Counting Blessings instead of Sheep

When I was a little girl and I could not get to sleep my parents suggested that I count sheep.  Not really knowing what that meant, I would imagine a flock of sheep passing through a gate or over a bridge and begin to count them, one by one.
Nowadays when I gain consciousness in the middle of the night and cannot turn off my brain, I am often awake for hours dwelling on conversations, events, people, this and that and wondering When will I get back to sleep? I know how important it is to have a requisite number of hours of slumber, but that doesn't seem to help.
So now it's 12:02 a.m. and it is Saturday!
I went to bed to read at 7:00 p.m. I read until the thunderstorm outside caused the power to go off and because the flashlight (or torch) was not at the bedside and fell asleep to the sound of thunder and pouring rain. The cool breeze floated in though the bedroom window...
But now I am awake, reflecting on the day past, anticipating the day ahead and feeling somewhat sad and anxious. I stayed in bed and listened to the gentle rain outside, the whir of the ceiling fan overhead and the rhythmic breathing of my husband.  I tried deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques and a little more reading. Eventually my whizzing mind said Forget about sleep, forget about sheep, get up and count your blessings...
And so, here they are, in no particular order, some of the things that make me smile...please pardon my self-indulgence!

The beauty of the Earth!

The next generation, whom I miss dearly and will see in less than two months!

My sister, who battled cancer for the second time, and won!

Me and Harry, my step-father's best man, who passed away this past week.

Our colleague's son, with whom we will be spending Saturday evening. 

My husband's family on the occasion of the parents' 40th anniversary                        

My son and his son!

My daughter, who follows her dreams...

My favourite man in the world! In four weeks, we will be on our way back to the lake!

These are just a few of the blessings in my life for which I am thankful...my big brother is another one, but I cannot seem to find a good picture of his smiling face, as he is a little bit camera shy. 

Nonetheless, I am a very fortunate person!

Until next time, 

Bee Rich

My Wonderful Sisters-In-Law

          I have four sisters-in-law on my husband's side, ranging in age from 52 to 77.  One is married, two are single, and one is a widow with four daughters of her own. Each of these ladies is amazing in her own way. 
          The eldest raised four daughters while working full time in the family business.  She has always been active in various volunteer groups throughout her community.  She has aged gracefully, enjoying time with her children, her three grandchildren and recently, her first great grandson.  Her home, shared with her youngest daughter, is open to family and friends.  Recently, over the Christmas holidays, this loving sister was hospitalised with pneumonia; however, she is at home now and hopefully making a full recovery. 
          The second sister-in-law lives quite a distance away from the rest of her family.  She retired after thirty-plus years working in a hospital.  What I admire about this lady is her determination to keep in touch with her family on a regular basis.  When our family lived nearby, she would often invite us to her home for a meal or take the children for a day or more to give mom and dad a break. I remember her taking our children to the circus, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and many other special outings.  She has recently developed severe pain in her foot and called us this evening from her bedroom. I am sending prayers up for her to make a quick recovery. 
           The third sister-in-law lives in the "home place" with her eldest brother.  She has worked at many different jobs during her life and loves tending to her collection of succulent plants and the family pets.  I heard from her today with the sad news that our beloved cat, Tigger, died in her sleep last evening.  Tigger was born some 16 years ago in a barn near the family home.  Her mother abandoned her and she was brought from the farm to live in the house, where she was hand fed. My mother-in-law was not too fond of the idea of having a cat in the house, so my daughter talked us into letting the kitten (now weaned and housebroken) come and live with us.  Three years ago, when my husband and I decided to teach overseas, Tigger was welcomed back to the family home and reacquainted with her sister, Miss Elly, who had come to live at the home place shortly after Tigger's departure. This sister-in-law  openly demonstrates love and care to others in many different ways. 
          The youngest sister-in-law lives with her husband in a small town along the St. Lawrence River.  She is special to me because she has had to put up with my husband's teasing for many years, and yet she remains loving and kind.  At Christmas time she made a Santa sackful of beautiful gifts, from a Santa wreath to homemade dishcloths. She and her husband also took care of her parent-in-law's two dogs (bring the household total to five) for almost two weeks while they travelled during the holidays.  She also spent Christmas Eve at the hospital with her brother.  Love knows no limits with this lady. 
          I could go on and on.  I haven't mentioned the four other sisters who have passed away from various forms of cancer.  They were all equally loving, kind, caring and full of grace.  It is quite remarkable that I have had the privilege of marrying into this family and I am truly thankful. 

Until next time,


Bee Rich

Santa Wreath

The Home Place Christmas Tree Plus Pug