I know that we all have really hectic schedules and life is always getting in the way of things but when was the last time that you stopped to smell the flowers? The reason I am asking this is because I have been retired for the last 15 or so years and have been pretty busy painting show cars, building cars, repairing sewing machines, raising a family and trying to maintain a certain amount of sanity. But after all of the floods and the issues with the storms, loosing a house, being bit by a snake and now finding out that I might have something that I dont really want to come to grips with I have stopped for a bit to ponder a few things. When was the last time I stopped to smell the flowers...........

Its been a million degrees out for the last couple of days and there is really no relief in sight so I have been working on a bucket list of things I want to do before I leave this planet. But last night I let the dogs out and took time to look up at the stars and thank God for everything he has given me. Thats when I saw how pretty the moon was and I went back inside and grabbed my telescope that has been sitting in the same place for the last umpteen months and went outside to look at the heavens. After spending a few minutes getting it all set up I sat there and studied the moon and was really amazed at how beautiful it was. I could see the mountain ranges and all the detail like they were on the next block. It had a few new craters since the last time I looked at it towards the north pole and even still had a meteor sitting in one of the craters that you could see as plain as day. Afterwards I scanned the skies looking at different constellations and even catching a glimpse of Jupiter (I think it was Jupiter I need to look at my chart and see what was sitting at that point of the horizon then). I spent an hour or so gazing away just enjoying what has been put here for us to see.

It was then I was at peace and all the things around me seemed to disappear and I could enjoy what God had made for us. I finally took the time to stop and smell the flowers...........

Billy

Thanks for sharing that with us, yes we all need to stop and smell the flowers

You take care of yourself and enjoy life to the fullest each day!

Hugs, Craftybear

Good for you Billy, it took me 50 years to learn to stop and be still. If you do, God will take over and you will enjoy the many blessings he has promised us. It's a great feeling to be at peace, thanks for the reminder.

thanks for the reminder, i think most of us are always in a hurry, me especially!

Thanks, Billy. This gives us all something to be thankful for. Take time to smell the roses and appreicate life........Michele

Hi there Billy,
I have read with great interest and fully agree with your sentiments. God bless you.

What a wonderful story and such truth to it. We just get caught up in the mundain everyday problems and forget to be thankful for what we have. Health being the first one. If we have out health we are very fortunate. The other things that we think are big problems and just minor inconveniences of everyday life.

Thank you for sharing Billy and God Bless you.

sandy14

I am beginning to learn how to stop and smell the flowers I have lost so much in my life time and I forgot part of the time to take care of the things that I still had. God Bless Billy and take care of yourself.

I don't do bucket lists. Was too depressing finding my Mom's taped to the wall in her sewing room & seeing the things she did not get to do before she died. I choose to just live one day at a time, do what I can, go where I can...and not worry about a list. So I guess in a way I am stopping to smell the flowers. Ok maybe not as often as I would like. But I do as often as I can. Losing loved ones, broken relationships, jobs from hell; they all have contributed to me always looking for the happy moments in life. I have to. Life in general serves up too many unhappy moments. So I choose to make the best of everything & find as many happy moments as I can - big & small.

I pray that you have nothing serious going on & will find many flowers to stop, smell & enjoy.

We often are in a hurry to get where we are going, that we miss the view along the way, and things just keep piling up that most of us forget to stop and take a breath, to notice that there is a world of beauty out there past our blinders.. How many times do we say "Ill call later?".. I have been guilty one too many times not returning a call.. I hate to think that I would never get to say 'good bye' or 'I love you' to a loved one before it was too late.. How often do we forget that our kids will only be kids for a short while and before we know it, they will be all grown up with kids of their own.. So hug longer, forgive often, and kiss more, and say more I love you's...

Thank you for the reminder...
@~}~ We all need to stop and smell the flowers from time to time.. ~{~@

I have been making a literal habit of it this summer and making DH walk around the yard with me every morning!

Hope it is nothing serious Billy!!!

Thank you for the reminder. It wasn't until I retired that I realized how much of my time WORK took up. I am loving my retirement. Prayers that you continue to enjoy life. :-D

Like a lot of us, it has taken me a long time to slow down and enjoy doing things I like and want to do, instead of doing the things that I think I SHOULD do. I have even learned to say NO! when neccessary, and guess what, I am a lot more relaxed and am happier in myself

Thanks Billy, you gave me alot to reflect on... Take care.

Oh I am the biggest busy body there is, always having several projects going on at the same time burning the candle at both ends. But the bucket list will be done before I go (I hope) and it is not too extravagant. I hope to be able to knock a couple of them off before the end of this year. I guess the main reason for it is that I am very goal driven and I always have to have something out there to achieve.


But it wasnt until last night that everything hit me and its like God opened my eyes for the first time.

Billy

Amen. Blessings to you. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the important reminder, Billy. Hope all things work out for you. Sending prayers and thoughts of well-being and peace of mind to you. And most importantly, don't forget to "smell the flowers" along the way. <3

Everyday! Lifes to short to run right through it. Me and the honey have a 6pm date everyday. We go to the pond and feed the fish and just sit and watch them feed. Very little if any talking. After that we head to the wildflower patch to stop and admire the beauty. I do this often, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. Or I'll go down and watch the cow in the field. We watch the sun set almost every evening. And we have been know to climb up on the roof and lay down and watch the sky for hours on end. If you like the sky scapes there's usually a couple of meteor showers a year. We are normally in PA during that time so we can get a better view, they have less light pollution. Good luck on your bucket list! Glad you had the chance to experience the joy of being alive, many do not.

I've learned the Hard way to appreciate life. My family and I have been thru some stressful health issues. I'm glad your taking time to see all the beauty God has given u. I'll pray God gives you good health and peace. Thank u for all u do for us here too!!
God bless you and your faMily!
P atti

Take care and smell all the roses in the world my DH could not do that and all I have of him is ash

It sounds a little strange I'm sure, but one of the blessings I discovered during a year of debilitating chemo and radiation was the peace of not being in the rat race. I had to relinquish control of just about everything. I didn't make a "bucket list", but I do try to prioritize. Sometimes a clean house is just not as highly rated as those "flowers."

I pray for recovery and peace for you.....and lots of "flowers."

There's nothing more beautiful than God's creations that we see each and every day. We just need to take the time to look and give him the thanks he deserves. My prayer for you is that God will bless you with good health and lots of time to smell the flowers. How sweet is the peace that passeth all understanding.

God Bless you and your family.
sassy granny

Thanks for sharing Billy.

You put yourself in Gods hands and look what he does for you........ Beauty everywhere..... some pain, but without pain we don't learn to appreciate the good things. Love seeing beautiful things God has given us.

Thank God your eyes are opened now. So greateful to share with you all the wonders he gives us and more than what we have asked for..........Yes and God made them all.

Thank God your eyes are opened now. So grateful to share with you all the wonders He gives us and more than what we have asked for..........Yes and God made them all.

Sometimes we have to have something world shattering happen to us to find the peace that God has for all of us. Isn't He wonderful.

Thank you for reminding me that there are many things to be thankful for!! You are right, we forget in our busy hectic lives. Time to slow down and enjoy the little things that life offers us that we often don't notice..like the smell of flowers! :)

Billy, I hope your health problems aren't serious, although it sounds like they are. I thank you for reminding us to stop and smell the flowers, I think too often, the little things get in the way and we forget. We're all here for you and if you need a shoulder to lean on, just let us know, we'll be there for you.

Thank you Billy for bringing my mind to a halt right now from it's mad scramble. Your new-found serenity and reflectivness made me stop and think. I always stop and look, every morning, for the deer, birds and flowers, but also am itching to get at everything I have set myself to do and never getting it all done, which irritates me, no end. I need to let that go, throw the bucket away and slow down and enjoy. Hope your problems are not as bad as you fear and know that everyone here are with you and will be asking for healing for you.

Thank you for your post Billy. We get so caught up in worshiping the creation instead of the Creator that we miss multitudes of blessings that God is just itching to pour out on us. Your post is a reminder of just that - to stop and smell the roses God has given us and to say 'thank you Lord'.

It does put things in perspective, doesn't it? I would like to get a book of planets and stars and a telescope. Life is too short not to stop and smell the roses and look up at the heavens.

Your post almost made me cry Billy. Sounds like you had a wonderful night. Take care, and bless you for all you do for everyone else.

Billy, you are a blessing. I read your message and marvel at all the "stuff" that happened and is happening to you. We DO get through one way or another. Your telescope can be your reminder. Sometimes it takes a while to slow down. Thanks.

"stop and smell the roses" is one of my favorite sayings, because many do not take the time to really look at all there is on this wonderful planet. We truly have so much to be thankful for, but because we are so busy with our daily lives alot of wonderful things slip by. It just takes a moment in time to reflect on all the wonderful things we have. We each need to take that moment. Billy it sounds as if you have found your moment. Take care and God is watching over you.

God has been gracious to give me many years to live. I am alone now and find when I got outdoors I listen to the birds, look at the flowers and wave at my neighbors. It seems sad that we have to put some years behind it before we pay attention to all the beauty around us. Billy, hope that your health problems will be resolved and give you a long time to enjoy the flowers. God Bless

When I was working, I never had time to appreciate the things around me - either too tired, or no interest; But like you say - look up and give thanks now and then even when you think you don't have the time - Now that I am retired, I see beauty in things I never thought i'd ever seen any beauty in - my animals are my enjoyment when I'm not near my grandkids and family - my flowers are the beauty of what God has put on this earth for us to enjoy - look around - it's here to be loved and appreciated at ALL times! Give thanks! He has given us all things - let's love them and enjoy them!

I have a habit of going out on our deck outside our bedroom and looking at the stars every night before I go to bed. During the summer I go out there to watch the sunset. We live in a beautiful part of the country and I thank the dear Lord everynight for the opportunity to live here.

thats a wonderful thing you wrote. I lost my job in february and was very depressed for quite a long time, as my hubby had been out of work for 3 yrs also. then i realized God has a plan for us and will show us the way. you are so right. I try to enjoy everyday and feel blessed for what i do have.

Oh so true! Thank you for your lovely story. Will keep you in my prayers. Never too late to stop and smell the flowers and thank God for all its beauty!