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.  

 

I know that we officially have a week or so to wait technically, but the signs are all around us.  Spring IS just around the corner. Daffodils are blooming everywhere.  Our Camelia bush is entirely broken out as is our Forsythia bush, crocus, hyacinth, etc. All the signs are there.  Now I just have to await the first bumblebee . . . 

 

The greening of England has begun as tiny green buds begin unfurling themselves on every branch. The whole landscape has taken on a tender green flush, the flush of early Spring.  Frogs are mating.  Birds are nesting.  Its just a beautiful time of year, albeit wet, and often grey and dismal.  The sun is storing up its strength again and when the wind dies down we can feel its growing warmth. 

 

I know this to be true and I thank God for it every single day.  An abundant life is a life filled with gratitude.  There, but for the grace of God go I.  Life is much better when you count your blessings and name them, yes one by one. Some days it might and will be a bit more difficult to find them, but I have learnt that they are there all the same, whether we choose to see and count them or not. 

  

Knowing that this is also very true . . .    

 

Yesterday was our Fast & Testimony meeting in church.  I love hearing the testimonies of others.  Listening to them helps to bolster my own. I love hearing how God has been working in other people's lives.  Sometimes you cry, sometimes you laugh.  Always you are uplifted. 

  

This April it will be the 200th anniversary of the First Vision of Joseph Smith.  200 years ago at the age of 14 Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in answer to an earnest prayer. As you can imagine, belief in this, is one of the pinacles of my faith.  I do believe that it happened with all of me.  In preparation of this anniversary and the upcoming General Conference I have been studying the First Vision, and I am coming away with loads of inspiration, and bits of faith building knowledge.  I don't just believe in God, but I believe in a God who comes down amidst angels and fire to meet the one, to deliver the one, to answer the one, to save the one.  I have had many, many experiences in my life that upbraid that knowledge and that have helped me to know that this is true, that He is real and that He loves and knows me as an individual.  Incomprehensible I know, but very true.  This knowledge is life changing, and my life is much better for having it. 

 

Today is the beginning of a new week.  A fresh page to write upon.  What it holds is still a mystery.  I get to do this 52 times a year.  Each week is a gift.  Only 4 weeks to go and my children will be here.  I can't wait! 

  

Giving myself permission to fail, and knowing that I can always try again.   Life gets so much better when you take the fear of failure out of the equation.  All my life I have been striving to be the best at everything and all my life I have been falling short of the mark.   These past few years,  I have given myself permission to fail, and life has gotten better, easier, happier.  

 

I have learned to accept my imperfections.  They are a beautiful part of who I am and I like me.  Being able to forgive yourself for your imperfections and failings is also a really big deal.  There are cultures where they insert a flaw or imperfection into everything they create just to remind themselves that flaws are an integral part of being human.  Life becomes easier and better when you embrace the concept of imperfection and stop chasing perfection.  Yes, we should all do our best, but at the same time we need to also know that sometimes we will get it right and sometimes we won't, but it is the trying that matter's most of all.   I believe that the Japanese call this wisdom of imperfection, "Wabi-sabi." 

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

 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.° ˛°. . 
˛*I am capable, I am strong,
If I believe in myself,
I can turn my dreams into a plan,
and my plan into reality.
~Unknown   •。★★ 。* 。 

 

I tried something  new yesterday.  Perfect Popovers.  They were delicious srved hot with butter and jam, but very similar to Yorkshire Puddings. 

 

Have a wonderful Monday. I hope your week ahead is all that you hope it to be and more.  Don't forget! 

 

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

And I do too!