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Ten Things of Thankful: Enjoying the Now

 

A orange-yellow sunset over mountains, with the Mt. Timpanogos temple in the middle of the photo and treetops in the foreground

Time fascinates me. I remember a conversation my grandma had once when I was a child where she was able to figure out what year something happened based on something else--where she was living at the time, how old a child was, etc. I was amazed that some arbitrary year number could be remembered in such a way. I also remember turning 10 years old and realizing that I had just entered the "two-digit" phase of my life. Never again could my age be described with a single digit, and it would be a very long time before I entered a "three-digit" phase. Perhaps because I've always been focused on time, I think about the past and look forward to the future. However, that fascination with the past and future sometimes means the present gets a short stick. I'm learning to enjoy the little "now" moments, without my brain telling me I should be doing something else with my time. 

We moved to Utah five years ago, and into our current house four years ago. Since that time, we have made many changes to our home and yard, and we continue to have ideas for future projects. I don't have to wait for the landscape to mature before I can enjoy it, though. My Ten Things of Thankful post today celebrates the "now" moments of the past week, glimpses that brought a smile to my face, reminders that the present can be enjoyed simultaneously with hopes for the future and memories of the past. Forgive me for not including more photos; my computer and my phone are not on speaking terms right now, it appears. 

This week, I've noticed and been thankful for:

1. the way the quaking aspen leaves dance with the slightest breeze

2. the colorful butterflies that flit from flower to flower

3. the buzzing bees that contentedly dive into blossoms

4. the hummingbirds that zip around the yard

5. the fluffy quail babies that run after their parents 

6. the clapping of the thunder, the flash of lightening, and the smell of rain

7. the brilliant orange sunset

8. the full moon

9. the jungle like raspberry patch being thinned a bit for easier navigation between rows (and better rattlesnake spotting!)

10. John


Have you stopped to smell the roses (literally or proverbially) this week? What are you thankful for now? Leave a comment, and stop by the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop, hosted by Dyanne and her faithful cohosts, to read what others are saying. 

Comments

  1. AstridAugust 12, 2022 at 2:55 PM

    Wow, these "little" things are so important! I love butterflies, bees and flowers of all kinds. Don't think we have hummingbirds here. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
  2. messymimiAugust 12, 2022 at 8:31 PM

    These small blessings add up in big ways.

    ReplyDelete
  3. clarkAugust 15, 2022 at 4:50 AM

    We have hummingbirds (only, it seems, a certain phase of the Summer) that make the rounds of all the windows, presumably to maintain the spider/fly environment. While somewhat predictable I've not yet succeeded in even getting on 'in frame'. Such a proper ambition*, to "...enjoy the little "now" moments, without my brain telling me I should be doing something else with my time.
    Enjoyed the telling of your TToT this week.

    *especially for me, the past and the future are always elbowing their way on to the scene.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa TomeyAugust 18, 2022 at 5:31 AM

    It's the little things that matter.

    ReplyDelete

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