Thursday, April 30, 2015

My 50 Years



This has been a big week for me. I turned 50 years old. It was a very low key day as it came and went without much fanfare. That's alright with me, though. It fits my personality well. My husband promises to take me to a flea market this weekend as a celebration of sorts and I must say that I'm really looking forward to that. I'll be a nifty antique looking at other antiques. Fun is on the horizon.

As I reflect on my 50 years, I realize the main constant has been change.

I have seen the invention of cell phones, personal computers and all kinds of other improvements that affect my daily life. Astronauts walked on the moon for the first time in my lifetime and we've sent a land rover to Mars. There is even a space station.

Back in the good old days, I can remember that we did a series in my social studies class on what the future might be like. I thought I would be buzzing along in flying car like they did in the Jetsons cartoons. I expected to have a personal robot too. I thought the future would be a fantastic place. And, it is really.

There are so many things tjat have changed in my 50 years. I will just say that I give gratitude to those dreamers and inventors who have made this world a better place. I love their vision. I welcome positive change.

As I stroll through the antiques at the flea market this weekend, I will think fondly of the past and I will remember one of my favorite affirmations. “I bless the past with love and let it go.” And, As I move forward in this moment, I say “Today, the rest of my life is the best of my life. My future is fantastic.

Thank you for reading.

Sherry




Wednesday, April 29, 2015

A Prayer For Joy



I pray for an abundance of joy in the world.  I invite you to pray with me.  Together we can make a difference.

Dear Lord, let there be so much joy in the world that it cancels out all the negative. Our thoughts can create things so let us be so full of love that it always prevails. We can do it with your help. Let us spread your love, joy and light all over the world. This I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen

 Be blessed.

Sherry Louise Stoll

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Giving Gratitude 4-23-2015



I've decided to start a series of gratitude articles here at Sherry Stoll Living. I am going to call them “Giving Gratitude”. It's a sort of gratitude journal for me and I invite you to join in the comments below with something you have gratitude for.

Let's start by defining what gratitude means. Simply, it is being in a state of gratefulness or thankfulness.

Easy? Yes, I think so on most days. Let's get started. I'm going to list five things I'm grateful for.

  1. I am grateful that it worked out that I could take my husband out for a birthday lunch.
  2. I am grateful that two new baby calves were born here today. The cows and calves are all healthy and strong.
  3. I am grateful for the beautiful spring sunshine we had shining on us today.
  4. I am grateful for my farm cats.
  5. I am grateful for God's goodness and mercy in my life.

I will keep this short and sweet because I know you're busy. I hope you'll return for more of this series, Giving Gratitude, in future articles.

What are you grateful for today?


Sherry Louise Stoll

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Hello, Mr. Frog



Hello, Mr. Frog …

One of my favorite sounds of spring is the croaking of fogs on our pond. It's a very soothing sound for me. It's such a sound of rebirth compared to the harsh whistling of the cold winds of winter.

So, as I began to be entertained by the frogs a few weeks ago, I was down in my basement doing some laundry when my thoughts turned to spiders. I'm not a huge fan of them. I had the passing thought that I could use a frog in my basement to eat the spiders. I live in a little old farmhouse and I gave myself a chuckle with the thought.

As I came up my basement stairs, I said a prayer. “Dear, Lord; Could you please send me an angel to rid my house of spiders? This I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.”

I never thought anymore about it.

A few days later, we had a thunderstorm and water came into my unfinished basement. Clean up ensued.

Later, when I was back upstairs at the computer, I heard a single frog croaking.

I smiled.

Opening up the basement door and standing at the top at the stairway, I sure enough heard the frog croak again. I said, “Hello, Mr. Frog.”

Then I realized that I needed to thank God for my angel to rid my house of spiders. Who knew it would be a frog?