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.   

 

The opportunity I had this past weekend to listen to the leaders of my church speak. There were 10 hours of talks altogether. I know that seems like a lot, but it was not all at the same time. I haven't listened to the women's talks yet.  They were on a bit late for me. (9PM on Saturday night. I go to bed about then.) I am looking forward to being able to get the printed versions of the talks now and actually read them. I do try to take notes when I am listening, but I find that in doing so I often miss things that are being said, so now I basically just listen and only write something down when it really hits me.

I loved all of the talks but the one which impressed me most was the one given by President Russell M Nelson on Sunday morning. In a world raging with conflict, President Nelson called for an end to all conflicts in our individual lives. 

“My call today, dear brothers and sisters, is to end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life. Bury any and all inclination to hurt others. Whether those inclinations be a temper, a sharp tongue, or a resentment for someone who has hurt you.”

He ended his talk with an invitation to all of us to take these next two weeks before Easter and to pray for and seek an end to a personal conflict which has weighed us down. It was like he was speaking to me.  I thought of my relationships with my youngest son and daughter, and how much it breaks my heart.  I will be praying for a way to seek an end to that, one way or the other. 

(Photo from last summer)

Cindy, Dan and I took a drive up to the cemetery to visit mom yesterday morning.  We wanted to check out how it had weathered the winter months. The last time I had tried to go there was before Christmas with Eileen and Tim, around Halloween and the gates were closed and locked.  So it had been quite a while since I was actually able to go and walk around.  We didn't do too much walking around yesterday as it was still quite cold and the wind was cold, but everything looked good. Our three stones were still there that we had left.  That is a Jewish tradition, to leave a stone when you visit your loved one's graves.  I believe they are called Remembrance stones.  I am not sure of their meaning, but I know what it meant to me to leave my stone when I did. It was a small stone I had picked in Scotland. Mom was proud of her Scottish ancestor, Boyd McNayr. When I left the stone I felt in a way that I was leaving a part of her ancestry and honoring and remembering not only her, but the ones who came before and who are a part of each of us, my brother, sister and myself.

Anyways, it was nice to visit mom's grave again.

Time spent with my sister is always good.  I am planning on signing up for an art course and we hope to do it together. That will be good. Both of us one day perhaps a week, doing art together. I need to make more time for fun things, instead of just working all the time.  I love spending time with Cindy.  She is my best friend and always has been.  She is going to be getting one of the new kittens when my cousin's cat has them.  I am excited for her.  It will be a half brother to my two.  Oh, and on a slightly weird note it was one of their brothers who got the mama pregnant, so they will be not only its half brother and sister, but also its Aunt and Uncle.  

These two bring me so much joy in my life.  They keep me entertained and there are lots of kisses and cuddles.  I love them so much. I am very grateful that I decided to get both of them instead of only one.  They have been the best medicine. 

Dan the man.  I am so grateful to him for his getting all of the cardboard out of my garage and then driving it down to the landfill. What a load off that was.  There was so much that it was overwhelming.  Now I can keep a line on it and keep it under control. There is not that much that comes in now.  I can handle it, but over 80 pounds of cardboard is a lot to contend with. I am so grateful for a brother in law who helps me with the things I really need a man around to do!  Love Dan to bits.  He's the best.

Yesterday he was out helping my father with his ham radio antennae.  He does a lot for both my dad and myself. So does Cindy.  We are incredibly blessed.

 

Conversations with my food friend Leona.  Leona has been my good friend since 1982. In fact I can tell you the exact day that we met because we met at a Bingo on the base in London Ontario the night before our Douglas was born. We happened to be sitting next to each other and were both new to the base, and ended up having a lot in common.  I learned a lot about cooking from Leona. She was like a mum away from mum for me, as well as a friend.  She has been in Halifax this past week and some with her daughter and husband as her husband has been having treatments/operations for cancer in his jaw. (Please keep them in your prayers.  Leona and Gary.) I am sure she finds the time long. It is no fun sitting around hospitals all day every day.  We have spoken quite a few times over this past week.  I have enjoyed each and every conversation.  Old friends and good friends.  What a great blessing they are in life.  

My brother.  He shared this with me. I thought it was funny. My brother has a brilliant sense of humor. I know I don't talk about him a lot on here. That's not because I love him any less than my sister.  I have always been fairly close to my brother. When I was a young wife and mother he used to call me every Friday morning and we would talk for a good hour.  He is a very good man, and has helped me a great deal through the years.  He is kind and decent and very discerning. He is a voice of reason a lot of the time and you can always rely upon him to give you a fair and just opinion on most things. He has mastered the art of diplomacy. Of thinking before you speak. I love him so very much.

I think that the two most important things in life are family and faith.   I am ever grateful for both of mine.  I do not know where I would be without either one. I am truly blessed.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.Believing in yourself

is the first secret to success.

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Quick and Easy Thai Peanut Chicken. This was quite simply delicious and very quick.  I loved it!

I hope your week ahead is filled with a multitude of small and wonderful things. Be happy and be blessed, and above all, don't forget! 

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ 

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


And I do too!