Dear Reader:

My morning glories never got the ‘office email’ telling them they could stop blooming now. Just like they didn’t get the earlier notification that due to their name…they only had to bloom in the morning.

Because of this my morning glories have bloomed all day and even night…pulling 24/7 shifts since they were planted back in May. In three more days it will be December and still they bloom and bloom and bloom. Even the ‘close call’ early morning temps in the thirties haven’t slowed them down a bit. (or my forgetful watering patterns this late in the season)

They are simply concentrating on each moment of each day without going “big picture” and getting distracted by general rules of morning glory expectations according to other “experts” in the field.

In the little book magazine Bits & Pieces (Thanks Jo for my copies) I came across an interesting concept created by Sir William Osler, the great Canadian physician in 1909. While traveling on an ocean liner one day, a warning alarm sounded. Immediately all the watertight compartments slammed tight below deck. Sir Osler had an instant epiphany. By focusing solely on one day’s work and shutting out other thoughts, it would be possible to get a day’s work done without losing focus about worries in the future.

Dr. Osler suggested that we draw a circle around one 24-hour period of time. Determine what we can do in that time and then don’t bother our mind with worries about any other outside (the circle) projects. Tomorrow would take care of itself.

In other words instead of just circling the date…circle the whole box…and write in the items that you wish to accomplish that day.

An example of how this principle can be effective in our lives is shown through this shared anecdote. Dr. Osler heard a story about a tourist visiting a cathedral where an artisan was working on a huge mosaic. A vast empty wall was before the artist, and the tourist asked, “Aren’t you worried about all that space that you need to fill  and how you will ever finish it?”

The artist said simply that he knew what he could reasonably accomplish in a day. So each morning, he marked off the area he would complete. He didn’t allow himself time to worry about what lay outside the marked off area. He just took one day at a time, knowing one day the mosaic would be finished.

One night a freeze will kill the morning glories… ending this long and productive season they have experienced. But until then… my morning glories just seem to to keep blooming and blooming bringing awe and wonder to those who seek strength and find beauty abound.

So until tomorrow…

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Last night I just happened to be surfing channels when I saw that the state Christmas Tree Lighting was on. The music from the various groups of students and musicians, including Ft. Jackson military instrumentalists, was absolutely fantastic!

As I watched and listened to the children’s carolers (“The Carolighting Children’s Choir”) I remembered that Libby’s oldest grandchild…Hailey had made the all-state children’s chorus so I quickly texted Libby and sure enough she was performing and the family was there supporting her.

This beautiful music definitely captured time in each note. *Libby said it was even more wondrous ‘upclose and personal.’ It made me proud to be South Carolina citizen. Such talent! Way to go Hailey!

Left to Rebecca, Libby, *Hailey, Keely, Rhett, and Collin.

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Rebecca, Betsy, and our performer (last night) Hailey (on the right)