I'm happy because

I am happy because:

• Where can I turn for peace?
  Where is my solace
  When other sources cease to make me whole?
  When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
  I draw myself apart,
  Searching my soul?
  Where, when my aching grows,
  Where, when I languish,
  Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
  Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
  Who, who can understand?
  He, only One.
  He answers privately,
  Reaches my reaching
  In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
  Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
  Constant he is and kind,
  Love without end.
  .
• Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
  With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
  Leave to thy God to order and provide;
  In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
  Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
  Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
  Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
  To guide the future as he has the past.
  Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
  All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
  Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
  His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
  Be still, my soul: The hour is hast’ning on
  When we shall be forever with the Lord,
  When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
  Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
  Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
  All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
  .
• Music is a powerful thing.  If you chose the right music, you can change so much.  I like to block out all of the light, snuggle into my covers, and just listen to beautiful voices singing beautiful words.  I can find so much comfort in music.  It quiets my mind, and soothes my heart.  Music truely does speak to the soul.

I am happy because:

• I have been blessed to find a new job less than 24 hours after deciding to look for one.  I know there are people who have been looking for work for months, or years.  This new job has potential for advancement, there are benefits available, and I will have every weekend off.
• Becca told me today that she doesn’t understand why cat treats are called treats, because “they taste exactly the same as the cat food”.  Yeah.  And then she said “And they aren’t really chicken flavored, or fish flavored, they are all just cat food flavored.”  Made me smile.
• Robbie’s therapist told Robbie a joke.  It took him the entire visit to “get it”.  What was the joke?  “Why does Tigger smell bad?  Because he’s always playing with Pooh!”  When Robbie finally got it, he started making his own versions.  “Why is Piglet so dirty?  He’s always playing with Pooh!”  Yeah, he’s a crack up.

I am happy because:

• Today is my mom’s birthday.  We took $4,500 worth of stuff that we’d been collecting from friends and family all month (dog food, cat food, toys, grooming tools, bedding, towels, and more) down to the shelter today and donated it in her name.  We did this as a family, for her birthday gift. 
• Amber went on her first hike with the hiking club today, and did very well!  She won a “best hiker” award, too.  And came face to face with a bear!!!  It was an adventure, but it all turned out well in the end.  She’s feeling rather accomplished right now.  Which makes a mama proud!
• Tomorrow is Sunday.  I love Sunday.

I am happy because:

• When the kids went to music lessons today (their dad drove them), I got to spend some time with a wonderful friend of mine.  We chatted books, sewing, silly nicknames, and more.  It was so fun to visit with her and her two sweet girls, and I can’t wait to do it again next week!
• I’m feeling more sure of my choice to seek an opportunity, though I have been thinking of things that might need to change to allow this particular opportunity to work out.  I’m so thankful for prayer, and for not having to make on-the-spot decisions/commitments.  I am grateful for “burning bushes”, even when they might not seem to be what you initially think them to be.  Personal revelation can be such tricky business, the hardest part is putting aside what you might want, and allowing what He has planned for you to happen.
• This quote used to be in my old (now ruined) scriptures, written on the inside cover.  I’m thinking it was Ogletree that said it, but I can’t remember.  But I can write out the jist of it.  It went something along the lines of “It does you no good to be on the right road, facing the right direction, if all you are going to do is stand there.”  or something along those lines.  I can’t remember, but that’s the thought in my mind tonight as I turn in.

I am happy because:

• Sometimes you do get a “burning bush” answer.  And sometimes you don’t have to wait so very long to get one.  Yes, sometimes that still, small voice can feel more like a cheerleader!
• I’m finally startin’ to feel better, although I do get tired rather quickly!
• “The Spirit of God like a fire is burning”, is playing over and over again in my mind.  Good song.

I am happy because:

• My daughter feels safe coming to me to explain to me (gently) that I was probably being unfair to my other daughter when I lost my temper with her, and (gently) reminded me that I asked to be told when I get that way so that I can change it.  It makes me feel good that the kids know they can tell me anything and I won’t blow my top over it.  I’m not excited that I needed to have it pointed out, but I’m glad she did, because I didn’t really think about it until she did, and then I realized that she was right, and so made sure I took the other daughter aside to talk to her and apologize to her.  (“That’s ok, mom”, she says.  “No, it’s not okay.  You can forgive me, but it’s never okay for someone, especially your mom, to talk to you that way.”, says I, followed by a big hug.)  It was a good thing.
• I think I have an idea for a cute little bag, and also a zippered pouch, that I would like to make, using fabrics that I have in my stash, that I think would be cute enough to maybe try to sell.  I am trying to figure out how to incorporate a bit of pink ribbon into them, because it would be cute if I could do it, and because next month is breast cancer awareness month, and my 5-year-mark as well!  We’ll see how it goes!
• Last night there was rain.  Today was humid, but it wasn’t too bad.  Tomorrow promises to be cooler than what’s normal for Arizona.  Maybe I’ll go spend a little time sitting in the sunshine, breathing in the good air.  That might help me feel better.  Ah yes, I love this time of year!

I am happy because:

• 17 years ago today I was baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I can truthfully and without hesitation profess that it was the best decision I have ever made.  And it’s a day to celebrate . . . it’s my “churchiversary”!  Yay!
• Early this morning I got a phone call from “Rocky”, a random lady out walking her dog in the wee hours of the morning.  She was just calling to inform me that she could see my kitty, Macavity, who had been missing for nearly three whole weeks, sitting on the sidewalk in front of the auto parts store about a mile or so away from home.  I grabbed Amber, and the two of us, still in our jammies, (and me without my glasses because I forgot them in my just-woke-up-still-so-sick haze), jumped into the car and ran down to the auto parts store where she was spotted.  And there she was, just laying there on the sidewalk in front of a bush, in a place we had searched time and time before with no signs of her there.  And when she saw us, she stood up and walked, rather quickly, to the edge of the sidewalk (but would not step off onto the street, smart kitty), meowing her little head off.  When we reached her, she just kept on meowing and meowing, and rubbing herself all over Amber, and then flopped for her belly rub, “talking” to us all the while (meow, meow, meow).  She looks pretty good for having had such a long adventure.  A little skinny, but no major injuries and no fleas or ticks.  Yay.  We got her home, fed her (a small meal so as not to make her sick) and gave her plenty to drink (she was so thirsty) and now she is snoozin’ on the toilet seat!  We missed our kitty!
• I love not feeling guilty when I take a mid-day nap.  If you have pneumonia, a mid-day nap is a good thing, right?  I mean, that’s what getting plenty of rest means!  So, yeah, I love mid-day naps, and not feeling guilty about having one!

I am happy because:

• I spent much of the day resting, which is sure to help me feel better tomorrow.
• I read the entire Mockingjay book today, and it was great.  I cried a lot, but I loved it anyway.
• All of my kids went straight to bed after getting home from their dad’s house, and I only had to correct my youngest for getting out of bed once.

I am happy because:

• I have been blessed with a step-father who loves me and takes good care of me.  He’s a good man who will drop everything and come to the rescue if I need it!
• Nyquil is a wonderful drug when you are feeling less than stellar.  I took many naps today, because of this wonderful drug.
• My son just came in the room and was twirling my pony-tail, telling me that I’m his favorite mom in the whole world, and explaining how he is always going to honor his priesthood when he gets it, and that he is going to be able to baptise his own children and he will not have a bad temper.  I love that little man, he’s so . . . thoughtful, thinking all those deep thoughts on his own.  What a cutie.

I am happy because:

• I managed to clean my entire kitchen today!  It’s spotless!  Yay!
• I got a full day of work today, despite the fact that it was really slow.
• I’m feeling like I might make something tomorrow (create one of my happy thoughts) when I am done cleaning the house.  I’m so excited!