SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

Good Afternoon - Welcome to Wednesday - another deliciously cool day in my little corner of the world.  It's Wednesday and Wednesdays are very special to me because it was a Wednesday when I had my liver transplant.
263 weeks ago (1841 days) and I cherish every day of my gifted life.  

A transplant is a life changing experience, not only physically but emotionally.  I have learned to find the beauty in the smallest moments - joy in the little things.

I have always been aware of the wonders of nature and this has increased with every day of life post transplant.   The little things - a spider web so intricately worked, the velvety petals of a rose, the laughter of a child, the ripples on a puddle caused by raindrops.   I value the sound of silence, the dulcet tones of a beautiful voice, a piano concerto, deep and rumbling thunder and the magnificent sky show of lightening.

I love the smell of coffee in the morning, clean linen on my bed, a soft and downy pillow where I can lay my head.   A hot and steaming shower and a fluffy towel, fresh minty toothpaste and a meal I didn't have to cook.  A lovely pen to write with.

I like lovely thin drinking glasses and pretty coffee mugs, pretty jewellery, beads that I can put together to make my necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc.
Lovely sharp scissors when I cut fabric, tools for beading, a door bell with a variable tune, matching crockery and dinnerware.  Pretty stationery and a supply of stamps so that I can write when the mood takes me.   Phone calls/messages from friends and family, a lovely long letter or email.  Sparkling and blinking Christmas lights on my tree and Christmas confetti in envelopes and on my table.

There are so many other things that I can find that are small and yet so special and important if I will seek them out.      What are the little things that bring happiness to you ?   Is it a piece of music that stirs your soul and makes you weep tears of joy.   I could go on and on - but will leave you to find your own collection of little things to seek out and be thankful for.

Seek and you will find - they are all around you if you will be receptive to them, if you will stop long enough to find them and I guarantee that they will bring you great joy.   Be sure to look and enjoy what you find.

I washed some big pots this afternoon and when drying my hands realized that my Mother's wedding ring which I wear on my right hand was missing.   After some seeking I did indeed find it in the soapy water.  A big relief for me.

Keep on seeking and finding beautiful things in your life - they will add joy to your days - I wish you good luck as you seek.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart - a thankful heart today for the small things that bring me great joy.

Take care and tread softly on our beautiful earth.

Love and hugs,

THANKFUL THURSDAY - WE ARE ALL LIKE BEADS

Good Morning and welcome to Thankful Thursday - in my little corner of the world the day dawned beautifully - very cold, no wind and a very pretty dusty blue sky with wispy pink clouds.   We are due for rain at the end of this day but right now it is as lovely winter day.

I am thankful every day but Thankful Thursday always makes me stop and appreciate all that I am and all that I have in my life.  I am thankful for love and laughter, family and friends and the technology that allows me to be in touch with so many of you in your homes all around the world.

We have become quite a "Global Village" with text messages and message programs which makes us neighbours over time and distance.

I have new neighbours moving into the house next door to mine and this morning I knocked on their door and introduced myself and it was lovely to meet them - they are painting and doing work on the house before moving in but it is sure going to be nice having kindly neighbours.  So I have the best of both worlds - cyber neighbours and real life neighbours.

Friendships are established and grow over the Internet and sometimes those furthest away from us know us much better than those close at hand.

So on this necklace of life I am thankful for you all as you are all important to me and I wear friendship's necklace with pride.

Life is going on despite the fact that we are in Election mode and there are skeletons coming out of cupboards, rocks being thrown and friendships broken because of electioneering.  It is so important that we learn to agree to disagree and accept that others have the self same right as we do to their opinions.     Even though we may not like that opinion - it is their right to have it.  

It was Voltaire who wrote:

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

and they are very wise words because with rights come responsibilities and I am responsible for my actions and attitudes to people.

However you are spending this Thankful Thursday I hope that there is joy in your day, a song in your heart and a spring in your step and you can find it in your heart to be accepting of the rights of others.

To my northern hemisphere friends enjoy the last days of summer and the return to normal life with return to work and children back at School - the seasons soon roll on and for you the days will be shorter and much cooler as you head into winter.

Spring is stirring here in Australia and the days are lengthening and the daffodils are blooming, blossoms are on the trees and summer is bound to follow spring.   I don't relish the long hot sizzling scorching days of summer, but it is rather like I can't have a rainbow if I don't have the rain.    We need summer to pass and take us into my favourite time of all - Autumn.

"Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness" - John Keats

(from his lovely poem To Autumn written in 1820)

I love Autumn when Mother Nature dresses in gold and red and dances on the wind leaving piles of leaves for me to kick through.  I like waking to a cool morning and feeling the change in the air - the changing shadows and a world ready to rest.  The harvest is gathered in and winter will follow. 

I shall enjoy following the Autumn days from the Northern Hemisphere and seeing the glorious photographs of this special season.

However, we should be present to the moment and enjoy life exactly where we are - no wishing it away - just enjoy it all.   I hope you can find joy in the little things around you today and that you take time to smell the roses.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart - a heart today filled with lovely thoughts about the seasons of the year.

Love and hugs,

RAY OF SUNSHINE

Welcome to Friday evening and the chilly winds are blowing in my City right now - but that is good compared to what they were doing overnight - they howled and roared and the rain bucketed down - a real winter night which I shared with my electric blanket, my lovely downy quilt and pillow.

In spite of the wind and heavy rain my daffodils were dancing this morning in their tub - strong and beautiful.  They withstood the storm - and I was encouraged when I send a picture of them to a friend and said they had "stood strong in the storm" to receive a message back saying "of course they did and so did you ~ Well done" a short sentence but such encouragement to me ~ an acknowledgement that I have withstood the storms that raged about me.

This message was a real ray of sunshine at the start of my day ~ simple words of encouragement and how much we need those. 

See if you can be someones ray of sunshine by a kind deed, a cheerful word of encouragement, a phone call, a message and believe me it will make all the difference to how that person handles the day in front of them.

The week seems to have gone quickly in many ways and yet in others it has been slow going - I had a clinic appointment at Flinders yesterday at the Dermatology Department and that, instead of being tedious and boring was turned into a pleasant time by the rays of sunshine emitted by the Student
Doctor and the Dermatologist - positive encouragement and advice about soap substitutes and moisturizers, sunblock, hats and long sleeves.   I am in remarkable shape for the skin I am in - despite the scarring from the Stevens Johnson and the star patterns from the Prednisolone ~ all is well ~ thank goodness the heaters were on because it was cold taking off my clothes.

I was early for the appointment and was seen early, had a great experience at the Pharmacy with another ray of Sunshine and in spite of traveling home in filthy weather, drivers were courteous and we made it home safely with a lovely beef soup bubbling away in the slow cooker and the house smelling lovely. 

John checked the Post Office today which meant I didn't have to go out at all, so I have spent the day catching up on letters, cards and emails and talking on the phone.  It is hard to imagine as we here in Australia shiver and feel the cold that our Northern Hemisphere friends are sitting outside on their porch enjoying coffee, company and a beautiful balmy evening.  The American children will soon be settled back in the routine of School and another education year started for them whereas we here in Australia will be into term four very soon and then it will be Christmas.  I think there are about seven birthdays in this family before Christmas and the weeks will soon pass.

"The Golden Girls" have bought a voucher for a long and leisurely breakfast soon and I for one will enjoy that.   I have two cooking classes before the end of the year and those sort of things slotted into my diary make me realize how quickly time passes.

I have taken on the monumental task of sorting my beads into appropriate size containers for appropriate sized beads and once done it will be much better - I have quite a collection and want to get into making some more things particularly for Christmas - but until this tidying and sorting is done - there is no way that would work.

It is early evening for me and my blanket is warming my bed and the day has come to an end - the darkness is with us and the wind still howls - hopefully by tomorrow Mother Nature will be over whatever it is that has upset her and will be more settled.

I hope wherever you are in this beautiful world that you are warm and safe and that you have a ray of sunshine in your life ~ I do in mine and I know how blessed I am.

Take care as the weekend settles in - those of you for whom Friday is dawning - all is well - Friday has been a good day and I gladly share it with you, for those heading off to bed soon I wish you peaceful slumber, be warm and safe and I hope your dreams are safe.

I have just compared the word "beading" and "heading"  and they are pronounced so differently although spelled the same - the complexities of the English language,.  My crossword puzzle companion is home from a few days away so we will get back into doing puzzles together and challenging our brains.

What do you have planned for this weekend ~ I know some of you have family celebrations and I am delighted that you are able to share family times together - make memories to last and enjoy it all.

Some have sporting functions and others no plans at all - whatever you do - do it with love and good grace and be sure to enjoy - I have some shopping to do but not a lot and hopefully next time I can report that this beads are sorted.

I plan to watch a movie while I am doing the sorting - not sure if that is good or bad but I will be warm and relaxed so I will find contentment in whatever I do.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart and I wish you happiness and good times this weekend.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

BUSY HAPPY DAYS

Welcome to Friday in my little corner of the world where the autumn days are advancing and the nights are cooler and this morning we had some early morning mist.  I love mists and fogs - I like the way they wrap themselves around us and are in many ways comforting.

Busy days and happy days - where do the weeks go?  I don't seem to have achieved very much this week but I have spent a lot of time doing it.  Tuesday saw me at the hairdressers and then an early afternoon appointment and driving home in the heaviest rain I have ever experienced.  The rain was virtually horizontal and fog like.  I was stuck in the outside lane or I most certainly would have pulled over and waited for it to pass.   

I have no idea where Wednesday went and yesterday was a special day for me in that I was able to do some shopping for a friend and then visit her.  Jenny is housebound waiting for a hip replacement operation and it felt so good to be able to do for someone else what was so often done for me when I was ill.

Today I have been to the post office and got caught up in major roadworks and it took a long time but my visit there was very worthwhile.   I am a lucky girl - two parcels to collect today and one of them I knew was a selection of beads and beading findings I had ordered, delivered as promised this week.

My other package gave me cause to be puzzled so I stood at the boot of the car and opened the package, which took some doing without scissors.  One broken finger nail later I was delighted to find this lovely Kimmidoll coffee mug - a gift of love from a very special friend.

This Kimmidoll is named 'SORA' and her little label reads

SORA

Imagination

My spirit is original and inspirational

"The uniqueness of your vision  and the originality of your ideas

reveal your imaginative spirit.

May your imagination take you on journeys of inspiration so 

that you may share with the world your creative insight and unique

understanding. "

I am very spoiled and very thankful.

The Transplant community in Australia is very saddened to learn of the death of David Gough who was a passionate and active campaigner for organ donation since he lost his beautiful daughter in December 2009,

David did a motor cycle ride all around Australia to increase awareness of the need for Organ and Tissue donors - he will be sorely missed and my thoughts are with his family.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8461868

Vale David Gough - thank you for a job well done.

There are several I know who are "under the weather" "a little sick" and feeling "very miserable" - take care of yourselves, rest lots and be well again soon - hurry back to us - you are missed.  For us in the Southern Hemisphere we are going into the colds and flu season and there is lots of sickness about.   There are coughs and colds in the northern hemisphere too - gather strength  and be well again soon.

I hope wherever you are that you are able to enjoy a lovely weekend - out and above and living life to the full or if you are housebound - then enjoy the time inside, rest, indulge yourselves a little and  catch up on some things you want to do.,

Please remember to do things that nourish and nurture your mind - try to learn something each day;  your body - go for a walk, get on the exercise bike or the treadmill, practice your dance steps.  Your spirit - find things that feed your soul - listen to music, read a book, read some poetry out loud. Remember to tell those you love that you do love them, do something special for them, surprise them with flowers ~ keep the flame alive.  Encourage and nurture your creativity - do some knitting, beading, painting, woodwork, polish some stones, do some needlecraft - whatever brings you joy and nurture your passion for life itself.   Be thankful each day.

Thank you for calling by to read the Musings of My Heart - a happy heart in spite of bitter/sweet times.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

WEDNESDAY @ 90 WEEKS AND CHANGE OF PLAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tex0U7qS7h4

Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews - I'm Alive.

Good Morning and welcome to my little corner of the world where the sun is shining and I have a very thankful heart this morning.

My ERCP is cancelled for this Thursday and I am pleased - not that it has been cancelled, but that I am well enough to be bumped from the list to make way for some much more urgent cases.   I have been the urgent case and now happily stand aside and give thanks that I am well enough to wait.

My date now is 6th. October (just two weeks) and I have blogged about this in my A LIVER FOR LINDA blog please pay a visit an learn some new things that I learned yesterday.

http://aliverforlinda.blogspot.com/2011/09/wednesday-90-weeks-and-chance-of-plan.html

The song listed above has become my theme song - my anthem - I am Alive and Well.

I have some things I want to do and will now have the next two weeks to get them done and also to buy the new release James Patterson and Lee Child books - to take with me perhaps, but I know me and will not be able to have them and not read them.

I love reading - I love the people I meet in my books and the places I visit and oh the adventures I share.    Books have been good friends to me and taken me away lots of times during the last three years.

Snuggling down last thing at night before sleep and reading a chapter or two of my current read is my routine and I love it.  I must confess sometimes when I look at the clock I am surprised that two hours or more have passed.

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend."

 Paul Sweeney

I am interested in an electronic book (Kindle) but not sure I would enjoy that way of reading - I love to turn the pages, touch the paper and smell the lovely book smell.

Another package of beads arrived in the mail and I loving gathering the bits and pieces and feel rather that I must be part squirrel as I store things away.and of course ordering things on line is wonderful.

The local bird choir is in full song and my cat is lying in the sun, I have coffee and a scotch finger biscuit - it is a good morning.  Tonight I shall have dinner with two of the nicest men I know and then challenge their minds as we try to complete a rather large and difficult crossword puzzle together - it will be fun and I am looking forward to it.  Tomorrow is mine - I had counted on not having Thursday this week and now I do - so may do some shopping.

I have discovered lots of small joys already this morning and I hope that your day is full of the joys of small things.   Enjoy your music, laughter, companionship and nature.   It is really a beautiful world and take time to enjoy it.

Thanks for visiting and for reading "The Musings from My Heart" - a thankful and joyous heart.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

WELCOME TO SUNDAY and a U.F.O. IN ADELAIDE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFTXckh0zU
Enya - "Watermark"


Good Morning and welcome to Sunday - a dry and sunny day in Adelaide - still cold and the sky is a little "milky" but holds the promise of a lovely day.


This piece of music is one that was being played in the background at my beading class - I loved the music and it certainly helped create a calm atmosphere for me. 


Pictured above is the book I am very tempted to  buy a. because it is a beautiful book, and b. because there are beautiful patterns in there that I may just one day tackle.


Bead weaving was totally new to me and I was slow but did achieve - but did not complete the bracelet.   So - as I said another U.F.O. (UNFINISHED OBJECT) in Adelaide.  I believe I will complete this project but giving my eyes a little rest and going to set up quietly and calmly in my own home and go at my own pace. May even start again and have things a little neater and more uniform loops.  This is a challenge for me and one I shall enjoy. It was lovely to be with Narelle and to nurture that friendship.


 All in all yesterday was a good day for me.   Tired and sore eyed when I got home, aching back, but a contented feeling. Hot shower and quick meal and into bed for me.


I have just had half an hour on the phone with my elder daughter and that was lovely - she rang to see how the class had gone and showed great interest, stressing again that it is earrings that she likes.


I hope you have had pleasant times in your weekend and that Sunday is a great day for you.   Find a sunny spot out of the cold wind and enjoy some time with a book, or sit by the river and watch the reeds bend and quiver.  Those in summer have fun in the warmth and outdoor activities and I wish you all a peaceful heart today.


Time to put my my skates on and get some things done around here - just had another long phone call - busy place this morning - another friend checking in to see how I coped with yesterday.  I am blessed indeed to have the care and love of friends and family.


Take care everyone and find joy in your world today and thank you for visiting "The Musings from my Heart."


Love and hugs,

http://about.me/lindajvaughan