Giving Thanks Is More Than A Holiday

It's How Happy People Live

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013

 All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden | Highland, Utah, USA 

Taking Time to be Thankful...

Light from above

reflections of divinity...

  a gentle reminder of a season of Thanksgiving.

 

 

Autumn View from my Back Door

 

Taking time to be thankful this morning.

 I've been blessed with so much.

 

Today I am thankful for sweet blogging friends...

you make me smile and bless my life.

 

Enjoy this short video...

it will make you smile.

All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013

All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden | Highland, Utah, USA  

Morning Light

Morning Light

First view from my window 

this morning...

Sunshine

 I love how sunshine

slowly slips into my garden

as light begins to filter 
through the trees.

A Glorious New Day

It reminds me of how inspiration seeps into my heart 
and its light fills me with understanding.

This is going to be a glorious day...

 my soul is filled 

with fresh inspiration

from a weekend of listening.

Listen...
Inspiration just may touch your heart 
as well.





All content created by Carolyn Bush | Copyright © 2010 - 2013
All Rights Reserved | This Grandmother's Garden
Highland, Utah, USA

Earth Day 2013... Why Should We Care?

Each morning I wake up, open my sleepy eyes 

and look out through my windows to greet the new day...

my own little corner of the world.

Sweet melodies of the songbirds fill the air and my heart

and I am blessed that they choose my gardens...

as their home.

I believe we are guardians over this beautiful earth

and all the creatures that live within...

and as we do our part 

to protect and provide...

our eyes are opened wide 

to the everyday miracles around us.

 

And we are made better 

because of our connection...

to them!

As we come to truly understand 

our stewardship...

and take serious our role...

 we find delight 

in every living creature!

 Through them 

we may learn more about ourselves...

 

 and increase our desire 

to show love and kindness to all living souls.

Even those 

we may not particularly like.

Surely we will discover...

that their well-being 

is entwined with ours!

 And then maybe

just maybe...

we can learn to live peacefully with each other.

Happy Earth Day 

 Resolve this day to do your part 

to keep this world 

a beautiful place for us all to live.

 ♥♥♥

All images taken in

This Grandmother's Garden

I've said goodby to Disqus... too many unfriendly changes.
IE visitors can now comment!
Thank you to those who emailed their comments to me.
You are sweet friends.  :) 

What Matters Most

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
                                        ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For all of this I am grateful...

Take a quick minute and enjoy this short video.

May it remind you of what matters most... to you! 

♥  ♥  ♥

Thank you dear readers... 

 your comments are the sweet nectar that keeps me posting.

Be sure to leave a link in your comment so I may visit you.

Sunrise in Sweden

The sun is rising in Sweden.

It is the last sunrise my son will see 

before he begins his long journey home.

Two years of humble service 

for his Savior

as a missionary called of God 

to proclaim His holy gospel.

Two years seems like forever to a mother...

so grateful he could go,

so full of joy that it is finally time 
to come home.

Tomorrow night...
and I am so excited!

*actual picture taken in Sweden by my son

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