...getting your 'toe-nie nails' painted with Mommy's polish.



...practicing your ollie.

...being ticklish!

...watching your daughter play a sport she loves.

And also watching her team place 2nd in the tournament!

More to come on my blah'g!



...hearing your baby say the Pledge of Allegiance.



After only going to school a few weeks, Elise has gotten the pledge down pretty well. I'm so proud of her - there's a lot of big words to learn!
(Every time we drive by Kid's World in Sac City, without fail, Elise points out her little friend's preshool. This time was no exception.)

...finding a pretty cute caterpillar on the windowsill.



...having a happiness that isn't based on others' attitudes, actions, or behaviors.

...finally having that pipe replaced!

 Robert did a great job at patching the pipe about a month or so ago, but it finally just busted through. It was BAD. Nothing in the bathroom or basement (the bathroom was an add-on at some point, so the water just sprayed onto the dirt in the crawl space), so that saved a big headache.

Could have been worse, but it wasn't, so I'm grateful.

OH! Another thing to be happy about - the plumber owes Robert for some computer work, so his call will just be deducted from the bill, so nothing out of pocket!

:)

...having a full, but fun weekend.

...trying to find Mr. Toad

"Where are you, Mr. Toad?"

"Can't...quite...reach you."

(I took these from inside, to the blur is from the window. Just wanted to explain :P)



...riding a bike without training wheels.

I told Abby that her little best friend just started riding her bike without training wheels, so as soon as Daddy came home, she asked him to take her training wheels off. She's asked before here & there over the summer, but always at times it couldn't get done.

I told her that it might take practice before she figures out balance, but she got it right away, albeit a little bit wobbly, but we have our lumpy, bumpy, cracky sidewalk to thank for that!

...wearing Mommy's shoes.



...spending quality time with Caitlin.

And if Caitlin was writing this, she'd say, "Happiness is getting to order my own soda and churros!"

:)

...driving home during a beautiful sunset. And cresent moons.

...playing a number game with my kiddos that they just can't figure out how I win EVERY time!

 Their attempt at finding clues to my winning...

But I will always win.

;)

...not living in fear. Thanks to all who have sacrificed.

...having a million butterflies in your own backyard. And tree climbing. And wagon riding.

...hearing your 4 year old use a new word.

 "Humongous."

Everything is now humongous. Today, it was a humongous dragonfly.

It's better than her last new word, "hideous."

:)

...speeding up just so I can use the new brakes!

...seeing God's creativity in nature.

Be on the lookout for more camping fun on my blah'g!

:)

...family time.

...going camping for the first time!

 Wish us luck! :)

...getting to run through the water in your nice clothes!

...Eating Lunch with Daddy.

 Elise & I went to bring a few computers to Robert earlier today, and thought it would be nice to eat lunch together. Robert mentioned going to The Hub on Fifth, a place I had never even seen before. The food was great, atmosphere eclectic and coffee shop-ish, and the company was even better.

And if it was Elise writing this post, she'd say, "Happiness is a red slushy all to myself!"

Joy

Joy is one of the best safeguards against temptation. The devil is a carrier of dust and dirt and he uses every opportunity to throw what he has at us. But a joyful heart protects us from this dirt. That is because Jesus is there in our joy. Jesus takes full possession of our soul when we surrender to him joyfully.

Mother Teresa

This picture of my grandmother just resonates joy to me. Even though her mind is ravaged by a terrible disease, Jesus is in her heart. She has mostly forgotten me, but hasn't forgotten her Savior. Sure, she will have her moments where her confusion and emotions get the best of her, but if you compare her to others with a similar diagnosis, you will see a difference. That difference is the joy from within, placed there by Jesus Himself. And nothing, no matter how terrible it may be, can take that away.

Happiness is...

digging through your freezer and finding a tub of the world's best salsa that you totally forgot about!

Patience is knowing the world's best salsa is now in your fridge... FROZEN.

So, scratch making a page for these. I'm not a proficient enough blogger to know that the pages are static. You can't just put new posts up the same as here. Oh well. :)

Finding Things to be Happy About

 So I think my happiness posts will have their own blah'g. If it links to my regular blah'g, anyway!

There's not really much purpose to this. Other than looking for the good in every day. Some days may be more profound, while other days may seem kind of silly.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17