(source)
The hills of home are little hills,
But oh I love them so;
The purple tinted sweet of them
Against the evening's glow,
The way a tall tree bows its head
Like an old man when prayers are said.
The stony pastures climbing up
Against the mountain's base,
Whose dear familiar lines are known
Like a beloved face;
An old rain fence whose corners hold
Wild asters bright as guinea gold.
For elm and ash and stunted oak
Grow on these hills of mine,
Butternut trees and hickory
And clumps of knotty pine;
Wild apples in an old ravine,
A white birch like a virgin queen.
Oh silent hills I lift my eyes
To drink deep of your strength,
The comfort of enduring things,
Peace for the journey's length,
From petty cares and daily ills,
I lift mine eyes unto the hills.
Finding in them a sweet release,
A zone of comfort, joy, and peace.
~Edna Jacques, The Hills of Home
The Hills of Home, 1952
This is the very first poem in the book of the same name by Edna. When I opened it this morning it caught my eye right away. (I do so love her poetry.) I live in a small valley, nestled between two mountains, which most people would not really see as being mountains, but they are. They are called the North Mountain and the South Mountain. Mom always called this valley we live in God's country, and I believe she was right. We are largely untouched by much of the adverse weather that seems to skirt around us, protected as we are by those two mountains, hugged safely and nestled in between their arms.
They are beautiful to me, no matter the time of year. In the spring they are covered in a flush of tender green which deepens in the summer months and then turns to golden, ambers and reds in the autumn months. I have laughed with joy as I tobogganed down its silver slopes in the winter months and have always just felt secure in knowing that they are sitting there, like ancient sentinels . . . protecting this little valley of ours from harm.
Oh, what a great blessing it is to be able to call myself a Valley Girl, like the many generations of women who have come before me. The mothers, wives and daughters of great Mi'gmaq nation, French and English settlers, British Loyalists, etc. I have a history here and a blood line which goes way back to the beginning of time, when ancient feet trod softly upon needle carpeted paths cut through once dense forests, alongside the glittering waters of the Annapolis river winding its way between these two hills of home. My home . . .
(source)
“If news is not really news unless it is bad news,
it may be difficult to claim we are an informed nation.”
~Norman Cousins, Journalist and Editor
You can also sign up to receive a jolt of good news in your email every morning as well.
We do not have any in our province, but these Giving Machines are located throughout the world in many locations. You too can share your light at a Giving Machine. You can give clean water, goats, meals, toys, and more to those in need through a unique giving experience. Your donations go directly to global and local charities to help change lives around the world.
You can also participate in this global outreach online, which I am doing. You can read more about it and donate if you wish to here.
It is an LDS charity, but that is good news because you know that donating through them 100% of what you give goes to where you want it to go.
I also like to give to the Salvation Army every year, along with the Red Cross for the same reasons. You do not have to give much. Every little bit helps.
(source)
There is a hymn we sing at church that I love called Because I Have Been Given Much.
Because I have been given much,
I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty,
Lord, each day I live
I shall divide my gifts from thee
With ev'ry brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered,
fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another's lack
and I not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof's safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed
by thy great love, dear Lord,
I'll share thy love again,
according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need;
I'll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.
We are coming in now to a season of giving. There is no greater way of giving thanks for the abundance we have been blessed with than to share a portion of that abundance with others who are in need. It doesn't have to be money or tangible goods either. It can simply be your time. Your love. And it doesn't just need to be at this time of year. How wonderful it would be if the spirit of generosity resided with us the whole year through. Our world would truly be transformed.
(source)
How wonderful it has been this week seeing all of the Thanksgiving meals and traditions shared online and on the television by our neighbors to the South of us here in Canada. I have always loved the American celebration of Thanksgiving in late November. It seems to be the perfect way to usher in the entire Holiday season.
One of my favorite Thanksgivings in the U.K. was when I was serving my Mission and Sister Johanson and I hosted all of our local Missionaries to a Thanksgiving dinner prepared by us in the Johanson's missionary apartment. What a lovely year that was. It was so much fun to be able to celebrate the holiday with people who actually felt the same way about it as I did.
Interesting too were the different foods and customs embraced by people who were from different part of America for this holiday. I had, of course, been used to a very "Southern" way of embracing it from having worked at the Manor. Those people were from Alabama and there was a definite Southern twist to everything. Things like Cornbread dressing and Sweet Potato Pie. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows on top.
I had no idea that Macaroni and Cheese was a very popular Thanksgiving dish either, or corn casserole. And Wassail a very Utahn thing I supposed. In any case it was a Thanksgiving celebration that has stood out in my mind for a very long time and a very happy memory that I have cherished.
I dragged Cindy out yesterday and we went to Walmart. I picked up some unbreakable baubles to put on my tree in two colors, red and gold and I got some sparkly garland and some red beaded garland. None of it was very expensive, but it will certainly look a lot better than the paper ornaments which have graced my tree these past couple of years. Because of the cats I don't really want to put anything breakable on it. They were very interested in the ornaments I did buy and have given them all a good sniffing over.
I also picked up a Christmas gift for my wee grandson who lives in the next town over. It is a set of emergency vehicles, each with working parts, sirens, etc. A helicopter, police vehicle, firetruck, ambulance, etc. with human figures as well. It is hard to know exactly what to get him as I do not know him at all or what his interests are or what he already has. I do my best. I will leave it on their front porch again like I did last year. A part of me wonders what would happen if I were to knock on their door, and another part of me is too afraid to find out. So, I will just send an e-mail to my DIL to tell her I am leaving it when the time comes. I cannot message my son as he has blocked me.
On the positive side my niece, my ex's brother's daughter has messaged me to tell me when she is going to be down visiting in December and expressed a wish to get together again. I love that that part of the family is still my family regardless of what may or may not have happened. It warms my heart.
We will have a feast of some kind no doubt and a lovely visit together.
My sister shared this photo with me earlier this week. It is their kitten Sully sleeping on top of the kitchen cabinets. He is such a funny little character. They are all little characters. I am so happy that our father's cat settled in well with the other cats. I thought that she would eventually. Her life has expanded so much since moving in there. She has a lot more space to run around in and more windows to look out of. More wildlife to observe and someone to chase around and to be chased around by. It's all good.
My father came out to the top of the stairs to say hello to me when I was picking up my sister yesterday. He seems to be very happy there. That makes me happy as well. And when he goes to the Tim Hortons in town there are always people who greet him with enthusiasm. When he was living the next town over he sat on his own most mornings when he went to the mall for his coffee and breakfast. Here he of course has breakfast at home with my sister, but when he goes for his afternoon tea, my daughter and her husband are often there and their friends and they always give him a hearty welcome. Run to get his tea and donut for him if my sister hasn't already done so, etc. He feels welcome. That is a very good thing.
I think his life has greatly expanded as well. Everyone should feel loved and welcome when they are in their last years of life. It's a good thing as Martha would say.
And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . .
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*.˛We can only be said to be alive
in those moments when our hearts
are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
In The English Kitchen today, Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Simple and delicious. How do you enjoy yours? I like a dollop of whipped cream on top of mine, or ice cream.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend. May it be filled with love, joy, peace and abundance, all things nice. Don't forget!
═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════
⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════
And I do too!
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════
And I do too!
