Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

"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 from the past week which brought untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.

  

Being told by the heart clinic that my episodes are likely not heart-related but gastro-related. What a load off!!   I just need to see my GP and  switch some medication around, so that is an easy fix.  Lets hope it works, and I can get this acid reflux thing under better control. The consultant I saw was very helpful and friendly. He was Irish. The Irish are a friendly lot.  He told me it is his niece that produces Game of Thrones, which he has never seen by the way.  I just happened to mention that Ireland was where a lot of it was filmed and that I wanted to go one day. 

 

  

I used to be painfully shy at one time.  I cannot believe that I was ever that way. Although I am still not really comfortable or happy in crowds, I am not so shy any more and I do love to talk to people, meet new people, etc. I have more confidence now than I have ever had in my life, and that is a good thing. 

  

Free Prescriptions.  In the UK if you are over the age of 60, you get free prescriptions.  That is a good thing and I am so grateful for that. If I didn't have free prescriptions I don't think I would be able to afford my medications. This is a blessing I will never take for granted.  I think in Wales all prescriptions are free, but I could be wrong. 

  

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring.  Although the temperatures might deny it, and it might not look quite like Spring is springing when you look out the door, it cannot be denyed. March 20th is the first official day of Spring, and it is all uphill from here.  The days will be getting warmer and brighter.  the bumblebees will soon be bumbling and things will be springing up in the garden.  Of course we still have April showers to get through, but its all onwards and upwards from here tomorrow!♥

  

My mom.  I love my mom so much. She has been such a force for good in my life. I cannot imagine how difficult it is for my sister to be faced with her decline on a daily basis. I am far removed from it.  I can tell each time I call her that she is getting worse and worse, memory/thought process wise. It is very noticeable and I am sure it is very frustrating for her, and a challenge for my sister. It is not easy to deal with people who have dementia and help them to maintain their dignity and pride.  My sister does it admirably.  I wish so much that I could be there doing my part.  All I can do is pray and then call the few times a week that I do.  I try to get mom talking about the past a lot, which she is really good with.  I wish that my cousins and stuff would take it in turn to go and visit her every now and then, just to break up her days somewhat and give her something different to enjoy.  I am so grateful that she has been able to stay in her home, and for my sister's care.  I wish that I could do more to help, both time wise and financially.  Here in the UK my sister would be entitled to a carer's allowance.  In Canada she is entitled to ZIP. Nada.  I know it is a struggle. I wish I could win the lottery or something, then I could help more.   But I am grateful for a sister's love and care, and for my mom still being here I know that both are extra special blessings. 

  

I know I don't talk about him much, but I am grateful for my dad also. I love this photo of him with my sister, brother and me.  (My sister and I have matching skirts!  Thanks Mom!  She made them.) My father always did extra jobs to bring money into the home, or for spending money for himself which was the same thing because if he was earning his spending money, it wasn't coming out of the family budget. When I was really young, like in this photo, it meant he worked on his days off putting up television antennae for people.  I can remember driving around the community on my bicycle and seeing him up on roof's doing this and feeling really proud that that was my father up there doing that important job.  I love my dad.  Always have. Always will.  I need to try to catch him on the telephone this week.  He is very mobile and is out and about a lot. Its often hard for me to catch him in. 

  

Of all the rooms in the house, I love my bedroom most of all.  

  

It is exactly the way I like it and want it to be.  I love the furniture. I love the art.  I love the colours.  I just love everything about it.  Part of that is because it isn't cluttered.  I think I would love all of my house if I could get rid of the clutter.  Need to work on that. 

  

An attitude of gratitude. Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day.  I am a half glass full type of person.  I am grateful for the ability I have to recognise my blessings and embrace them. For my ability to be grateful.  Life is soooooo much better if you can allow yourself to see the grace in it, no matter the circumstances.  I am always cognizant of the fact that things could always be worse, and so I am grateful for whatever whatever . . . . life is good.  Oh yes, I am not perfect. I do have down moments, and you all know that, but I am grateful for the ability to shake it off. 

  

Little patches of sunlight.  Mitzie knows where to find them.  On the day before this last cold weather system we are now under, it was a gorgeous day and Mitzie was out in the back enjoying every patch of warmth that the sunshine was giving. Todd noticed that the frogs were back spawning in the puddings in the back grassed area.  I expect they have all frozen now and well, it was a waste anyways, because what can spawn from a puddle that will dry up as spring continues.

 

Daily talks with Eileen.  That's my oldest daughter.  I am so grateful for this girl of  mine who seeks me out on a daily basis and wants to talk with me. We do have fun. We didn't get to talk yesterday. Her husband messaged me to tell me that she has the flu.  I hope she feels better soon.   I suspect that she wrote the message on his tablet for him to send to me once he got to where he could send it.  He doesn't really read or write. I think the longest message I have ever gotten from him personally on there is "Hi Marie."  lol

 

Hot soup on cold days.  Don't you just love tomato soup?  I could make a meal of a bowl of tomato soup.  Its even better with a grilled cheese on the side for dipping, but even just the bowl of soup is great.

I am tempting fate now.  I best press publish before I lose this again.  I have lost this three times already this morning.  The computer gremlins are playing up!!  I don't know what I will do if my laptop cracks up.  I don't have the ability to get another one!  So lets just close with saying that I am also grateful for each and every one of you.  You who still come to visit me day after day, even after all these years.  I really do appreciate each and every one of you.  It's true!

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.A beautiful face will age,
and a perfect body will change,
but a beautiful soul will 
always be a beautiful soul.
~unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment  

  

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Mosiah 21:28-22:9 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? Why do you think we sometimes have to wait for our righteous desires?  

Thoughts -  I love the example of Limhi's people here. That as they waited for their righteous desire they didnt become immobile. They made and kept promises to serve the Lord and obey His commandments. They were waiting upon two righteous desires. 1. Physical deliverance 2. Spiritual deliverance through ordinances, even though they'd already made covenants. The deliverance from the Lamanites, they counselled together and came up with a plan to get themselves physically to a better place. Spiritual deliverance through covenants and ordinances, they knew they had to wait upon correct authority. I love Ammon's strength of character! How easy would it have been to give these people their righteous desires under incorrect authority, they clearly asked him. But he withstood and taught them about waiting and doing it the right way! This has so many applications but the one I take today is - you can't rush the Lord, His timing and His ways are higher, He sees the bigger picture of my life. So trust. Trust in His power to deliver.

 

Tommorrow's Reading (Day 124) - Mosiah 22:10-23:15 

Question -  What have you learnt from the reading today? What can these verses teach us about our attitude towards new or returning members? 

 

 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Asian Slaw.  Crunchy, colourful and filled with lovely Asian flavours.  Healthy too! 

 

I hope your week ahead is filled with an abundance of small and wonderful things!  Don't forget along the way  . . . 

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and I do too!