Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada so we pause to take a moment to reflect and remember all those who have served and given their lives in the fight for freedom. We also remember those veterans who are still alive and say "Thank You" for your service.
In that light, it is especially meaningful to look for my blessings and make my thankful list this week.
1. Democracy. In watching what unfolded in the U.S. this week, and in spite of it being an ugly battle to the presidency, I am thankful for democracy. Even the very fact that we can publicly speak against whoever we don't agree with is something we should never take for granted. Others are being killed or imprisoned for their voices in countries where harsh dictatorship prevails. I hope my U.S. friends can now move forward and work together instead of continuing to tear down. Cause people, I'm tired of politics dominating my facebook feed! Bring back the cute puppies! ;)
2. Bike riding wearing capri pants and a tshirt. Is it really November? We have been enjoying every warm moment we can eek out of this fall. There have been some really gorgeous days this week. Around here in fall to get that warm weather we usually put up with a lot of wind and chinook arches that block the sun in the fall but there have been some wonderful days such as last weekend where it was warm (21*C!!! 69.8*F unbelieveable), sunny and no wind! So take advantage of that we did and pulled the bikes out of storage and went for a glorious bike ride! Now today is supposed to be 22*, so if there is no wind off on bikes we will go again! Now before there is a bunch of climate change comments, never fear, the farmer's almanac apparently is predicting an especially cold winter for us, so it's coming. But until then, outdoors fun here I come!
3. Spontaneous chinese food dinner invite at good friends. We have a set of dear friends who are career minded folks and are very busy. But Saturday they spontaneously invited us for dinner for chinese takeout. So we jumped on the chance for great company and very delicious food. I love doing spontaneous things with friends. Keeps one young. Ha. We had a lovely visit and they ordered enough food to feed an army, not even kidding, and it was some of the best chinese takeout we've ever had.
4. Extra sleep time. Hence the late FFF. Last weekend was Daylight Savings time where we turned our clocks back one hour. Now at first glance, that sounds wonderful, an extra hour to sleep on that night. Yay! Except it didn't go that way. After enjoying way too much of the good food mentioned above I was wide awake at 2:30 a.m. And had to be up early for church so I couldn't sleep in. Then I have been waking at 5 a.m. every morning because my body thinks it's 6 am and time to get up. It has been brutal! I am exhausted so sleeping in this morning was especially nice. Hopefully now my body is in rhythm with the darn clock.
5. Learning to let go. I am learning this in lots of different areas of my life, from the big to the small. It has been easier in some areas than in others but all in all I'd say that releasing my tight grip on certain things has definitely been for the better. Of course, in letting go I am also learning to lay it at God's feet and in that process learning that God cares about every aspect of my life. And in leaving it with God I am learning to experience joy and peace even in the midst of hard situations whereas before I would have been running around in a tizzy like a chicken with it's head cut off, as my mom used to put it. :)
What have been your favorite blessings this week?
8 comments:
Nice answers Susanne. We always find chinese take out portions to be generous. We would regularly order the set meal for one on a Friday evening but it was plenty for the two of us. Have a good weekend and I hope you keep the warm weather for a bit longer.
I feel exactly the same way you do about politics, hence the silence in my FFF about it.
I love the Chinese take out idea. We call it BYOD--Bring Your Own Dinner. We enjoy our friends and no one fusses about cooking.
May you enjoy many more capri an tank top bike rides!
I'm with Willow and you, too. And we don't stop praying.
In any case, I hope you get plenty of surprisingly warm days to balance out those surprise snow days in summer!
Congrats on #5. This is a hard lesson for all of us.
I so agree about being very happy for democracy, though it can get a little ugly some times. I had hoped the FB stuff would calm back down after the election - but not so far. Hopefully soon.
We've been having warmer than usual weather, too, and like you, I've been treasuring it because I know the cold stuff IS coming. I'm just so glad it is holding off a bit.
It took me a few days for ym body to get used to the time change and not wake up early, but I think I'm there now. I don't remember that being such a problem in previous years, but maybe I've just forgotten.
Glad you were able to enjoy a spontaneous get-together and some great food! #5 is hard indeed - glad you've been having some victories there.
It's great to go out for Chinese with a group so you can enjoy many different dishes. We are in the letting to go stage right now, too. Time change is not all it's cracked up to be. Our poor inner clocks. Glad the election season is over. We've really gotten some warm days for November...very nice.
I was actually looking at properties in your country specifically on PEI the morning adter the election. my husband and i are still shocked and saddened but now we are prayingmthat he will either be impeached ( doubtful) or that God will keep us all protected from any repercussions that could happen with a buffoon for a leader. sigh.
yay for warmer temps and bike rides, spontaneous dinner dates and giving things over to God!! awesome faves!!
Our beautiful warm weather has changed into cold and rainy days. We too didn't hear anything else than the American election. Has never happened that a TV reality star, with a bin men vocabulary, racist and woman hater becomes a president ! All Eoropean countries live in a democracy, so that is nothing special, but that people voted for such a clown leaves me perplex.
I am so thankful for democracy also!! Especially after this past week in the U.S.!!
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