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.

It's -6*C/22*F this morning feels like -14*C (really cold) and it is snowing heavily. There is a weather advisory in effect, and I am safe and warm in my wee house. I am so grateful for the blessing of having a home. Small, humble, but home. I will never take it for granted. There may be things that I wish were different about it, but I am blessed to have a roof over my head and I know it. In a world where many people don't enjoy this blessing and privilege, I know how lucky I am. 

How pretty the snow looks. I am also grateful that I don't have to go anywhere today. It is supposed to snow heavily all day, with gusty winds. I do need to put my garbage out later, but I will worry about that then.

Being able to go to church yesterday and partake of the sacrament, to renew my covenants with God, to start afresh.  It was a lovely service with a wonderful spirit in attendance. The first Sunday of the month is always Fast & Testimony meeting. We have an opportunity to get up and share a brief testimony with the congregation if we wish, of things which have meaning in our lives, of how God is working in our lives, of what we believe and know to be true. I love Fast & Testimony meeting. It is so uplifting to hear the testimonies of others. It is special to be able to bear my own in a pure and simple way.  There was a time that I could not have imagined having the courage to do this. I was so shy.  I am still very shy, but when it comes to being able to share with others the way I feel about the Savior and other spiritual things, I am not shy.  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." ~Romans 1:16

A bunch of us sisters who live on our own are going to be getting together for a late lunch early supper one day before Christmas. There are four of us. I am really looking forward to that. It will be myself, Glenna, Jacquie and Christine. Maybe Suzanne. We will see. We have been friends now for over 26 years.

Last night was our church's annual Christmas Devotional.  You can access it here if you wish to view it. I always look forward to watching it every year. It always helps to get my Christmas season off to a great start in a special and very sacred way. The music of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square along with the music from the Orchestra at Temple Square.  The special talks and thoughts about this special time of year shared by special speakers. It's all very soul enriching and heartwarming. I can think of no better way to kick off my Christmas festivities.

I have not put up a tree yet, and I may not. Dan and Cindy have theirs up and it is beautiful. It always is. I think I struggle with mine because I just don't have the decorations to put on it. I left a lifetime of collected decorations and memories back in the U.K. Each thing I put on my tree there had great meaning to me. Gifts from special friends and loved ones. Each year as I decorated my tree it was an opportunity to remember these special people and to feel the warmth of their love for me and mine for them.  I have bought a few decorations since my return to Canada, but it just does not feel the same to me. There are no memories of special friends and loved ones. It is just a tree with cheap plastic ornaments on it. It doesn't feed my heart and soul. I think perhaps instead I will just put out my mother's Nativity set and enjoy that for this season. I can enjoy Dan and Cindy's tree. 

I am content with not having one of my own.

Today is my youngest son's Birthday. Although I am not allowed to wish him a Happy Birthday in person, not via messaging, or a card, or whatever . . .  my heart is very much with him. I do wish for him a Happy Birthday. He is turning 37 years old. This mother's heart wishes that things could have been different, but they are what they are. I believe in miracles. Perhaps one day there will be a different story to tell. In the meantime, my prayers and heart are with him on his special day, and I hope that this day is filled with joy for him. 

Tomorrow is my youngest daughter's birthday. I did send her a card as I have never been told not to. She is turning 46. I was never her cup of tea. Even when she was a child, I knew that I was not the mother she had hoped to have. There has always been a distance between us. Right from the get-go.  I have never been able to bridge it, no matter how hard I try. Hope springs eternal though and maybe one day . . . 

 

(source)

I spent some time yesterday afternoon making some origami envelopes to put my grandchildren's Christmas money in. I used pages from vintage Little Golden Children's Christmas books. I had purchased them for this purpose. They were brand new reprints. Don't worry I was not destroying anything that could not be replaced. All the love for each of my grandchildren is in every fold.  They are from a different pattern than these. The book I used was Children's Christmas Carols.  

This is the book I used. A delightful reproduction of an original. I think I probably had this book when I was really small.  Many of us probably did.  I always loved my Little Golden Books. I think my favorite one was The Poky Little Puppy. I have always had a heart for animals.

 

(find the recipe here)

Sunday Dinner with the family. Cindy cooked an excellent Pot Roast (Not this picture but every bit as delicious looking.)  We enjoyed it with mashed potatoes, gravy (of course) broccoli and carrots. It was a delicious meal as always, but the best part was getting to share it with my family. I am so grateful that our father is doing as well as he is. That is a great blessing to me. Cindy is an excellent caregiver. We all appreciate her very much and for many more things than this. 

Faith, family, friends  . . .  home, health, hearth . . . I am blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*You don't choose your family.

They are God's gift to you,

as you are to them.

~Desmond Tutu. 

There is nothing new in the kitchen today as I decided to really take a day of rest yesterday. I am sharing my recipe for Banana, Rum, Date & Walnut Tea Loaf as the recipe for today. This is a fabulous loaf.  Generously studded with bits of sticky dates, crunchy toasted walnuts and lightly flavored with rum. Moist and delicious.

I hope you have a beautiful day.  A day filled with lots of promise and blessings.  Don't forget!

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And I do too!