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.  

 

While my heart lays a bit heavy this morning over the shooting which occurred in Texas yesterday at that little church, I am able to find comfort in my scriptures and my faith in the knowledge that God is good. He grieves right along with us when things like this happen.  My heart will never understand the motivation of people that do things like this to the innocent, but I do know that ultimately good will prevail.  We cannot let the evils of this fallen world change who we are.  That is what the great Deceiver wants. Stay firm in your faith, and pray for those who suffer. For all that is good cometh from God, who loves us, and all that is bad comes from Satan, who does not.  

 

People just to the back of us put on a spectacular fireworks display last night and, whilst Mitzie was a bit bothered, she appeared more settled and we were able to just sit and watch them from our back window.  I said to Todd, why spend money on fireworks and going out in the cold and wet when we can sit here in the comfort of our own home and watch them for free.  Expect we will find the debris all over the grass this morning, but hey ho.  Its the price you pay.  Now I hope we have heard and seen the last of them for awhile, but somehow I doubt not.  I could hear the little dog next door going ballistic.  Poor thing.

  

Being able to once more partake of the Sacrament and renew my Baptismal Covenants, which I do each Sunday.  When I do so I promise to take His name upon me, to be an example.  To walk His walk.  Sometimes I do really well at this, sometimes I don't, but I try and that counts.  There is a special spirit that accompanies the partaking of the Sacrament and I love it.  Sometimes tears will come to my eyes and my heart will soar in gratitude. It is a feeling that words could never explain.  Yesterday was our monthly Fast and Testimony meeting where members of the congregation were able to get up and bear their testimonies of the Gospel.  It is one of my favourite meetings.  I love to listen to the testimonies of others.  They always strengthen my own.

 

After church in the afternoons we come home and usually we put the Mormon Channel on our Television (we have a smart tv and you can download the ap) where we listen to the Mormon Radio/music channel.  Its beautiful and brings such a wonderful spirit into our Sabbath day and our home. In fact I am listening to it now on my laptop as I type. There is all sorts on the Mormon Channel.  You can listen to great talks, watch videos, television programs, listen to talk or music radio etc.  I am so grateful that we are able to bring these types of things into our home, and help to create in it an oasis and escape from worldly things. 

We also watched to a session of the last conference on it last night.  The Sunday afternoon one.  It was lovely. I love that we are able to watch and listen to things like this again and again due to the miracles of  modern technology. We are blessed.

 

This has become my mantra as of late.  I try each day to keep my focus on all that is positive and beautiful and true. We have made it a habit now to only watch the news once a day, instead of having it constantly wearing down our spirits. I think there is a great danger to the soul to have the news playing constantly, even in the background playing on our psyche repeating over and over again all that is negative in the world.  I wish there was a good news channel that only repeated things that are good.  I am sure that would be a much better focus.  I am sure that much more good things happen each day in our world, many miracles and wonders, but we never hear of them.  Only the bad stuff.  I refuse to let it wear me down.  Your home can and should  be a Temple.   

 

Todd and I are really enjoying teaching our class on Sundays.  A while back we were called to be teachers in the Temple Preparation Class.  We love this class and our students.  It is a real blessing to be able to do this together and we have a great bunch that we are teaching at the moment.  I think that one of the most wonderful things about teaching is that you learn right along with your students as you teach.  I love the way we can share ideas and thoughts and impressions with each other as we go along. Its pretty special.  It is impossible not to love those you teach.  If you don't, then you are doing it all wrong.  Let go, Let God and Love.  It works!  

 

This little lady, my constant companion here at home.  I reach out in the night and she is laying there next to my side of the bed.  When I get up in the morning she greets me with her wagging tail.  She follows me everywhere in the house when she is up and about, watching and waiting, ever hopeful that I might drop something tasty I suppose, but also just wanting to be with me.  I love sitting on the sofa with her cuddled in next to me.  I love the tenderness in her eyes that shows me her loving heart and her gentle soul.  I love this little lady to bits. 

  

Him too.

He fills my life with light and joy.

 

My weekly conversations with my mother.  I love her so very much. I miss her with all of my heart. I wish so much that I could be with her and hold her hand and tell her how much I  love her.  But I am grateful that I can at least tell her these things over the telephone and hear her voice.  I love this photograph of her.  She looks so happy in this.  It makes me happy when she is happy.

  

 Facetimes with our Douglas however brief.  He was only six months old in this photograph. He will be 36 on his birthday later this month.  He is a good, good man.  All of my children are good, good people.  I am grateful for that.  I remember this little outfit he is wearing and that little lamb of his.  He was such a happy little baby.  Bright as a button.  

I am so grateful for my role as a mother in this life.

And with that I best leave you with a thought for the day  . . . 

 .° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°Never let a problem to be solved

become more important than

a person to be loved.

~Thomas S Monson  •。★★ 。* 。

Spiritual Enlightenment  

  

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's Reading - Day 17 - 1 Nephi 13:28-39

 Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? Why do you think the Angel showed Nephi the bible and took so much care to explain about this record that Nephi would never see or read?  

What I learnt  - The emphasis on plain and precious truths are what stand out to me from this reading. The bible lost many of these plain and precious truths, but the Prophet Joesph Smith, through the Book of Mormon and the "other books", restored the simple truths that testify of Christ. James E. Faust said "the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. It restored precious truths concerning the Fall, the Atonement, the Resurrection, and life after death. Prior to the Restoration, the heavens had been closed for centuries. But with prophets and apostles upon the earth once more, the heavens were opened once again with visions and revelations."  Another area of emphasis that stuck out to me was that the Book of Mormon  can also help to convince us that the Bible is true. Scholars can cast doubt on the authenticity of the Bible, and unless you are a scholar yourself, it can be difficult to sift through all the claims and counter-claims. Luckily, we have the Book of Mormon, which affirms what we find in the Bible, miracles, the virgin birth, the divinity of Christ, the creation, fall, resurrection, miracles, revelation etc.

I was listening to the talk given by Tad R Callister in our most recent conference,  last evening,  on the Compelling Witness we have in the Book of Mormon.  Its a great talk!  I highly recommend! It further solidifies and strengthens my testimony in the veracity of the Book of Mormon.

Tomorrow's reading (Day 18) - 1 Nephi 13:40-14:8

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? How does knowing the plain and precious truths of the gospel help you to hearken unto the Lord?  

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Fajita Chicken Bake.  It's simple and quick and very tasty!  Aside from the cheese, its also very healthy, with lots of fibre and at least one of your five a day if not more!

I wish for you a wonderful week ahead, filled with lots of small and wonderful things!  Don't forget!

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

And I do too!