Life is Glorious

picture credit

There is so much to love about life, and so much to do to enjoy it. 

I recently read a blog post by SW on A Free Mind and it made me think once again about how true the above statement is. Here is her beautiful advice~

Be humble. Be kind. Know that you'll make mistakes and it'll be embarrassing, but have a sense of humor.
Laugh.You might as well have fun.
Tell people you love them, and be gentle.
Question everything, and I mean everything. Because the truth can take it, but nothing else can. And it's the truth that matters.
Take chances and do things that scare you. Never close your eyes to possibility.
Don't box up reality and pretend you know its walls.

Look up, at the sky. Taste the air on the tip of your tongue. Watch the clouds move.
Take care of yourself, always be gentle. Cry if you need to, but don't give up hope. Look for things to be grateful for. Smile. Hug. Breathe deeply, in and out. Do it now.
Be brave. Seek out life. Know that adventure is close to you, rubbing up against you daily. Take it by the hand and welcome it in.
Notice colors when you see them, tell yourself "that's blue" or "pink". Look for your favorite colors.
Be aware of your self breathing in and out, thinking, feeling. Close your eyes and let your mind go black. Rest.

Don't make assumptions. Don't judge. Don't become too familiar with your opinions.
Laugh, smile, make laughter creases around your eyes.
Drink water. Stretch. Skip. Read books. Clap your hands. Shake your head around so your hair gets messy. Scrunch up your nose. Smell flowers. Taste your food like you're on a cooking show. Talk to people.
Have discipline. Be tidy. Be polite. Enjoy things. Learn. Take initiative.
Sing. Dance. Twirl. Give piggyback rides. Use more adjectives. Cuddle. Remember the things you love. Make a list of them.
Have fun. Work hard. Sleep well. Look up, at the stars.
Check out this incredible world. Be friendly.
Think, before you act. Be safe.
Love, as much as you can.

In Case You Were Feeling Down. . .

 Are you having one of those days when it seems a bit hard to go through? Have a dormouse~

And while you're at it, have lots of dormice!!!

*squeal*Aren't they just the cutest?

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

~Psalm 139:14

Recently I cut my thumb and removed the top layer of skin. Instantly, it started to heal itself and make the skin anew. And not just any skin--perfect skin. And a new finger print, too! How amazing!!

There are those moments sprinkled through everyday life when you stop and look at this wonderful world and you just know that everything was divinely created. Sometimes it takes a moment when we're pondering birds wings and how they undeniably formed and fashioned by an all wise Creator, to help us understand that He knows us and He has a just as perfect plan for our life.

I marvel at the range of colours our beautiful world has.

It is the seeds of springtime, the zinnias of summer, the way leaves fall in autumn to make a cover for the sleeping earth, and the ice pictures in winter, the way plants can heal, the birth of animals, eggs hatching, caterpillars becoming butterflies, the miracle of life that help to grow my faith along with God's words in the scriptures.

The way frost edges these in perfect order!

 Then when I study in more detail cells and other such things science, I know, I know, I know that everything is with a purpose; nothing is a mistake. God knows me and loves me and made me perfectly to fit the wonderful plan He has for me. Fearfully. Wonderfully. Perfectly.

Everything is perfect (how many times have I used that word in this post?). Everything is a miracle.

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars." 

~ Attributed to Martin Luther

Look at this zinnia!!!

Praise the Lord for His marvelous works!

Yours truly,

S. F.

May Christmas Stay With You

❄ Merry late Christmas, dear readers! I hope you had a joyous day. ❄

Although Christmas day has come and gone, I think one of the most important things for us to do now is for us to keep the Spirit of Christmas in our hearts. I woke up the day after Christmas and thought "now what?" There were presents to enjoy, yes, but what were the presents if I would be so soon to forget the sense of peace that came from remembering that my Saviour loved me to much to come to earth and redeem me from my sins and short comings?

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine!

O night when Christ was born

O night divine!

O night, o night divine!

May you always remember that holy night, and may we say as Mr. Scrooge did in The Christmas Carol, 

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

God bless us, every one!

Love ~ S. F.

P. S.

You may remember that in 2014 I started a "Photo a Day December" photo challenge. I shared the photos for the first week, but not the rest of the month. To be truthful, I didn't take photos throughout the whole month, but I do have have several that have been waiting in a draft since then and I might as well share them now. So here are some Christmas pictures for you~

Day 11: "Up close".

Day 12: "Listen". (↓Wonderful Christmas CD if you like Celtic music.↓)

Day 13: "Star."

Day 14: "Recipe". (My siblings made a Christmas cake, and I stood by taking picture.)

Day 15: "Shopping".

Day 17 & 22: "Tree" and "Lights."

 Day 18: "Want". (The Gothard Sisters new Christmas CD!)

Blog of the Year Nomination: Chloe

Hello, dear people! Are you having a beautiful winter? I sure am. Christmas is very soon approaching!

My blog friend Kara started a "Blog of the Year" award, which you can read all about in her post here. 

Rules:

•For the sake of spreading the word about the award, please include the host's link as well as the above picture

•Award ONE blogger and do a blog post dedicated to them, thanking them for being the amazing blogger you see them as

•Answer the following questions in the blog post ( feel free to delete any of the questions that aren't relevant to the blogger or the post and add some of your own to make it more personal)

•Let Kara know on Saved by Grace who you nominated

•Let the blogger know that you nominated them

When Kara announced it, I started thinking about who I could nominate. I haven't been too active in Blogland this year, so I haven't discovered any new blogs. I reviewed the ones that I have looked at, and one stood out in my mind for deserving the award.

And so, I would like to nominated Chloe from Rustling Thoughts for the Blog of the Year Award.

Chloe's blog banner

1. Tell us why you think this blog should deserve an award as blogger of the year and what sets the blog apart in the blogging world:
Chloe has faithfully kept up her blog and her posts about her life are so fun to read. She always has something interesting to read or look at.

2. Just for fun: How did you find the blog? 
I seem to recall that she found my blog first. . .I think? 🤔 Yes, that sounds right.

3. One word descriptor for both blog and blogger:
Real.

4. What is one of your favorite posts?
I like to read the posts where she answers questions people submit. They're quite fun to read. 😊

Chloe, thank you for all you do in the blogging world! You're amazing. Keep up the good work! 😉

And thanks to Kara for thinking up this great award!

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

Time's running out if you want to nominate someone (which I highly recommend you do!) I think this is a perfectly brilliant way to give someone a pick-me-up.

Hope you're having a blessed Christmas season! God bless you all!
Love~S. F.

PS. The fact that Blogger now has a "insert special character" option might be the best (so many options) and worst (because methinks this blog will become full of them) thing that could happen to someone who loves smiley faces. 😁

Peace

All images from the Internet; I do not own any.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of peace, and we all can open our hearts and let in the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Phillip. 4:7) Isn't there something so delightfully and irresistibly cozy about a scene like the ones pictured below? Gazing at a nativity scene gives me an overwhelming sense of peace, as I think about wonderful it would have been there to see the newborn King! And what about that feeling you get when you see the snow blanketed deep?

Some of my very most favourite scriptures are about peace. I'd like to share three with you now~

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

~John 16:33

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

~John 14:27

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. 

~ Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

What are some of your favourite things about Christmas?

"Light the World" this Christmas

One of my favourite things about the Christmas season is the lights. And the warmth.

This time of year is cold and dark (depending on where you live. . .), and I love that we are given a holiday to bring some light and warmth to those that are lacking it.

We celebrate the birth of our Saviour, who is the light of the world.

This video beautifully shows how we can be a light for others. Watching it is a perfect way to get into the spirit of the season! Let's all do our part to light the world for Christ!

#LIGHTtheWORLD 

Along with the video is a calendar with wonderful ideas how you can be a light all month long. It's getting me so excited as I see all the good I can do this month! :) I hope you see some ideas on there that you can do, too.

"I am the light of the world." ~John 8:12

"Ye are the light of the world." ~Matthew 5:14