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. 

Getting to celebrate another Father's Day with my father. When I think that I never thought I would ever see him again and knowing that I have now gotten to spend five Father's Days getting to spend time with him I feel greatly blessed.  I had a nice card for him and had gotten him a Tim Horton's Gift card which I know he will use. He goes there every afternoon pretty much.  Cindy cooked us all a lovely meal of burgers and she had made her infamous pasta salad and a delicious red potato salad. My brother face-timed him from Ottawa. I think he had a good day all told. I love him so much. I am so grateful for these moments and these memories we are building.

Cinnamon continues to improve and get better. I have to take her for her follow up appointment this afternoon. I am not sure how I am going to get her into her cat carrier. It usually takes two of us. I think it is going to be really hard to do it all on my own, but we will see. I am praying and hoping I can do it. She has recovered very well however and seems pretty much back to normal. Nutmeg has stopped hissing and spitting at her.  She has her appetite and is behaving as always. Her incision looks good to me.  I am hoping for a good report!  Love her so much and am so grateful that things have gone so well.

Going to church on Sunday mornings and being able to partake of the sacrament, renewing my covenants through this holy ordinance.  Fellowshipping with the Saints.  Listening to the talks in the sacrament meeting and participating in the Sunday School lesson afterwards. All good.  This was the branch that I as baptized in on the 8th of July back in 1999, so 26 years ago now. My friend Jacquie's late husband baptized me. I have never regretted it. Not for an instant. From the moment I embraced the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I felt that I had found my spiritual home.

I am ever grateful for my sister.  She was my very first best friend in life, next to my mom and dad. She has always been on my side, even when I have been making stupid choices and decisions.  She might not always agree with my actions but has always supported my right to make my own choices.  She's been there to pat me on the back when I have done well, and to help pick me up when things have gone horribly wrong.  She has always loved me no matter what, through the good times and the bad.  She has been the greatest gift my parents ever gave to me, and I am so very grateful for that gift.  I love her so very much. She IS my best friend.

 I have had enough excitement and drama in my life to last two lifetimes, and I am at a point now where simplicity is all I crave or want.  I love my little home, and I love being able to putter about in it each day, spending time doing a bit of work, keeping my home clean and tidy, spending time with family, my cats, etc. Being able to help out my next-door neighbor whenever I can.  Talking with family and friends. Reading, writing, crafting, cooking. That is about as exciting as it gets and that is how I like it. Simple pleasures and joys.

The gift of prayer . . . I use it multiple times a day, every day.   He is always listening. I know this to be true. I have felt it. It helps to have someone to talk things out with.  My prayers have always been answered also. In one way or another.  Some get answered immediately, others take a long time to get answered.  I have some prayers that I know will probably never see any answers in this lifetime, but I keep praying anyways. I believe in miracles.

I have a long list of others that I pray for daily as well. It is something which I love to do.

I am so grateful that I have a forgiving heart.  I cannot imagine carrying all the hurts in my life around with me forever. What a burden. Forgiveness is a gift from above. It blesses both the giver and the receiver.  I am grateful for the many times I have been forgiven, and I am grateful for the many times I have had to forgive. Being able to forgive people.  That doesn't mean that you forget . . .  there are some things that others do to you will probably never be able to forget. Forgiving means, however, that you no longer allow those things to have any measure of impact or importance in your life. You just let them go.  Some things are a bit harder to forgive than others, but it is possible to forgive all things.  Forgiveness is a healing balm.

 

The gift of a new day each morning.  What will I do with this gift.  Each day is special, and I try to make them all count in some way. I try to celebrate each day as much as I can, even the not so good ones. 

Three things that embroider my days.  Faith, hope, love . . . I would not be without them.

I know my life may seem boring to some, but it is never boring to me. I do not ever get lonely. I am sometimes afraid, but I know where and who to turn to when that happens.  I am blessed beyond measure.

And with that I will leave you with a thought to carry . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _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 kitchen today, Chicken & Dumplings. This is a small batch recipe that is sized for the smaller family. It will feed two or three depending on appetites.  It is delicious. I know I say that all the time, but it's true.  This was fabulous served with some mashed potatoes on the side.

I won't be here tomorrow morning. I have my stress test and need to be at the hospital for that by 9:30. The hospital is an hour away, so I will have to be at my sister's for 8:30.  I am stressing about it a bit, but hopefully all will be well.

Have a fabulous day today. I hope your day is full of small and wonderful things.  Don't forget!

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═══════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════  

 

And I do too!