Forever Happiness

H  A  P  P  I  N  E  S  S

I S

 Being with & loved by my 

Kind-Goofy-Generous-Devoted-Never-Boring-Loyal Companion

F O R E V E R

*****

T H A N K  Y O U

for 

L O V I N G

me

U N C O N D I T I O N A L L Y

*****

Easter with Gratitude & Praise

He did this

The Perfect. The Whole. The Complete.

The Pure. The One without sin.

The Just. The Merciful.

The Humble. The  Obedient. The Willing. The Trusting.

The One who loved humanity more than himself.

He did this

He did this
For us.

The imperfect. The lacking. The broken.

The sinner. The self-centered. The disobedient.

The doubter. The ungrateful. The weak. The stubborn.

The one always struggling to love.

He did this
For me.

Praise be to Him who Loves 
and Lives and Saves
Perfectly

My Happiness Manifesto

I was inspired to make one of these from this blog I like a lot.

I will, for now, put it on my computer screen. 

Then print it out and place it where I will see it often.

Like the potty room or the kitchen.

 I made my own 21 keep joy and happiness inducers.

To use not all at once, but as needed... 

For when the 'D' words start to take over, like:

Doubt, discouragement, discord, downhearted, discontent, disillusioned, 

distrust, disgusted, depressed...

These are tried, lived and tested. They usually work for me.

They bring me joy and happiness.

(These are in no particular order.)

1. Rejoice and Live in the Now

Because that is all we have. The Now. Life is lived one moment at a time. Enjoy.

"Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering" 

Fanny Crosby

2. I can do hard things

With Christ all things are possible.

Hard things increase growth, faith, strength & stretches our soul.

3. Create Beauty

Make your environment beautiful.
Creativity enlarges the soul and mind. Make Beauty all around you!

4. Delight and feast upon the word
Seek, dig, ponder upon the words of Christ. They lighten up the soul. Give direction. Comfort.
Give Peace and Understanding.

5. Exercise the heart 
For longevity and well being. Find what you love. And do it. Move & stretch that body!
We only have one to carry us through our life journey.

6. Peace and harmony in the heart
Keep anger out of your life. When It comes, do not let it fester and linger. Forgive.
"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of  happiness"
Ralf Aldo Emerson

7. Keep the Vision, This too shall pass.
Our life is but a moment. A Passing.
Everything will eventually pass, and change, and get better in the end.
'If it's not okay, it's not the end'

8. Look Up

Every day, look up towards heaven. Look at the clouds, the stars, the vast expanse...

How small am I? Insignificant. Yet, I am noticed and loved beyond measure. 
Feel the love of God!

9. Serve Someone

Nothing is quite like making someone smile, lifting an other's heart, giving a helping hand.

One cannot serve & love without feeling joy and increase happiness.

Find one in need every day. No matter how small or big the act of love is.

10. Rest

Rest your heart in the stillness of God
"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
Augustine.

A well rested body, makes for a clearer thinking head. 

Less grumpiness and impatience with those we love the most.

Sleep. Relax.

11. I am in charge of how I feel. Today I choose Happiness.

I have the power to choose how I feel. Things don't go my way? 

Rain. Clouds. Evil hearts. Wars. Unrest. Disasters.

Others may taunt, tease, disappoint, hurt, ignore...

I control my feelings! They do not control me. 

12. Count Gifts. Notice Tender Mercies

In All things give Thanks.

Gratitude turns everything we have into enough.

13. Listen. Smell. See. The World.

I believe there is beauty in Mother Nature everywhere. Look for it with all senses. Everyday.
A bird's song. A lady bug. Warm rain drops. Spring scents. Taste of a fruit.
It's all a gift to make our life more beautiful and enjoyable.

14. Clean space = Clear mind
De clutter, it invites sanity & clarity of the mind. Think better.
When we clean out things that don't matter, we make room for what does.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" ~William Morris

15. Read
A good book. To expand the mind.

16. Stop and Kneel
When I forgot my morning prayer and it's 3pm.
When challenges arise and I need help from above.
When gifts & joys are noticed.
When prayers are answered.
Thank and Praise.

17. Keep a tender Heart
Soft. Loving. Forgiving. Full of the love of God.
Do not chase the spirit away...

18. Plan my work. Work my plan.
Monday Downton Abbey day. Wed Laundry day. Friday Date with my Man day.
Having a plan helps me not to get lost and get things done.
Whether it is work or pleasure.
Schedule it. It's more likely it will happen.

19. Joyful Music. Soundtrack your work.
Fill your home with good music. Especially on rainy dreary days.
It lifts and encourages to work on that chore you can't get around to do.
It helps me focus on the task at hand. And who can't use more focus?
If I'm on the net being distracted from what I really need to get done,
 I put on my-clean-the-house-playlist and oh, miracle of all miracles,
I get up and do it!

20. Breath Deep. Slow down.
Enjoy the moment, the season you are in.
When things get too fast, too overwhelming.
Breath Deep and Stay Calm.
Life is not a race, but a journey needing to be enjoyed.

21. I am Enough because He is enough. 
In Christ, I am Complete.
Remember that! No matter how much I lack, He is all and everything.
He will complete me and make me whole and enough.

Saturday Happenings Backwards

 Late evening
I threatened some neighbor kids at Emric's friend's birthday party
that were being very loud, so obnoxious and rude,
 We came to pick him up but waited until the movie they were watching on the patio under a giant parachute adorned with strings of colorful lights, was over.
(So fun, creative and cute!)
I threatened to call the police, after Mike tried to talk to them with no success...
My man is too nice.
I asked for a parent to come out and talk to me.
All she did was peak her head out her back door and told the kids to leave the teens alone...
Really?
They calmed down after I was done with them, though.

Dinner time
 Love sushi. Good for the belly.

Late afternoon
Grocery Shopping in my flip-flops. Love Texas winters! 
Love my reusable shopping bags. Hate it when I forget them!
Why doesn't everyone use them? I hate flimsy plastic bags!

Afternoon
Siblings not fighting. Playing together for 2 hours. Love it. Heaven at home!
I might even sing "Love at home" ? hummmm, never mind. I'm not quite there yet.

Noon
Cutting and freezing French Raclette cheese, bought  in Cincinnati, for when Justine comes home.
I love, adore, cook, crave, and miss french food. 

Morning
Walk in the forest with my man and dog.
Nature. Good for the soul.
Life is good.

A Place to Be at Peace

Yesterday was: 

A lovely morning

A lovely sunny morning

This is one place I love . 

Where I always feel good and at peace.

Where family ties past and future are remembered.

Where time has no bearing. 

A place where generations meet.

And loved ones are bonded.

A place to be at peace and contemplate never ending stories.
On this lovely sunny morning...

You Got Some Nice Moves Kid!

Yesterday, Emric had a 11 dive meet. 

He is finally gaining more control over his body and losing some of that teen boy awkwardness...

Yeah!

I love to see my kids involved in good stuff! 

As I was watching the coach's interaction with the kids, 

I felt immense gratitude for good, involved, caring, kid-inspirering, dedicated teachers. 

They truly are doing a wonderful service to our kids, and play a big role in who they become.

They truly make a difference for good  in our kids lives...

Thank you! Good coaches and teachers everywhere!

Thanksgiving

*******

 ”Christian thanksgiving is the life of Christ in the heart, 

transforming the disposition and the whole character. 

Thanksgiving must be wrought into the life as a habit—

before it can become a fixed and permanent quality.

We must persist in being thankful. 

Thanksgiving has attained its rightful place in us, 

only when it is part of all our days and dominates all our experiences.

Every day of our years should be a thanksgiving day.

He who has learned the Thanksgiving lesson, 

well has found the secret of a beautiful life.”

J.R. Miller

*******

Today - Part 2

Today

A 'Ray of Sunshine' came through the back door at the drop of a hat, 

in the form of a sweet sister-girlfriend, Jamie.

To comfort, to offer friendship, to paint toe nails orange!

A breath of fresh air on a beautiful, beautiful sunny day!

Even though my heart was gloomy.

Funny it is.

Because yesterday, I was an answer to her prayer, so she says.

She called me 'Angel'.

I went to her, offering a helping hand, a chick flick and a lunch.

When she said: 

"How can I repay you?", 

I said: 

"By just by being you, a Ray of Sunshine, 

you just make people happy just by your presence."

Today she was just that to me!

Today

A sweet concerned caring Justine called from paradise.

A little uplifting comment from across the world. Merci Petit Frere...

Sometimes you just need to know someone cares...

Grateful today for an answered prayer.

Thank you.

'Macaron aux Framboise" French almond biscuit with vanilla cream and rasberries.

Today

I defrosted a Trader's Joe 'Macaron aux Framboise'

*****

Sunday Joys

Waking up next to my man - one good man.

Joy in marriage.

The wonderful smells of Preparing Dinner.
Beef braising, onions, garlic, shallots, fresh herbs from my garden; rosemary, thyme, oregano...
Joy in smells.

Recalling childhood memories of early witnesses of a loving God on my drive to Church.

Joy in life lived.

 Amelie entering church with a bandaged one bare foot and one foot with a shoe.
She took off the one. Was Bare feet the whole 3 hours of church!
Me not noticing when she got in the car.
Totally faked injury!
Joy of childhood games.

Testimonies born:
A grateful wife.
An 18 year old Girl, rejoicing in serving a mission in 6 months
versus the 2 years she was willing to wait.
Witnesses of Divine grace and love.
Joy in the soul.

Laughing so hard after the telling of  Mike's trunk incident!
A son innocently admitting he heard "put it all in my Trunk!"
Joy in laughter...

Braking our Fast with Delicious Beef Strogonoff,
mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and mushrooms
Joy in the belly!

Skyping family
Talking about nothing and everything
Beautiful Justine in Hawaii, family in France, the Browns in Utah.
Joy in togetherness.

Sharing crepes and nutella with another family.
Lot's of noises, hugs, dogs running around.
Teaching them our family song
All bearing testimonies one by one...
Kneeling in payers
Joy in sharing

Bed time rest after a full day next to my man - one good man.
Joy in the body

I am blessed.
Joy in the heart & life

******