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.

 

I was fed spiritually with abundance this weekend. Best weekend ever and I still have not finished listening to all of the talks. Uplifted and edified.  It was my church's spring General Conference and we were well fed from beginning to end.  It was Easter and we got to celebrate the empty tomb. I had my daughter here to share it with me. It was just really nice. The joy of the Gospel that I feel every day, amplified and enhanced.

 

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It rained pretty much every day all weekend, but I can see the buds swelling on the trees. It won't be long before the Forsythia is in bloom and the daffodils, etc. It has been a bit warmer. Still pretty cold, but not frigid.

 

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A simple weekend with simple pleasures. Faith and family. We ate some good food.  Facetimes with my oldest son. Good times with my oldest daughter. Time spent with Cindy, Dan and dad. It was all good.

 

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We had the most delicious apple pie yesterday. Cindy had picked one up at Pelton's farm. It tasted homemade, probably because it was homemade. They make lots of pies each week, but it is a very small-scale business that way so really homemade. Nice and flaky pastry and a filling that melted in the mouth. It tasted just like one of my mom's apple pies. 

 

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Never cry over spilt milk, broken jars of pesto on ceramic floors, or trays of bead art beads dropped on the carpet. Or rather slowly spilled across the carpet, floor, etc. as you carry your project to your workspace. Eileen has been enjoying doing her bead art. It really makes me feel happy to see her enjoying being creative.  Last night when we got back from Cindy's she went to take it from where she had it to put it on a TV tray so she could work on it while we were watching the television only to discover when she got there that one of the trays of beads was empty, it's contents having slowly spilt out on her way to the TV tray. She still had plenty of beads in other bags of the same color, so it really wasn't a biggie that way but she was really upset that she had made a mess.  I was able to convince her that it was nothing to really be upset about. I have a vacuum cleaner and it does a great job. Never cry over spilt milk. Just clean it up and move forward. The world does not end.

My late mother-in-law was such a great example to me in this area. She never fussed when things went pear shape.  She just saw it as another challenge to overcome and she loved nothing more than to tackle a challenge. She would almost light up.

 

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I have truly been blessed by the wonderful examples of many women in my life. I could sit here and list each one off and tell you how much their examples have inspired me to become a better person, but I won't. Let it suffice to say that if you are a woman in my life now, or have been a woman in my life in the past, you are, your example is . . . an inspiration to me. I have always been surrounded by strong women and positive examples. I would and do consider that one of my life's greatest blessings.

 

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A wonderfully beautiful homemade life.  Filled with simple joys and pleasures. A life created from scratch with simple things that bring joy and peace to my heart. I was telling my son yesterday that my home was sacred ground, holy ground and that nothing comes in through my door that I don't want to have in my space. It is my choice what I decide to let in.  Visually, intellectually, the things I read, the things I watch, the things I listen to. If it doesn't serve me well, it doesn't get through the door. Again, my choice. That doesn't make me ignorant or uninformed. I know what I need to know. It makes me at peace with my life and the world around me.  We are surrounded by so many lies and misinformation today. So much hurt and anger. So much hatred.  I don't let it in. Instead I focus on the good in my life. It's simple really.  Or I try to in any case.  Occasionally something negative slips in but I am very quick to toss it out.

 

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A little bit of ice cream. Now who doesn't love that. Vanilla. Simple.  Good. Vanilla. A little bit of what brings you joy does you the world of good.

 

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I really cannot complain about this life of abundance I am living. I have everything I need and enough to share. I am rich in the things of life which matter most. I am blessed beyond measure.  Faith, family, friends, home, health, love. Its all good.

A thought to carry with you . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Joy is the happiness

that doesn't depend

on what happens.

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Easy Air Fryer Ham & Turkey Toastie.  Eileen and I share one of these for our lunch on Saturday and it was good, good, good. Crisp and toasty golden brown on the outsides and filled with lovely flavors. 

I hope your week ahead is filled with abundance and plenty of small and wonderful things which bring you joy.  Whatever you get up to, 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!