I'm happy because

I am happy because

• The kids spent the entire day with their daddy and his new wife.  This gave me a lot of time to myself, a whole day practically!  From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. – that’s a ton of time for a gal who never gets any time to herself!  At first, I was not excited about this, because so much of who I am and what I do is wrapped up in those kids.  But then, after spending 2 hours moping in my bed room, I decided to make the most of it, and I’m so super glad I did!
• I got a sunburn on my knees, which haven’t seen the sun for well over a year.  I got this sunburn while floating on my back in the apartment complex pool!  It was great, just floating there, relaxed, not worried about my four not-able-to-swim children.  I floated, and floated.  And then I floated some more!
• Microwave popcorn is delicious when you don’t have to share the bag!  You can just snarf that whole thing yourself while watching a redbox movie you got for FREE (thank you free rental codes)!  And when you are watching a movie with no kids in the house, not only do you get to eat the whole bag of microwave popcorn yourself, but you also get to watch something that is NOT a cartoon!  Woot!

I am happy because:

• I don’t work today.  I don’t feel very good today, so I’m extremely thankful that it’s my day off.  I can take it easy, rest a little bit.
• I have a nearly full tank of gas!
• The weather outside is absolutely beautiful!

I am happy because:

• On Friday I got a review at work, and outside of my frequent absences in the past, I got an excellent review.  AND I got a 15 cent raise!  (This is after they said there was no way anyone in the whole company would be getting a raise.)  Woot!  That’s an extra $18 a month!  Awesome! It also means that, so long as I do not miss any more work for kids’ illnesses and such, I ought to have a little more job security than I thought!  Awesome!
• I have a wonderful bishop who had a great deal of empathy for single moms.  He doesn’t make me feel inferior because of my status as a single mother, but offers so much support!  What a good man, I’m so very grateful to have such a great bishop!
• Today was a very restful day.  I really needed one of those!

I am happy because:

• I got to spend some quality time with my Becca today.  She’s such a hoot!  It’s a rare thing for the two of us to have any one-on-one, so it was wonderful to sit down and see a movie (bye-bye last of the gift certificates from Christmas!) with her, and spend some time chit-chatting over dinner (bye-bye gift card to Chili’s).  We stopped by the grocery store on the way home, and even that was fun!
• Today at work there was a 50+ year old gentleman who came in with his cat.  He was a difficult client, in that (I think) he had a mental handicap, and may have been under the influence of a medication or two.  He was so sweet, and sincere.  I know that other people I worked with struggled with dealing with him, and I did find some parts of our interaction somewhat frustrating, but I also kept thinking to myself that this man was a spirit child of our Heavenly Father and deserved our best.  And so I gave my best.  It did take a lot of time we don’t normally spend with a client, but still, I did all I could to help him and answer his questions.  I wanted to make sure he understood his options and everything.  And overall it was a very good experience for me.
• Amber has begun her part of our family’s heritage project (a summer long heritage project wherein the whole family will participate to research our family’s heritage, thus, hopefully, increasing our appreciation for temple work, the atonement, and our own individual worth – for starters).  Today she interviewed her Great Grandma Phillips about Great Grandpa, who passed away a few years back.  She got some pretty good material, which we will present in one of our family home evenings this summer.  It’s going to be great!  I’m excited, and the amazing thing is that Amber is, too!

I am happy because

• I was born an American citizen.  I am extremely blessed that I do not have to struggle with gaining citizenship, as so many good people do.  I was fortunate enough to have been born here.
• I got a (teeny tiny) raise!  I guess my job isn’t as in jeopardy as I suspected?
• I have a wonderful bed!  I used to have to sleep on the couch, for the longest time!  But now I have a real bed, with a great mattress, and it’s so very comfortable!  I can hardly wait to get to bed tonight!  Yay!

I am happy because

• I have this really great playground right outside of my apartment.  I mean, it has slides, and sand, and monkey bars.  Everything I mom would need to exhaust some kiddos before bed!
• I don’t have to be at work until 9 a.m. tomorrow, which is totally awesome.  It means I can sleep in until at least 7 a.m., and still have time for breakfast and scriptures!  *woot*
• No one in our household is ill today, which is such a blessing!  I know so many people who have colds, or severe allergies, or some other ailment!  But me?  I feel fine!  And my kids are doing well, too.

I am happy because

• It’s almost time for the Lost finale, and I actually have a television, so I can watch it!  I can’t wait for the show to end, it has been torturing my brain for too many years!
• There are only two days until payday!
• The house is quiet, because all of the kids are asleep!  I love the sound of sleeping children!

I am happy because:

• I have a great little book called “Best Easy Day Hikes Phoenix” that is chock full of places to try out with the kids!  I can’t wait for another Saturday off so that we can pick one out and go!
• I’m learning how (teaching myself how) to use the topical guide and bible dictionary properly in my scripture studies!  I didn’t have institute as a kid, so I was never shown how to use these wonderful resources!  It’s an exciting adventure for me!
• I think I am going to get enough sleep tonight, because I fully intend to be asleep within the hour! 

I am happy because:

• I love the idea of being encircled in the arms of my Heavenly Father’s love!  What a wonderful picture that phrase brings to my mind!  What a welcome relief, to collapse at the finish line, swept up in His mighty arms!  The image this brings to my mind makes me smile!  (D&C 6:20)
• “You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.  The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano.  Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exsist before – colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.” . . . “If you feel incapable of creating, start small.  Try to see how many smiles you can create; write a letter of appreciation; learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.” . . . “The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create.” – Uchtdorf <– This was so uplifting to read, it just made me feel like, YES, it IS possible for me!  After all, I am a spirit child of Heavenly Father, and he’s a master!  You’ve gotta think that this stuff must be hereditary!    Starting small?  That’s not too hard, is it?
• I feel so very alive today!  Much of it is because of Uchtdorf’s little quotes above.  It stirs me, I can literally feel my heart pumping!  I seem to feel my very blood coursing through my veins!  The air tastes good today, the sun’s warmth on my skin almost tingles!  Oh, what a joy to be alive!  I have conquered breast cancer . . . twice!  This trial I am going through is but a moment, but a blink, and I need to keep my eyes open or I just might miss it!

I am happy because

• A good friend came over for a visit today, and we were able to have a very nice visit!  I love her, and her family, to bits!
• This good friend also brought us a television they weren’t using, so now we have a working t.v. set, which is pretty awesome!
• “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee:  I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Be strong and of a good courage”  “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law” “turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”  “Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” – from Joshua chapter 1