Sunday, December 9, 2018

Ten Things of Thankful


This my effort to post my Ten Things of Thankful closer to the time the link opens instead of being one of the last bloggers to post to this wonderful blog hop hosted by Kristi Brierley of Thankful Me each week. 



Things that are interesting to me - Some plants react in the same way regardless of whether they receive too much water or not enough  water. The tips of the leaves on a peace plant will turn brown whether they are watered too much or too little. This is kind of like tears in humans. An absence of attention and love may cause a person of any age to cry, but on the other hand, an abundance of attention and love may cause a person to also tear up. What interesting thing did you consider this past week?

Walls with pictures - Until we owned our own home, I didn’t hang any pictures on the walls. Once we were able to live in a home we owned, that changed. Being able to hang photos and pictures that remind us of family, places we have been, and of beautiful scenes helps make a house a home. Do you prefer blank walls in your home, or do you prefer hanging things on your walls?

Teeth - I am thankful to live in a time when people who have been able to take good care of their teeth may be able to keep their own teeth, or most of them, the majority of their lives, if not their entire lives. There have been so many advancements in the field of dentistry, that even if one isn’t able to keep their own teeth, the options are so much better now. On a side note, my mom is drawing close to 102 years of age and still has most of her original teeth.

Food - I don't take lightly the fact that we have food to eat, especially given the fact that not everyone is that fortunate, due to their own circumstances. Being able to contribute in whatever manner one can to helping improve the situations of those who are starving can help in a small way to take away the guilt that arises from sitting down to your own meals each day.

Letters and cards with notes - I look forward to the letters and cards that we receive this time of year, or at any other time of the year for that matter. Sometimes we learn of happy things that have happened in the lives of our friends and relatives, and other times the news mentions things that are sad, but we appreciate that these people are comfortable enough to share these intimate details of their lives with us.

Part of life is mourning with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15  says "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” KJV New Testament
Here is a link with a quote from Mosiah 18:8-9 in the Book of Mormon that also mentions the importance of mourning with those who mourn.
Click to read this article about differences in mourning practices around the world. The article was written by a 14 year old girl in 2012 and was originally published in KidSpirit. It was recently reposted with permission in the Huffington Post. It is very well written.

Podcasts - Just about every time I drive to see mom, I listen to a podcast in the car. I love using this time to learn. This week I listened to NPR Radio Lab, TED Talk, Circular that presents new ideas to consider about regenerating and reusing what we already have. Some interesting concepts were shared.

Being able to feel warm even though the temperatures have dropped - Especially in the winter, having warm soft socks, sweaters, and large sweatshirts that I can layer over other clothing is a blessing. It isn't just clothing that makes me feel warm. Music that has a wonderful message and that is beautifully played and sung warms my heart.





Those who rejoice in the greatness of the hearts of others, and give them the benefit of the doubt - This is such an important attribute in any relationship and in society as a whole.

The many people who help children and adults have better lives - Teachers, counselors, health care workers, those who work in law enforcement, those who work in fire departments or work on fire suppression crews help society immeasurably and at times at the expense of their own health and well being. I appreciate the hours my husband spent as a teacher for so many years. Before we were married he spent some summers working for a fire suppression crew to earn money to pay for his college expenses.

It is not just adults who can help others have better lives. This young man has a desire to help too.





Those who share their experiences of what it is like to travel to far away places - There are many people who have the means to travel to other countries and to serve the people there in some way. I appreciate being able to experience their travels vicariously through YouTube, Facebook, etc. and to have my mind and heart opened to those things I might not have been able to begin to know and understand short of being there myself. Recently Kristi Brierley, our host for this blog hop, invited a friend to be a guest blogger on her site, Thankful Me. Click here to read about her friend Krista's experience of traveling with her family to Ethiopia to serve the people in that area. What a memorable trip she and her family had that Christmas. Click here to read more about the Korah Kids they met and served.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Ten Things of Thankful

It is a beautiful sunny December day and I am thankful for that. The temperatures will dip below freezing again tonight, but the stove works, and we have plenty of pellets for the stove. A few things for which I am thankful and am posting below and linking to the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop hosted by Kristi Brierley perhaps will spark some thoughts of your own about what makes you feel thankful. I hope so, because keeping those things in mind helps one over the hurdles of life, and who doesn't need some help in that regard on occasion.



1. Church services on Sunday where people are free to express themselves regarding their testimonies and faith, their understanding of the scriptures being discussed, and their ideas on how to better serve others

2. Celebration of Life for my husband's uncle where we were able to see some relatives we hadn't seen for years and to meet people who had witnessed first hand how my husband's uncle had impacted so many people not only within his church family in this land but more specifically in various parts of Africa where he shared his faith and tried to make life better for the people there

3. Snow that waited a day to cover the roads over the pass we needed to travel to get to the Celebration of Life

4. A remarkable transition (for the better) in the health of one of the residents at the nursing home

5. The times when pain subsides, whether for me or for others I know who are struggling with pain issues

6. Giving a ride to someone after church and then receiving some much appreciated recipes from her that I think I can prepare with some adaptations and eat on my new diet

7. Doing a jigsaw puzzle that appeared to be brand new except for the fact that a few pieces had dropped out of the plastic wrapped pieces inside the box that I bought at a thrift store.  I can’t even remember doing a jigsaw puzzle, unless I helped one of our little children do one many years ago, although our child no doubt helped me do one. LOL. Jigsaw puzzles are not my forte, but I know that by trying new things we stimulate our brains and promote new kinds of learning, an important thing to do at any time, but especially so as one ages.

8. When I saw the picture on the puzzle box and saw the size of the pieces I knew it would be just perfect for some of the residents in the assisted living section of the multi-care nursing home where mom lives. Thanks to my husband’s help, we were able to verify that none of the pieces were missing by completing the puzzle before donating it to the nursing home.

Jigsaw puzzle

9. What a difference light makes in our perspective when painting or taking photographs, of our perspective of the world, and of our perspective of the individuals in it and how we view ourselves when others have touched us in positive ways.

A previous inhabitant of the Bush House,
which is now a museum, was a photographer
 and put up a white sheet near a window and
 near a lamp to get the right  kind of
lighting that was needed for her photos.

Although the sun was setting, there was
just enough light shining through this
Grand Canyon area to allow the beauty
of the wall to be seen in detail.

Picture yourself in this space
as you reflect on a time someone
lit up your world by his or her actions
or words. 😀

10. Opportunities to change, to grow, to learn, to overcome, to reflect, and to be.