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.

 

As you know I have been reading "The God Who Weeps," by Terry and Fiona Givens.   I am really enjoying it, savoring it . . .  not rushing through it, but digesting it slowly.  I have come up with some fresh perspectives on a few things that I had not considered before.  Last night I was reading about the need and value of opposition in all things, the world, life, etc.  Nothing new there, but then they began talking about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that they had been told not to partake the fruit from . . .  and how BOTH Good and Evil had existed on that tree.  Sixty years old.   Read those passages in the scriptures a bazillion times . . .  this fact had never dawned on me in all that time.  Now it slapped me in the face, and I was like wow.  It's so true.

I love it when that happens.  I love books that make you think.



I fell asleep easily last night and without a lot of the coughing that has been keeping myself (and Todd) awake nights.  I did come home from church yesterday with a sore throat . . .  thinking to myself, oh no  what else  . . . .  I am so grateful however that I did get a good night's sleep.    I have been using the putting vicks on the bottoms of your feet thing.  Some nights it has worked, some nights it has not worked.  Last night was one of the nights it worked.



 I love this photograph of me napping with my dad.  I call it "The Apple of His Eye," because that is what he calls me, the apple of his eye.  I can feel the love in this picture and it makes me happy.  My father moved into his own place a month or so ago so he isn't living with my mom and my sister any more.   I haven't had an easy time getting in touch with him since he moved.  Yesterday I finally caught him at home and we had a lovely long conversation.  He sounded really happy and content with his life.  That made me feel good.  As a parent I want my children to be settled and happy . . .  but as a child I also want my parents to be settled and happy.



I  love this photograph of our Amanda, Maryn and Tom.  They are on their way to Amanda's graduation last year when she got her Masters.  I love the little braids and the hand holding.  I love the stalwart strength in Tom's back.  Although we cannot see their faces  . . .  I love the smiles and the contented peace this picture evokes . . .  the love and sense of family.  It is a beautiful thing.



Wee Cameron is on the mend.  Thanks to prayer and modern medicine.



Eileen and Tim at the National Special Olympic Winter Games last week in Newfoundland.   Eileen won a Silver medal for Nova Scotia.  As always I am very proud of her.  Even without medals I am proud of her.   I am proud of all my children.  We talk often on facebook.   She won a tablet at her works Christmas party last year and so when she goes to work at break time she gets on it and we are able to message.  It's great!

 

Sara and Lucy.  Lucy is getting bigger and looking more and more like the Springer Spaniel she is.  Where would we be without our furry family members?  Mitzie always lays next to me on our sofa in the evenings.  Sometimes she sits next to me upright, tucked snuggly into my side, her little head and long ears tucked into my arm . . .  I scratch her ears for her and rub her head.  She loves it.  I can tell.  Sometimes she arches her head back so I can scratch her neck and she looks up/back at me as she does and it is a  look filled with pure love, acceptance and contentment.   Oftimes she will look over at Todd, willing him to come and sit on the other side of her and he does  . . . she is hard to resist.   We are a family.

 

 Haha, my son put this on his facebook page.  It looks like Baxter and it made me laugh.  Small but mighty, that is our Baxter.  Defender of the hearth despite his small stature.



Our furry family members always cheer my heart to no end.

 

It was the Season End espisode of Call The Midwife last night.  We will have to wait another nine months (funny how that worked out!) for the Christmas Special to see our nurses again.  No spoilers here, but you all will need an extra box of tissues for this final episode.   Most tear jerkiest episode ever and for many reasons.   This series just goes from strength to strength.  I hope it is on for a good many more years.  I would hate to ever see it end.  I will be first in line on the 14th of March to buy the DVD, so that our home library is complete.    I still haven't gotten around to buying the last series of Downton Abby.  I need to do that too, before it becomes impossible to find.

Now that all of those episodes of DA have aired in North America I am curious as to how my North American DA fan friends felt about this last series?  Do tell!

And that's my small and wonderfuls for this week.    I am not sure if I will get anything written tomorrow morning.  I have to be at the hospital for 9 am so it will be a busy morning.  I will probably have to save my daily post for afterwards!  Wish me well!  (This is just the pre-assessment.)

A thought to carry with you through today . . .

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Love cannot ease every anguish in the world 
but tenderly applied, it can transfigure fortunes, 
light up faces. Turn the tide. 
~Call the Midwife, season 2
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Spiritual Enlightenment 




In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Chicken Enchilada Bake.  A simple and delicious casserole which is quick to make and easy if you keep certain store cupboard ingredients on hand!


May your week ahead be filled with an abundance of small and wonderful things. Along the way don't forget . . .

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And I do too!