I watched people go into the grocery , on walkers, canes , and scooters. Even with arthritis , I can still walk. People with kids , not in warm enough looking coats. I have a coat , gloves, and scarf, I am warm. Do you see where this is leading.?? We have to count each and every blessing we have. The more I saw the more I rang that bell. I do not know for a fact how much was put into the kettle, but more put money in than walked by.
I met a 90 year old man , he was there to buy candy and roses for a 97 year old lady. He put money in the kettle and introduced himself to me . We shook hands and I have a new friend. I met a man that told me he was in the Oklahoma City bombings and that the Salvation Army really helped them a lot. He put a big bill in the kettle. I thanked all who put money in and wished all a Merry Christmas. I will tell you tomorrow about the youngest person I met . He is a small angel.
Enjoy this day, count your blessings . No matter how small...you know it is the small things that make our lives worth living. My blessings are Angie, Kathy, Karen , and Lizzy. :):)
This story puts a lump in my throat, Susie. Yes- we take for granted what it is to be warm and well-fed too much of the time. Thanks for the reminder to be ever-thankful for what we have. I will love hearing about the littlest giver. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteDiana, I know there are people who jump out of bed everyday ...thankful...but at times I think we take much for granted. I need a prod once in a while. I know that the tough stuff I went through made me strong. It was hard to take at the time...but oh I will be thankful. xoxo,Susie
DeleteOnce upon a time, I had no washer either. I washed diapers, yup cloth ones, in the bathtub....and hung them to dry by a potbellied stove....Yes, I count my blessings everyday...big and small...
ReplyDeleteArthritis, yup, sometimes walking is a blessing...even with pain...
Bless you.
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Hi Nancy, Well sweet lady you know the struggles of young hard life...it made us stronger. So we must be thankful for that. Blessings to you, xoxo,Susie
DeleteI am blessed, I am blessed when I lay my head to reat, I am blessed. A song. Yes, we are blessed. I too washed cloth diapers and the spell of urine, was hard to get out. Thank you Lord for your blessings.
ReplyDeleteWell many of you truly understand what I was saying. It is the little things...hey a washer and dryer...hooray that was a happy day. Mine runs a bit rough , like me ...but it works. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
DeleteI count my blessings everyday and know they're a gift. I too remember cloth diapers, but thank goodness I had a washing machine.
ReplyDeleteMany more blessing to you. Those diaper days were tough at times. LOL. xoxo,Susie
DeleteBeautifully said. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you honey. Glad you stopped by. xoxo,Susie
DeleteThose are some wonderful gratitudes Susie. I try to write a gratitude list every night before I go to sleep. It really keeps things in perspective for me.
ReplyDeletePatty, You have the right idea..to list our blessings and see them on paper, may make us more grateful. xoxo,Susie
DeleteWe had a washer and dryer when our girls were born, but I still felt like I spent all my day doing diapers!:-) What a good thing you did ringing the bell for the Salvation Army! xo Nellie
ReplyDeleteNellie, Diapers were a major item when raising our children. Had to have them clean. I remember once in a blue moon having to pin a hand towel on the baby. LOL.xoxo,Susie
DeleteI count my small blessings everyday too, Susie. All of those small blessings add up to a wonderful life. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteLaura, you are right...it does make our lives wonderful. Have you ever met anyone who would cast off their good blessings , not realizing how wonderful it all is. xoxo,Susie
DeleteI have a pillow from Sandi, from Cottage Musings...it says...Enjoy the little things in life, for some day you will realize they were the big things. So true. You always inspire me when I come here, Susie. Bless your heart for ringing that bell!!!
ReplyDeleteLove to you, and your girls.
Debbie
xoxo
Debbie, I just came home from my daughter Angie's....she was talking about all her older veterans that used to come to her class program...the ww ll fellows are all passed away now. See even they telling their tales of the war being gone from the U.S.A. for so long...their memories were blessings to us. We miss them.Thank you for the love of your friendship Debbiee....it means so much to me. xoxo,Susie
DeleteI love this! So wonderful that you rang the bells and met some special people...We definitely have much to be thankful for!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Thank you Susan. It was fun and very enlightening. The tough times make us appreciate things more. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
DeleteI'm so proud of you and blessed to have you for a special friend. I have 4 boys and remember the lean years, too. And hanging diapers out on the close line and have them freeze! We are both so very blessed. 8 blessings between the two of us! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteDiane, I got the cutest card today...thank you so much. You make me smile, it's great having you for my friend. Now that is a good blessing to be thankful for. xoxo,Susie
DeleteI count my blessings every day. So many life experiences have taught me hat every little thing counts and it will not last forever. A grateful heart matters. We are truly blessed.
ReplyDeleteNonnie, You are so right about it not being here forever. Like our parents...I miss them so much and pray I was a good kid for them. When I was young..so many thing I took for granted are gone now...my parents , their friends and our old neighborhood families. Life is too short to not be thankful. xoxo,Susie
DeleteBless you for being a bell ringer, Susie. You are so right, we need to count our blessings, we so often take for granted what other people can only dream of. That old man buying candy for the older woman sounds sweet:)
DeleteDonna, You would have liked that 90 yr. old man...so cordial. He was also walking with a cane. xoxo,Susie
DeleteI know you were blessed by this day.
ReplyDeletePeggy, I truly was blessed...you know to be able to stand there for two hours, my feet hurt...but I knew I could do it. xoxo,Susie
DeleteOh Susie...what a blessing you are. With your wonderful outlook tells me a lot! smile... Yes, we did have some hard times when we were young didn't we? But look at us now! smile Blessed...yes we are! Thanks for reminding us!
ReplyDeleteGert
Gert, I try to not dwell on the hard times of my life. Or even mistakes I make...can't change some things, but we must learn from them. So I choose to think of the good things, more. xoxo,Susie
DeleteA wonderful post. Every time I whine about something I think about the people who I see begging for money on the street I come back to reality and figure I've got it pretty good.
ReplyDeleteBoston Boy, even though we know some people are homeless by choice...still makes us sad for them. We do not have homeless in our little town...but we do have poor, they get help from churches, organizations and food pantries. It all helps. Not everyone raised up in poverty stays there. Bless you, xoxo,Susie
DeleteYou make my heart feel good. I love that you felt the spirit as you rang the bell. I am grateful for you.I think God works his best when he opens our eyes and allows us to see. So much love in your heart.
ReplyDeleteTete, It was an experience I will remember. I was amazed at the stories I heard from donors. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
DeleteWhat a special post! Thank you for sharing this. You are a blessing to me when I read your wonderful posts, Susie. I am very blessed, too, with wonderful family and friends and thank God for them every day.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend!
Cheryl, Once my grandson asked me if I was poor, I told him no , but once I was. Then I told him having money does not make us rich, having friends and family makes that happen.. I told him he was very rich with so many friends and family that loved him. That boy still has tons of friends. Makes me proud. xoxo,Susie
DeleteWe just don't realize how many blessings we have to be thankful for. We also don't know how fast some of life's blessings can be taken away . And all in a moment. We should be so thankful for blessings we take so for granted. God is so good and we need to be sure and remember that every waking moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping us to stop and realize how good we have it.
Judy
Judy, God bless your sweet heart. I know you just lost your wonderful husband John, my condolences and hugs too. I know that you thank the Lord for having had that beautiful man in your life. Many more blessings to you, xoxo,Susie
DeleteSusie. What a beautiful post and you really are blessed with your four daughters. I feel very blessed too, although I have dear ones that are gone, but if I don't count my blessings how would I remember the times I had with them. That is so nice that you give of yourself during this holiday season and thank you for that..Happy Weekend..Judy
ReplyDeleteJudy, My girls mean the world to me. They suffered some hard times with me. I let them see me struggle to get more school, to get a better job to be able to take care of them and our home. They all have wonderful work ethics too...so that paid off. We all help each other when we can. We are all close. I miss the loved ones that have passed on, my parents, my in-laws and my children's father.( the only man I thought I would ever love till Teddy Bear came along ). Bless you, xoxo,Susie
DeleteYes, Susie, we are all so blessed and do lose site of this from time to time. I too can remember washing diapers out in the tub and then in a ringer type washing machine. It's this time of year we should all count our blessings and be thankful all year for them. Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas1
ReplyDeleteSylvia, Whenever my washer acts up now....I think of washing things in the tub.LOL some times those rough times make us endure a little snag here and there. xoxo,Susie
Deletethank you mom. you have been our angel many times.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you sweetheart. I do love you girls with all my heart. Miss you honey, love,mommy
DeleteHave you read "Simple Abundance" by Sarah ban Breathnach? It was published in the early 90's and she was on the Oprah show many times. That's when I began keeping a Gratitude Journal. She asked that you begin with just 5 things each day/night and slowly your list will grow. So true! I was working at the time and sometimes I would just write that I made it through the day! :) I promise if anyone does this, it will change their life. I've skipped a day here and there and it doesn't feel good when I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do to encourage people to give so that many will have a blessed Christmas!
xo
Pat
Pat, I really like this idea. More people should do it. I would have loved knowing this when I was so young with children at home. Bless you, xoxo,Susie
DeleteP.S. I also washed diapers every single day...and hung them on the clothes line. In the winter they would freeze before I could get the 2nd pin on the line! :) Formula had to be made every morning and baby & toddler clothes had to be ironed for the most part. I think we endured a lot but we learned too. xo
ReplyDeleteOh I too remember frozen diapers. LOL. Yes, we ironed everything, didn't we? We had to keep the formula made up for a day supply or more. Things have certainly changed. xoxo,Susie
DeleteThis is a gentle reminder to county my blessings, Susie. You really had quite an experience when you rang the bell recently. You came across some wonderful people.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I used to use cloth diapers too at one time when Nel was a baby.
~Sheri
Sheri, I truly enjoyed the bell ringing. I will do it again next year. Bless you, xoxo,Susie
Delete