This week's posts will be about reflection and a better us. Next week we will get back to our usual programming!!!!
I just think we all need to be reminded how lucky we really are. We have so much and often take it for granted. Many, many people in this world would call us wealthy! You know what? WE ARE compared to many. Wealth has little to do with money in my opinion. It is all the wonderful things that we have in our lives and the beautiful people.
So yes, having that roof over your head makes you wealthy.
You woke up today and you have been given another chance to grow, live, enjoy, love and to be kind. USE THAT OPPORTUNITY! It is a GIFT.
I know that simplifies it a lot - but you get the point.
Life hands you lemons - make lemon-aid!
We got this. Make this a beautiful day and enjoy all that is around you.
EDIT: For those that follow her - Kim at Out My Window is on a cruise with family. Her husband passed very unexpectedly on Christmas morning of a heart attack. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. We love you Kim.
(Little Penpen) oh my goodness! I follow Kim. What a sad and shocking day. Was he on the cruise too? 💔
ReplyDeleteSluggy, her great friend at lDont read this it’s boring”, included details and photos of their cruise together. You can also find that link at Practical Parsimony too. Hilogene in az.
DeleteYes they were together and appeared to be having fun. Thanks, Hilogene for posting that info for others.
DeleteHilogene- My hear goes out to you on your loss also.
Delete~margaret
HILOGENE in AZ - I just saw that you lost your husband this week after a heart attack. I am so very sorry sweet lady. What a sad week it has been for you gals. You are in my thoughts and prayers as well. May God wrap you in comfort and love.
DeleteWell said, I love the boiling water analogy, and I truly believe it. I heard about Kim’s husband from reading Practical Parsimony’s comment pointing us to Sluggy. Sent healing thoughts to Kim as well. Hilogene in Az
ReplyDeleteSame here - it is just so sad.
DeleteYes, the analogy of the boiling water really hit me. Pretty much explains life.
I absolutely agree that we are blessed! It's important to start and end each day with prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving. Lynn Ewing
ReplyDeleteAMEN I do both and many times in between. It sure can't hurt.
DeleteWe truly are fortunate. I belong to a FB group that offers free items, and at this of year especially there are many who are posting for assistance of either food or space heaters. It's sad that not everyone is as fortunate, and while I always donate to our local food bank, it feels like it isn't enough.
ReplyDeleteOur idiot city managers closed down the warming bus on one o the coldest days in mid- December. They got lambasted for that and it re-opened shortly thereafter. A local charity also set up a warming center that will remain open 24/7 for the next few months. It helps somewhat but isn't meant to be a space for people to stay long term. My brother, a police officer, tells me that we lose a few people every winter as they are found frozen to death.
Upon reflection, it seems to me, I need to find a way to help out more and put pressure on our local governments to be aware of what is happening in our city.
Bless your heart. It happens here too. We can all do something - just maybe not a lot. But if all do a little, it sure would help.
DeleteI wondered where Kim was after her cruise. Cheryl, Thank you for letting us know. To Kim, I am so very sorry.
ReplyDeleteThey were still on the cruise - it was a long one. I am heart broken for her.
DeleteSlug on her blog, said after they got home to Kim's.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about Kim's husband. Will add her and her family to the prayer list.
ReplyDeleteWe are abundantly blessed! We have been watching You Tube videos about the snow storm in Buffalo NY. Sad all around. The police are starting to ticket people who are stupid enough to get out in the snow and drive around, sight-seeing I guess.
Prayers for a blessing filled new year for you, Cheryl!
She and her family will surely need those prayers.
DeleteThey should ticket and fine the idiots. They are insane - stay in and stay safe.
Thank you my friend. Same to you.
My heart has really gone out to the homeless in this cold weather. We are indeed rich beyond measure! We thank God for all the abundance daily.
ReplyDeleteI know we are. Some people would not go in for anything, and they are sure to perish. I do hope that the outreaches help many. YES, rich beyond measure.
DeleteMy heart goes out to Kim. I've been in her shoes and it's a hard one to recover from. We are truly blessed, especially in having these online connections. Today, I'll add how blessed we are to have information at our fingertips, so we can easily expand our knowledge and frugal lifestyle. I had about 2 quarts of leftover turkey stock -- I'd cooked down my turkey carcass from Christmas dinner to make stock and remove the remaining meat to make turkey a'la king for dinner last night. Didn't want to pull out the pressure canner if I didn't have to, so I looked up the time required to waterbath broth (I was thinking 3 hours, since it's meat-based, but wanted to double check). Low and behold, the time is far less. I now have 4 pints of broth being waterbathed. Go me!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Lori! I'll keep that in mind when I make broth from 2 ham bones. Thanks! --Elise
DeleteLori - Same here. We have been similar circumstances and it is not easy. Time and love of family and friends is what helps the most - and faith.
DeleteYou go girl. That is great and it will taste so good in the future.
I love that we have such a network to share and care. It sure can help in this crazy old world.
Thank you, Cheryl. I'm often reminded of Ecclesiastes: our time on earth is a fleeting gift, and we should enjoy what we can, while we can. To have food, shelter, work we enjoy, and people we love are all blessings, as written there.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers for Kim and family. That's so very hard. Prayers also for everyone else dealing with loss as this year ticks down.
--Elise
Losing a spouse is such a difficult thing, as many here know. My heart hurts so bad for her.
DeleteYes, we need to enjoy each moment. Every moment.
We are limited with time.
Blessings
I read Kim's blog. How terribly sad and what a shock. Thoughts are with her and their family.
ReplyDeleteI did feel sorry for myself a couple of weeks ago when the surgeon I saw, said no to my knee replacement, exercise and come back in six months. He only does operations that will be 100% successful, sure he has 'short man syndrome' I had tears several times at the thought of another 6 months of pain. But like you said, big girls panties on, it's nothing terminal and I can still laugh and enjoy life. As a family, we are blessed.
Happy thoughts and best wishes for 2023
Heather from the UK
I am so sorry you have to endure another 6 months of pain. I pray you can find some sort of successful pain management. You have the right outlook - it isn't terminal and you can still enjoy life each day.
DeletePrayers for some relief.
Thank you
Oh dear, I'm so sorry for Kim even though I don't know her. That is a horrible thing...One of the worst days if not *the* worst is my stepdaddy suddenly passing away of a heart attack. We loved him dearly and he was my little girl's best friend. I will certainly be lifting Kim up in prayer, oh that must be horrible. God be with her.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your thoughts, they are very true and very, very good reminders! I always think that if we are broken, then we can be like a tiffany lamp and shine through the broken pieces and be sensitive to others because we understand. : ) I try to do that as I know you must do also.
Yes, we are rich. We need to always count our blessings right?
Bless you dear Cheryl! What a gem you are!
~Amelia at My Forest Cathedral blog
That's beautiful, Amelia. I never thought of it that way... shining through the broken pieces like a Tiffany lamp. Thank you.
Delete--Elise
That is a beautiful sentiment. We are ALL broken in some way - but we can shine and help another. We can still offer love and understanding and even a hand up now and then.
DeleteLoss is never easy - but my goodness on such a day that is celebrated each year. Hilogene who posts here, lost her husband this week as well. He had a heart attack Christmas evening. Such sadness for these families.
Love and prayers for all.
Oh, my goodness! Prayers for Hilogene and her family, too.
Delete--Elise
Thank you Elise and Cheryl, what an encouragement you two are. Oh my goodness...Prayers going forth for Hilogene too. And Christmas eve and Christmas morning...Oh dear Lord help these families in every way at this time.
DeleteMy sympathies to both Hilogene and Kim. My friend described losing her husband as like losing a limb after 50 yrs. of marriage.
ReplyDeleteWe went out today and couldn't have picked a better one. It was in the 50s and it felt gloriously warm! We went to 4 stores and bought nothing at 2 of them. I only bought laundry soap making supplies at one. Hobby Lobby was where I found the most on sale. I spent $13. I needed white embroidery floss and that wasn't on sale. I got 2 white snowflake table runners, a gingerbread dish drainer mat, about $1-2 ea. and 40 pink envelopes at 40% off for $5 & change. I decorate with snowmen in January so I'll use the table runners in another week. I hang snowflakes in my windows, on my shepherd's hooks, etc . so it stay!s festive . Crowds were heavy.
In a funny moment....my husband went to take a cart back to the store and this *THUNK* startles me because it sounds just like a golf ball hit the roof of the car (my aunt and uncle used to live in a country club community so I was regularly hit by wayward golf balls!). I actually jumped and looked around. Nobody was around. I told hubs when he came back and he walked around the entire car. He says the only thing he saw was a giant bird poop on the roof! I asked him if he saw a pterodactyl flying around!! Good grief, was that ever a thunk!!!
I like your snowflake idea...and then it's Valentines. I usually integrate Valentines into my tree, and I think I'll use snowflakes here and there in middle to late January, great idea Debby.
DeleteYes, losing your spouse IS most definitely losing a HUGE part of ones self. You are never whole again.
DeleteIt sounds like a fun shopping day. You got some nice things. I bet the table runner is pretty.
It is warming up here as well. It sure is nice. Todays "feel like" temperature is to over 80* warmer than last week!!!!!! Crazy stuff. Nice way to end the year.
I bet your house looks pretty all decorated up.
The worst day is one love has to leave the other. None of us want it this way, and if we really look back, we know there is no way to fix the hole, the broken heart. We try to shove other things in there to keep going but the only thing is to let got God come live in you everyday. He alone can heal the wound, he alone can comfort you in grief, he alone really understands as he gave us his only son. He understands our pain and will try to lead us throught the difficult days ahead. My prayers and thoughts are with Kim and Hilogene, two people whom I have never met but we all share, just like you Cheryl, the loss that has devastated life for our families.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way around it, we will all experience the loss of loved ones, what we must hold dear is that we will all be together again, in God's heaven, in his home, embraced in his arms.
AMEN - you said it perfectly! There are just no words that can help. People are loved for trying to help and for kindness, but nothing fills that hole but God. I have no idea where I would be without all my family, friends and on-line friends, but I know where I would be if it had not been for God in my life.
DeleteSadly ever person has to have this experience at some point. Death is part of life.
Losing anyone on Christmas Day has to be the worst loss because the day is memorialized as the day a loved one died.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Bad enough to lose a family member - then to have it be a day of such importance. Just so sad.
Delete