"Knowing Why I Do Certain Favorite Things"---------------- by Susan Pearl

I like certain things to do that fill in a day with enjoyment.

Mostly they are playing games, having creative hobbies and crocheting.

I think the reason I like them so much is because I know I am good at them.

It seems like I have a natural ability and talent to be good at them.

Building on that, I have discovered I don't ever get tired of doing them.

It has to be something that from the very beginning I am good at.

Then, from there, I try to get better and better and keep improving. 

So, it becomes a challenge that is not only enjoyable, it is equally exciting.

And above all it is a fun activity that gives a feeling of satisfaction and happiness.

I look forward to each day for the favorite things that I truly love doing.

And writing my "Pearls Take Time" blog is one of them, in fact, very much so.

"Thoughts of Encouragement" by Susan Pearl

I did something new today, 

I wrote a note of encouragement to someone I hold very dear.

That in itself is not new because I have written and sent greeting cards of encouragement before.

But those were for "Get Well" wishes of encouragement,

What made this new for me is that I was sending the encouragement to a care giver of an ill pet.

So many of us know how hard it is to see a pet go down hill. 

"Thinking of you as you care for your beloved pet", should be said more often.

I think that is needed, would be very nice and would mean a lot.

Sometimes the care of an ill pet can go on for weeks or months.

And everyone needs a word of encouragement and understanding from time to time.

I just thought of it this morning, I wrote it, I sent it and I'm glad I did.

I feel good about it and wanted to share it in my blog today with everyone who reads my blog.

We need to be aware of what others are going through and let them know we care.

And for anyone taking care of an ill pet today, many thoughts of encouragement are coming your way. 

   

"Unused Umbrellas" by Susan Pearl

There is an expression, "Out of sight out of mind".

I think that expression applies to our umbrellas since we store them in the closet behind the coats.

Even though we own two umbrellas we don't ever seem to have them with us when we need them.

We won the umbrellas on two different local TV drawings promoting businesses.

I think we won the first one and then about four years later we won the second umbrella-

We won by our postcard we sent to each of those TV business promotions being drawn.

Both times we were ecstatic when we watched our name being shown and announced as the winner.

"Hooray!" We were the winner of the day and each time we were so very happy.

Each umbrella was black with large yellow and white lettering of the name of the business on the top.

We thought they would be handy in the living room closet, but we haven't ever used them.

Then it happened as we were attending a grave side service and it was raining- and - raining hard.

With so many people there I think we were the only ones without an umbrella. 

Others shared their umbrellas with us by holding their umbrellas partly over our heads. 

On the way home I thought about the umbrellas in our living room closet.

When we first got the umbrellas we noticed the amount of advertising lettering on them.

We also noticed the lettering was distracting for wanting to read the business advertisement.

On one was the TV channel's call letters which would probably make people think a news crew was present and maybe we are news anchors.

On the other umbrella it read, "Pestilence Problem Control-Service" please call- telephone #, 

This may make people think we've got business knowledge when I really don't know anything about it.

We really do appreciate the umbrellas and we sincerely intend to use them. 

So now the umbrellas are in the car and we put two black hooded slicker jackets beside them.

If that doesn't do it- I don't know what will.

"Charity Begins at Home" by Susan Pearl

I was taught while growing up that charity begins at home.

The charity, the love the kindness for ourself and for others began at home by example.

My mother impressed upon us the importance of treating others kindly.

She taught it, she believed it, she lived it.

She became a widow at thirty-eight with five children to raise. The oldest child was thirteen years old. 

The youngest child was one year old and that was me.

We learned about selflessness by her total dedication to raising us.

She saw herself as a pioneer against bias, prejudice, inflicted barriers and unfair meanness.

We could count on her and we know it wasn't easy for her.

Without a husband or father in the house she shouldered full responsibility.

I remember her holding my hand every night as she led night prayers. 

I think during prayers we blessed family and just about everyone we knew.

Charity begins at home, it always has and it always will.

Love begins at home- seeing others with appreciation, having worth and kindness.

For any one who has not known a nurturing home love and kindness will reach you all the same.

Because love cannot be contained and it will reach you right where you are at.

Someone who has been touched by love and knows the great things it can do-

Will come and show you a better way than you have known- because you are not alone.

Or you may discover a favorite author, or singer, or athlete or song or TV program.

All of these will shine bright, like a spotlight on a life that is filled with goodwill and kindness. 

This world of positive possibilities, potential and opportunities outshines any negatives that exist.

If we can adapt we can connect, time and time again no matter what our circumstance has been.

"An Answer of Great Insight" by Susan Pearl

In my entire lifetime I have experienced a very special time that was "beyond incredible".

I was a young mother in my twenties. Our two daughters were five and three years old.

It was lunchtime. It had been a big morning because I was, also, babysitting three other children.

A lovely African American girl was happy to join us for all of my babysitting days each week.

Reading to the children seemed to be a favorite time for everyone. 

We had coloring time and an outside activity followed by games, then lunchtime.

The noon whistle blew and we were already in the kitchen ready for lunch.

The children surrounded me as I got a stack of multicolored bowls to dish up the food.

The children started arguing as to what color of bowl they wanted.

"I want the red bowl", "I want the blue one", "I like yellow", "I'll take the green"- 

I looked at our oldest daughter and asked, "What color of bowl do you want"?

I remember so vividly her answer, "Bowls are kind of like people- the color really doesn't matter".

I was quite taken back by her answer. Our five year old child had just inspired me and my life.

For I knew she had been shown this answer from a gifted insight given to her by having great wisdom.

I said "That's right and it is so wonderful that you can understand this at such a young age."

I kissed her and gave her a hug and knew in my heart something very special had come to be that day.

My life was renewed as I heard her words, so "beyond" her years, express "incredible" faith and truth. 

I was moved with joy and thankfulness, and I still am moved by the preceptive grace of her answer.  

That kind of insight at such a young age was so very amazing to me and it will continue be. 

What ever hard times life may bring my way they can't take the joy of that day when I heard her say,

"Bowls are kind of like people- the color really doesn't matter". It was truly an answer of great insight.

  

"The Imaginary Visit" by Susan Pearl

 I remember a lady telling that her toddler granddaughter had an unique trait.

Later, I thought of a fun story about them coming for a imaginary visit to get acquainted....and,

After they came the toddler went into the kitchen and pointed at a spot on the tile floor-

As she pointed she said, "Doitty".

I grabbed a paper towel, put some water on it and quickly wiped up the small spot of a coffee spill.

Now the little toddler was in the living room and heading for an end table by the couch,

I thought, "Oh no, that needs dusting'", but it was too late- she was already pointing, saying "Doitty". 

I got out some toys, and, yes, we were shown by the pointing finger that one toy was "Doitty". 

The toy was instantly removed.

After a pleasant visit it was time for them to leave. 

I tried to guard the TV/ recreation room as they went to the front door.

In my imaginary story, I thought I had made it through the visit, but 'WHOOPS", 

As they were leaving she was pointing to a smug on the glass of the storm door saying, "Doitty".

Even though it is imaginary I think the perfect ending should be-

Of me calling a local cleaning agency for prices.   

"Have a Good Day" by Susan Pearl

My arthritis makes a difficult pace for me to do.

Not to mention the pain it causes me to go through.

But a good attitude goes a long way, 

To show the very best in each day.

"Have a good day", people may say,

It is a thoughtful wish to hear and brings smiling cheer,

Yes, every day can be lovely, hopeful and kind,

With a beauty we have grown to appreciate and learned how to find.

A good attitude goes a long way in having happiness every day.

It should come to mind that such a day is there waiting for us to find.

Sometimes we find a discovery by seeing something in a brand new way,

That gives us more understanding than we knew before adding greatly to each coming day.

"Recognizing a Pearl Moment" by Susan Pearl

This has been an amazing day.....a true gift

Shortly after my husband went to the country to work on a project-

He had a wonderful sighting that he was not looking for at all.....totally unexpected.

It made him stop what he was doing and take in the uniqueness and rareness of the moment.

There were twelve large wild turkeys casually walking by and being followed by a black cat.

The black cat was taking a pouncing position and the last turkey turned around and ran after the cat.

The cat took off and immediately left the scene. My husband said the turkeys continued their walk

towards a grove of trees.

He said he hadn't ever seen that many of turkeys at one time. It may be a once in a lifetime experience.

He laughed at thinking of the cat posed to jump on a turkey and how fast the cat ran away.

Isn't it great to have a moment that is so rare a person stops what they are doing to take it all in?

Something so rare is like a hard to find pearl.  

A pearl that makes a person take time to enjoy and ponder the wonder of the moment.

The name of my blog is "Pearls Take Time"...this is so true and to recognize how rare is the gift. 

  

"Only Cherry Pie, Please" by Susan Pearl

When we were first married I misread a lemon pie recipe,

I misread "cornstarch" for "cornmeal".

So, I put cornmeal into the lemon pie filling that I was making from scratch.

I was so proud to present my first lemon pie I had ever made to my husband.

After taking his second bite my husband said, "This pie tastes gritty".

"Gritty!!", I exclaimed! Definitely not the response I was expecting to hear.

For some reason I began to cry as I told him how I made it.

He said, "You don't put cornmeal in a lemon pie".

We looked at the recipe and I realized my mistake.

Weeks later I made another lemon pie and served it even though the meringue looked flat.

After a couple of bites he said, "The meringue is rubbery".

That was years ago, and we laugh about it now.

However, through the years he has told me many times his favorite pie is cherry pie.

I wonder why.  

"A New Awareness" by Susan Pearl

 The expression, "If you don't use it you'll lose it" has been told to me a lot. 

I thought it meant using our body and muscles. 

But after several years of not doing a "rotation" cube I have forgotten the moves.

In fact, I had trouble even understanding a instruction video.

Then after watching the video over three times it started to come together to remember.

Before, when I could solve the cube, at lightning speed, I had even wrote down my own way of doing each move.

Now, I can't even understand my own hand written instructions.

This experience made me have more empathy, in a new way, for people having memory loss.

And made me more thankful to still, hopefully, be able to do something I enjoy very much.

I realize there is a lot more to the expression than I ever thought.

It gave an awareness to not take for granted whatever we've got-

But to use it while we can and for we'll be so glad we did as the future comes- believe it or not.

 

"Twice The Same Aspect " by Susan Pearl

 Opportunities and rainbows have the same aspect of time as both only last for a while.

Another same aspect of both is that other new opportunities and other new rainbows will come  somewhere at the right time and the right circumstance.

Opportunities doesn't always mean they are work related opportunities.

For instance, a timely promotion on a product for sale is an opportunity.

Another timely opportunity is before the wedding is the opportune time to have a bridal shower, 

Also, the opportune time for a retirement party is with all the fellow workers before the retiree leaves.

This gives everyone the timely opportunity for well wishes,

And this timely time frame will come and go again and again as we live our life.

Rainbows come and go in a timely way which makes seeing them an opportunity.

However, rainbows have a rule though, 

Rainbows are seeing a reflection, so your back has to be towards the sun.

So, writing this little lesson about opportunities and rainbows has been a timely fun....

And like all timely things, it is now done.

But with time I know another new thought will come.

Bringing a new time of opportunity to me to see.

Oh, what opportunities and rainbows await to be!

 

" The Unspoken Nap Debate " by Susan Pearl

I think I require more sleep than the average person.

I like taking a nap. In fact, I like taking two naps a day....

One in the morning and one in the afternoon.

My husband doesn't like to take naps.

But, really, I think him dosing off while watching TV is taking a nap.

I don't talk about it because it is usually time for my nap.

I think taking a nap is healing, refreshing and restful,

Especially at my age. 

See you in my dreams.

" Withered Feet " by Susan Pearl

His feet were so boney looking some people called him "withered feet". 

They sure were surprised when he showed up to run in the track meet.

His legs were so thin that when he held his feet together -  a frog could jump through.

But people didn't know what he could do.

Now they call him "unstoppable" for he won the race that day.

He still runs to show others not to listen to what people say.

" Wonderful Then- Wonderful Now" by Susan Pearl

 When we were fist married, over sixty years ago,

My husband told me he hoped we could be like salt and pepper-

that when people saw one they would see the other.

I thought that was so wonderful then-

And I still do.

"The True Wealth of Life" by Susan Pearl

Wealth is not only for money,

There can be a wealth of information that enriches a person's life. 

There can be a wealth of experience that adds greatly to life.

There can be a wealth of adventures that bring appreciation of beauty and insights of cultures into life.  

There can be a wealth of choices and support systems in place that give quality of life.

There can be a wealth of love and happiness throughout life.