In My Own Backyard

One of my all time favorite movies is Disney's "Pollyanna" with Haley Mills. I love the fact that Pollyanna always finds something "good" in all situations by playing the "Glad Game". If you've never watched Pollyanna I highly suggest you see it! Through the last many, many years I've had to give myself the "Pollyanna Lecture" and find the "happy thing" in each circumstance that life has pitched my way. And we all know that life throws us curve balls....curve balls from left field and I've had to be incredibly ( or pathetically?) creative in coming up with something to be glad about. You know those days where you go...."well, er.... I'm glad that I'm.....breathing?" And then I sit and wonder- am I really?? *LOL*

I spend my Tuesday nights alone. It's the kids' night with their Dad. Even after 3 years this is a very hard adjustment for me. I usually plan something for myself on Tuesday's for the simple reason that it keeps me occupied and not as acutely aware of their absence. It just so happened that on Tuesday I didn't have anything to occupy me....or my mind.
I need to interject right here that I am not a "woe is me" person by nature- but the ability to potty without 2 people knocking on the door- REALLY leaves me feeling lonely.Ya know- there are just some things that you don't expect to be able to do!

Well, on Tuesday I made a big dinner- and that was depressing eating it by myself. So, in the midst of my reguarly scheduled Tuesday night "glad game" lecture I prompted myself to be thankful for the small things. This led to another thought process and I began noticing the little "glad things" that I had around me. Then I went out doors with my camera.....and here are a few things that I took pictures of that gave me a reason to be GLAD.



This is MaryJane. She escaped from the cage on Saturday and was missing for two days. I'm sooooo incredibly glad that we found her and she's safely back in her cage.




My girls got the help of a brother/friend from our church to plow, prep and plant a garden in the backyard. Sarah and Rebekah have been completely responsible and diligent about tending the garden. I'm so glad that they are learning the process of growing their own food. This weekend we are hoping to make pickles for the first time! This gives me quite a reason to be glad.


If you've ever visited other countries...then you'll know how easy it is to initiate a good round of the "Glad Game" when you see an American flag hanging from your own front porch.


My butterfly bush had three butterflies flittering around....sunshine, butterflies and flowers....and who WOULDN'T be smiling?


This little wrens nest is in my front flower pot. The Carolina Wrens must be very patriotic little birdies...cuz they nested here (in front of the little flag) and although I have 4 ferns hanging on my front porch- they nested in the only one that had an American flag in it. :)

I took many more pictures that night- each one of them giving me a reason to be grateful, content and satisfied in knowing that God is always there to bring joy in my sadness, light in my darkness and hope in my hopelessness. God has never left me...and sometimes something as silly as a Disney movie about an orphan girl who comforts herself with the Glad game is all I need to remind me of God's outreached arms and comforting embrace.

Shine All Your Light,

Cass