Author Archives: Melissa

happiness

Our Lady Guadalupe

I was feeling a little down this afternoon when I headed out for my walk. I’m overtired which always makes my emotions feel that much more intense (and makes me that much more unable to deal with them).

One thing I have learned over this past year is that it is always possible to find happiness in each and every moment. The kicker is to remember to allow it and to look for it. I’ve had some pretty crappy things happen in 2015 and still, every day I sat down and thought about at least one moment that made me happy and left me feeling grateful in that day.

With that in mind but still carrying a little woe is me, I went for my walk around Old Town Albuquerque. It seems every time I explore there’s another little side walkway that I have not noticed before. This time I turned at a sign for a museum and instead ended up at the doorway of a small church. 

It was like God guided me here to remind me that He’s always there holding my hand. I needed that little reminder of love and support. I felt my heart lift and lighten as I walked in the doorway.  

Inside was this beautiful mural. I stood and looked at it for quite a while (I may have also cried in front of it for a bit, whatever. I thought I was done public crying at the end of 2015 but apparently that’s not the case). It made me feel so loved and warm and cared for just standing in this small but holy space.

  

Off to the side there was a small chapel and I walked to the front and stood at the cross and prayed for a little while. Mostly I just gave thanks for all of the blessings I have in my life. I have two beautiful children who make my world complete, I have a wonderfully strong and supportive family, I have friends who hold me up and laugh with me, I have that dog and those cats who fill my heart. I am a blessedly lucky person with all of the things that bring me joy and happiness.

Sometimes I just need that quiet space to remember how happy I am. I am so thankful I was guided into this little church. It was my happiness moment today.

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A welcoming smile 

 Friendliness goes a long way towards making a stranger feel welcome.  I have been impressed over and over again at how warm and inviting the people are as I’m encountering them during my walks around Old Town.  

My happiness moment is the warm in the heart feeling I was left with after my walk filled with friendly smiles. Some of that warmth also comes from the copious amount of chiles I’ve been eating. 

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Sweet and salty (and a little spicy)

Like the rest of my life, today was sweet and salty with a little bit of spice. 

I walked around Old Town Albuquerque a bit more today. Even though it was a long weekend more of the shops were open so I did a bit of window shopping. The jewelry that is made in the area is so beautiful. I’m thankful I don’t wear a lot of jewelry so I’m not as tempted as perhaps I would be. Although I did fall in love with a Navajo rug that was the tree of life with birds on it. Then I looked at the price tag and moved on. 

I had a little sweet craving today and headed into one of the candy shops. They were selling green chile peanut brittle made from local chile peppers. After having a sample and feeling a wonderful tingle in my throat I headed back with a little bag to enjoy with my cup of tea. 

Because sometimes it’s small simple things that bring a happiness moment 

  

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The Church Street Cafe. 

Without a lot of morning and groanong about the details, suffice it to say that the last 24 hours have not been some of the better ones. Travelling can be a challenge and this trip threw a lot of surprises our way. 

We were feeling exhausted and frustrated this afternoon when we headed to Old Town in search of some lunch, some sunshine, and some sights. A place named the Church Cafe had been recommended to us, so that was where we decided to stop. 

Not only was the food fantastic but the waiter was so kind and funny that I left feeling so much more positive and happy about things. I don’t know that he realizes what a ray of sunshine he was on a gloomy day. We all need those bright rays shining on us and I’m so grateful that we happened upon his place. 

It is a great happiness moment to realize how a small act of kindness can make a big difference to someone. And a happy belly is that much more of a bonus!

On our way back to the hotel we saw this. Mom calls it Scary Mary in a tree.   

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Japanese flute music 

We had a very frazzled afternoon with lots of emotions running high. Anger took the wheel a bit more than he needed to. The three of us took a deep breath and decided to hit the restart button. 

When we sat down for supper we had the nicest, most relaxing Japanese flute music playing in the background. This is some of Jacob’s favourite music.  It was amazing the calm that overtook us. Within minutes Jenna commented how beautiful it was. We slowed down, really paid attention to our food, and enjoyed each other’s company. A great happiness moment. 

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Those three little words 

Love, that magic that makes our hearts sing. There’s nothing quite like it. 

I have a double happiness moment for today, and they both revolve around love. 

The first was when I dropped my teen off at school. He gathered his things, got out of the car, reached back in for his coffee, and then said bye mom have a good day. I love you. And turned and walked away. I followed him in the car, rolled down the window and said did I hear what I thought I just heard? He smiled and said maybe. I don’t know what you’re talking about.  And turned and ran into school. Public acknowledgement that he cares. It doesn’t get much better than that. 

Jenna and I skipped errands and went for a hot chocolate after school. 

  She was delighted when it showed up with a heart on it. She snuggled up to me and said this better be your  happiness moment today mom, because it is mine. These moments with these beautiful people are so precious. I am so grateful for this kind of love. It is a great blessing to be attracting this positive vibe into my life. 

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happiness

Those three little words 

Love, that magic that makes our hearts sing. There’s nothing quite like it. 

I have a double happiness moment for today, and they both revolve around love. 

The first was when I dropped my teen off at school. He gathered his things, got out of the car, reached back in for his coffee, and then said bye mom have a good day. I love you. And turned and walked away. I followed him in the car, rolled down the window and said did I hear what I thought I just heard? He smiled and said maybe. I don’t know what you’re talking about.  And turned and ran into school. Public acknowledgement that he cares. It doesn’t get much better than that. 

Jenna and I skipped errands and went for a hot chocolate after school. 

  She was delighted when it showed up with a heart on it. She snuggled up to me and said this better be your  happiness moment today mom, because it is mine. These moments with these beautiful people are so precious. I am so grateful for this kind of love. 

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Play fetch with me

Ella the Cat definitely lives life on her own rules. She has a strict close but no touching law that she forces us to abide by. That means we are allowed to be close to her, but we can’t touch her unless she deems it to be acceptable. 

Today she decided it was a day to play fetch. She has many little stuffed mice, but her favourite is a little torn up purple one. Everywhere I went today she followed and dropped the mouse beside me, then looked up with her big eyes, ready to play. She truly plays fetch and runs after the mouse and then brings it back and drops it by me. 

I did 90 minutes of yoga today (yummy) and every time I turned there was that little mouse. Ella climbed all over me meowing as she went play with me!

I did house work and course work and that mouse showed up everywhere I went. 

I am so grateful we attracted her into our lives. She was exactly who we needed (she won’t admit it, but she feels the same).  

  

 Playing with her is very therapeutic, I have to just drop everything and enjoy her having fun. It made for my happiness moment today.  

  

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The benefits of country internet 

One thing we had to get used to when we moved back home was the crappy internet service that is the only option we have here. We know we should consider ourselves lucky, when we arrived the only option was 50 gb per month (and it was pretty unreliable at that). They changed things and we now get a whopping 250gb for a little more than half the price (still more than you pay in the city) what a deal <sarcasm>. I have no idea how many gigabytes we used before, but I’m guessing a few thousand. I streamed everything. 

So every month we go at least 140% over our limit. They don’t shut us down, just slow us down – like that’s even possible, it’s already so slow. However, now that we are on our last couple of days of the month it’s pretty much impossible to use. 

The benefit of essentially having no internet a few days a month? We all unplug a little bit more. We play board games – even terrible ones like Candyland, we draw, we visit, we watch The Golden Girls together. That makes for some very special family time, and one awesome happiness moment. 

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