Daily Blessings... the end of the series

Today I am thankful.

So many tender blessings fill my life.

Sweet it has been 

to rest my mind on them for the last many days 

as I have attempted to post everyday.

Looking back on the past year 

there is one blessing that has truly changed my life... my camera.

Through it my perspective on life has forever changed.

So much enchantment, once hidden, now is within my view...

through my lens!

Looking forward to exploring and discovering more!

So blessed.

Daily Blessings... November 23

My world is all abuzz this morning 

as we prepare 

for tomorrow's glorious Thanksgiving Day. 

So much to do! So much to do!

Over the River and through the Woods 

to Grandma's house they come!

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! 

Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!

Thy mists that roll and rise!

Thy woods, this Autumn Day...

                       ~Edna St.Vincent Millay

Thankful today for the anticipation of tomorrow...

Daily Blessings... November 21st

Just a few more days remaining to post for 

Thanksgiving Challenge 

began by The Whimsical Gardner. 

It has indeed been a challenge to post every day, 

but sweet delight to be reminded of the many blessings I hold dear.

 Today I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.

♥

To serve...

to lift others by word and deed 

is a gift for the giver.

I believe it is the only means by which we can find true happiness...
as we give a portion of ourselves

we are blessed ten fold.

Look around you! 

There's an abundance of opportunities that need your talents...

within our communities, 

within our schools, 

within our families!

Jump in! 

Your own troubles will melt away 

as you immerse yourself in lifting others.

"I know that we came to this life with a purpose 

and the greatest joy we will receive 

will be those acts of love and service that we do for others... 

There is none too great to need the help of others. 

There is none so great that he can do it alone."

                                  ~Robert D. Hales

Daily Blessings... November 20th

Every morning brings a new day....

Morning Breaks above my Gardens

Who knows...

something wonderful may happen this day!

Have faith that it will.

Thankful for the blessings each new day brings.

Daily Blessings... November 17th and 18th

Life is better with grandchildren...
they are the most precious blooms in my gardens.

When the voices of children are heard on the green

And laughing is heard on the hill,

My heart is at rest within my breast

And everything else is still.

William Blake, "Nurse's Song"

Give children time to explore...

to learn about the feel of the grass under their feet 

and the wiggliness of worms in their hands 

and their giggles will warm your heart.

I'm thankful today for my grandchildren...

#16 will be here soon.


♥  ♥  ♥


I'm taking another chance at a photo contest with this image... it's one of my favorites and it brings back such sweet memories of a perfect visit to my island grand-kiddos.
Wish me luck!

♥  ♥  ♥



*Sweet! 

So nice to know someone else enjoys a picture I adore!

Visit Gardening Gone Wild to see more entries 
and read the great comments by the judge.

Daily Blessings... November 16th

Today I feel gratitude for my kitchen table...

Wisdom gleaned from more than a half century of living...
(oh, that sounds so old)
tells me
This is a very important place. 


Place where more than just delicious meals are shared...
here we share our dreams 
and the adventures of the day
and we laugh and enjoy each others company.


A gathering place where our hearts are knit together 

 in unity and love.

This is an important place,

It is the very heart of our home.

Daily Blessings... November 15th

Today I give thanks for 

This Grandmother's Garden

 Eight years ago this ground was covered 

in stones 

and bindweed 

and a single wild sunflower.

What a difference vision 

and a lot of hard work can make!

Today it is a sanctuary for

birds 

and bees

and butterflies

and all of God's creations who grace these gardens.

It is the window to my world.

Daily Blessings... November 14th

Tis the last rose of Summer... 

 ~Thomas Moore

The Little Rose that Could

Truth be told, 

it is the last rose of Autumn

the last rose of 2011

and the very last blooming flower within my gardens 

until next Spring 

when the sun again will warm the earth below.

Tucked up close to a window reflecting the sun,

I couldn't help but smile 

as I contemplated it's desire to bloom...

no matter what.

Neither swirling snowflakes nor morning temps in the 20's

could dissuade this little rose 

from fulfilling the measure of it's creation ...

 

Hmm... there must be something 

I should learn from this rose.

Grateful today for life lessons learned in my gardens.

Daily Blessings... November 12th and 13th

In honor of the Veteran in my life...

My Dad

1925-2000

Yes, I know, yesterday was Veteran's Day, 

but I didn't remember it until I looked out my window

and saw the neighborhood blanketed with flags the scouts had posted. 

By then my daily blessing post was already published. 

All day I felt sad that I had missed an opportunity to honor the Veteran in my life... 

my Dad.

But who says Veteran's Day can only be celebrated one day of the year?

Today I'm celebrating... for my Dad and for all veterans.

My Dad blessed my life by teaching me of patriotism and honor and love of country. 

While he found it difficult to talk of his experiences at the battle's front, 

the way he chose to live his life was always the best teacher. 

I will always remember the way he promptly stood to salute the flag 

whenever it passed by in a parade. 

As a child and as an adult, my heart was touched

as I watched him in this quiet act of honor, 

often with a tear in his eye as the flag passed by.

He always considered it an honor and a great privilege to serve his country. 

I am most grateful for gift of freedom he participated in giving.

My love and respect for him is mirrored in my own actions 

as I teach my children and grandchildren of his great legacy.

♦ ♦ ♦

My youngest daughter, Emilee, wrote this essay several years ago 

as a Junior High School student. 

It tells our Veteran's story...

My grandpa was in the United States Navy during World War 2.  He joined the Navy in 1942 when he was only 16 years old. My Grandpa joined the Navy to defend our country.  He left his family and friends and everything he knew to go to war. 

Grandpa was assigned to the ship the USS LaSalle, which was a Navy transport ship.  It transported marines to the battle front which were beaches throughout the South Pacific. My grandpa’s job was to keep the ship running. He was an electrician and kept the electrical stuff in order.  He spent his days down in the belly of the ship and would often go for weeks without seeing the sunshine.

In November 1943 he arrived at the battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific.  His ship was shot at by the enemy guns on shore.  They suffered no serious damage and were able to clear the beach of the enemy.

The next battle his ship was involved in was the invasion of the Marshall Islands.  They dropped off over a thousand marines to fight there.  Grandpa’s ship was also involved in the Battle of Okinawa.  The ship had to fight off heavy suicide attacks from the Japanese airplanes.

The USS LaSalle was involved in many invasions throughout the Pacific Islands during World War 2.  The war in the South Pacific was only a part of the war.  This terrible war involved most of the countries in the world. World War 2 finally ended in September of 1945.  Many of my grandpa’s friends were killed defending our country during World War 2. Grandpa was given many Medals of Honor for his service to our country. 

 May we never take for granted the freedoms we hold so dear, 

and always remember the patriots who paid the price.

Daily Blessings... November 11th

What's all the BUZZ about?

I've found a new feature to communicate with my readers...

I can now reply to each of you who leave comments... 

and I'm so excited!

I've enjoyed this feature on other blogs for some time

and now with my change of template, 

I can use this, too.

So thankful today for my dear readers who comment...

you are the sweet nectar that keeps me blogging.

Now that's something to buzz about!

Daily Blessings... November 10th

CHANGE!

Today I am grateful for change in my life.

Read about the Little Caterpillar that Changed HERE

I have learned in my years of living not to be afraid of change

but to embrace it!

Change brings new perspective in life 

and new growth.

♥  ♥  ♥

Lovin' the changes to my blog this morning,

(This post is dedicated to a darling daughter who is up to her eyeballs in change... Love you!)

Daily Blessings... November 9th

In my gardens I can see more clearly...

that there is beauty in every stage of life.

Beauty in the Dying Rose

That puts a skip in my step 

as I grow older day by day♥

Daily Blessings... November 8th

Memories of a few of the simple pleasures of life

fill my thoughts this morning...

My Son's Favorite Fishing Hole

How thankful I am for them!

My son and his sweet family are visiting this week.
They've blessed me with two beautiful little grand-daughters 
who are filling our home with love and laughter, 
and squeals of delight.

I stumbled upon this picture and sent it to him via email as he sat on the sofa in our great room.
He was doing his nightly surfing of the web 
and I knew he would discover it shortly after I sent it.

I was sitting right there beside him as he opened the image, 
not knowing what his silly mother had sent him. 
Immediately a smile came across his face 
and I could see in his eyes sweet memories flooding his thoughts.

My simple pleasure was listening to him share his tales 
of that perfect fishing hole.

His was reliving that day and all the big fish he caught.

Both were priceless!

Daily Blessings... November 7th

Nature is always mystical and magical...  

Symphony of Seeds

Today I am grateful for the simple joys of discovery 
every time I walk in my gardens.

Ready to Dance in the Wind

Daily Blessings... November 6th

  

Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning,
day I rest from every care.

Glorious Morning View from My Gardens

 

A day of spiritual renewal and worship, 

of laying aside earthly desires.

A day of physical, mental and spiritual regeneration.

 

Today I am grateful for the blessings of a Sabbath Day,
for the opportunity it gives me 
to renew, to refresh, 
and to grow closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

♥ ♥ ♥

As I honor Him this day and always,

I see the clear path to follow... 

and all of my world becomes brighter.

  

Doesn't everyone need a Sabbath Day?

Daily Blessings... November 5th

This morning I awoke to a gentle blanket of snow in my gardens.

I can only imagine the whisperings through the trees 

as this new season approaches...

Winter's coming! Winter's Coming!

Last Leaf Standing

The birds, dressed in their Winter coats,

are all in a flurry at the bird feeder...

exhilarated by the chill in the frosty air.

Today I give gratitude for the changing of the seasons.

We celebrate every season in This Grandmother's Garden...

there is always joy and beauty waiting for discovery in all.

Follow me through the month of November 
as I turn my attention from the hurry hurry of holiday preparation 
to the bounteous blessings of Thanksgiving.

Be sure to visit The Whimsical Gardener who is the inspiration behind this theme.

Click on the thumbnails below to view my previous Daily Blessings.

This one's for me... but read along if you wish...

Is it really  November, 

the month of turkey and cranberries and pumpkin pie?   

 

  So much to do in planning and preparation,  

how many are coming for dinner? 

Don't forget to order the fresh turkey!

Oh I wish we had double ovens. 

Do we have enough chairs?

Each year I vow to slow down a bit, to actually participate in the act of thanksgiving, 

to reflect on the bounteous blessings that I have been bestowed

for more than just a few minutes 

in that one day set aside for such thoughts.  

 

With so much to do, 
there is little time for reflection, 

and so little time for real thanksgiving. 

This year I am slowing down. 

I'm counting my blessings one by one. 

I've been inspired by a sweet friend whose words have motivated me 

to make Thanksgiving an action word 

not a noun.

In this month of November, ending on Thanksgiving Day, 

I will daily reflect on one blessing that brings joy to my life.

And I'm going to post about it. 

 I am doing this for me,

but you may read along if you wish. 

Less hurry, hurry... more gratitude.

I have a feeling this will be the best November ever.

I have so much to be thankful for.

Thank you, Cat, The Whimsical Gardener, for truly inspiring me. 

♥  ♥  ♥

Today I am thankful...

for the view from my back porch. 

Evening Glow on My Mountain

How could I ever be sad or discouraged looking up 

at this beautiful mountain that fills my view? 

I feel within my soul a warmth and an assurance 

that I am blessed with all that I need.

I must look up more often!