Saturday Nice . . .

 

(source)

Praise God for warmth -- for little rooms that hold

A warm bright fire, shelter from the cold,

For love that bids us welcome, holds us dear,

For Peace that hovers like a pigeon near.

Praise God for warmth, when winds are keen and high

Driving grey matted clouds across the sky

Whines like a dog outside the kitchen shed

Like banshees wailing for their troubled dead.

I never hear the wind against the door,

But I am minded of the homeless poor,

It is their voices crying wild and deep

That haunt my dreams and will not let me sleep.

Praise God for warmth -- Oh heart, for warmth and light

For walls that shut us from the lonely night,

For He who wandered homeless knows the way

Footsteps turn homeward at the close of day.

~Edna Jacques, Praise God for Warmth

Beside Still Waters, 1952

How very grateful I am for these four walls that I call home. It is my oasis of peace in a world of chaos. It is Holy Ground to me.  It is humble, for sure, but it is all that I need It keeps me dry when the weather is wet. It keeps me cool when the weather is hot. It keeps me warn when the weather is cold. 

Within its walls there is Love. Peace. Comfort. I recognize the blessings that these things are and yes, I give thanks every day for them. God has been very good to me and I am thankful.

 

(source)

The shops are filling up with Christmas cheer.  Christmas music playing.  Sights and sounds. Cindy and I went to the new Dollarama that has opened up near us yesterday afternoon while Dad was visiting with his friend Maryann. It was new and fresh and very busy in there with people looking for bargains. They had a very generous Christmas section. There were some really cute Christmas Decorations for out of doors, and indoors. Lots of Christmas candies, and chocolates, stocking stuffers, wrappings, etc.

My cousin's wife makes beautiful door wreaths. I am always tempted to buy one when I see them. But $60 is a lot to spend for something to hang on your door when people are starving. I think I would rather put that money into the Salvation Army Bucket where it would do people some good or use it to buy a Christmas gift for a child who might not otherwise get one. There are many ways to give and make a difference.

Our church puts out these Giving Machines every year. These Giving Machines are located in various places throughout the United States and the World.  

They are large red colored vending machines. Through them people can donate various items such as food, clothing and other necessities to those in need. Instead of receiving a product, donors can contribute to charitable causes through these machines. Users can select items to donate ranging from basic necessities like meals and clothing to livestock such as goats and chickens. Each item has a specified cost and 100% of what is donated goes to the charity chosen. The machines are available this year in 25 countries and 126 cities.  Here in Canada, they are available in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary.  I wish there were more. You can also donate online through the link that I have given above. There are also opportunities to give of your time if that is all that you have to give. 

I think this is a pretty wonderful cause and I am encouraged knowing that 100% goes to the charities and not into administration. There is something about reaching out to those in need that does the heart a whole world of good.

 

(source)

It felt very good to get out of the house yesterday. I took some extra strength Tylenol with codeine before I went out and applied lots of icy gel to my upper arm and shoulder. The pain was still there, but at a dull roar, and the distraction of being out and about also helped me not to think about it too much.  I do have more movement of the arm, which is good, but I still cannot tolerate any pressure on it, such as would be felt if you push something or pull something or even lift something heavy. But I am able to put deodorant on under both arms now as I can lift the affected arm enough to reach underneath and I can stretch the affected arm enough to be able to reach underneath the other side. I was not quite able to use both hands to wash my hair this morning, although I did try. 

I am not one to take painkillers if I can help it. I live with chronic arthritis pain, and I don't take anything for that. I simply live with it. It is at a tolerable level I suppose. I don't like to use pain relief for that.  But I have been resorting to pain relief for this arm, however. Not a lot. One tablet in the morning and one later in the day.  It does help a bit and makes it a bit more tolerable. It hurts to hold my phone in my hand, which is weird. I still cannot sleep on my left side. I am a side sleeper, and I prefer to sleep on my left side, but at the moment I am unable to. That's okay. It could be worse.

 

(source)

I'm going to have to cut this short now. I have just had phone call from my sister to say that our father has been taken by ambulance to the hospital. She is on her way there now. I will try to keep you posted.

In the meantime, prayers would be very much appreciated.

A Thought to Carry With You . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
*Gratitude can turn

common days• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。

into Thanksgivings. • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。

• ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★★ 。 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Applesauce Nut Muffins. Simple and delicious. Recipe makes six delicious muffins. It is a recipe that I adapted from a pumpkin bread recipe. Its lovely.

I hope you have a lovely day. Stay safe and stay warm. Don't forget!

═══════════ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ═════════════ 

⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ════════════  

And I do too!