These Moments

I know these moments don’t sound like big deals in the whole scheme of things – but – they mean something to me.

Today I went into the Safeway in Anacortes to get a mocha at the Starbucks there. After I got in the store I thought I should get some flour for pie-making. On the way to the flour I thought this might be a good time to get the cranberry sauce, too. Also dinner rolls. And sweet potatoes. Of course I hadn’t picked up a basket on my way in, because I thought I was just going to get a mocha, right? – so now I’m standing in a long Thanksgiving grocery-shopping line with my arms full. My arms are starting to get tired. Suddenly this young man appears – he doesn’t work at Safeway, he’s just another customer like myself – and he says, “I thought maybe you could use a basket” and hands me a basket to put all my stuff in. And I thank him profusely and take the basket and he smiles and goes on his way. People going out of their way to be kind to other people just tickles me. 🙂 And, maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems like people have been making more of an effort to show kindness in the last couple weeks.

So when I’d come into Safeway there was a musician playing a banjo out front and I’d planned on giving him a tip – but now I saw him packing up – so before I bought my mocha I went out to put a buck in his banjo case – and he smiled and thanked me and I asked him if he’d like a coffee – and he said no, he was fine, but thanked me for the offer, and wished me a happy Thanksgiving.

I went back in the store to get my mocha – the original reason I’d come to Safeway in the first place – and the coffee machine wasn’t working. But it didn’t matter! I was meant to go in there today. 🙂

On the way back from Anacortes I suddenly got it in my noggin to stop off at the dike for a quick walk. There was only one other car there – a man and his corgi were about ten yards ahead of me on the trail. As soon as I stepped onto the path the corgi turned around and started running back to me – a big friendly grin on his face – like I was an old friend and he was just so happy to see me! So I reached out and petted him and his human called him back and he took one last look at me and then went back to his human and they went around a bend in the path. I walked along a little longer, and suddenly the dog came racing around the bend and ran back to me again – just had to give me one more greeting. I love happy dogs who see a new friend in every person they encounter.

And then that song came into my head – “My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation…” and I was just filled with such joy to be alive.

That is all. Carry on then…
Karen

 

“O weary pilgrim, lift your head: for joy cometh in the morning!”
– Mary M. Weinland

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And now for a moment of joy…

“Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.”
– Mary Baker Eddy

This morning Scotty and I went up to Bellingham for a walk on the boardwalk with Sam the Wonder Dog, and then breakfast at the Harris Avenue Cafe. It was like this little piece of Heaven. We stepped out of the stresses and pressures for a couple hours – took a little break together – I told Scott it felt “luxurious.” It was fun sitting in the cafe, surrounded by happy people sounds.

I’m thinking we ALL need a little break right now – time to fill our beings’ up with the things that don’t rust, depreciate, or decompose: Love, joy, integrity, kindness, wisdom – these are things that never lose value.

“Think of all the beauty that’s still left in and around you and be happy!”
– Anne Frank

“Stop complaining about the management of the universe. Look around for a place to sow a few seeds of happiness.”
– Henry Van Dyke

“I believe we’re on earth to delight each other, make each other laugh, and to infuse one another with His joy. Why not? What’ve we got better to do?”
– Burt Rosenberg

(all photos by Karen Molenaar Terrell)

 

Sunrise on the Way to Work

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
– Emily Dickinson

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Sunrise on the Way to Work Photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell

 

I Discovered

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Kind people, unite!

I am discovering there are a lot of beautiful people in this world:

  • One of my dear Facebook friends asked me to tell my students (who are mostly Latino) that she loved them. This teared me up. One of the students – a student I know has been dealing with some fear today – happened to appear at that moment and I passed on my friend’s message. He smiled and thanked me and left the room to go wherever he needed to go next. Pretty soon one of the counselors comes up, smiling. He tells me the student I’d just been talking with asked him to come up and make sure I was alright. He says the student’s concern really touched him. It really touched me, too.
  • My friend, John, who voted for Donald Trump, FB messaged me last night to ask me how I was doing! And he stayed on Facebook and listened to my answer – and responded with nothing but kindness.
  • AND another friend who voted for Trump joined me and three of my fellow Clinton supporters in a group hug yesterday.

    Solidarity, my friends – not solidarity in this party or that party, or this candidate or that candidate – but solidarity in kindness. If humanity is going to survive, I’m thinking this is the kind of solidarity we’re going to need.

    Kind people, unite!

    And now pictures of the sunset last night – just because…

My Joy

My Joy

My joy depends on no man
or woman or place
or circumstance and nothing
can keep my heart from soaring.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

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Photo of snow geese by Karen Molenaar Terrell.

 

 

Be still, and know that Love is God.

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photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell 

Because that is how you roll…

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Copper Puddles

Copper puddles and puppy cuddles
autumn brings apple cider smells
and musky leaves and wool sweaters
out of cedar chests and crisp mornings
and rainy days and cold starry nights 
that hint of winter to come…
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell