Saturday this and that . . .

 

So this has been an interesting week to say the least.  I don't think any of us at the dawning of the year 2020 thought that a mere three months later we would be sitting where we are sitting right now, experiencing what we are all experiencing.  Its a good thing we don't have crystal balls, or  . . .  well, I dread to think. 

I have seen so many positive things this week however, despite all of the bad news.  

I have seen hundreds of thousands of people step and volunteer in amazing ways.  I have seen an NHS already stretched beyond capacity, stretch even further.  I have seen people volunteering to take supplies to the  most vulnerable of us, reaching out in amazing ways to their communities.  It is truly inspiring. The cream does rise to the top. 

 

My Grandson Jake, makes me smile 

Mr Rogers always said when things were scary and our future unknown, we should look for the helpers, because they are always there.  And they are.  Twice this week my next door neighbor got bread for us. It is very difficult to find flour at the moment.  There just isn't any.  When she was still going out to the shops to help people, she got me a loaf of bread and yesterday when she got her order from the local Spar who is delivering to the shut-ins (our local convenience store) she got a loaf of bread for us again.  She is so kind to think of others even while she and her son are also on lockdown.  I am surrounded by examples of positivity. 

  

And the young lad who delivered it, walked it over

as he doesn't have a car. 

Going above and beyond. 

   

My niece posted this on her FB page.  We do live in an amazing world and the amazing is starting to shine with love and positivity.  We just need to concentrate on the positive, rather than the negative.  

 

This week I have seen butterflies and bumblebees. (Not these ones above.)  The early brown and orange butterflies and big fat bumblebees.  We have gotten a lot of work done in our garden, clearing it up after the winter, and Todd has been able to cut the grass.  And we have enjoyed plenty of glorious sunshine. It has been warm in the day and we have been able to throw open the windows and back door, and let in the fresh air and sunshine.

  

My friend Mabel's husband cooking an apple pie. 

People everywhere are swallowing their fear and stepping up.  All of a sudden accomodations are being found for the homeless. People who have suddenly been put out of work and who can't work from home are being helped by the Government.  Our country is going into debt to help those who can't help themselves, putting people and their needs ahead of everything else.  

What we need now is utility companies, etc. just to put everything on hold for the time being, just provide power, water and gas etc. to our country for the time being until we can get back to normal again.  People shouldn't have to face the stress of having to pay these bills on top of everything else at the moment.  I know it sounds outrageous, but people are more important.  They just are.  We have all been asked to sacrifice.   Its time to put people ahead of profits. And as a people we could shut off the power, and the gas for so many hours a day, just because.  There are plenty of things we can be doing that don't require either one.

  

I have done a lot of thinking this week.  I will be 65 years old in August this year and this is the first time in my life that I have experienced anything like this.   How blessed am I?  I have not experienced war or hunger.  I have always had a roof over my head and clothes on my back.  I have always had access to affordable medical care.  In fact, my whole life it has been free.  This is so not the case with a great many people in this big old world we live in. I have always had the freedom to think, worship and believe whatever  want to think, worship and believe, without fear of reprisal.  The freedom to speak my mind and to stand up for whatever it is I wanted to stand up for.  How lucky is that.   All of my education, bar further education, has been free.  I've always been able to vote and to have a say in things regarding my country's politics.  How priviledged am I? 

People in this world have had to sacrifice tons  and lives and God knows what else to have those same things, and many sacrificed lives, etc. so that I was able to have them. How priviledged am I? 

And all because I was lucky enough to have been born where I was born, at a time I was born into.  How priviledged am I? 

 

(free prinable)  

 This is a time to count our blessings and they are many,  Many things which as westerners, a lot of us have always taken for granted.  These weeks have been an opportunity for all of us to take stock of what is truly important in this world and this life, and it isn't a designer handbag, or good looks, or a hefty bank account.  It is Love.  Love for our God, for our families, for others, for our communities, for our world. 

Make no mistake about it.  Things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better, but we all have a choice that we can make.  Mourn the sadness and the losses, yes, but also be thankful for the positives and count the blessings. Use this time as an opportunity to stretch and to grow and to become in whatever ways that you can.  

 

(Bigger Bolder Baking)  

Over these next couple of days I am going to use some of my precious flour to make these.  I have researched really well and this is the recipe that I believe is going to make the best English Muffins using the least amount of our precious flour. It only makes 8 which is perfect as we are only 2, and I can freeze some for later.  I'll let you know how I get on! I also need some English Muffins for my online writing gig and I haven't been able to buy any, so the next best thing is to make my own. 

 

Two weeks from now my church will be having its Spring General Conference, and will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Restoration. As you might suppose this is really important to us.  We were promised that it would be a Conference of historic proportions and unlike any other.  This is already proving to be so.  We were asked to spend some time prior to the Conference on how the events of the restoration had affected our lives and what it has meant to us.  Has the study of the Book of Mormon affected your life and how.  This is from my journal and I am prompted to share it with you. 

"200 years ago through the faith of a young man, his desire to know and ask for truth, and his willingness to embrace and share the impossible, our world changed forever. My life has been changed forever because of Joesph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I now understand the atonement of the Saviour in a way that I never did before, and have been able to apply it to my life in life changing ways. Because of this I am a better person than I was before. My capacity for giving, loving and sharing has increased ten-fold or more. My understanding of who God and His son are is much greater. I feel and KNOW of their great love for us and this brings me joy and comfort. Because of this knowledge I want to do better, to be better. I have been able to connect with who I was before I came on this life's journey, why I am here and where I am going when I die, and have a strong desire to share my love of the Gospel . . .  the Good News with all. One of the great joys has been sharing this love with others. I have often said that I could not pull a handcart across a country on foot. Perhaps this trial we are going through at the moment is a bit like pulling a handcart for each of us.  I know we will be blessed in doing so with faith in our God and optimism about an unknown future.  The future is and can be brighter than any of us can possibly imagine, no matter where that takes us.

I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ."

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Pray, not only because you need something, but also because
you have a lot to be thankful for.
•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

 

In The English Kitchen today because you never know when the craving will hit.  Microwave Potato Chips.  Low in fat and salt, high in fibre and very easily done.   Delicious! 

Have a wonderful Saturday.  Smile. Be positive.  Don't forget . . . .

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And I do too!