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.     



I tried all day yesterday to call my sister and mother so that I could wish my sister a Happy Birthday.   Sadly I was not able to get through as the storm called Arthur had knocked out all of the power in the valley, which meant that not only were they without power but also our Eileen and Tim, and our Sara and Bruce.

This is the beautiful Linden Tree which was in my mother's back garden.   As you can see the strong winds have blown it over.   I am so grateful that it was not one of the trees which are much closer to mom's house, and that everyone is okay.  

My sister and her partner Dan take a lot of bicycle rides and walks along the old railway lines which have been remade into a hiking path.   There seems to be a lot of damage there as well with trees having been knocked over etc.   I wonder how the Valley's apple crop will have fared.  

I am just glad that they are all safe and sound.   I will probably call later today.   I was really concerned yesterday as my brother had told me he was unable to get through, but that when he had spoken to my mom on Saturday she had sounded weak.    She will be 82 on Wednesday.



I do this every morning.  I am one of those lucky people who always sees the glass as being half full.  I cannot imagine being any other way.  Yes, I am a Pollyanna type of person.  Some people find this as annoying.  Thankfully Todd doesn't.   I just don't see what is to be gained from looking at anything from a negative point of view.  Does it not only make what may not be so pleasant a whole lot worse than it needs to be??  I am grateful to be a half full kind of a person.

Mine is the sunlight, 
mine is the morning, 
 Born of the one light 
Eden saw play. 
 Praise with elation, 
praise every morning, 
 God's re-creation of the new day.  

I am grateful for all of the sunrises I get to see each morning.  Grateful that I am an early riser.  This means that in the summer months I do not get to see the sun set as I am also an early to bedder . . . but in the late autumn, winter and early spring of the year, I am blessed to witness both.  I have never been a sleeper-inner. Once I am awake I want to be up and about the business of my day!  I guess I just don't want to miss a moment of it!



I was going through photos yesterday and came across this one of the boxes in the back garden when we were un-packing after our move back to Chester four and a half years ago.  Thankfully a couple of the missionary elders came over and helped Todd to flatten them all and stack them so that he could take them to the tip.  We were so grateful for their help.   One of them was Elder Joseph Craig.  He was Canadian, from Alberta.   He actually came back to see us last year with his wife.  It is always nice to see one of the Elders again after they have finished their missions and see how well they are doing.  Elder Chris Sorenson came to see us as well.  

I actually have this photo of both of them when they were on their missions.   As you know we love having the missionaries in our home.  They are surely one of the small and wonderful things in our lives.   As we are both converts to the church, the missionaries have always had a large role to play and we have both always been very grateful to each and every one of them for what they do.  It's nice to know that it also works in reverse and we are always so very happy to see them again in later years.




Found this photo of the side board as well.  It has never been so tidy since!  We just have too much stuff.  I am trying to cut back and get rid of things, but it's a long process of trying to decide if we love something or need something.  Everything else just has to go.  I can be somewhat painful to let go . . .  but it can also be very cathartic!  

And I guess that is all of my small and wonderful things for this week . . .  I have only one thing left to share and that is this wonderful quote which I heard last night when we were watching something on the television . . . and I thought that is so true, but it is a beautiful truth.


"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."
~Robert Frost

Home is not just a place or a house or a country or anything like that . . .  home is love and acceptance and peace.  I am grateful for mine.

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . . Baked Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta!  Pour moi!

Have a wonderful day!

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I wish for you a week filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things!