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 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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My little place has the worst kitchen sink in the world. It is old and it is some sort of laminate or something. I don't really what the product is called.  I am sure when it was brand new it was lovely, but it is a stain magnet now. Literally everything stains it.  Horribly.  Thank goodness for those magic eraser things.  They bring it back up to snuff or as close as I can get it.  With one of those and a bit of elbow grease I can usually get it looking half decent.  Its clean, but still wears the battle scars of probably a good 20 or so years of constant use by old folks like me.  That's about how old these units are. They may even  be a bit older.  I am not sure. 

The sink is kind of like us. Bearing the scars of years and years of constant use, but still with a purpose.  We can sparkle, despite the scars.  The scars of life are our badges of honor and we should bear them proudly.  We are survivors  just like that old sink of mine.  A bit of a buff every now and then and we pop back, almost like new.

 

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My dad took us all out for dinner the other night. He wanted to thank Cindy and Dan for all they are doing for him in helping him move.  I just get included because I am part of the family. I don't really do much, except use my car for this and for that. I can't get down on the floor, or lift heavy things, or do  much of anything really. Empty cans. Rinse them out. Feed his cat. Wash dishes. I suppose it is something, but it is not all that much in the scheme of things.  It was nice to all go out to dinner together though. 

We just went to this place around the corner from me. The food is not too bad. Its not great, but I have learned that around here, that's about par for the course!  The company was what counted and loved being together like that. I love my family and am so grateful for them!

Poor Nutmeg.  He ended up with a dingle dangle at the weekend. I am sure you know what I mean.  He is such a big cat that I, on my own, cannot cope with it, so I have to get Cindy to come over and help me. One of us has to hold him while the other removes it.  

What a time we had catching  him!  We shut all of the doors so he didn't have anywhere really to go, but he still gave us a run for our money!  We finally were able to catch him and put short work to it, but boy oh boy what fun that was!  His dignity was eventually restored.   You just have to laugh at these things.

 

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Church was really good yesterday. It was our fast and testimony meeting because we had had Stake Conference on the first Sunday of the month. I always love listening to the testimonies of others. They help to strengthen my own.  We sang some of the new hymns that the church has included in the hymnbook.  I love the new hymns.  His Eye is on the Sparrow . . .  is one of my favorites. 

I have always loved sparrows  . . . when I was a very young child at Sunday School we would sing the hymn "God sees the Little Sparrow Fall."  Sparrows always remind me that my Heavenly Father sees and loves me and is with me when I fall.  I have a little china sparrow that I purchased on Etsy a number of years back. That it didn't break in the move back to Canada has always surprised me. It made it intact and I have it on one of my shelves.  A daily reminder of how much I matter. A daily reminder of His love for me.

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The rhubarb is getting near to the end of the season and the strawberries are just beginning. For a few weeks the two will mesh together  . . .  they are a beautiful combination. I just adore Strawberry and Rhubarb Pie.  I find myself wondering if they would make a good jam together, those two flavors.  I bet that they would. 

 

This is so true.  We need to learn how to be happy now. To find joy in the present.  Its right there in that word, "present." Its a gift. The here and the now. 

 

 

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Beautiful June Days, filled with sunshine. Just warm enough, not yet stinking hot. The  nights are still cool enough for comfortable sleeping.  The flowers are blooming. The bees are buzzing. People are out and about.  Everyone seems in a good mood. School is about to let out for the summer.  The berries are beginning.  All the farm stands are carrying ice cream now.  What's not to love!

 

Knowing this to be true.  I have always loved giving.  That is not to say I am better than anyone else.  I just love giving. To see the joy on another's face after you have given them either a gift of service or something tangible, is such a wonderful thing. It makes the heart warm like nothing else on earth.  I am a much better giver than receiver.

My front window  . . .  with the glass birds . . .  I love it. It makes my heart smile.

I have lived and am living a life filled with abundance . . .  and best of all I know this, I recognize this. I don't take any of it for granted and where and when I can, I try to share it with others.  A blessing shared is a blessing doubled. A grain of rice shared between two people brings joy to them both.

And that's the best way to live your life.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

 .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. .“Think the best of each other, 
especially of those you say you love. 
Assume the good and doubt the bad.” 
~Jeffrey R Holland   .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •  

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Sausage Casserole for Two, in the air fryer.  This is really REALLY good.  Just the right size for two people, although you could certainly double it to serve more. You can use any kind of sausage you like, chicken, turkey, pork. Italian would be nice. Nice thick sausages work best.

I hope that you have a day and a week filled with abundance and joy. Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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right where you are! 

And I do too!