The Last Post

Well, I did it!  I actually did manage a post for every day of 2014.  Maybe I had to do a bit of catching up once or twice, but there are 365 posts here so I think I can congratulate myself.  It has made me think that I will continue with my blogging again, not here as this was a stand alone project but back on Just Jotting Along which I started way back in August 2009!  I might even re-read some of it.  So, today's blessing is that I made it through the year and that I shall be starting 2015 with not a little enthusiasm.  Oh, and by the way, since I started putting my links on FB and Twitter to the specific post and not just to the blog, I have found that more people have been reading this than I realised.  It would be lovely to know who you are, so just this once, please leave a comment, I need the encouragement !
And a Happy New Year to all my readers xxx

I have been having a look at my other blogs today.  I used to join in with some things where you put a picture or compiled a mosaic or something, along a theme, I'm not explaining this very well, but anyway, this was one of the photos I took for something called Weekend Reflections.  I have added "trying to take some nice photos" to my growing list of New Year Resolutions.  I'm feeling quite positive about the New Year and have lots of plans, mostly just small things, but one of my blessings has been to learn not to expect too much of myself now.

I am typing this one a day late because I was in the middle of this picture yesterday. It's called a fibro flare.  I am blessed because I know that God always provides the ladder to get me out of the depths. I slept for 12 hours and this morning I am just crossing back into the blue.

I joined a group called "Cloud Lovers" on Facebook.  Basically people just post photos of clouds. Some are stunning, taken in some exotic places or with a really good camera that allows for huge depth of field, but all are interesting and I have been inspired to look more closely at what I see around me here and am thinking that one of my NYRs will be to start taking the proper camera out with me again

Sometimes it is a great thing just to be very silly.  Are you looking at the picture?  Oh yes, I have!

I hope you all had the opportunity for a little peaceful reflection at some point yesterday. I had a half hour walk along the prom in tropical Felixstowe

The greatest blessing of them all

I went for a walk today and tried to walk really hard and get out of breath.  Well, why not start the NYRs early. And what a blessing clean fresh air is. So many people in this world live in places where the air is polluted

Little moments that make me smile.  In the supermarket yesterday, a young lady (turned out she was home from uni) was blocking a large section of shelves with two brimming trollies.  She asked me if she could reach anything for me as she couldn't move because her mother had told her to stay put while she went to find something.  We had a little chat, then mum returned, with fabulous bright red, and I do mean scarlet, hair.  We also had a chat and complimented each other of our respective colours.

Today was one of those rare and blessed days when I did not have to set the alarm.

Today has been another great day. Up at 6.30 to get to church for 8.15 to help prepare breakfast for what turned out to be more than 80 people (we reckon) and clear up after them too. A great crafty activity to make a Nativity picture, and I was helped by a little girl who was an absolute sweetie. The Nativity play itself, with the children and young adults and the big kids (the dads who were dressed as angels!) and lots of carol singing and merriness.  Home for lunch and then later in the afternoon two of Santa's little helpers called round with shiny packages!  I am blessed.

Laughter is a blessing, especially good old deep down belly laughter that stops you from speaking for a moment. I did quite a lot of that today

I'm not sure if blessing or privilege is the right word but being asked to pray for someone, seriously, and knowing that it helps is something that makes me feel useful when I can't be in any other way

There has been a lot of fuss about that like in "Do they know it's Christmas"   It is something like "thank God that it's them instead of you"  You can thank God that you have food and water and safe homes, that you don't live somewhere that you are in danger of indiscriminate slaughter every day and that you haven't been caught up in a random act of violence.  That is a blessing.  But the line implies thanking God it is happening to someone else.  I don't for a minute think that was the intention, but when we thank God for our blessings it wouldn't hurt to pray that everyone might share the same one day

Today I shall be a lady who lunches. Good friends and good food will lift my spirits.  And I'm doing it again tomorrow!

It was a blessing to feel God's hand holding mine today, when OH said he wanted to go to the GP and we got an appointment late enough for him to sort himself out but not so late so as to disrupt the whole day.... and then mum rang and said she wasn't feeling very well and for a moment I wanted to go and bury myself in the duvet.  But I coped.

I got almost all of the Christmas cards done and posted to day. Almost!

A lovely straight forward grown up church service.  Just for a change.

Actually, with reference to yesterday's post, I don't really have to work for my living at all!

I do not have to earn my living as an ice-road trucker

Music is a terrific blessing, for me anyway. I know I talked about singing in choirs before, but the last couple of weeks I have been listening to some old classical favourites while crocheting as tho' my life depended upon it!  It has been so relaxing.

A positive attitude is a blessing. I talk fairly regularly to two Big Issue sellers, in two different towns.  One is always bemoaning her lack of money, being unable to buy the children presents, pay the rent, have enough food.  The other is always smiling and asking how people are and wishing them happy Christmas. But I have asked and she too has the same problems but she is blessed with a more positive attitude. I pray for both of them.

The 9th day of the picture, I promise it is changing everyday, just more some days than others!  Today's blessing was finding myself staying calm despite my plans being thwarted!

Bit of a trivial one today but having shopping done for you and just going to collect it is a wonderful thing in my opinion.  In the very old days there was a shop in Beccles called Buckenhams.  A lady I knew would go there and sit on a chair and direct the assistant and then they would deliver for her later in the day.  The online version of that old fashioned service is a blessing in my book.

Sometimes problems, sadness, difficulties can be a blessing because that's when you discover your strengths, and who really loves you and feel God closer.

Oh well, just, you know, a good day.

I can't remember if I have mentioned the sense of smell.  It is a blessing in all sorts of ways.  There are certain smells that trigger memories, take you back for a moment to a time in your past, hopefully a happy time.  One of mine is the smell of the horse's hoof singeing as the farrier fits the shoe.
It can be a warning, smelling gas has saved a lot of lives.  Or in my case, the smell of the apple welding itself to the bottom of the saucepan because I've forgotten to turn it off again!

Being able to take the opportunity to relax.  This damp, cold, grey weather we are having doesn't exactly fill me with energy so I have decided to start my Christmas reading early, put my feet up in the afternoon and draw the curtains at tea time.

Day 3 of the emerging Advent picture.  Contentment is a blessing, much more so than happiness, although I suppose we could end up having a long conversation about what those words me.  I am content with my lot, more or less, and that's a great deal to be grateful for.

Good friends, what a blessing they are.  Thanks guys for being there when I need you, and for needing me some times xx

So, today is the 1st of December and I have devised a kind of advent calendar for you. Each day the picture will be added to.  Today's blessing is getting older.  There's a lot of things you think you might do, achieve, places you might visit etc and there comes a time when you realise that you probably aren't ever going to, and then it stops mattering.  That's quite a burden off your shoulders in a funny sort of way!