All things Nice . . .

 

A Life is Good 

A life is good that holds within its span

The normal healthy life of common man;

Boyhood and youth with dreams enough to show,

How rich the days . . .  how wide the road we go.

A home is good where laughter is a guest,

Where there is a quietude and joy and rest,

A haven in a world beset by fears,

A blessed shelter for the creeping years.

A face is good - whose lines are kindly drawn,

From which all selfishness and greed are gone,

Leaving the blessed virtues of mankind

Goodness of heart, serenity of mind.

A day is good whose dawn is rosy red

And all day long warm sunlight overhead

Shining on homes were working people live;

A wounded heart that can at last forgive.

A night is good - when quiet stars look down

Upon its huddled rooftops of the town,

Shedding their peace upon the souls of men,

Giving them strength to rise and work again.

A life is good - that holds joy in its score

Small children . . . old folks and an open door,

Where friends are welcome and the poor are fed

And dignity and truth dwells at its head.

~Edna Jacques, Fireside Poems

 I know you are probably tired of seeing the poetry of Edna Jacques, but I can't help sharing it. I love it so.  She is my favorite poet.  I have loved her words since I was a little girl.  They have always spoken to my simple heart.  She sings the song of my soul.

I thought that it was a very fitting poem for this morning because life is very good. 9 months ago, I thought I would never be able to find joy or happiness or peace again.  I just kept moving forward as best as I could even if every step was really difficult to take.  And  I am not 100% still, but I am getting there and I do feel very blessed. 

Sometimes the reality of all I have had to cope with catches up with me and I cry big soppy tears and my heart breaks a little tiny bit more, but at the same time I am incredibly grateful for the journey and for the love of my God, family, friends and people who have helped to carry,  and still carry me. I could not, would not have come to where I am now without them. 

 

I got some really nice cards yesterday.  Dad gave me my card the night before. I guess he wanted to make sure I had it when I got up yesterday morning.  My friend Maxine in the UK even sent me one. She was my next door neighbor over there.  I loved the cards from everyone but especially from my dad, sister and brother. They all touched my heart in a very special way. I am so grateful to be back here and close to my family again.

It has been wonderful spending this week with my brother and his wife, and becoming reacquainted. Although I was not able to go on the walks etc., it was nice to just sit and enjoy their company and talk. 

 

They gave me a balloon pump so that I don't have to blow up balloons by mouth anymore and a much needed oven thermometer. Now I can check to see if my oven temperature is accurate  They also brought pizza and an ice cream cake (peanut butter cup) to the family get-together last night. The pizza was fabulous and so was the cake!  I dread to think of what my blood sugars are today!  But hey ho!  It was worth every mouthful! 

 

Monique sent me one of her infamous Paris People!  I was thrilled to get it.  She is so talented and this one was so me, especially with the doggie.  I loved it and I love her.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! It was/is perfect.  

 

Dan built me a birdhouse to paint.  That was so kind of him. I had a birdhouse in the UK that I had painted with cherries. It got left behind. Now I have another one to paint.  I wonder what I will paint on this one. I love it! 

 

My sister gifted me with this Corelle gravy boat and plate I had admired for a long time! 

 

And these beautiful Corelle bowls, I had also admired. 

 

It is hard to get a good photograph of them, but they have the traditional Corelle pattern printed on the side in white.  I love them. 

 

 

And this brilliant tin!  So now I have a place to store my cookies.  I love it too! And I love her.  She did not have to give me anything.  I have already been gifted by having her as my best friend for all these years and now being able to be so close in proximity to her again.  That is a treasure to me. We always said and hoped that we would end our lives close to each other. 

The best gift of all was the love of family and I did feel loved. Very loved.  My oldest son messaged me first thing in the morning and my daughter Eileen as well.  I will be seeing Eileen on Sunday. I am picking her and Tim up in the afternoon and they are coming over here for supper.  Plus I am going to do their laundry for them and they are going to flatten boxes for me, so maybe I can finally get rid, or at least be well on my way towards being rid!  

 

Mid afternoon these beautiful flowers arrived from my friend Diana in Ontario. I was so touched by them. They are beautiful and now I have a vase!  Yay!! 

And all the day long the chipmunk visited and the hummingbirds.  I was well loved up by everyone. I did not have time to feel sad, or occasion to.  I felt very blessed instead.  And that is as it should be.  Everyone should feel blessed on their special days.

I wish I had gotten some photos of us all together, but alas, I did not. 

Oh funny thing.  My dad and I know our tickers are okay.  About halfway through supper my brother said what is that and was pointing behind me, I turned my head to look and jumped out of my chair screaming.  (That's me folks!)  My dad jumped too because of the fuss I made.  I thought it was this really weird insect.  It was an ant carrying a piece of dry cat food up the wall.  The piece of cat food was easily 5 or 6 times the size of this ant and it had it and was carrying it methodically, slowly up the wall.  Amazing, the strength of these tiny creatures. It was a good halfway up the height of the wall. Amazing. Simply amazing.  Even if it did make me scream.

I have felt like that ant at times during these past months. Like I was carrying a huge load up a wall, but it has gotten easier and easier as time has gone by. I think I may be at the top of the wall now.  Oh sure, I know there have been and will be moments of great sadness to come, but I am getting there.  That's a very nice thing. 

If I were to die tomorrow (and I really hope I don't!) I could say, its been good.  I have had a good life.  A full life.  A happy life.  I may not have accomplished all the things I set out to do, but I have done enough, with more good things to come. 

I am loved, and I am blessed. My dad thinks I should write a novel.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

*.˛.If you must look back, do so forgivingly.

If you must look forward, do so prayerfully.

However the wisest thing you can do is 

be present, in the present . . .  gratefully.

~Maya Angelou   •。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Lemon Delicious pudding for Two.  Its really simple to make and incredibly tasty!  Light lemon cake on top, lush lemon curd filling on the bottom.  Yum!!

Have a great Saturday!  Whatever you do, don't forget! 

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And I do too!