Monday 16 March 2020

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.   
 
 
 
 
We were able to have our own little church service here in our home yesterday, with everything that would normally be in one of our regular services at church. We had three hymns, including a sacrament one.  Our singing is not the best, but the spirit was there.  I shared some thoughts.  Todd shared some thoughts. He blessed and passed the sacrament. Our main speaker was Jeffrey R Holland. How lucky were we!  I did the opening prayer, Todd the closing. Our Sunday School Teacher had done a video for us to watch online.  The only thing missing was other people to share it with.   I am so grateful for a church leadership who are inspired and started our church getting ready for this eventuality two years ago with their new family and home centred  learning programs.  Nobody could have foreseen this pandemic coming, but they somehow had everything in place and had been preparing us for it. 
 
 

Another program in our church which is inspired is our food storage program. It is not hoarding.  It is built up over time.  Each week with our regular shop we have been encouraged through the years to build up several months supply of food and essentials for emergency purposes.  That way when things like this happen, we are prepared.  Our grocery store shelves are emptying as  people panic buy.  There is no toilet paper, cleaning supplies are just not there. Thankfully I have inherited my mother's habit of buying an extra pack of toilet roll every time it goes on offer.  I had thought we had several packs, but it turns out we only have one. DUH. Nevermind. We will survive.  We do have plenty of canned goods, rice and pasta.  I was horrified to read yesterday that people have been stealing the pasta, rice, etc. from out of the food bank carts at the shops.  Its insanity.  I am a bit worried about medications, but Todd is going to call the chemist today to see if they will deliver our prescriptions. Apparently you can have it done for free. We will see what happens. There are other things however that we need that can only be bought in person. I will have to see if we can get someone to get those for us.     




They are saying now on the news that they are going to be requiring people over the age of 70 to quarantine themselves and it could be for as long as four months or more. We are prepared. I am not 70, but my husband is and I will do whatever I have to to protect him. They are saying as well that if the NHS (National Health System) is pushed too far they may have to stop treating patients over the age of 65, which sounds appalling.  We are expendable apparently.   I do understand, but what a horrible decision to have to make.  I am praying it doesn't come to that. 



We have excellent home grocery delivery services here in the UK.  I already subscribe to one.  It is quite difficult at the moment to book in delivery slots, but not impossible.  I have managed to get one for next Monday.  You do have to fill a cart to hold it, which I have done.  I can go back before the date and edit it to include the things that we need at that time. We will just get the driver to leave everything in the front hall while we stand in the living room, or on the front doorstep.




One of the most important things we have is our faith. You cannot see it, but you can feel it and it is very tangible to us. We have no need to fear.  What will be will be and a part of our faith is the knowledge and belief in an afterlife. Whilst I am not quite ready to go there just yet, I have the assurance in my heart that my loved ones that have preceeded me are there and I can look forward one day to seeing them again.  



This is a wonderful opportunity for us to focus on things that are truly important like home and family, our faith . . .  to get those things done around the house that are always eluding us.  There is  no pressure. We can just simply be and focus on the good.  Nobody ever got hurt by looking on the positive side of things.  We are blessed to be living in an age where we can have instant communication with the world, via the internet, television, telephones, etc.  We can easily see who we are talking to at the click of a button.  

 


Glass birds, sunshine and primroses . . .  spring springing  . . .  birds nesting . . .  




Furry black faces and unconditional love  . . .   



Someone to share it all with  . . . 

I had planned this year to write letters every month, alas that won't happen for a few months I don't believe, but I always have that to look forward to. I could write them, but they won't get posted.

A thought to carry with you . . . 


° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門 ★

 *
When you focus on the good
the good gets better.•。★★ 。* 。 




In the kitchen today.  White Bean & Ham Soup.  That one I shared in my day book a week or so ago. It was delicious. I did make a few changes, and I cut the recipe in half. 

Have a wonderful week. I hope it is filled with things that bring you joy.  Don't forget! 

 
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And I do too!   
    

 
 

10 comments:

  1. Take care..here ..over 70 stay home..so much is closed..Alberta has finished the school yr.Period.
    WE have been self isolating since Tuesday I believe.I abhor people who are not respecting these laws.And I wish my prime minister would close the borders at airports.It's just a big mass of germs right now.However my provincial PM is shining.

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    1. Our schools are still open even though Ireland, Wales and Scotland have closed theirs. I wonder why England is dragging it's heels. It has been a week now for us also. I am appalled at the attitudes of some people who seem to think we who are elderly and vulnerable are expendable. Glad Quebec's PM is shining! Wish they all would! xoxo

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  2. Yes definitely a time to enjoy family time. It's hard for those of us like me that live alone. Isolation isn't easy, but I'm keep busy as I can. There is always lots to r church has services on line and that helped. And my daughter sent pictures and that cheered me up to no end too. Keep the faith !

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    1. How wonderful of your daughter to send you photos Pam! Well done her! We are lucky in that we have plenty of church videos etc. online to watch also. It will be a trial, but at least we have each other. ((((hugs)))) xoxo

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  3. We stayed home from church but our church did have services. I watched a live feed of my home church where I grew up. It was so nice to be able to see so many people I know...it was in the only state in the US still with no confirmed cases at all.

    We have a local ministries to the elderly & they are delivering food & supplies to elderly people in our community so they don't have to leave their home & be exposed.

    Our pharmacy has a drive through. The problem with prescriptions is that we can only buy for a month at a time & you have to wait until you're down to 3 or 4 days of meds left before they will let you refill. I called in three refills this morning & we will drive through to pick them up...our pharmacy only has the drive through open for right now just to be safe.

    I live in a rural area in the mid US...so no grocery delivery but we do have Amazon. We can do grocery pick up, where we order online, drive in to the store & they bring it to our car. So we'll be doing that if we need to. My son & daughter-in-law are also picking things up for us if we need them.

    I have not been worried or afraid...unsettled a little but I'm not really worried. I am a christian & whatever happens to me will be fine though I really don't want anyone to get sick. My husband has juvenile diabetes so I am concerned for him. He has to go to work every day & I am wishing he could just stay home for a few months.

    We are home with no visitors for now but I will have to start watching my grandson on Wednesday so I'm just resting up & not really doing much at all while I have the free time.

    I am writing letters. The mail is still being picked up & delivered here. I can order stamps delivered if I need more.

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    1. We can only get our prescriptions one month at a time also, but we have asked them to be delivered, and hopefully that will work alright. I will keep you and your husband in my prayers. Here in the UK anyone who can work from home is working from home. I feel sorry for those who cannot and who have had to just stay home and have no idea where they are going to get enough money to pay the bills from. I am a Christain also and trying to draw on my faith, but every now and then the human side of me peeks up its head and I feel afraid. xoxo

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  4. Well, today we tried out our first grocery pickup at the nearby Walmart...the main thing we wanted was some toilet paper...ordered 3 days ago and paid for, but I ordered several other items too. No banana on the TP...even though I saw them deliver some to a nearby car and had told them it was ok to substitute some other brand, etc. Meanwhile, my money is tied up as if I had bought it. Somehow I am not impressed. I also went into the store and got a few items...most were there cause we are allergy folks so at least those were not totally depleted. I do keep some extra on hand...but it worries me for the future...so this may sound gross, but I am going to cut and zigzag some old washclothes tonight...just for #1 mind you...but in order to try to keep from having no toilet paper left. I did forget a few items, like baking yeast which I wish I had...but once it is gone, we will just do without that kind of bread for however long it takes. (Been working on improving my bread machine recipe for gluten free raisin bread...and finally feel I have it about 90% the way I want it...argh...had hoped to experiment more...but oh well). Maybe more will come in. Our daughter will go get items we need in future too. But poor thing...her EX, who lives dead in the epicenter in WA...is trying his hardest to scarf up the kids. What a dad huh? Seems he ought to refuse to have them come right now...but oh not, has to have HIS RIGHTS!! What a waste of humanity...oh that women were more careful whom they married...but he is a clever devil...so would have fooled most too. Hubby had a very bad night last night...but seems better now...so hoping he will do better tonight. Sure sounds like your country is planning to do as we have been facing here BEFORE the virus...try getting decent medical care once you are retired...probably not going to happen...such has been our experience. I keep a lot of things on hand to help with illness...so I think we will be fine. Take care too, you two!! Oh...you 3!!
    Elizabeth xoxo

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    1. I Hope that everything works out for you Elizabeth. ((((hugs)))) Things like this have the option of either bring out the best in people or the worst. Stay safe and stay healthy. xoxo

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  5. Oh, dear, Marie. I've listened to your government's plan to tackle the coronavirus. It's pretty strict, isn't it? My concern is they are saying once you get coronavirus you are immune to getting it again. I don't think they have enough data to say that for sure just yet. Very worrisome. I admire your fortitude and optimistic attitude. Both my husband and I are over 70 and are self-isolating as much as possible. So stsy safe. Take care of each other. Hugs, Elaine

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    1. I don't think they know enough about this disease to say anything for sure Elaine, like you I find it very worriesome. We are living in a strange new world for sure. Love and hugs. xoxo

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