Mondays–V7E11–Thankful

Did I ever say how very thankful I am for my life? I’m sitting here in the living room reading a book and the last light of the day is coming through the hallway sidelight, giving me just enough light to read. I’m surrounded by all the “things” in my life. My electric piano, which I rarely ever play now, but have every intention of doing so. My magazine rack with my Quilting Art, Quiltfolk, Biblical Archeology magazines, my Bible and some paperback books I’m reading to decide which book I’ll choose for my July book club, and a dog on the floor and a cat on the couch.

I look across at my wall of shelves filled with so many dear things: my Community College graduation diploma, which I am very proud of; a ceramic abstract face made by my brother; a shelf of books I read last year to choose my book club selection, photographs of my children and step-children’s weddings and a photo from my first wedding in 1972 that shows the veil my mother made for me and an insert photo that shows my daughter-in-law wearing the same veil in 2014, a souvenir photo or two from my time in the Cybercrime unit (yes, that is really me surrounded by full-size mannequins),

a collection of books by Kristin Hannah (and they are all very good), a row of Quilt Folk magazines (one for each state of the United States, up to volume 36 now), “Almost Angel” a book I wrote for my granddaughter almost twenty years ago,

my retirement plaque from the Sheriff’s Department,

My treasured 1952 copy of the Little Golden Book “Rackety Boom”, Original Nancy Drew books and original Cherry Ames Student Nurse books. All these things mean something to me and seem to wrap their invisible arms around me, making me feel calm and at peace, and oh so very grateful for this life I’ve been given. As I’m writing this, this hymn comes to mind:

Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Now Thank We All Our God, Translated from German, Nun Danket Alle Gott
Martin Rinkart, 1636

And Melodrama wrapped up on Sunday, three performances in three days, The Order of the Secret Sauce-iety is now a wrap.