Blessing 1,445,

My blessing today is being surrounded by so much of God. I look out in the morning & see a new day, each one unique in the color palette that it opens & closes with. Each sunrise & sunset is unique & different in the colors & design. The trees are never the same, clouds, nothing is exactly the same. I can take photos day to day & they are always different. I am amazed at how the solar system works, how the human body is put together & in some way interchangeable so we can often help each other; & yet still survive. When our blood types are the same we are able to do a blood transfusion, no matter the outer covering of our body; but it is determined by the inner workings. There there is the ability to transplant organs, the details that it must have taken to create beings that could be made to be able to assist each other in this way. A person can give an match one of their kidneys or a portion of your liver. You can swap bone marrow, skin grafts, lung & more. Even though these are in no way meant to be a means of income; but a gift of life, some people do abuse this out of greed or necessity. The point being that just we are complex & unique; but wonderfully made & designed.  I won't go into that since it is not a blessing & this is about a blessing, or making a difference for others.

I am so in awe of nature around me, of so many things. I often stand on our deck, even that is a wonder & look around at all the beauty surrounding our corner of town.  We are blessed to own a 60 acre corner piece of land.  There are gravel roads going for a mile in 4 directions from our homestead. 

The trees that grew to give me this deck, this safe haven, after a year of battling Lyme's disease & Belle's Palsy.  The ability for Eddie to do 95% on his own (thank you to my sister, Vicki, & her husband, Bryan, for help positioning the largest frame section into place). He is 60% disabled; but he worked slowly, took his time, lots of graph paper figuring out the angles so we only have one actual step to climb & we have a wrap around deck from vehicle to door to wood pile. 

All this, I believe, can go back to God's gifts because He also gave us the ability to use our hands & to think through some challenges. What both us saw as an impossible task, we simply began to chip away at & do. We put it to prayer, then we started sketching & eventually came up with ideas. Those ideas worked & we have a rather nice deck as a result.  Often we simply see a task as impossible & give up, when if we pray about it.  Then take it one step at a time.  Small steps, just like on a journey, we begin to see that it was not the giant we thought; but a series of smaller steps that led to a final goal.  That is how it was with our deck.  First we replaced our smaller back porch with a bit larger one.  Then we added an add-on of just a few feet long & wide, slightly slanted downward.  The next was kind of large; but we began to set the supports then did some framing.  Being over 20 feet, this is where my sister's help came in.  They helped us to slide the frame into place on the supports.  Then my hubby & I added the decking, connected the smaller add-on section.  The final area for that was to put a small downward section to where we park our vehicles across the front of the trailers.  Then step down one step & we are at the car.  

We found a unique grocery cart, not the basket kind; but upright for a dollar at an auction.  It has two levels, the upper one flips up when needed.  We use it when we bring home groceries.  Fill it up & one trip to the door.  It can also be loaded with wood, that was our next added section.  A 4x4 flat area, then a ramp down to a 4x6 flat area just above the wood shed.  Load up the cart & either wheel it back up or if too heavy we also have a ratchet winch that hooks to the top of the ramp.  We are both elderly, so it comes in quite handily.  We thank God for the ideas, know-how & ability to complete our deck.  We added railings in key places with some unique iron cut rail designs from a local craftsman for a rustic touch (frogs included to remember to Fully Rely On God) & our deck is complete & comfortable.

I love being able to look around & see what doesn't make sense to the human eye; being thankful that God sees it differently. It is such a blessing to be able to use this gift He has given & so many more to bless others & make a difference in their lives as well.

Then knowing when we have the faith, to step beyond what we think we can't do & place our trust in Him, that He will guide us as we go

Day 1,446

Today I am so thankful for the mind. I am in awe of what some can create. I know that it is truly a gift from God. Have you ever considered, ever really sat down & thought of the things that have been invented?  My goodness, our state (Wisconsin) alone has only been a state since 1848.  That was just 164 years ago.  How much things have changed since then.  The first horseless carriage wasn't until around 1875, that was 27 years later.  Thomas Edison wasn't even born until 1847, so his inventions were a ways off yet, still in candlelight for a while.  In 1876, Mr. Bell invented the telephone; but Samuel Morse built a practical telegraph in 1837.  How did we get along?

I do enjoy the line, 'Necessity is the Mother of Invention', and in many ways it is true. When we need something, someone uses that awesome gift God gave them & many benefit from it. Sadly, there are also many who overcharge others for that gift; but since this is a blessings post we won't go there. It has been fun listing some of the beginning inventions above.  I chose WI since I have lived here 59 of my 60 years.  It amazes me to see how far we have come in just that short period of time, makes one wonder how far we will continue to go.  Now things seem to be invented even faster & without necessity.  Often for greed or want.

Have an awesome day!!!!!! Get your thinking caps on................................what can you look around & see that has been invented that you use????

Day 1, 447

Today I am so very blessed that my real friends respect that I am a hermit by nature & I like it that way, most of the time.  My hubby is the opposite, a true social butterfly.  He needs interaction with numerous people & frequently.  This actually works well for us, since it also gives me even more time to be alone.

Then there are days when we do things happily together, or with friends.  I do enjoy going to church, though not so much the social gatherings.  I just am not a people person.  I do go; but tend to sit more on the side.  My friends do try to involve me; but depending on the day, they also give me space.

I enjoy going over to a friend's home & working on projects with them.  Right now I am helping one friend to become better at mastering her new sewing machine.  She is anxious to be able to make things for her husband & sons.  So far we are tackling a new Awana bag for her eldest.  We also finished hemming his blanket on his bed & the table cloth on the kitchen table.  We have plans to make his birthday gift next.  I will help her to do a custom applique on a fleece for him.  She wants to be able to use her machine to do items for them & for others so she can make a difference in their lives.

I think it is important for us to understand & respect another's need for space.  We may not agree with their perspective of interaction; but we can best be their friend by respecting it & enjoying their company in a way that will bless each of us.

Have an awesome day.

Day 1,448 God's Perfect Timing

Blessing 1,448 is God's perfect timing & provision.  Wow, it just awes me how He knows things I don't & has PERFECT timing too!!!!

One example being a wee hat that is coming up soon on my list of 'to do's'. I don't stock a lot of pink or purple yarn.  They are not colors I use, if it can be avoided (unless for very special people).  So there are some special wee lassies who are getting the pink sweaters, their gramma had me order special pink yarn, yup.  Then I rec'd an order for some hats, pinks, purples, blues, greens.  Okay I have lots of blues, tons of blues in fact.  I LOVE blues, greens are okay, not a fave; but I have green; but when it comes to pink & purple, NOPE.  So looking to see what I have for these & what I need to order in this particular brand of yarn, I find that I have enough in two shades of pink; but I also have a light purple & an eggplant.  Thank you Lord.  Why???? did I ever pick that out & order that color, I don't know.  Evidently I hit a wrong button; but God knew I would need it later. 

He also has provided funds in time, food in time, a listening ear when needed so badly.  So many many times God has brought not only things & answered prayers to my & my family at just the right time; but He has provided us with the means to provide for another when we noticed they had a need.

Thankful for His perfect provision of everything we need & sometimes for those things we simply want; but don't really need :)

Day 1,449

Okay, we are counting down to blessing 1,449

Today I am thankful for what I call God's Memory Garden. I best describe it on a shawl I designed.

I once heard a saying that God gives us a memory garden,

where the flowers of our loved/special ones grow.
Those flowers/memories are there for us to pick when we need them,
& because they never stop blooming
there will always be a flower/memory to comfort us.

This garden can also include events in our lives or even pets. It can include anything that makes a memory. I mean I have several that I was not involved in; but they are there. I remember when JFK was shot, I can tell you exactly how the sisters (nuns) reacted while sitting at my desk in class. I can tell you what I was doing when the Challenger exploded, or when the towers were attacked, how Eddie came into the classroom where we had gathered my students around a television to watch this day in history. He worked just down the street. He was ready to re-enlist his crippled body & serve his country again.  These memories are important, I don't think I would call them flowers; but they are not necessarily weeds.  Maybe thorns that call us to be alert to things?  These are the things that make us aware how important it is to be alert & to make that difference in peoples lives in a different way.  Maybe in a supportive way, when they may be sad or hurting.  To lend an ear or a shoulder.

Some flowers are more beautiful than others, some have thorns, and some may not be flowers at all; but weeds. A garden's beauty is measured by the combination of all & keeping them in balance.  The thorns hurt; but because of the pain the bloom seems to shine even more.  The weeds make an awesome background for the flowers, almost a frame.  In fact some weeds did not actually start out as such.  The dandelion came over as a medicinal item.  The roots can be roasted for coffee, the young leaves & unopened buds can be eaten, the blooms are actually quite pretty & provide bees with a source of nutrition & some folks with wine.  There are many more that are healthy when used properly.  It is all in ones perspective & knowledge, the same with memories.

I am thankful, that this garden never dies. I am even more blessed that God gave me this beautiful , sometimes painful garden to show me that I know I have lived a full & interesting life; but most of all so that each time, before I leave the garden I have the choice to either take with me a weed, a thorn, or a beautiful rose. Yes, it is up to me how I leave the garden once I enter.

 

Last night after the play, I was so ecstatic with joy. As I walked through the memory garden I also stuck my finger on some thorns in regard to the play.   It brought me to my first quilt, Dream Train to Neverland. It is an awesome quilt; but the recipient is not in our lives anymore & that carries weeds & thorns, so consequently tears came with regrets and anger; but as I left I chose to leave those & pick up the rose. The good far outweighed the bad, so this morning I am happy in roses & loving the wonderful time I had and crowing with Peter, though only in my heart. Eddie would definitely be wondering if I was crazy; though he & so many others already know I am.

God bless all of you this morning, may you find a special rose among the thorns today!! ♥

Blessing 1,450

My Blessing 1,450. Thank you Susan O. for sharing. I love the moral of this story, it is great!!! & true!!!!

 

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it

to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from yourself.

You have two choices... smile and close this page,

Blessing 1,451

Blessing 1,451

Thinking on the Citizenship Ceremony on the Today Show

We are so blessed to be Americans. On one side of our family we are 2nd generation. My mother's parents came from Luxembourg with Uncle Andy & Auntie Ann, they sadly left one son, who had passed away, in Luxembourg. They went through the proper channels & became citizens with a great deal of pride. My mother is a first generation American. My father's parents brought him & 2 older siblings from Scotland when he was 10, they all proceeded to also go through the proper channels to become citizens of our great country. So on this side of our family 3 of my sisters & I are also first generation Americans. It is with a great deal of pride that I can say I am an American of Scottish & Luxembourg heritage & that I thank my ancestors for what they brought with them in their ethics & knowledge that they shared from the old country to America.

They didn't have it easy, and they didn't do everything perfectly; but they taught us awesome work ethics & some interesting other items. They taught us that when times are rough, not to give up. They taught us that we are all equal regardless of race, religion, monetary standing, or gender. That we need to reach down & give each other a hand-up, not necessarily a hand-out; but to be there when someone needs help. That it is better to give than to receive & that they don't always need to know who did it. In some meals we eat as the queen eats. Well we do, not all our spouses, LOL.

We were brought up to love God, even when a church may turn its back on you; that you should still honor Who is actually at the head. It wasn't He who did the turning, it was simply humans & humans are not perfect.

Heritage is awesome & the America my grandparents came to is an awesome place. Nowadays it doesn't seem we take the same pride in it.  I know it is rough on the children of those who come to this country or any country illegally; but we do not teach them correctly if we just say that it is okay.  We will give you citizenship anyway.  There are times when we face hard consequences for things our parents do.  It doesn't mean it is fair; but it is just.  I apologize to those who do not agree.  To those who think they should get that free ride; but it just wouldn't be right.  We do not do the children any justice by teaching them that they can get something by breaking a law.

 

My family did come & they worked very hard to do it legally.  It was not easy, they struggled financially.  We still do struggle financially; but we don't get hand-outs.  We earn what we get & we follow the laws to get it.  For that & by that, we are blessed they came. ♥