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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Those magnificent, noisy, and entertaining Guinea Fowl which come through my yard several times a day.  I don't know who they belong to, or where they come from, but they make me smile every time I see them. The cats really enjoy watching them as well.

Going to church on Sunday mornings.  My joy begins the moment I walk across the street and join Glenna for the drive to church. We often don't see each other during the week. She is very busy running here and there and I am busy to. That Sunday morning drive is a great opportunity to be able to catch up with each other.  Then there is seeing my other friends at church, Jackie, Christine, Connie, Suzanne. I have known these ladies for almost 30 years now and it is always good to catch up.  Most of all I love the opportunity I have to partake of the sacrament each week and renew my covenants, to take the name of the Savior upon myself for another week. I love the opportunity I have to commune with the Saints, to sing the hymns and to really soak myself in the spirit which prevails at our Sunday meetings. The talks, the lessons, everything. I may not always feel like going, but I am always blessed for doing so and am happy that I have gone. It is the perfect beginning, or ending to my week, depending on how you choose to look at it. 

 

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Saturday was the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in Carthage on the 27th of June, 1944.  Regardless of what you may think of them, or of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the fact that this happened at all was so very wrong, and in a county where religious pilgrims sought to escape religious persecution in Europe, on a journey to find a place where they could worship in freedom. Where was that religious freedom when these men were killed simply for believing differently and worshipping in a different way than most were at that time?? It was thought that in killing Joseph Smith the church would die and disappear, but it has since grown to a church that has countless millions of members, spread out across the world. I love everything about this church. It is my spiritual home. I spent years searching for a church where I felt welcome and which embraced the whisperings of my soul. I found it and have never looked back. It is my place of belonging.

 

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Jam season. When the store shelves fill up with boxes of canning jars and pectin, you know we are well into it. Oh, how I miss making all of the jams and preserves that I used to make when my children were growing up.  I got so much pleasure from doing that. It would not be much pleasure for me these days. For one, there is only me to eat it all and for two, the time and effort it takes would be exhausting for me. But I do love jam season.

I have yet to buy my first box of berries. I think I will this week for sure.  And I know they will taste wonderful.

Jam season. Fresh Berries. Fabulous.

 

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We took Eileen's freshly laundered towels and her new door mats over to her apartment on the way to Cindy's yesterday afternoon. She is waiting for her worker to help put her bed back together to get the bedroom sorted out. They are wanting her to start staying there a week from Wednesday. She is nervous about it. Heck, I am nervous about it. I am sure she will be fine.  Her staying with me was never meant to be permanent. I am grateful for the time we have had. She will, of course, be staying with me after her surgery, so that I can take care of her until she is back on her feet. There is no indication yet of when that will be.

I spoke to someone the other day who told me that one of their loved ones had been waiting for a year to have biopsies done on tumors on their thyroid.  That seems criminal to me. 

There are in the tens of thousands of people on the wait list for a family Doctor here in Nova Scotia. It was well over a hundred thousand people a year or so ago, so this has improved. But still  . . . 

We are blessed to have free health care at it's source however, even if the wait times are long for things. There are many who just could not afford health care at all had we to pay for it. I would be one of those who could not, so I am grateful for whatever it is.

 

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Sunday dinners at Cindy's. I appreciate them so much. I know she puts a lot of work into them and I am grateful for that. It is lovely to get to spend some quality time with her, Dan and Dad.  Bailey is doing quite well. He has really settled in and seems quite at home. 

Sheila is doing very well by all counts. She is up and walking with a walker. They are still waiting for her to get a bed at the hospital here in town. Once that happens then she will be closer and I will be able to visit her. 

Glenna went up with her boyfriend (Glenna's) the other day and had a lovely visit with her. Sheila and Glenna's friend are from the same area so they had a lot to talk about. Sheila's son has also been visiting her every day as well, so that's good. 

 

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I am enjoying looking over and seeing Glenna's foxgloves each day. She has cream colored ones. They are so pretty. I had pink ones in my garden in the U.K. 

Everyone's garden on the street has sprouted Canadian flags this week. In anticipation of Canada Day on the 1st of July. 

I love this country of my birth. It may not be perfect, but I believe that it is still one of the best countries to live in in the world. 

I will need to make a special Dinner for Eileen and I on Canada Day. To celebrate our wealth and freedom of living in one of the best places to live.

 

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I got myself a couple boxes of new pencils the other day. Bostich. Made from cedar wood. They smell amazing. I had gotten some old cheap ones and the paint on them made them all stick together. And the erasers on them did not work.  I like these new pencils much better. I got two boxes of 12. I may never have to buy pencils again so long as I live. I remember reading a story about Abraham Lincoln when I was a child and how he used charcoal from the fire to write with. I am grateful that I have pencils, and pens  . . .  erasers too.

 

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Each night as I lay in bed and say my prayers (kneeling is no longer an option for me) I thank the Lord for the multitude of blessings that is my life. I have a safe and comfortable home. I have family and friends whom I love and who love me back. I have a job which helps to provide for my needs. Two lovely pets who I love and which bring me joy.  A decent car that I can afford to keep on the road. Relatively good health, despite my aches and pains. A family Doctor. Enough. I have enough to fill all of my needs.  I am truly blessed, and I am grateful to know that I am blessed. I take none of it for granted. Above all I am grateful for my faith.  For prayer.  For the Savior and His teachings and example. 

I have a very, very good life. I am blessed beyond measure.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

☾ ° ★° * 。  

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

*Friendship isn't a big thing,

it's a million little things.

~Unknown

In The English Kitchen today  . . . 3-Ingredient Lemon Dessert.  Simple to make and oh so delicious! If you enjoy the flavor of lemon, then you will enjoy this little treat. It's a classic, downsized for the smaller family.

I hope that your Monday holds a multitude of small and wonderful things for you. May you be richly blessed with all that you stand in need of. Don't forget!

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And I do too!