Category: Contentment

A Series of Miracles

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath6 Comments

The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.

Hans Christian Andersen

I am thankful for those of you who share your stray gifts with me and allow me to share them on my blog! Here is the latest addition to the growing record of graces.

Top row (left to right): 1) My aunt and uncle have the opportunity to work for their local Parks and Recreation Department. They will be working in a day-use area checking people in. “It has a beach, picnic tables with grills, volleyball and horseshoes”, my aunt shared. The view of the trees and water can be seen from their camper! Such a peaceful view! They have worked at camps before and love doing it. 2) Last week, we noticed our air conditioner unit wasn’t working when the house kept feeling warmer throughout the day. We opened our bedroom windows that night and there was such a nice breeze! Sleeping bliss! 3) My friend Jonna found these wildflowers for her sister whose health had taken a turn for the worse a few weeks ago. Jonna picked them in a field nearby to bring to the hospital room. Beauty can be found even during difficult days. I’m glad she shared that with me. I mentioned Jonna in a previous blog post (The Blesser Himself) when her mom passed away. Her sister has since passed away as well. Please pray for Jonna and her family as the funeral is tomorrow (Wednesday, May 1) and in the days ahead.

Middle Row: 1) Earlier in the year, Jonathan and I divided a large day lily into three separate plants and they are doing well! Also thriving (the plant on the far left) is a yellow bell. It was just a stick with roots when we took it out of the ground and potted it, but we know it comes back every year and had hoped for the best. We pulled it up because it was too close to our wisteria and partly because we wanted to bring it from El Paso to where we live now in NM. 2) While visiting my dad’s house in El Paso, I noticed the roses blooming! 3) The cardinal photo was sent to me by a friend in PA. Stunning!

Bottom Row: 1) The photo of the steeple was sent by the same friend in PA. This view is right across from her office. I love steeples! 2) One of the companies I order craft supplies from always sends a card like this with a cute crafty saying with every order. This one made me laugh because I like to make cards and send them out. I sent the photo to a few others who are a part of my ‘encouragement/card sending’ group. 3) Another craft company I order from sent me a gift! It is their 10th anniversary and to loyal customers, they sent a stamp set with our names. There are three stamps included. One says, “crafted with love by”, another is my first and last name (how neat!), and the last is a pretty flower.

Our everyday, ordinary things are pretty special, aren’t they? A series of miracles…I like that.

Just Baggage Enough

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Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.

Charles D. Warner

We have been going through the house again making decisions about what is serving us well and what is not. We have a nice arrangement with a man who has a second-hand shop. He stops by the house every once in awhile to see if we have anything we are getting rid of. He comes to pick up the stuff, pays us a little bit of money, and we all agree this is a good thing we have going. I don’t know why we hold on to things as long as we do – clothes that do not fit anymore, exercise equipment not used anymore, furniture we don’t have space for anymore. We are ready to move on and to travel lighter through life in the days ahead.

I haven’t written here since August. My mind has been on cleaning out clutter, on caring for the home and the men in it, and on making greeting cards. I’ve been making my own cards for quite awhile now and a few friends have showed interest in buying them. Being able to sell my creations has been a dream of mine and I am so thankful this stray gift came along! For seven weeks in a row, I was creating and selling cards for others. I have also had the dream of making cards for a ministry – for church, for a hospital, for a nursing home – the possibilities are endless, but I just don’t know where to start! I called a few local hospitals and nursing homes in our area, and only the Children’s Hospital said they would take handmade greeting card donations. I was so excited, I created over 70 cards in one week! I’ve never done that before. The cards were made with the thought of nurses, doctors, and volunteers having cards on hand to write an encouraging note to patients. While 70 cards is not nearly enough for the hospital, it’s a start to brighten one corner, one hallway, one patient at a time. I meet with the hospital tomorrow to deliver what I have. I hope they like the cards and will want more.

Before I share a few photos of recent stray gifts, I will update you on family matters. My dad just had another round of shots in his back for pain relief. He has struggled with degenerative discs for years and has an excellent pain management doctor. My dad is slowly regaining strength and is able to drive now as long as he doesn’t overdo it. John (my husband) has the same pain management doctor for his back and is in physical therapy lately. Even though the hip replacements went well, he still needs “maintenance”. If you have followed along over the years, you might remember an ankle problem – still a struggle to get help from the VA over this. An MRI was done last week, and we hope that care will come sooner than expected. We know the VA is overloaded and underfunded, so we try to be patient. After our move back from Waco, John was really ill for a long time. Migraines were difficult to manage, strength and balance were minimal. This year has been a year of a lot of rest for him. At first, the sleeping was out of pure exhaustion from feeling ill all the time. In recent months, he feels the extra sleep has been healing. He is more awake and alert – able to make decisions that need to be made. He was able to apply for Radiology school. He passed all the tests – so much so, he can skip all the math classes! I was impressed. He was told recently that he has been accepted into the school. The VA has a program that helps disabled veterans go to school so they can work. The next step is for him to start classes and training to be an X-Ray technician. While his ongoing health issues have been a long battle, some good things are happening, too. He is getting different treatment from a new neurologist which is helping and physical therapy is going well. Our Jonathan is still working as the volunteer curator at the Historical Society and loves helping others research their family and local history. He was hired initially to organize the archives, but because he is the only one working in the Burges House, he is secretary, researcher, and tour guide.

As far as I am concerned, I am doing ok – tired, but ok. Simplicity is key with “just baggage enough” for the day. I am content with the cooler weather when soups and stews are just right for long, busy days. I am thankful for a bit of time to be creative to make cards as I can. I love doing it! I am grateful for stray gifts in my path which cause me to stop in awe and reflect on God’s care for us all.

The latest of my stray gifts to share:

Gifts Inside (Left to right): 1) Along with getting rid of things not needed anymore, we have been doing a bit of updating in the house. Last month, my dad re-stained all the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and they all look brand new! 2) Cooler weather is here which is perfect for soups and homemade bread. 3) Cozy spaces in the house 4) I bought 2 gallons of milk that had close expiration dates. Instead of pouring the soon-to-expire milk, I made yogurt with one of the gallons.

Gifts Outside (left to right): 1) We participated in a local historic neighborhood’s Tour of Homes. One of the homes is the Burges House where Jonathan works. The yard is very well kept and it is a pleasant place to walk around. John was feeling well enough, the weather was great, and we enjoyed seeing the inside of a few spectacular homes. 2) White mums are blooming. These were bought on clearance a few years ago. 3) We’ve had Morning Glories galore this year. 4) Out of a packet of wildflower seeds, only a few have taken root. I saw this pretty little Zinnia this morning.

The Spare Moments

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving.

Sarah Young

I like to read about efficiency. I enjoy watching YouTube videos about cleaning and organization. The topic of ‘minimalism’ has been of great interest to me in the last few years and I especially like Joshua Becker. Recently in his video, “20 1-Minute Habits to Keep Your Home Clutter Free”, he said, “Clutter free living is more than a project, it is a process.” Sometimes, the house and yard work can feel overwhelming. When I break a lot of it down into one minute tasks, they are a lot more manageable. Wipe down the counter, shred the junk mail, empty small trash cans throughout the house, sweep the front walkway, replace bathroom towels with clean ones, put away dishes – all tasks that can be done quickly when I purpose to do it. It came to mind recently that the one minute moments, the spare moments, can also be used to offer a quick praise, to read a few Bible verses, to pray for the family member or friend who has been on my mind. It declutters the mind and makes room for rest. Spiritual growth is more than a “project” we aim to achieve, it is a process of making good decisions in every opportunity of the day.

In spare moments, too, don’t forget to look for stray gifts!

Stray Gifts Outside: Alyssums are one of my favorite flowers. They smell like honeysuckle and are fairly easy to maintain. Not all are doing well in the heat this year, though, but this one is doing ok so far. • Our new passionflower vines are stretching quite nicely over the new netting we bought for support. • Our tiny tomatoes are coming in and they are delicious!

Stray Gifts Inside: Although meat prices have gone up, a local family owned butcher business we like to buy from is keeping their prices the same as they have been. • Pothos seems to be the magic plant I am able to keep alive for years on end. I have quite a few in various stages of growth in different places in the house. I am experimenting with ivy and spider plants (again). We’ll see what happens.

Stray Gifts Not Pictured: I lost my address book last week. I could not find it anywhere in the house or in the car. I went back to the postal annex thinking maybe I had left it there when I mailed a few cards out to a friend. Sure enough, an employee found it on the counter and put it in a safe place. Whew! • A yellow butterfly has been hanging around the yard lately. It was fluttering outside the kitchen window the other day – so much so, I felt it wanted me to stop and watch it. So I did. • Jonathan brought all of our clean laundry upstairs without me asking for his help (it took several trips). I didn’t even know he had done it until I went to bring them up myself later that evening. • A ladder was in the middle of the highway one day and I just “happened’ to be in the lane where I could avoid running into it. I guess it fell off the back of a truck sometime during the day. • A new (to us) neurologist listened to John during his appointment and really showed she cared. She is changing up his medicine for his migraines. It will take a few months to wean off the old and get used to the new, but she offered hope for better days. An appointment is coming up for John with a pain management specialist. This doctor is the one who has helped my dad with his back issues for years – and he is amazing. We are so glad the VA approved the consult. • And last, but not least, there was a bit of rain one night this week. It didn’t last long, but we enjoyed watching it come down for a bit.

Give Me April and May

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You can have all the rest of the year if you will give me April and May.

Spanish Proverb

We’ve had beautiful weather here lately – except for a few very windy days. I would be quite content to have this spring weather all year ’round. Right now, our honeysuckle vines are full of flowers and the roses are blooming. The backyard smells heavenly. We love going outside after dinner to enjoy the space and all the hard work we have put in the last few years. It has been a calming place as we live in a busy city. It’s our own ‘secret garden’.

I have mentioned here and there about John’s health. Not much has changed in pain and mobility level. He did have an appointment with a spine specialist who ordered an MRI to be done. The doctor visit was short as there is not much he can do until he sees the results from the MRI. Physical therapy starts this week and we hope it will help.

Our Jonathan will be graduating college in a few weeks. He has his cap and gown, the tassel, and has ordered a class ring. We are glad the school is having an official ceremony this year. More than being an honor student, I am proud of his grace, kindness, and humility he gifts us with every day.

Here is the latest record of graces in stray gifts:

From left to right: Yellow Lady Bank Roses have made their appearance. These tiny roses are so cute! We have been mulching our rose bush clippings and such from when we pruned in February. The mulch makes a huge difference in the yard as it covers the sand and rocks we have. Honeysuckles have bloomed once again and their sweet scent fills the air.

The yard is coming along this spring. I always look forward to roses coming back around every year. We still have a lot of mulching to do in the backyard. Once Jonathan is done with classes, we will finish working on cleaning up after winter. I have mint growing this year and Jonathan and I like to put it in water, lemonade, or tea. Very refreshing! The last photo is of more Lady Banks Roses. I first saw this kind of bush at our city’s Rose Garden a few years ago and just had to have a few in our yard. I love how they climb!

(Left) I had heard about a nursery on the other side of town that we hadn’t checked out yet. John and I were in this area one day while waiting for Jonathan who had class on campus. This nursery is not one you just happen to find as it is tucked away on an average street. When we arrived, we were surprised at how full it was of all sorts of life. It had two greenhouses on site filled with plants. There were huge, old trees on the property covered in ivy and Virginia Creepers. We liked it so much, we brought Jonathan back another day because we knew he would enjoy it. (Top Right) I was able to make it to the El Paso Municipal Rose Garden last week. Every rose bush was full of roses! Red, orange, pink, purple, white, yellow…and more colors of roses were just breathtaking. Several people were out wandering around the roses, some were sitting on benches reading or studying, and some were taking photos. I could smell the roses even through the mask I had to wear. (Bottom Right) John and I met Jonathan for lunch one day in between his classes. The sandwich shop we chose did not have indoor seating available, so we took our lunch to a nearby park. It was a beautiful day to be outside as we sat under a big elm tree.

I hope you are finding stray gifts in your area. I sure do appreciate friends and family who text me photos of interesting things they find. One friend in Pennsylvania has gorgeous peacocks from a neighboring farm roaming around on their property. A friend in the Dallas, Texas area likes to visit the arboretum often and she will text me colorful photos of her day. A friend in Georgia enjoys long hikes in the woods and takes pictures of twigs, branches, and leaves that have landed on the ground forming a cross. Other objects she discovers along the way as well which make a cross remind her of Christ’s sacrifice for us all. God has a way of drawing us to Him, don’t you think? Another friend sends me photos of the beautiful quilts she makes for veterans or of days out of the house doing something special. Recently, she and her husband visited the zoo and she shared a photo of an adorable penguin they saw. “It was a fabulous day”, she said. I love it! Jonathan and John always text me memes found on Facebook they find funny or inspirational. Stray gifts are all around! Thank you, Lord, for Your kindness and mercy.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find. -William Wordsworth, 1806

Finish Every Day

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

As some of you know, when I was in El Paso last September, a part broke behind the refrigerator and water gushed out of the pipe flooding almost half of the bottom floor. Water had poured from the kitchen to the living room and under the walls to the other side of the house where my craft room and laundry room floors were soaked. The baseboards were sopping wet and it was a huge mess! Workers came to help clean up and to dry the walls out. A contractor came out to assess the damage, but nothing could be done about the cleanup because El Paso had another surge of the virus. Stuff from the pantry, laundry room, and craft room floors were packed into the guest room for the time being. Since there was nothing else I could do, I returned to Waco to be with John. The house stayed a mess until December when the crew could come to fix the walls and the carpet. I went back to El Paso in December to visit my dad, Jonathan, and my niece, Breanna, (who was going to spend Christmas with us). All that stuff in the guest room needed to be moved out to make room for Breanna. John stayed in Waco working and came for Christmas. There was so much cleaning up to do and putting things back where they belonged. I had a running to-do list every day of things that I wanted to accomplish while there. Jonathan and Breanna were a HUGE help in getting the house back to normal. At the end of every day, I had to be satisfied with what we could do and know that the tasks would be finished in due-time. It felt good to leave the house all put together this time before I left for Waco again. Even through all the crazy busy days of cleaning and organizing, I still was able to spot a few stray gifts! Here are a few I noticed while in El Paso (to be continued in the next blog post). A photo collage is at the bottom of the page.

Left photos- top and bottom: This is the guest room. And it did NOT look like this right before Breanna showed up. The bed was covered with boxes, kitchen items, and craft supplies due to the flooding. I was so glad some of the damage had been repaired right before she arrived so I could make the room ready for her.

While Breanna was with us, she made her family’s recipe for salted caramel popcorn. The hole in the middle of the pan is where we couldn’t keep our hands out of this delicious snack when it came out of the oven. It was so good!

Middle photos- top to bottom: During the post-flood cleanup, I dusted all the blinds, and while were at it, we cleaned the downstairs windows. One day, Breanna and I just stood at the clear living room window and watched the birds for quite some time. We were fascinated to watch them eat, play, fight, and rest. If you feed the birds, they will come.

There were a few really nice days outside, so Jonathan, Breanna, and I took our dog for a walk around the neighborhood. I sure do love the blue skies of Texas.

The photo of the pinecones was taken on another walk. Pinecones always make me think of my friend Carolyn who loves them.

Right photos- top to bottom: You don’t have to go searching for gold to find treasure. Sometimes riches are there in your own backyard. I saw this view out the back window that had been newly cleaned as well. The windows were like picture frames that day. The gold leaves on the tree were stunning as the sun shone right through them.

Ahhh….flowers from Jonathan. We had always prayed that our son would be, above all, humble and kind. His heart is big and his generosity is a blessing. These are flowers he bought me when I was visiting in December.

You wouldn’t know that this living room was a mess a few weeks ago. The carpet had been torn out and this area was not organized at all after the flooding. When the new carpet was being installed, we all agreed the room felt light and airy. We liked not having so many things in there to clutter up the space. We used to have a nice coffee table in the middle of the room, but we all saw the area looked better without it. You can see a bit of my dad in the photo relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. As the sun sets, we like to finish the day with the bright lights off, lamps turned on, and candles lit.

(P.S. I see the upside down horse shoe on the wall in the living room. Yes, I know right-side-up is the proper way to display it. I will put it on my to-do list. 🙂 )

If Nobody Smiled

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If nobody smiled, and nobody cared,
And nobody helped us along;
If every fellow looked out for himself,
And the good things all went to the strong;

If nobody cared just a little for you,
And nobody thought about me,
And we stood all alone in the battle of life,
What a dreary old world this would be!

Life is sweet because of the friends we love,
And the things that in common we share;
And we want to live on, not because of ourselves,
But because of the people who care.

It’s giving and doing for somebody else–
On that all of life’s splendor depends;
And the joy in this world, when you’ve summed it all up,
Is found in the love of our friends.

-Arthur James Hayden

I am thankful for a record of graces through the love of friends and family this season. Merry Christmas to you all!

Silent Gratitude

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Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone who has done a lot for you. 

G. B. Stern, Robert Louis Stevenson: The Man Who Wrote ‘Treasure Island,’ 1954

Two years ago, I starting looking for what I call “stray gifts” in a day. Stray gifts can be anything- a surprise note in the mail from a friend or family member, a beautiful day in which I just feel really good and alive, or quiet moments to rest, read, and relax. Every day, there is something new to discover that causes me to feel grateful and to say, “Thank you, Lord.” I hope these entries reach someone else who will engage more in life and who will choose to participate in God’s treasure hunt for all the good things He gives. Here is the most recent record of graces. (Photo collage below)

Gifts Written: Three cards for me in the mail in the last few weeks and a cross-stitched bookmark made by a friend with my favorite Bible verse.

Gifts in a Whistle: We used to buy electric kettles to heat water for hot chocolate, tea, or instant coffee. We’ve had to replace a few over the years because they just quit working. This time, I decided to buy an ‘old fashioned’ kettle with the whistle to heat water. It should last a long time! With the electric kettle shutting off automatically when ready, I would walk away from it and do other things. Usually, I forget about the water because I get busy. With this one, I need to be more mindful of what I do since the water is heated on the stove. I stay around the kitchen and do some tidying while waiting.

Gifts of Time: We spent one day last week with some friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. We enjoyed a good meal out together and a leisurely walk around the town square, poking around some of the shops there. I stopped to take a photo of the courthouse clock because I wanted to pay attention to the time – the time we are never guaranteed. Back at their house, we enjoyed coffee and talked for more hours, then stood outside to quietly watch the sun set. On the way home, the moon was bright and our hearts full and grateful for the day.

Gifts of Life: It has been very sobering to realize especially this year that life is fragile. With many lives lost to the virus, we are more aware of the gift of today. In the photo below, I am with our church ladies in Mexico. Two of these women have lost their husbands this year – one to COVID and the other to years of illness. Our lives are better for having known these women and their husbands who were part our church family for years.

Gifts of Encouragement: One of the best things I hear almost every day is John encouraging an elderly veteran who struggles with the online VA health websites, “That’s ok, sir. You know a thousand different things that the younger generation will never know.” (John works from home helping other veterans navigate the VA health website.)

Gifts Welcoming: I love a pretty wreath on the front door. I found this Boxwood Wreath for 50% off at Hobby Lobby and I had a 40% coupon for the ribbon!

Making Amends

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath1 Comment

Fear not November’s challenge bold—We’ve books and friends, And hearths that never can grow cold: These make amends!

Alexander L. Fraser (1870–1954), “November,” c.1918

Amend: to make better, to improve

While looking up inspirational quotes for a blog title, I noticed that November quotes seemed dark and dismal. The trees will be bare soon and the cold winds are coming. Darkness falls early and the nights seem longer. I did find one quote that was positive that I used. Of course, in my stray gifts scavenger hunt, making amends with the season appealed to me. “We’ve books and friends”, wrote Fraser. There are other gifts of the season which can help improve the overall mood for the coming months. Here is my latest record of graces. Photos added in a collage below.

Gifts in a Park: John and I went to a local park last week and found a walking trail. I’m thankful he can get out and walk – especially on uneven surfaces such as a nature trail. Last year at this time, he was recovering from two hip replacement surgeries. The view of the rock and the trees from the road was what made us want to park and explore. I love to see the changes in leaves every week.

Gifts Fascinating: I was bent over trying to get a good photo of a spider on the side of the path when a lady walking by stopped and asked if I was trying to identify a plant. I pointed out the spider web and told her I thought it was really interesting. I had never seen one like this before. “Oh wow”, she said. “I would have never noticed that!” As far as I can tell, this is a garden spider or “zipper spider” and is harmless – but I still don’t want to get too close. It’s huge!!!

Gifts Big: They say everything is big in Texas and I believe it- especially after seeing that garden spider and a large bee during our walk! It was pretty buzzing around the flowers.

Gifts in Perfect Days: Last Sunday was a perfect fall day. Little by little, colder weather is creeping in. We have had a few days cold and rainy, but that’s ok. Everything is cyclical and warm days will be here again. In the meantime, I can enjoy comforting soups and homemade bread, hot cocoa – rich and chocolaty, and cozy blankets to wrap up in when I’m cold.

Gifts Simple Pleasures: Things that feed the soul: fresh air, blue skies, peaceful days and pathways, simple activities like fishing, bike riding, frisbee golf, walking dogs. Many people were out enjoying the day as well.

Conscious of Our Treasures

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We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

Thornton Wilder

This week’s Stray Gifts:

Gifts of Respect: I hear John every day on the phone guiding other veterans through the government health computer system. Some are sons and daughters calling on behalf of their father. Some are wives calling for their husbands. Some are elderly veterans who do not want to even bother with the internet but are being forced to through the changes from paperwork to updated technology. Some veterans call needing to set up a way to renew their medicines or to contact their doctor through the veteran’s health site. John is tech support, yet he gets calls for all types of reasons. Many times, he is on the phone listening to a widow wanting to know what is the next step. Some are frustrated veterans who are upset and need to check up on a complaint filed. Some are veterans trying to go back to school or who need to know where to file for disability compensation. By the end of the day, John is mentally tired. So many people need help – and not just with tech support. He does the best he can to listen and help or to transfer the veteran to someone who can. Each veteran who calls or family member who calls for a veteran, he shows them respect and always says, “Thank you for your service to your dad” or “I appreciate the care you show your husband in helping him with this issue” or “Thank you for your service to this country”. Respect. It is a small word, but has the potential to change someone’s day from a hurting one to a hopeful one.

Gifts in Reading: With all of John’s joint issues (ankle, hips, and shoulder), I’ve been doing more research on the benefits of collagen rich bone broth. I’ve been making my own broth for years, but I might learn something new here. The local grocery store sells packages of just bones. He wasn’t ready to add chicken feet to the broth making, 🤣 (even though I’ve read they are good for it). I’ve always used bones leftover from rotisserie chicken. Thankful for research and guidance in health and wellness.

Gifts in New (to me) Music: One of my New Year’s resolutions was to explore new Christian music. I came across the group Southern Raised and have been enjoying this talented family, their bluegrass style, and the encouragement they share. One of the songs, “Ravens Still Fly” is about how God took care of Elijah by the brook Cherith (I Kings 17). This powerful song is one of my favorites.

“Are you deep in despair? You feel like nobody cares? You can’t find your way or the words to even pray. Just hold on, He’s not gone. Rest by the brook. Take another look. Lift your eyes to the sky – ravens still fly.”

Gifts in Work: With John working for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, it is nice that they work with his disabilities. He worked half a day today fighting a migraine. After lunch, he was able to call in sick, take some medicine, and go to bed.

Gifts from Others: I have a few friends who text me their beautiful gifts often. Just this week, three friends shared something that caught their attention. The cover photo was shared by a friend in New Mexico. She and her husband had gone for a ride out in the Zuni Mountains (near Ojo Redondo Campground) and enjoyed the beautiful day. What a striking site with the bright yellow leaves of the Aspens, the deep green of the Ponderosa Pines, and the very blue sky. “‘Nothing like the beautiful blue skies of the Southwest,” she said. The photo of the deer was shared by a friend in Pennsylvania. The acorn photo was sent by a friend in Texas. She liked the acorn’s really big hat! Sometimes, when maybe it’s difficult to find a “stray gift” myself, I look through photos that were shared with me. A flower shared earlier in the year by a friend is currently my laptop background photo because its beauty took my breath away. I like to put reminders in my sightline around the house. Even if I don’t step outdoors some days, I still am surrounded by nature that nurtures.

Tonic for the Soul

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Wouldn’t it be an exhilarating tonic for the soul to take a moment to appreciate the simple, good things in life which are so bountiful…? 

Author unknown, c.1949

Tonic (definition): a medicine that invigorates or strengthens: anything invigorating physically, mentally, or morally

Finding stray gifts in a day is exactly like taking a dose of medicine. There are so many aches and pains which ail us in a day – and I don’t mean just physically. Our souls feel battered by watching too much news, or by having to work too hard, or by just taking care of all the life-things. When do we get a break?

When I take time to appreciate the simple and the good, right there is when I get a break. It stops my thoughts from going down the path of the Prodigal Son and the “Why not me, Lord?” All along, I have my very own gifts lovingly placed in front of me, strengthening me, causing me to keep looking for more of God.

Here is this week’s compilation of stray gifts. (Photo collage below)

Gifts Shared: 1) Quietness as John was in bed one day with a migraine. It may not sound like much, but we were together, at least, in our shared apartment. 2) Time shared watching a few movies after he woke up and then walking to the mailbox tonight. 3) It always brings joy when others share their #straygifts throughout the week – a deer in the yard, a beautiful tree against an October sky, a freshened up flower box, gentle music from a neighbor’s wind chimes, a pumpkin pie made for a hard working husband…and more. What a blessing to me to receive these messages from those who are looking too.

Gifts Country Rodeo: 1) Respect for God, the flag, and our country 2) Families spending time together having fun 3) Fresh air and freedom (Oh, and funnel cake!)

Gifts in Animals: 1) A frog in the same spot every night on our walk around the apartment complex 2) Friendly neighborhood dogs out with their humans 3) A cute little rabbit hopping across the lawn

Gifts Blooming: Jonathan sent me a photo of some of the roses blooming in our yard back in El Paso.

Gifts in Imagination: John and I were driving around Waco last weekend and spotted this house on the corner of a busy street. I can’t imagine that someone built this house in the current state of traffic here. Maybe it was built when the area was farm lands, I don’t know – but it was ‘swoon-worthy’. This house, all fixed up and in the country, would be a dream house for me. I imagine roses around the perimeter of the house, maybe hanging ferns and a swing on the front porch, fresh paint. It’s fun to dream. I wonder what the inside looks like! I love to see beautiful old homes and their architecture.

Gifts of Change: Cooler weather calling for cozy soups and comfy sweaters