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.  

 

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I am a person who dreams very vividly when I am asleep at night. My dreams are like mini films, in color, and often the same one will continue throughout the night. Sometimes I remember them. Sometimes I don't. Most are unremarkable.  I had the most amazing dream one-night last week, and it has stuck with me. I have found myself thinking about it, ponding it quite a few times since.  I dreamt about Jesus. He was in my dream, and he was telling me, I pick you, I choose you.  It was pretty special and left me feeling loved.  I have only ever dreamt about Jesus one other time in my life, and I couldn't tell you what that dream was about.  I hope I never forget this one.

 

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This past weekend was the Spring General Conference of my church. This is something I always really enjoy.  The music is great. The talks are great. I always get a lot out of it. We are usually encouraged to pray about it before it happens and to go into the conference weekend with questions that we are seeking answers to, and then to listen with an ear open to hearing what the Lord wants us to know. I had a question that had been dogging me for months.  How do I live with what my son has done without it destroying me and my inner peace. I got my answer in the very second talk that was given. It was by Sister Camille M Johnson, the Relief Society General President. The talk was entitled Spiritually Whole in Him. 

"The master healer will heal all afflictions - physical and emotional - in His time. While waiting to be healed, one can be made spiritually whole in Him."

There was my answer.  Jesus Christ is the answer, and I can be whole while I wait for healing if I am wholehearted in my relationship with Him.

If one was to visit Temple Square in Salt Lake City you would see that there it is a beautiful area filled with flowers and beautiful statuary.  The most recent one is this one of the Five Wise Virgins which was unveiled just last week. It portrays the five wise virgins as outlined in the Savior's parable about the Wise and Foolish Virgins.    I think it is a beautiful statue. It portrays these women as holding their lamps high and supporting each other as they do so.

The women are also clearly of varying ages and ethnicity. All inclusive.  Lifting, loving and some looking up towards the Temple. Spiritually prepared to meet the bridegroom when He comes. I love it and the message it portrays.

 

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I have not seen any, but I am not out there looking. I just know the pussy willows are here. My maple tree is budding with deep red buds at the tips and along its branches.  Everything is getting ready to explode. It will not be long now. We are expecting a mix of snow and rain on Tuesday/Wednesday according to my weather ap, but nothing that will stay. Highs in the double digits are expected every day after that as far as I can see into the future.

That is hopeful.

 

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Do you have a duvet on your bed? I recently got one as I thought it would be the perfect solution for me who cannot stand sheets that are wrinkled on my bed. They keep me awake. I am the Princess and the Pea when it comes to wrinkled sheets.  I find myself wanting to change my bottom sheet every couple of days as it stretches out upon use and ends up wrinkled. I have not found one yet that doesn't.  So, I got a Duvet thinking that would make it easier to change my bottom sheet regularly, as, in the European way, all I use is a bottom sheet and a duvet with its cover. Easy peasy.

And that works beautifully. No more wrinkled bottom sheet, until you go to change the duvet cover that is.  I spend almost an hour off and on Saturday trying to put a new cover on my duvet to no avail. I tried the burrito method, etc. I finally gave up in exasperation. 

I will try again today, or I will just have to go back to the old way of having the full dressing on the bed. Sigh . . . 

But in theory, having a duvet on the bed rather than a whole pile of sheets and blankets is the answer.

 

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I've been trying to make it a habit to get in touch with at least one person I do not see on a regular basis every day, whether it is by phone call, email, or visit.  At least that is my goal. So far so good.

By the way, Jacqueline is sounding stronger and better each time I call her.  I have not been to visit her in person yet. I know I need to. I need to get my income tax done first, before I do anything else.

 

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Ahh, if we only had a crystal ball eh?  I was thinking yesterday if I could have made different choices in life and sent my life on a different trajectory, would I have done so?  I thought about all of my children and decided no, I wouldn't.  There may be things that I will always wish that I had done differently, but I would not give up any of my children, not a one of them, for a life that might have been easier.  I love each one of them equally and with abandon, even the difficult ones. I would not have wanted to miss out on any of them, not for an instant.

There really is no such thing as a charmed life.  Each life comes with its own challenges. We are here to learn and to grow. A lot of that growth happens through the valleys and the hard times. No matter my choices there would have been plenty of those and so I choose the life I have and have had. It's not perfect. I am not perfect.  But it is helping to shape me, and I am liking me for the most part.

 

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A number of years back.  Way, way back, maybe 12 or 13 years or so, someone left a vicious comment on here to say that I was going to end up alone, lonely and unloved. I sincerely hope this is not the case. Those words still come back to haunt me from time to time. I try not to let them rule my life and to dwell in positivity. But . . . you never know.  Our lives can turn on a dime. 

I love my family. All of them.  It is unconditional and always will be.

 

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This is my mantra  . . . every day may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

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

 *.Our Love is not contingent

upon the other person

being loveable.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

~Thich Nhat Hanh° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

Lentil Tabbouleh Salad. In the kitchen today. Simple and delicious and healthy. Cindy made it.  It's really tasty!

Can you spare some happy thoughts for Cindy and Mac. He is not eating at all now and has lost even more weight. They can't get him to take his medicine. He is in a lot of pain. He needs the operation more sooner than later.  Please pray that the vet will take him in soon, before it is too late. It is very distressful for all concerned.

I hope your week ahead is filled with small and wonderful things that bring you joy. Whatever you get up to, don't forget  . . . 

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And I do too!