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. 

Four simple jars of Mincemeat.  The British kind. There is no meat in it, just lovely fruits.  Vine fruits (sultanas, raisins, currants), candied citrus, spices etc. I was going to make my own this year like I do most years, but alas I cannot get the right peel for it. I like to chop my own peel. I guess I will have to start in January this year when citrus is at its best and make my own candied peel for next year. In the meantime, I have managed to procure four simple jars of British mincemeat.  I will enjoy using these in a variety of ways, some of which will be mince tarts.

 

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We have now entered sock weather season. I am grateful for warm socks.  I actually wear Viasox, diabetic socks.  They don't give me cankles. I buy the knee socks so they keep my legs nice and warm in the ber and ary months as well.

Hot water bottles. I finally got myself one. I love a hot water bottle for my toes in the winter, or when my tummy is hurting with cramps or whatever.  You can't beat a hot water bottle. I may have to make it a new cover, however. Maybe a quilted one! We shall see!

 

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I am enjoying October. It has been filled with lots of my favorite things.  Family. Friends. Great food. Loads of color. Lots of kitty cuddles. Spiritual inspiration.  Good music.  Home Sweet Home. There is not a lot about October that I don't love! 

 

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Jesus and more of Him. I have been trying to pack as much Jesus as I can into each day.   I came across this quote earlier this month:  

"We no longer have the luxury of spending our energy on anything that does not lead us and our families to Christ. That is the litmus test for Relief Society, as well as for our lives. In the days ahead, a casual commitment to Christ will not carry us through." ~Sheri Dew

It was from a talk she gave in 1999. I had not been in the church long when this talk was given. I probably didn't even notice the talk at the time I had so much else going on with my marriage ending, etc. I have made so many mistakes through the years. One of which was allowing my ex-husband to teach my children and co-erce them into believing that my being a Latter Day Saint was somehow wrong.  That I was going to hell because of it.  What kind of father wants his children to believe those things about their mother?  So much damage done. 

Anyways, my Patriarchal Blessing says that I will be as a "light on the hill" to my family as I bear my testimony with courage and love. That they will begin to understand the importance of the gospel and respond to the love that I show them. I have already seen these things starting to come true. At least two of my children now know and believe that I am not going to hell.  

What is hell anyways? We make our own hells.

I have been inviting the Savior into as much of each of my days as possible, and it's been wonderful.  Listening to inspirational music throughout the day, reading inspirational material. Pondering on the scriptures. Writing in my journal about the things I am discovering about Him and about myself.  It's all good and all worthy.

 

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There is nothing that a little bit of time with a hot drink and a good book can't make better. Right now, I am reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.  I got interested in it by watching the series on Apple TV. Its excellent. The first book in a while that has really grabbed my interest. I find that usually I start books, get only a few chapters in and then I have lost interest in them. I am not sure why that is. I used to read voraciously. I find more often than not I am revisiting books of the past that I really enjoyed and reading them over again. It is a bit like having a visit with an old and much beloved friend.

I finally bought myself an ironing board. I was using my father's and one of the feet was missing on one of the legs, so it wobbled. I don't like a wobbly board.  Hence, I did not do much in the way of ironing. I like nicely ironed pillowcases, linens, etc.  A good ironing board is not cheap, however. Now I have to save up for an iron so then I can give my father his iron back.  Not that he does much ironing, but I do need to have my own.

 

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The art of puttering, staying busy.  It might not look like I get a lot done, but I do. I love to putter. I am very hyper, I think. My mind never stays too long on any one thing. I have difficulty concentrating on just one thing and so I jump from one thing to another. Things eventually do get finished in my own timely way.   But I putter.  A bit of this, a bit of that, a lot of everything.  It's just who I am.

Facetimes with much beloved family members. Daily messages.  Time spent with my sister and my father.  Time spent with Jesus. Cuddles with the kitties. A bit of cooking, a bit of cleaning, a bit of crafting. All of these things are precious to me.  I love that my days are embroidered with all of these good and wholesome things in my life. My life is rich and abundant.  I am truly blessed.

A thought to carry with you ...

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

 *There is a beauty and a power

that radiates from someone who

has seen dark days, and yet

chooses to be a light to others.

~Hank R Smith•。★★ 。* 。

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Chicken Enchiladas Verde for one.  Delicious. Simple.  Quick and easy as well.

I hope your week ahead is filled with abundance and loads of small and wonderful things. Along the way of the week, don't forget! 

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⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿

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And I do too!