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.



The value of a friendship which makes saying goodbye so hard.   Many tears were shed yesterday in church, and at home, and now . . .  I am very grateful for modern technology which makes this world a much smaller place and the  miracle of e-mail, the telephone, etc.  which means that the people you care about are never more than a click or a phone call away.



I am very grateful that I have friends who are so very hard to say goodbye to.  Priceless.

 


However did I manage before this!  I love, LOVE Pinterest.  I remember when I joined, you had to be recommended to belong to it by a friend who already belonged.  I had no idea what I was letting myself in for.    I now have 211 boards, and 45,500 pins.  You can tell a lot about a person by the things that they pin.  Pinterest is the ultimate sharing community . . .  a meeting place of like minds.  I follow the best people with the best pins.  I am a tad bit biased in saying that I know  . . .  but its true.

 

The wise counsel of Elder M Russelll Ballard in the lastest General Conference of the church on family councils.

"A family council, when conducted with love and with Christlike attributes, will counter the impact of modern technology that often distracts us from spending quality time with each other and also tends to bring evil right into our homes."

Modern technology is a double edged sword.  It brings a lot of good into our lives, but it can be a terrible distraction for us from the things in life which are truly important. It breaks my heart when we are in a restaurant and we see a family sitting there with everyone plugged into their own mobile devices not paying any attention to  or having conversations with each other.  I think something very special is being lost and we better wise up before it is too late.   I am so grateful that I am not tied to my mobile phone.  Half the time I can't even find it.



Trying to be grateful for April Showers.  There are days when you just want to shout at the sky . . .  "Enough already!"   But then I remind myself that it is the rain which makes this such a beautiful country, so green, so lush, so verdant . . .  and it is the rain which makes our sunny days even more special and more beautiful.

 

Our Forsythia Bush which is blooming like crazy right now in the back garden.  So yellow and so bright and cheerful!  I love it!


(source)

All of the birds which are nesting at the moment.  I found a vaulable source which can yelp you to identify which nests belong to which birds.  We have mostly sparrows, but we do also have a few other birds as well.  I find it all very fascinating.

 

Outlander Series 2.  YES!  It's finally back!  Loved series one and could hardly wait for series two.  Thankful that Todd enjoys it also.



All of the testimonies which were borne in yesterday's Fast and Testimony meeting at church. All of our Testimony meetings are special, but yesterday's was really special.   There were no gaps or awkward silences and all that was shared touched my heart.   I forgot to bear my testimony here yesterday morning and so I will do it now.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and the anchor it provides for my soul.  For the opportunity I have to be able to serve the Saviour and to give back from the abundance which He has shown to me in my life.  I am grateful for Modern Day Prophets who share with us wise counsel and for the power of discernment in my life which enables me to follow their counsel, and to make wise choices.   I am grateful for my Saviour and redeemer, and for my Heavenly Father who loves me with a love I can't begin to comprehend, but which I feel in my life daily . . .  for the opportunities He gives me to become a better me and for the example of the Saviour which I follow.  For repentance and the blessings of the atonement which I can live every day.  For forgiveness and second chances.  For family and for friends, and for a cup which runneth over with abundance in all things.   I am grateful that I know what is important in this life and what is not, and that I know the difference between a want and a need, and I am so grateful that all of my needs are met daily.  And I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
God didn't design us to be sad,
He  created us to have joy!
~Dieter F Uchtdorf
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷღೋღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Spiritual Enlightenment 




In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Genius Yorkshire Puddings.   These are just the best!

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!