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.  

 

Being able to watch church online, not only here in Canada but also in the UK. At the moment due to Covid they are not having church meetings in person, but they are having lessons online via zoom. In the UK they are having modified church meetings in person as well as lessons on Zoom. They say it will be a further three weeks or more at least here before they resume in-person meetings.  I am grateful for a church who, above all else, seeks to keep us safe as parishioners.

  

 

I am very grateful for my faith and my strength of faith.  I am also grateful for church leaders who somehow were prompted to put a structure into place before any of us knew anything about a Pandemic so that when the time came we could be prepared to spiritually take care of ourselves and our families.   I can remember being a bit dismayed when they brought in a family and home centered learning program. As a person without a family (and at that time a couple without a family) I very much relied on the fellowshipping of the saints on Sunday mornings both in the terms of worship and learning.  With the Come Follow Me program we moved into a program where we can be responsible for our own spiritual care and learning whilst still having the support of the church to help and guide us where and when needed.  Thanks to their foresight, when the pandemic hit, we were a people already prepared, in every needful way. 

Going out shopping with my sister.  I love spending time with her. We are lucky that we have each other and that we are so close. I know it is not the same for everyone.  I am always telling my father that the greatest gifts he and mom ever gave me were my brother and my sister.  We share a history with each other that we share with no other people on earth. I am grateful for that.  

The warmth and coziness of my home sweet home.  I have all that I need.  I am grateful for that. I do not take any of it for granted.  There are many, many people who do not enjoy a fraction of what I have. 

These two.  (Are you tired of seeing them yet? I hope not!)  They are the best company and keep me entertained with their antics. Now it is not just Cinnamon getting behind the washing machine, but Nutmeg has found his way back there as well.  They are always so grateful when I swoop in with the towel to rescue them. Perhaps one day they will learn their lesson.

That reminds me, I may be late or not on at all tomorrow morning as I am taking Cinnamon to the Vet very early in the morning.  Or rather my sister is driving me. (Yes I am that nervous about Winter driving.)  I will get used to it with time I am sure. 

 

Being here and able to do things for my father on occasion.  My sister does the lion's share of care for him, but occasionally I get to do something for him as well. I will never take that blessing for granted.  Looks like I had big ears even then. 

I love this photograph of all of us.  I know that mom is there as well, behind the camera.  Those skirts my sister and I are wearing, she sewed them for us. I love my little brother's suspenders.  She must have taken great care to curl my sister's hair for this or given her a Toni wave because my sister has always had straight hair.  You can tell even then that my sister was going to be pretty, the prettiest, with lovely eyebrows and nice even features.  She was such a cutie.

 

(source)

I was facetiming with my brother at the weekend and he was telling me about a flight that he took last summer in the glider and how  a  pair hawks were gliding with him, and what an amazing feeling that was to be gliding with hawks.  A once in a lifetime experience.  I remembered one time a few years back when driving back from church I looked out the window and saw a snowy owl flying along side of our vehicle, just like it was escorting us and what an amazing sight that was.  And the flock of Canadian geese that flew across the sky on the night before I left the UK.  Snippets of time.  Tender moments.  Special gifts that might be missed had we not hearts and minds that are open to seeing and appreciating them.

My heat pump, my warm bed, my shower, my full belly, my faith, family, friends.  I have so many blessings in my life to be grateful for.  I hope I never become a person who cannot see the goodness in my life and be able to feel gratitude for them.  May I always know how very blessed I am.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *Never regret a day in your life.

Good days bring you happiness and

bad days bring you experience.

•。★★ 。* 。•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  10 Hearty Soups that will Hit the Spot. Its soup season!

Have a wonderful week. I hope it is filled with plenty of small and wonderful things to warm your heart and soul!  Along the way, don't forget!

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And I do too!