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 picked up a Christmas arrangement yesterday and went to visit mom's resting place.  It is a very well kept cemetary. op99999999999999999m,  (Jazzy agrees.)  I hope mom likes them. Gone but never forgotten.

 

 

 

Sunday meetings and lessons via zoom. Where would we be without them. I am so grateful for the technology which enables us to be able to stay in touch this way even if we can't get to church or our meetings. I had been waking up in time to still watch the one in my Chester Ward, but unfortunately the last few weeks I've not woken up in time.

 

Dan's been kidding about wanting a truck for Christmas, so I got him a white truck Christmas ornament. (Very similar to the above ornament.) Its nice to not be on my own and to have family to joke around with.  

 

 

 

Its nice also to have family to spend time with, doing things which bring us all joy and help to pass the time away. I had not played Yahtzee in years. It was fun. My sister won. No surprise there. She is really good at games and things. 

 

 

One thing I have always loved each year is sending out Christmas Cards. I always spend a lot of time picking out just the right card for the right person. I am afraid this year they will have to be e-cards, but I hope they are received with the spirit of the intention I have in sending them. I just can't/haven't the way/means to do them this year like I had in the past. Part of Christmas which I really love is being able to stay in touch with friends near and far and to remember them in some tangible way like sending a card. 

 

 

I love to watch the Nativity every year. Our children's Sunday school from our church Ward in Chester always put on a Nativity each year.  I think they have filmed it this year, so I am hoping to be able to watch it on line. We had a huge primary/Children's Sunday School. There were easily more than 45 children. It should be quite nice. 

 

 

One thing which I always really enjoyed each Christmas in the UK, was the Christingle services at the Church of England churches.The service has children in mind. The children all make and present their Christingle and songs are sang in the dark with the only light coming from the candles on the oranges. This service tends to be an evening one so that the candles can be really effective and atmospheric. Although Christingle is to help children understand Jesus, adults are also encouraged to participate in the service by carrying their own Christingle.

 

A Christingle is a symbolic object that represents Jesus and the light he brings to the world through the Christian faith. The orange represents the world. The blood of Christ is represented by the red ribbon around the orange. The sweets/ fruit stuck into the orange with cocktail sticks are meant to show the four seasons as well as the fruits of the earth in substance. 

 

 The Christingle as a whole is meant to show Jesus being the light of the world in the Christian text. Christingle literally translates to ‘Christ Light.’ It is a beautiful Christmas Tradition.  Usually all of the children are dressed as biblical figures as well, shepherds, angels, etc. 

 

 

I love this. She is such  smart woman.  I have never read anything she's written without it resonating in a profound way with me. 

I am so grateful for all the small and simple things in my life which serve to remind me that I am not ever alone and am always loved. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *Remember to take care of yourself.

You can't pour from an empty cup.

•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。 

 

 

 

I am sharing  my mom's Peanut Butter Fudge in the English  Kitchen this morning. It wouldn't be the same at Christmas without it.

I hope your week ahead is filled with an abundance of small and wonderful things.  Don't forget! 

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And I do too!