Friday’s Fave Five (9/11/2015)
“Yes, Nina, life is hard, unfair, painful. But life is also guaranteed – 100%, no doubt, no question – to offer unexpected and sudden moments of beauty, joy, love, acceptance, euphoria.” The good stuff. It is our ability to recognize and then hold on to the moments of good stuff that allows us to survive, even thrive. And when we can share the beauty. hope is restored. (p 37, Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch)
On this 14th anniversary of 9/11/2001, I think it is fitting that today I read that there is absolutely good stuff folded in with the unfair and traumatic. But I need to be alert to finding and sharing it. And in doing so I can more than survive, I can and will thrive. So to honour 9/11/2001, I am sharing examples of “beauty, joy, love, acceptance, and euphoria” from my past week as part of Friday’s Fave Five. Go to Living to Tell the Story to share your own beauties from the last week (or leave a comment here).
These baby pine cones start life as a purple cone with pink spikes. They look so punk. This is as beautiful as it is surprising.
beauty – my daughter (Elizabeth) shared some of her stories and photos of Yosemite:
I had the honour of watching my grand-daughter for 5 nights after the wedding. Having Sofia’s toys around certainly helped create joy.
joy – having your favourite toys around especially when you are in a new situation.
Sofia even helped her mommy (Daniella) and daddy (Tim) with this symbolic act.
love – my son married his sweetheart and they symbolized their love by planting this tree together.
Photo of me (holding the stick), Nancy (Daniella’s aunt) and Nora (Daniella’s mom).
acceptance – I have a new toy – selfie stick. Just accept that I am going to be bringing my hot pink stick for a photo of all of us. It makes me happy.
My 2 1/2 year old grand-daughter climbed this wall until she had it mastered. She was so PROUD of herself. Me, too.
euphoria – accomplishing something that is tough and scary.
Entry filed under: Friday's Fave Five (FFF), Gratitude List, Main. Tags: Friday's Fave Five, gratitude.
Fruitful Words 
1.
Faith | . at .
oh how nice to see a photo of your granddaughter and that your son got married! yay!! I hope the marriage goes smoothly for them all. I started laughing my head off when you said you own a selfie stick!! my daughters say no one over age 25 should own one of those😀 ( i myself refuse……) but you have fun with that!! It sounds like you had a lovely week.
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2.
nikkipolani | . at .
Beautiful images of your dear ones, Susan, starting lives together, learning new skills. That grin at the camera is precious. And thank you for sharing the beauty of purple pine cones! I never knew.
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3.
karen58 | . at .
I love that first photo, too. Lovely post! We must hold tight to the moments of joy! Congratulations to your son and his new bride.
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4.
Barbara H. | . at .
Congratulations to your son! Sofia is darling – what a sweet smile. Love the idea of planting a tree together. I didn’t know pine cones started out pink and purple.
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5.
denise | . at .
awesomely beautiful post.
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6.
Jerralea | . at .
What a great week! I agree, it is fitting to recognize the blessings in the midst of the unfair and traumatic.
First of all, what a gorgeous grin Sofia has! And I so love the idea of planting a tree as part of a wedding ceremony.
And, you go, girl, with your selfie stick! I’ve been thinking of getting one because otherwise my pictures seem to make our noses look huge!
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7.
Faith | . at .
Hi I tried to email you but i don’t think it went through. I saw your question about my ADK Fire tower challenge patch. No, they don’t go on shirts…..hikers typically put their patches on the backpack!! 🙂
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8.
Susanne | . at .
What a little sweetheart your granddaughter is! And what a lovely symbolic thing to do for a wedding planting a tree is! You and your selfie stick made me smile. I think the intentional looking for a blessing even in tragedy helps keeps our hearts soft.
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9.
Gattina | . at .
A selfie stick is that to put on your phone and make selfies from “far” ? I would need such for my camera. So your son also married after being a father ! Mine too. First the baby then the house and then the marriage when Toby was nearly 3 years old. When I was young we married first before having children or just when it was necessary to keep up appearances, lol !
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10.
a spirit of simplicity | . at .
oh boy what a wonderful week!! I have been thinking about a selfie-stick.
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11.
Willow | . at .
Love that quote and how you shared your week through it.
Congratulations to your son and his wife! Being a grandma is truly a joy. I might say euphoric 🙂
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