ago now.

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Miraculously she found it in the washing machine two days later!  A Christmas miracle!  I think it was my Aunt telling her that she still had the key to her heart. A small and wonderful thing.

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My dear friend Lura is a good friend I met through this medium of blogging.   She has had a really rough year health wise, but she is like the Ever Ready Bunny . . .  she just keeps going and going.  She had not done a blog in a while due to problems on her page and yes, her health as well amongst other things.  I was just thrilled this morning to see a post from her and to see her blog is up and running again.   She is undecided if she will continue to blog or not and I know she will make a decision which is right for her.  I would be sad to see her stop, but in any case it is a blessing now to have her page back in action and to see a post from her.  She has always been an inspiration to me and I know to many others too.   Grammy's News.   It's a good thing. 

Lura started her blog as an effort to stay in touch with her children, but . . . as she says, her children' don't really read it.  I think it's funny that I started blogging for the same reason and . . .  like Lura's, my children don't really read mine either.  Blogging for me became so much more than a reason or means of connecting with my kids.  I have met the most wonderful people via this medium and still do.   You are all like family to me.   When we lost our job a few years back and our home and our Jess . . .  you all supported me in unbelievable ways.   You lifted me up with your love and helped me to keep putting one foot in front of the other.   That was no small thing, but it was a really wonderful thing and you all still lift me up.   I am so very grateful for each and every one of you.   Many of us have never met in person, and we may never meet in person  . . .  but our hearts have touched,  and that is no small thing either.

It means the world to me.  You are an integral part of my life and I could never give up something which brings me so much joy and meaning into my life.  Not willingly anyways!  I love you all.

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A thought to carry with you through the day . . .


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Fill your life with as many moments 
and experiences of joy and passion 
as you humanly can. 
Start with one experience 
and build on it. 
~Marcia Wiede
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Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Easy Chicken Taco Salad.  Delish!


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Have a wonderful week.   I hope it is filled with oodles of small and wonderful things"

10 comments:

  1. Mrning Marie, It is a bit warmer this morning so no having to defrost the car. I have to go out around 8.30 this morning to go and get bits and pieces for our Guild Christmas party this afternoon...Pam will bring sandwich things with her but I need to go get "sweet" things then back to get everything organised..with Pam's help...what a lovely phtograph that is like yu I think one of teh nicest i've seen this Christams...Also that great news about teh wee baby how wonderful to have a miracle at any time but especially at Christmas.. Now I am away to have a look at Lura's blog I am so excited to see she has written again. Liek you I do miss her very much when she is not keeping us in touch !.. Have a lovey day both you and Tod and not forgetting Mitzie xx

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  2. Good morning Marie. Today has had its ups and downs. Miss Pip has pulled a "swifty" as we say. I also bought another cat but so far Nimbus shows she does not appreciate him at all. Whoops. I just want something to cuddle some of the time. Better shut up before I burst into tears.

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  3. Sybil, I hear we are in for a cold winter. Cold and dry works for me. I'd rather it than a really wet one! I hope you have a lovely day today. Love to you and Masy and Mary! xxoo

    So sorry you are having one of "those" days Suzan! I am hoping it does get better. It may take a few days, but eventually the cats will settle into a comfortable companionship. xxoo

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  4. Like you and your friend I started blogging for my family too. Strange they don't read mine much either.
    Hope your week is off to a wonderful start there ! Happy Monday !

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  5. This post is lovely..That child by the tree..great sht.
    Lura getting better:)
    Butthe part that made me laugh was about our children ..and ourb blogs:) One of my daughters sent me a photo of Noah zesting a lemon..and said guess what we are doing?
    Right away I knew..I said are you making teh wreath cookies on my blog?
    She said what wreath cookies?..I haven't looked at your blog today.LOL.
    Let's just say they don't begin their day seeing what mom was up to on her blog.
    I was so SURE!

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  6. Haha Pam, isn't that odd that we all started blogging for our children and yet none of them read them? I am glad to know I am not alone in this! Nevermind, we have all found each other and that is amazing to me that we can have dear friends in this life that we have never met in person but who care about us so very much. I hope you have a lovely day! xoxo

    MOnique, funny that you have the same thing with your kids! I cannot imagine your girls not reading your blog. Your blog is such a feast to me! I love it. And now I am going to hunt out your wreath cookies! xoxo

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  7. You are an angel sweet friend. I love you. Thanks for featuring me on your blog today and caring about me. You are an amazing blogger and a great example.

    I thought the pic of Sawyer was a professional . It is perfect . His face radiates wonder and joy. Congrats on the precious new baby in the family. Hugs, Lura

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  8. Thanks Lura, I truly was thrilled to see a post from you today.xxoo

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  9. Dear Marie; thank you for the lovely comment on my post. I just love you and this post today is exactly how I feel when it comes to connecting with others. I too was so happy to see that Lura had posted. I hope she will keep her blog. My children don't really read mine either; what's up with that? I haven't figured it out yet.
    I loved all of your small and wonderful things. I love the photo of the little one looking at the tree and of course the new little one.
    I first daughter after having 3 boys was born on December 23rd; what a gift she was. I also have a sweet little granddaughter that was born on the same date.
    Blessings, love and hugs for you dear friend.

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  10. That is so funny that yours don't read your blog either LeAnn! I can only think it is because they are all of a similar age and leading busy lives. They are gaming and raising children, working full time, etc. FAcebook is easy for them because it is only a line here or a line there. I know they stay well in touch with their friends because I see the messages! They are glued to their phones, just not our blogs! haha One day they will be able to come back and read the things we wrote. At least I hope that they will! xoxo

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