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. 

Going to church on Sunday and being able to partake of the Sacrament, worship with the Saints and refill my spiritual battery.  Yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting, which I always love. This is the Sunday meeting where members get up and bear their testimonies of the Gospel and how God has been working in their lives. I always enjoy hearing the testimonies of others. They help to strengthen my own.

It's just a nice place to be on Sunday morning.

 

Being able to celebrate my sister's birthday.  I love my sister so much and it is always great fun to celebrate the wonderful person that she is.  Dad took us out for supper and we all enjoyed fish and chips, except for Dan. He's not a huge fish and chips lover.  He had the hamburger steak dinner. 

It is just so lovely to be able to spend these times together as family. I missed times like this when I was living so far away. I am making up for it now.

 

(source)

Knowing that I am not alone in anything.  I am so grateful for my faith in God which is that enabling power which gives me the strength each day of my life to keep moving forward. To keep hoping, to keep believing, to keep trusting . . . even when life might seem bleak and like there is nothing to look forward to.

I was listening to an old, old talk last night after I went to bed.  I do that every night.  I say my prayers, pray the Shema and then I watch and listen to a talk on my iPad. This talk was entitled "Yet Thou Art There," and it was given by the late Elder Neal A Maxwell back in October of 1987.

1987 seems so long ago now.

I have no source for this photograph,  but I would gladly give it if I did.  I found it on Pinterest.   It is a beautiful photograph.  I see so much in this.   It touches my heart in a special way.  It makes me think of gratitude.   Gratitude should not just something you feel from time to time.  It should be a way to live your life daily.  There but for the Grace of God go I . . .  and all that that entails.   A reminder to self that it could always, ALWAYS be worse . . .  and that for many people on earth it is worse.  We, in the Western world, have much to be grateful for and most of us don't even know it.

I may not get to see my grandchildren very often, but I have and am grateful for the special relationship I have with some of them.  I keep all of my grandchildren in my prayers daily. I love all of them. It is a simple as that. Being a Grandmother is an extra special privilege and a blessing.  I am looking forward to hopefully seeing my three "J's" a bit later this week. I don't know now if they will still be come over to camp. Kayla's dad was rushed to the Heart Hospital in Saint John yesterday so I expect their plans are a bit up in the air.  

I would very much appreciate prayers for her father, Calvin and for their family.  

Having a Home Sweet Home.  I am so blessed. Finding this place was a real answer to prayer and I have settled in very well. I am so grateful for these four walls. It's not fancy, but it is a sweet sweet place, and it is mine to enjoy.  I have good neighbors and I have all that I need. I don't have to worry about yard work in the summer or snow removal in the Winter. I have a garage to park my car in, and a comfy bed to lay down in at night. A place to call my own. It is a huge blessing in my life.

Mine is the sunlight, 
mine is the morning, 
 Born of the one light 
Eden saw play. 
 Praise with elation, 
praise every morning, 
 God's re-creation of the new day.  

I am grateful for all of the sunrises I get to see each morning.  Grateful that I am an early riser.  This means that in the summer months I do not get to see the sun set as I am also an early to bedder . . . but in the late autumn, winter and early spring of the year, I am blessed to witness both.  I have never been a sleeper-inner. Once I am awake I want to be up and about the business of my day!  I guess I just don't want to miss a moment of it!

This  . . . . it is a beautiful thought and feeling.

The beauty of every day things.  Ordinary things. Simple things. Tender mercies. Small blessings. I have a very abundant life. To be able to experience the magic in the ordinary is a gift I hope I never take for granted. The ability to choose the positive most days. I know that there are many, many people in the world who struggle with this either through mental illness or depression.  I have low moments.  Everyone does. Thankfully I have always been able to shake them off and move forward.  I know this is a great blessing.  I wish it was a blessing everyone had and was able to feel.  

I have a life which is filled with abundance and beauty.  I have been blessed with the ability to bloom . . .  even in the cracks of life.  Others are not so lucky. I am able to see a crack in the sidewalk of my life as an opportunity for growth. This is a great blessing. May it ever be thus  . . . 

I am grateful for YOU.  For your visits each day and the lovely comments you leave. I've been doing this for a long time now and many of you have been with me for that whole time, through thick and through thin. I appreciate each and every one of you. You will probably never know how much it cheers my heart that I have you to share with each day, or at least each day that I can.  Oh, I know, I would probably share even if you weren't there, but you make it all so much nicer.  I can feel you out there and I think of you when I am writing.  My posts really do feel like conversations with good and kind friends and that is largely due to YOU.  Love you all and thank YOU! 

And with that I will leave you with a thought for the day . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

•。★★ 。* 。

° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚

˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛

˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

*Beautiful faces are those that wear
Whole-souled honesty printed there.
~Ellen Palmer Allerton  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

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

In The English Kitchen this morning, Campfire Cheesy Potatoes.  Buttery, herby potatoes and onions, wrapped in foil and baked/grilled to melt in the mouth perfection, then kissed with a gooey blanket of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses.  So tasty. So simple!

I am going out to lunch today with my friend Jacquie.  I had not planned to go anywhere, but she called me not too long ago and I did not have the heart to say no. She has been a good friend to me for many, many years now.

I really do hope that you have a beautiful day and that your week ahead is filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things which bring you joy!

Don't forget!

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And I do too!