Good Friends

Count Your Blessings - Day Seven

Some of my favorite people live in a fictional town called Mitford. I am so thankful for Jan Karon's writings. She is one of my most beloved authors. I wish I could meet her and give her a big hug.

In the midst of everything else I'm doing this month, I'm escaping to Mitford for the latest story about Dooley and Lace's wedding. Her writing is so good I feel like I'm there with them.

If you haven't met Father Tim and Cynthia, Dooley and Lace, and all the other true to life characters in her books you are missing out. Maybe I love them so much because I served a mission in the south and they are just like people I met; or maybe it's because I can trust her writing to be clean, realistic and full of uplifting faith. Most likely it's all of that and the fact that most of my adult life I have lived away from family and friends so I turn to my fictional friends for company and comfort.

Here's to good friends, both fictional and real!

To Do Lists

Count Your Blessings - Day Six

As my advancing years wreak havoc on my brain power, I increasingly rely on To Do Lists so I can remember and stay focused on what I want to accomplish each day.

Actually, I don't think it is a problem of advancing years, it really is a problem of getting distracted by all the goodies on the internet.

I do, however, rely on lists; and the latest incarnation is simply an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of scrap paper and a black sharpie. I write down what I need to do and want to do, then hang the paper on the cupboard nearest the stove so I can see it all day (I'm in my kitchen/dining room/office a lot all day) and as I finish one task I check it off and see what is the next thing to do.

I'm really thankful for ideas and inspiration that help me be more productive in my job as wife, mother, and homemaker. We are never to old to learn new tricks!

Oops, I missed a day

Count Your Blessings - Day Four

My sweetheart daughter, Noble, assisted me with more leaf raking yesterday. I'm so thankful for her youthful strength and vigor. Together we got loads more done.

From the wisdom of Solomon:

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.    (Proverbs 31:10)

Count Your Blessings - Day Five

Have I ever said how much I love bread? Oh, how grateful I am for the staff of physical life. I'm thankful my mother and her mother made bread and left recipes and instructions. I LOVE bread.

I'm also extremely grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who declared:

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;    (John:6:35)

Autumn Leaves

Count Your Blessings - Day Three

I spent an hour this morning raking leaves from our almost century old maple trees. Did you know, as I didn't before moving here, that maple leaves have a sweet fragrance about them when they first fall? I love that smell! I also love the colors of the leaves; red, orange, yellow; some with streaks or spots of green still showing. They are just lovely.

From the Lord to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.                                               (Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-19)  

I'm grateful for the heart gladdening and soul enlivening sights and smells of autumn leaves.

       

He Does the Handyman Thing

Count Your Blessings - Day two

Friday the washer went out. Wouldn't you know it, just as I wanted to do a load of bath towels. The hot water worked, but not the cold. I checked all the connections but couldn't determine the problem. I let my husband know and he gave me permission to look at new (to me) washers. I looked but couldn't find what I want, because frankly I don't know what I want among all the new-fangled models.

When TopDad got home he looked things over and found the problem, looked up the part number and where to get it, ordered it, paid for it and told me I could pick it up on Monday, he'd fix it Monday night.

I'm really grateful for a husband who has been willing to learn to be a handyman. He didn't start out that way, but slowly over the years, with lots of encouragement, he's done wonders at saving money for our family by fixing things, building things and maintaining things.

From the Proverbs of Solomon:

In all labour there is profit: (Proverbs 14:24)