I'm happy because

I am happy because:    

• I learned something about myself today.  Not something I like, something I don’t like.  Which points to me another thing I need to work on, to change.  And I’m happy that I recognized it, finally.
• I’m thankful for oatmeal.  Oatmeal is great.  It’s healthy.  And it’s filling.  And it’s easy to make.  And you can add almost anything to it.  Fruit.  Canned pumpkin.  Anything.  And it will taste good, pretty much every time.  So it’s great when you are almost out of food, because you can serve it plain, or mix in a can of pears, a tablespoon of pumpkin and cinnamon, or even a packet of hot cocoa.  And suddenly it’s delicious, and the kids think it’s a treat.  It makes my kids happy.  Which makes me happy.
• October is over.  It’s November.  So it should really start cooling down pretty soon.  I hope.  And Thanksgiving is coming up!  And I am going to get a turkey and make mashed potatoes and everything!  I’ve got three weeks to gather the needed ingredients.  I’m sure I can swing it!  It’s going to be so yummy!  I love cranberry sauce on my turkey, I hope I can make some!  Mmmm!

I am happy because:  

• Robbie has accomplished a great deal towards finishing his “wolf trail” in scouts!  I’m very excited to see how enthusiastic he is about it!  This is one great thing about his Asperger’s, he is very goal oriented and can accomplish quite a bit when he puts his mind to it!  Yay, Robbie!
• Amber has really improved her grades from last year, and I’m proud of how much she has turned it around!  I think that some of last year’s performance (or lack of it) was due to the divorce and all of the issues that come along with it.  Now that things have . . . settled down a bit, she seems to being doing better in school.  Now if we could just work on that attitude issue . . .
• My Gramma Phillips is a lifesaver, and I love her dearly.  I wish I could show her just how dear she is to me, but I dont’ think it’s possible!  Now I know where my mother gets it . . .   I’ve been really and truly blessed.

I am happy because:  

• Today the kids and I went to the temple grounds.  We went on a “tour” given by two very green sister missionaries.  It was a tour of the outside of the temple, mostly focusing on the beautiful relief work along the top of the temple.  I’ll say that I have a new respect for it, and would love to own up-close pictures on the various corners, matted and framed.

  Anyways, at the temple, I heard some young kids who were training for the youth tour program thingy that they have, and one of the young men commented that he thought it was silly to invite people who were obviously not interested in the temple, or even in the church.

  I couldn’t stay silent, I spoke up, and I explained that I was a convert, and I explained how it was people who were brave enough to bear their testimony to me (me, an egg-throwing mormon hater), people who were brave enough to invite me on temple tours (that I never went to), people who answered my questions (often asked with the intention to use it against them in ridicule) . . .  it was people like that who planted the seeds, that one day down the road grew into something large enough for me to finally search for my own answers.

  And when my decision to join this controversial church was not well met with the people I had around me at the time, well, I knew where to find the support I needed to strengthen that tender testimony of mine.

  I told them that there was a boy in high school, someone very popular (high school mascot, no less), who knew I exsisted despite the fact that I was a nobody (total loser in high-school terms) in those days.  And that boy invited me on temple tours (we had study hall together, and japanese class as well), and I always shrugged him off.  And then, later down the road, when I realized what a gift there was in the gospel, I realized then what he was offering me.

  And I thank him, and every other “crazy mormon” I knew in high school that was brave enough to try to reach me  (lots of kids, even teachers, thank you Sensei!).

  Anyways, that and more was said.  I really had to say some things, and I said them.  I think I embarrassed my kids.  But after the tour, when we were leaving, that young man came to me with tears in his eyes to thank me for what I had said.  And that.  That makes me happy.  I hope he can find the courage to invite whoever it is to tour the temple grounds.  And that he’ll know that even if he or she rejects the offer, that the seed will have been planted.  And sometimes, that is all a person can do.  You gotta let the Spirit do the rest.

I am happy because: 

• Today I got a lot of much-needed rest.  I think I’m almost done with this little virus, too.  I hope!  I just hope I can completely shake it off by tomorrow . . .
• I love pumpkin pie.  The smell of it when you pull it out of the oven is just heavenly.  I really think that it’s my favorite pie, outside of pear pie.  I love pear and blueberry pie, too.  With icecream.  So it’s a tie between the two of them.  But pumpkin pie, freshly made, with some delicious whipped cream on top, that’s good stuff!  I  can’t wait to have some tomorrow evening.
• Tomorrow is Edwards Family Temple Day!  We are going to go to the temple as a family, just to stroll the grounds, and stuff.  It’s going to be nice, so long as I am feeling better by then.  It’s going to be really nice, the weather lately has been gorgeous!  I can’t wait!

I am happy because: 

• This Too Shall Pass  by Helen Steiner Rice
    
  If I can endure for this minute
  Whatever is happening to me,
  No matter how heavy my heart is
  Or how dark the moment may be -
    
  If I can but keep on believing
  What I know in my heart to be true,
  That darkness will fade with the morning
  And that this will pass away, too -
    
  Then nothing in life can defeat me
  For as long as this knowledge remains,
  I can suffer whatever is happening
  For I know God will break these chains
   
  That are binding me tight in the darkness
  And trying to fill me with fear -
  For there is no night without dawning
  And I know that my morning is near.
    
• “The peace I feel, my joy in sacred things,
  Surpasses all the world could ever bring.
  With humble heart I take a valiant stand,
  I will obey this gentle sweet command:
    
  Learn of me and listen to my words,
  Walk in the meekness of my light
  And I shall give you peace,
  My love will never cease,
  For I am Jesus Christ.
    
• “Life is not about learning to survive the storm, but rather about learning to dance in the rain.”

I am happy because: 

• Tonight, Amber said “I’m so hot, I’m sweating buckets!”  And Robbie said, “That’s so funny!  You are sweating, and instead of sweat, it’s buckets coming down!”  LoL  I had to explain that the phrase “sweating buckets” means that you are sweating so much you could fill a bucket with the sweat.  It’s so adorable that Robbie thinks so literally!  He makes me laugh every time!
• The sunset tonight was so pretty.  Red as can be.  And violet, too.  I wish I had taken a picture.
• The jackets from last year still fit the kids this year, so I won’t have to buy new ones.  Yay!

I am happy because . . .  

• I made a cute pillowcase today.  It was very, very frustrating to make.  I know they are supposed to be simple, but for me it was anything but!  But the end product is cute, so I’m happy.
• I survived day one of my daughter’s month long grounding.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the day, at first, but it’s almost bedtime, and we managed.
• I have decided that taking my current job was the right step, even if it wasn’t the right job.  I did need to leave my old place of employment, and the only way I was going to do that was if I had another job.  So this was my babystep in the right direction.  Now I am even more motivated to find new employment!!!

I am happy because:

• All four of my children are tucked in bed, safe and sound, not necessarily happy, but definately healthy.
• Tomorrow I am going to be sewing, and hopefully creating something fun!
• The two littles get to have a really great time with my ex and his wife tomorrow at a Halloween party her family throws every year.  It’s apparently a big shindig!  They are going to have such a blast, and will get to dress up and everything!  Yay for them!  I can’t wait to hear all about it later!

I am happy because:  

• I survived my first day at the new job.  There were times where the likelihood of that was questionable.
• I found a frozen dinner in the microwave, which saved me from having to cook.  The kids were happy to eat the peanut butter sandwiches I made for them.
• My children are wonderful.  They tell me they love me when I really need to hear it.  And smother me in hugs and kisses when I really need them.

I am happy because:

• Tomorrow I will begin working in a preschool.  I really did miss working with small children, so it will be a treat while it lasts!  I know this is just a step-up position, temporary.  I know that there are opportunities for advancement in this field, should I wish to take them.  But I am also still exploring other options that are still out there for me.  I am looking forward to trying new things, even though I’m also very afraid to.  I know that Heavenly Father will lead me to where I need to be.  I just need to be patient.
• Tonight I had some delicious chili and some extremely delicious mini-chocolate cupcakes!  Ooh, those cupcakes were so divine!  I could have gobbled up the whole tray!  I plan to find out the recipe, and when I do, I know a certain person that I promised to make something delicious for, and so I will have to make a double batch!
• I love giraffes.  “They embody the best and the worst in all of us:  the awkwardness that inhibits our social lives; the poise that inhabits our dreams.  Watch a giraffe splay it’s legs to take a drink and you will know the true meaning of insecurity.  Watch a herd gallop across the savanna and you will grasp the essence of elegance.  …  Meet a giraffe face-to-face and I guarantee you will lose your heart.”  Giraffes make me happy.