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 from the past week which brought untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.  

 

 

 

 

Its stopped raining and looks like its going to be a fine day.  This early in the morning and its so bright out.  The birds are singing and I am enjoying seeing the golden glow of my glass birds in the window.  The sparrow looks like it is sitting on a palm tree nest, cute.  Love these birds. I may not be able to have a stained glass window in my house, but I can have pretty little glass birds in my windows.  ♥♥♥♥ 

 

 

  

 

Little reminders tucked here and there that remind me of people that I care about.  Small tokens gifted to me from much beloved friends.  I smile each time I notice them, and my heart says a little prayer for each one of them.  The friends . . .  not the tokens. 

 

 

 

 

Our cosy little home. Our mantles a bit messy at the moment with an old candle I need to throw out and some lighters sitting there.  I had actually thought about getting tid of the cherubs, but Todd loves them. He played rescue.  My little sparrow reminds me that His eye is always on the sparrow.  It meets his tender view  . . . 

 

  

 

Family  . . . its everything and I love mine. The family is ordained of God. Its central to His plan of happiness for us, His children  . . .  I am so grateful for all of my family and that I had good parents when I was growing up.  They were not perfect.  I am not perfect.  Nobody is.  But there has always been plenty of love, and that is what counts most of all.  

 

 

 

Being able to go to church yesterday and partake of the Sacrament, renewing my covenants, and being with the Saints.  The talks were lovely, the lesson in Relief Society was lovely.  Its just a wonderful way to recharge your spiritual battery each week.  We have a very large congregation and it is composed of people from all ages.  I think Todd is one of the oldest ones in the Ward (which is each area congregation is called) at the age of 80, although there are a few that are possibly older than he is.  We have a huge primary (children's Sunday School) and lots of young families and newborn babies also.  I think 5 have been born since the beginning of the year with another few on the way. One of our young men is on his mission at the moment in South Africa and another is getting ready to leave on his mission over the next few weeks.  He is going to Bavaria/Alpine mission where he will need to speak German.  We also have a young Sister who just left a few weeks ago to serve her mission in Spain where she will need to speak Spanish.  Such brave young people.  I admire them and their families. They do it because they love the Lord and want to serve Him.  

 

 

 

These Babushka Bread Boards hang on the wall just as you are going into our kitchen, so in the dining area.  I painted them many, many years ago now  . . . an idea gleaned from a magazine.  I love them.  I also love my wooden chickens and apples which were bought at a craft sale.  The Amish Victorian Peg Doll my sister made me hangs there along with an old Amish Clothes peg doll that someone gifted me with one year. Again, reminders of people, times and places that have a special niche carved in my heart. 

 

  

 

I found this the other day and it really resonated with me.  I think sometimes we can forgive and love just about anyone but ourselves.  We tend to forgive others before we forgive ourselves, if we can bring ourselves to forgive ourselves at all.  We need to do better at loving ourselves, forgiving ourselves, and I don't mean that in a narcissistic way.  I mean in a humble and caring way. 

 

 

 

 

There have been some really heinous crimes committed in recent weeks towards people who have been in the act of worshipping their God.  New Zealand, India, California  . . .  these acts of violence are terrible anyways, but to attack people in acts of worship, even more so . . .  I am reminded to not dwell on the acts, but to instead look at the love and support which quickly gathers around the victims and survivors.  The tenacity of the human spirit is a beautiful thing to witness as is our capacity for loving others and reaching out in service.  Dwelling on the positive is a choice I must make each day, or else my spirit would crumble  . . . 

 

 

This is so, so, so true.  Losing our mother has taught me something about stuff.  Use the things you love and love the things you use.  Don't save them for an unknown future. Don't hang onto things that you are never going to use.  If they are stored in a closet and you haven't even looked at them in months, and can't even tell anyone what is in the closet.  Just get rid.  Don't even go there. You will never miss it  . . .  

 

 

 

Waking up each morning to a new day  . . .  a new page to write on  . . .  another chance to do better than the day before . . . the opportunity to just be alive and living and loving and being.  Being able to see each day as the gift that it is.  

 

 

 

Our Oriental Poppies are blooming again and they are beautiful.  They don't last for long so I am enjoying them while I can.  Simply gorgeous.  

 

  

 

The show Metropolis on Netflix.  This series is amazing!!  Each episode explores one important city in the world, uncovering rich historical secrets behind its location. So far we have watched New York City and San Francisco.  Next up Rome.  These are all cities that we may never have the opportunity to visit so we are both fascinated with this show.  I love that we both enjoy the same things (to a degree, lol) and can sit and enjoy them together.  Armchair travel.  You gotta love it!  Cheap, you don't need to pack a suitcase and you can come home anytime you want. 

 

And those are my small and wonderful things for this week! 

 

A thought to carry with you . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.Your home is a living space,

not a storage space.

~Francine Jay  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

 

 

In the kitchen today . . .  Tomato & Herb Sauced Alaskan Black Cod.  Quite simply delicious!  

 

Have a wonderful Monday.  I hope your week ahead is filled with plenty of small and wonderful things. Don't forget!  

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And I do too!