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. 

He's always trying to dig up my geranium, but he does make me smile.  Chippie. He sits on my front railing several times a day chipping, or eating peanuts.  Drinking from the birdbath, preening himself. The cats enjoy watching him as well. I love that he visits all the houses on the street, and everyone gives him or her (I don't know which) peanuts. You see him running back and forth, with his little tail sticking straight up in the air. Its cute.

 

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Dusk  . . .  its a bit cooler.  The color of the sky. The sounds and smells in the air. Everything is starting to quiet down for the night. It is one of my favorite times of the day.

 

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Dinner bells. I had one just like this in the U.K.

 

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The memory of picking blackberries with my sister.  We had so much fun.  I made blackberry jelly afterwards. I was so delicious. I have always enjoyed doing things with my sister. Sweet memories. I have many of them.

Being able to partake of the sacrament and renew my Baptismal covenants at church yesterday morning.

When we are baptized we make sacred promises to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death” Baptism is the gate by which we enter the kingdom of God, and by entering that gate we agree to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and keep all of God’s commandments. This ordinance is so significant and important that we are asked to think about it, review our actions, and then renew that promise each Sunday in our sacrament meetings as we partake of the sacrament. Essentially, each and every week we have the opportunity to ask ourselves, “How am I doing?” It is the only ordinance I can think of where we are asked to formally recommit to living up to our promises on a regular basis. ~Sister Oscarson  

“[The sacrament] is not something to ‘get over’ so that the real purpose of a sacrament meeting can be pursued. This is the real purpose of the meeting. And everything that is said or sung or prayed in those services should be consistent with the grandeur of this sacred ordinance.” ~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve  

What a priviledge and a blessing it is.  I love being able to do this each week. It is a wonderful essential part of my life.   A special opportunity to put my hands in the Saviour's each week and say I'm trying and will continue to try.

The gift of prayer . . . I use it multiple times a day. He is always listening. My prayers are not always answered in the way that I want them to be, but I have learned to trust the process. His answers, His timing.  They are always perfect. 

Being able to forgive people.  That doesn't mean that you forget . . .  there are somethings that others do to you will probably never be able to forget. Forgiving means however that you no longer allow those things to have any measure of impact or importance in your life. You just let them go.  Some things are a bit harder to forgive than others, but it is possible to forgive all things.  Forgiveness is healing. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.  For me, an ongoing process.  I do really well and then I need to repent and start over again.

Being able to spend time with my son and his family. I really enjoyed the time they spent with me prior to camp last week and am looking forward to this week. I had a lovely lunch with Doug on Saturday. We spent the morning together. We did his laundry and folded it, just talked and enjoyed each other company and then went out to lunch at the Indian restaurant. I got to introduce him to a few new foods.  It was all good. Today he and the boys are coming over and we are going to visit Grampy together.  My father is the only Great Grandparent that is still alive. I am grateful for a son who knows the value in his sons knowing their Great Grandfather.

 

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Being able to appreciate the beauty of things, whether they are mine or not.  I am quite able to look at things and enjoy their beauty without having to own them. I love the pretty cup in this photograph and the color of that coffee machine.  I love the pale pink of that jug next to it, with the dainty flowers on it and the blooms in it.  Its just all so lovely and inspiring.

I am grateful that I know and believe in the reality of a God who is there for us. It is not something that I can give to anyone else, rather it is something that they have to learn for themselves.  I have a hard time to explain it, especially out loud. I don't think I talk to enough people these days. I can write things down though.

One of the ways that I know God is real is because He has manifested His presence to me throughout my life in real, tangible and meaningful ways. Ways that I know were meant just for me to see and to feel.  Things that make me think twice and I just look at the Heavens and know they came from Him.  I know Him, not just of Him. I trust Him and know that He wants the best for me.

The freedom to worship or not to worship as we please.   This is something we all probably take for granted, but we shouldn't.  There are many places in the world where this is not a choice.  Places where your life is in danger if you choose to swim against the stream.  I believe that choice and agency are some of God's greatest gifts to us and I am so grateful to live in, and I have always lived in countries where I am allowed to exercise that choice.  I fear that this will not always be the case. I must never take this gift for granted.

This is the key to a happy life.  Gratitude.  Focusing on what you have instead of what you don't have.  Finding joy in the now.  Every single day has a silver lining.  Dwell on that.  When you choose to be happy and live life seeking for the positive, life just gets better.   It is better to appreciate what we have already been given.  Why would anyone give us more if we can't find joy in what we already have?  

Knowing this to be true. I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy every day of my life. Many of them came at a cost which others paid.

My life is a good life. I have all that I need and then some. I have a lovely home, a good family, friends, some furry family members. I am blessed with abundance, and I know it. I pray that I will always be able to see and know these things.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

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

 *.˛.What if you woke up today 

and the only things you still had, 
were the things you 

had thanked God for yesterday.
~unknown  ° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •

In the English Kitchen today, Diner Style Meatloaf. This is one of my favorite ways to make meatloaf. It's the way I have made meatloaf for my family for years and years. It always turns out perfectly.  

I hope your day and your week ahead are filled with loads of small and wonderful things. Whatever you get up to, don't forget!  Always remember . . . 

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And I do too!