Grateful feedback + Burnt Toast

 

Grateful Feedback  

I'm grateful for each breath I take and good health.

I'm grateful for being resilient, of not fearing the thoughts in my head and for general peace of mind.

I'm grateful for my family and friends who accept me and love me with all my faults and failings. 

 

1. My husband, 3 teens (& pets)

2. My house (& car)

3. Still having my parents alive

 

I’m grateful for my family, my friends and good health. 

 

1) our health & well-being, mental and physical 

2) wonderful grandparents for our boys, setting great examples

3) being settled and content in our lovely home  

 

 

1. My children and our continuing good fortune to being virus free.
2. Being Irish but being able to live freely in a beautiful part of the world (Amersham in Buckinghamshire, UK)
3. My fortunate living conditions: enough food, water, clean air, heating, comfortable home, enough money.

I’m possibly stretching the 3 things but I could add loads of others including a good education, friends, my garden, my computer which allows me to contact people all over the world (including my RE teacher from school ), BBC radio 4...

 

 

1. This Sunday's lunch. Here in Italy restrictions are up again. We can only move around our own area (similar to saying I live in Greenhills so I have to stay within Greenhills unless I'm going to work or have a medical appointment.) Luckily within the area we can visit (only 2 people) though we must keep safe. From Monday we're back to total closure. So the inlaws are coming to lunch today, last time we'll see them for 3 weeks, at least. Aaaand hubby is cooking seafood!!!

2. Internet. Much as many of my colleagues hate it (I'm teaching in a Steiner Waldorf school) it gives me the chance to see my students, it also means I can see my son who moved in with the gf.

3. I'm incredibly grateful for the sun that woke me this morning, the terse sky and the stiff breeze that reminds me of Ireland. Morning sunshine always gives me a lift, though it's been donkey's years since there's been more than 5 cloudy days in a row! (that was just to make you jealous!)

Ps. The little things you take for granted before you lose them are also the ones you are most thankful for when you get them back. Random smiles on the street, hugs and coffee with friends.

 

 

1.  My eyesight. 

 That popped into my head immediately. I can see beauty all around me. I can see my grandchild and his beautiful smile and enjoy playing and doing things with him  I can read and do crossword puzzles. I can drive and be totally independent. So so many things. 

 

2. For you  especially on Sunday mornings when I receive my NFTS  I always look forward to opening it. There is so much food for thought in it. Always uplifting. I don’t say thank you often enough. So a big thank you from me this morning. 

 

3. My family and friends, my home. 

 

Pat when I sit and think about it I have so so much to be grateful for the list just goes on and on. So thinking about being  grateful has made me very aware how much I have to be grateful for. Being alive and able to enjoy simple things and not worrying about things I cannot control. 

 

 

 Thinking about being  grateful has made me very aware how much I have to be grateful for. Being alive and able to enjoy simple things and not worrying about things I cannot control. 

 

 The three things I’m grateful for are as follows:

1) Family & Great Friends

- My immediate family - My husband and best friend  and my two children . I’ve had a mad two+ years and I’d have been lost without their support, patience and love.

- My three amazing sisters, my brother  and my mother and father in law . They have shown me the true meaning of love and support and when the chips are down, who has your back.

- Good Friends - They’ve been a wealth of support and advice and kept believing in me.

2) Laughter - it’s great to be able to laugh !

3) Long Walks

 

My Family – can’t imagine how lonely life could be!

 

Netflix.

 

A Daughter who bakes.

 

My Husband care and thoughtfulness 

My children’s humour and fun

My parent’s positive attitude to the lockdown 

 

I am truly grateful for your posts every Sunday morning. You inspire me, uplift me, and without fail, send something that I can use with my classes. I have built many online classes around your materials.

I am grateful for my family's health, especially that my husband survived a very difficult health issue.

I am grateful for my faith, for knowing the love of God and his faithfulness.

 

I'm grateful to have the beach and ocean within walking distance of my home. 

 

I'm grateful for my Ukulele and the happy circumstance of starting lessons a few months before Covid 19 arrived in our lives. 

 

I'm grateful for my friends. I think I've got the best in the world.

 

And  to add a fourth one... I'm grateful I had a wonderful teacher and mentor who continues to guide me with weekly nutrition for my soul , 

 

For having had good parents

That health problems were overcome

That I found work that was fulfilling

  

 

Burnt Toast

One evening my mother made dinner after a hard day's work. She put a plate of eggs, salad and burnt toast in front of my father ...

I immediately noticed, the burnt toast .... And, I was waiting to see if he was going to complain about it, but my father started to eat them, smiling and asked me how I spent my day at school ...

My mom apologized to my dad for the burnt toast. I will never forget his response to her: "Honey, I love burnt toast!"

Later when I went to bed and my dad came over to kiss me goodnight, I asked him if he really liked the burnt toast?

He hugged me and said, "Your mother has had a difficult day and she is really tired. She went out of her way to prepare this meal for us, why blame her and hurt her.
Burnt toast never hurt anyone; but words can be very painful! "

We have to know how to appreciate what others do for us, even if it's not perfect, because it's the intention to do well that counts, and no one is perfect ...

 

Grateful

 

“Grateful: A Love Song to the World”

Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod

Verse 1:
You’re my life,
You’re my breath,
You’re a smile
You my guest

You’re the earth
You’re the sun
You’re the grass
You are love

You’re my hands
You’re a bug
You’re my eyes
You’re a hug

You’re the light
In the dark
You’re the spark
You are fun

You’re my mom
You are water
You’re the stars
You’re my daughter

You’re my friend
Till the end
You’re my dreams
You’re my father

You’re the ants on the ground
The miracles that surround
I’m feelin’ it all around
The hemisphere and the clouds

You’re my pain you’re my sorrow
You’re my hope for tomorrow
You’re the strength when I’m hollow
You’re the path that I follow

You’re the blessings that exist
The small things that are bliss
The gift to realize that
Everything is a gift

Chorus:
All that I am
All that I see
All that I’ve been and all that I’ll ever be
Is a blessing
It’s so amazing
And I’m grateful for it all, for it all

Verse 2:

You’re the blessings
Every time I try to count,
You’re the lessons
That l learn
Every time I turn around,
You’re the water when I’m burned
Every time I think I’ve found
Everything I’m looking for,
You’re the sign sayin’
Stop to take a bow

And keep moving forward
And start looking towards your heart,
it’ll open all the doors
And only then you’ll start
To hear the world sing in chorus
With your mind and heart
Aligned in purpose
Everything will feel gorgeous

Chorus:
All that I am
All that I see
All that I’ve been and all that I’ll ever be
Is a blessing
It’s so amazing
And I’m grateful for it all, for it all

Breakdown 1:
Everyday I sit and pray
Cuz what I have is
More than I deserve
Or could ever imagine
How do I give back
To all of this magic
And spread the love
So everybody can have it

Doesn’t matter if I’m rich or poor
If I gotta family or if I’m all alone
Bad things happen I can just complain and moan
But there’s a million things that I can be grateful for

Breakdown 2:
So I lift up my hands now
And I open my heart
And my gratitude goes out
To everything near and far

Final Chorus:
Everything I am
And everything I see
Everything I hope
And everything I dream
Everything I feel
And everything I be
I Look deep down
And feel all the blessings
/I’m grateful for it all
It’s amazing

All that I am
All that I see
All that I’ve been and all that I’ll ever be
Is a blessing
Its so amazing
And I’m grateful for it all, for it all

Outro:

You’re the blessings that exist
The small things that are bliss
The gift to realize that
Everything is a gift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO2o98Zpzg8&list=RDsO2o98Zpzg8&start_radio=1&ab_channel=emptyhandsmusic 

" This Life will go by fast "

 This life will go by fast.

 

Don't fight with people.

Don't criticise your body so much.

Don't complain so much.

Don't lose sleep over your bills.

Look for the person that makes you happy.

If you make a mistake, let it go and keep seeking your happiness.

Never stop being a good parent.

Don't worry so much about buying luxuries and comforts for your home, and don't kill yourself trying to leave an inheritance for your family. Those benefits should be earned by each person, so don't dedicate yourself to accumulating money.

Enjoy travel, enjoy your journeys, see new places, give yourself the pleasures you deserve.

Don't put away the fine glassware. Utilize the new dinnerware.

Don't save your favourite perfume, use it.

Wear out your favourite sport shoes; and your favourite clothes.

So what?

That's not bad.

Why not now?

Why not pray now instead of waiting until before you sleep?

Why not call now?

Why not forgive now?

We wait so long for Christmas; for Friday; for reunions; for another year; for when we have money; for love to come; when everything is perfect. Look everything perfect doesn't exist.

Human beings can't accomplish this because it simply was not intended to be completed here. Here is an opportunity to learn.

So take this challenge that is life and do it now...love more, forgive more, embrace more, love more intensely and leave the rest in God's hands.

Amen.

A Gentle Reminder From Pope Francis

 

" Breaking loose from the apron strings "

 

“ Breaking loose from the Apron Strings.”

Every month Martin’s parent’s took a trip to see Grandma

And came home on the same train the next day.

One day the child said to his parents:

′′I'm already grown up.

Can I go to my grandma's alone?"

After a brief discussion, his parents accepted.

They stood with him as he waited for the train to exit.

They said goodbye to their son and gave him some tips through the window.

Martin repeated to them:

′′I know. I've been told this more than a thousand times."

As the train was about to leave, his father murmured in his ear:

′′Son if you feel bad or insecure, this is for you!"

And he put something in his pocket.

Now Martin was alone,

sitting on the train as he had wanted,

without his parents for the first time.

He was admiring the landscape out the window.

Around him some unknowns pushed themselves in.

They made a lot of noise.

They got in and out of the train car.

The conductor made some comments about him being alone.

One person looked at him with eyes of sadness.

Martin was feeling more uneasy with

every minute that passed.

And now he was scared.

He felt cornered and alone.

He put his head down, and

with tears in his eyes,

He remembered his dad had

Put something in his pocket.

Trembling, he searched for what his father had given him.

Upon finding the piece of paper he read it:

′′Son, I'm in the last train car!".

That's how life is,

We must let our kids go

We must let them try new things.

But we always like to be

In the last car, watching,

in case they are afraid

or in case they find obstacles and don’t know what to do.

We want to be close to them.

as long as we are still alive.

(Adapted from Unknown author)

 

Grow old along with me + To Believe

 

Grow old along with me

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love

Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love

Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end

Grow old along with me
whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
for our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love

Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gfiet4PtI&ab_channel=AdamfulgenceakaEileen

To Believe

Jackie Evancho

Before I lay me down to rest
I ask the Lord one small request
I know I have all I could need
But this prayer is not for me

Too many people on this day
Don't have a peaceful place to stay
Let all fighting cease that your children may see peace
Wipe their tears of sorrow away

To believe in a day
When hunger and war will pass away
To have the hope amidst despair
That every sparrow's counted
That you hear each cry and listen to each prayer

Let me try always to believe
That we can hear the hearts that grieve
Please help us not ignore
The anguished cries of the poor
Or their pain will never leave

To believe in a day
When hunger and war will pass away
To have the hope amidst despair
That every sparrow's counted
That you hear their cries and listen to each prayer

Father as you see I’m just a child
And there’s so much to understand
But if your grace should surround me
Then I’ll do the best I can
I promise, I’ll do the very best I can

To believe in a day
When hunger and war will pass away
To have the hope amidst despair
That every sparrow's counted
That you hear their cries and listen to each prayer                                                                                                   

Help us do your will, oh Father
In the name of all that’s true
And we’ll see in one another
The loving image of You.

To Believe  Jackie Evancho

Here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHa1e83g-ak&ab_channel=BobMarshall

" Kids are Resilient "

 

 Today, I dared to let myself Dream

Today, I dared to let myself dream,

That the world will one day open again.

That the locks will loosen, the walls will fall,

The doors will fly open and reunite us all.

I dared to imagine the warmth of a cuddle,

A group of my friends all locked in a huddle.

I felt all the heartbeats, drumming with mine,

I heard all the laughter, I tasted the wine.

I thought of the feelings I’ve missed for long,

The room full of music, united by song.

The freedom to roam, to plan and to meet

To hold someone’s hand, to meet, to greet.

Just for a moment I dared to dream of,

The flights I would board to the places I love.

The moment those eyes would meet mine at the gate,

The feeling of joy after so long a wait.

Today, I dared to let myself dream,

That the life we once had would happen again.

That we’d no longer fear the danger of air,

That our lives would not depend on such care.

They say that we mustn’t wish time away,

But it’s hard, my friend, when faced with a day,

So long in blank hours and so wiped of laughter,

It’s tempting to drift away to thereafter.

So yes, I dared to dream just a while,

Of life coming back, it brought me a smile.

One day I know, this will be in the past,

And hugs will be free, again, at last.

Donna Ashworth

This is our Home and I won’t turn it in to a Battleground.

 

I’ve lost a year with my kids battling over school and I’m done.

My seven year old and I were in the midst of our usual asynchronous day battle. I had his writing homework in my hand from school. He’d written several full, well-thought-out sentences.

But he won’t do the same for me, at least not without a fight.

I told him he didn’t have to write about his best day like his teacher asked, he could write about his worst. He could write about whatever he wanted as long as he wrote a few sentences.

He said he’d get in trouble. He said he was doing a bad job in first grade. He was on the brink of tears but didn’t know why.

And it hit me.

Instead of getting frustrated and pushing the assignment, I sat down with him at his desk in his superhero bedroom.

I said “you won’t get in trouble and you can’t fail first grade. In fact, you’re kind of a superhero yourself.”

He sat up in his chair just a little and looked at me with disbelief.

I said, “Do you know that no kids in the history of kids have ever had to do what you’re doing right now? No kids in the history of kids have ever had to do school at home, sitting in their bedroom, watching their teacher on a computer. You and your friends are making history.”

A visible weight lifted from his seven year old shoulders, “What does that mean?”

I told him it means I haven’t given him nearly enough credit for rolling with the punches. I told him how proud I am of him and his friends. That kids this year are doing the impossible and they’re doing a really great job.

I apologized for not saying it sooner and more often. A little tear fell down his cheek.

We’ve thanked everyone from healthcare workers to grocery store employees but we haven’t thanked the kids enough for bearing the burden of what we’ve put on their shoulders this year.

We’ve said kids are resilient, and they are. But they are the real superheroes in this whole scenario for having ZERO say in their lives but doing their best to adjust every day.

We closed his school-issued laptop and spent the rest of the day playing. This was supposed to be temporary and here we are a year later still trying to hold our head above water.

This is our home and I won’t turn it into a battle ground anymore over something we can’t control. Something that no longer makes sense.

Hug your little superheroes today and don’t forget to cut them the slack we’ve given everyone else.

 

" Letting go "

 

“ Letting go “

When you first have children they talk about the challenges of parenting....                                                       the struggles of a baby waking in the night,                                                                                                            the toddler who won’t stay in their bed,  the cost of childcare, injuries from sports...                                                                                                              Having to take off work to pick them up from school when they don’t feel well,                                          helping them with homework, a messy house, the never ending laundry,                                                            the cost to buy school clothes, packing their lunches....

You watch their eyes light up on Christmas morning....                                                                                      and try to soak in the magic of those moments.

You coach them in sports, rushing to practices and ballgames...and tote them all over the country to let them play the game they love...no matter how exhausting or expensive it becomes.

Life is just so busy that you rarely even stop to think what the end of those days look like.

In fact, it’s not really even something you can wrap your mind around.

You go into it thinking that 18-20 years sounds like a long time....

Then suddenly hours turn into days...days into months...and months into years.

That little person that used to crawl up next to you in bed and cuddle up to watch cartoons...suddenly becomes this young adult who hugs you in the hallway as they come and go.

And the chaos and laughter that used to echo throughout your home....gets filled with silence and solitude.

You’ve learned how to parent a child who needs you to care for and protect them....but have no clue how the whole “letting go” thing is supposed to work.

So you hold on as tight as you can...wondering how time passed so quickly...feeling guilty that you missed something....

Because even though you had 20 years.....it just somehow doesn’t seem like it was enough.

You ask yourself so many questions...

Did you teach them the right lessons?

Did you read them enough books as a child?

Spend enough time playing with them?

How many school parties did you have to miss?

Do they really know how much you love them?

What could I have done better as a parent?

.....When it’s time for them to go, it all hits you like a ton of bricks.

And all you can do is pray....hope....and trust that God will protect them as they start to make their way into the world alone.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of your life....that at times leaves you exhilarated....while others leave you heartbroken.

But one thing is certain.....it’s never enough time...

So for all the parents with young children...whose days are spent trying to figure out how to make it through the madness...

Exhausted day in and day out...

Soak. It. All. In.

Because one day....all those crazy days full of cartoons, snuggles, sleep overs, Christmas morning magic, ballgames, practices and late night dinners...

All come to an end.

And you’re left hoping that you did enough right, so that when they spread their wings....

They’ll fly...