Tag Archives: family

happiness

Tea party and family games

My sister and her kids are down visiting for the weekend. I love that our kids are getting to know each other on a regular basis instead of once or twice a year as part of a rushed visit. Those cousin bonds are special, I am forever thankful for the lifelong friendships I have with my cousins (and I have a lot of them, spread out all over Canada, the US and Italy) and the tight bond I have with my sister.

We sat down for an impromptu tea party this afternoon. Jacob and I had bought an angel food cake and some strawberries yesterday and everyone had been eying them with hungry stomachs ever since we put them on the counter. When we could take the anticipation no longer, we declared it tea time and sat down for a little pig out. Tea, cake, and sharing stories – a great afternoon break.

Speaking of pigs, after supper we played our favourite weird family game – The Stinky Pig Game. My sister gave it to me for Christmas and we have been playing it ever since. It’s a weirdly addictive game of hot potato where you pass around a singing pig who eventually farts. Whomever is holding him as he gasses gets a token, and this goes on until all the tokens are gone. The loser (or winner depending on how you look at it) is the one holding the most tokens at the end of the game. It entertains us all, the toddler, the preschooler, the tween, the teen, the 40 something parents, and the Nana – all of us howling with laughter as we throw the singing pig around the circle.

These kinds of happiness moments are what makes the memories we carry and the bonds we create as we go through life. How blessed are we that we have these people to laugh and share life with.

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Quiet time 

My little Jenna has spent the last couple of days with a bad tummy ache. She hasn’t been able to keep anything down and is generally feeling rough. 

While that’s not a good thing, I have been reflecting on how fortunate we both are that I’m able to be here to care for her. It gives her such great comfort and security to have me around, and there’s nothing in the world I want more than to care for and be with my monsters. 

My happiness moment was watching Golden Girls cuddled up with my girl today. I love this kid. 

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I’m on my way

I live my life through theme songs. The one that has been showing up for me lately is The Proclaimers I’m on my way. It sums up how this past year of mindfully walking my path towards happiness has been. I’m on my way from misery to happiness today (uh -huh uh-huh u-huh uh-huh yeah). I may not be at my final destination of bliss, but I’m on my way. I’m a lot farther down the path than I was a year ago.

I had a moment of gratitude for my life as I was driving home from the school drop off this morning. I am so happy to be living back in the fold of my family and my tribe.

the view on my morning commute today

God blessed me with a spring like day today. It was 10C for most of the day, and even though it was a Chinook, it wasn’t that windy where we are. I got to celebrate my birthday in the sun and with loved ones surrounding me.

Jenna asked me what my happiness moment today was and I was trying to describe how I felt about the day to her. She said so, what I’m hearing from you mommy is that you’re happy because you have so many people around who love you and are kind to you and make you feel happy and safe. That pretty much sums it up. My happiness moment is just that. I have attracted an awesome tribe that surrounds and supports me from both near and afar (I love my birthday on Facebook. It’s always so heart warming to receive all the happy birthday wishes from friends and family whom I’m not able to see in person).

My people also have a great sense of humour. This card from my cousin created laughter that came right from the belly. I am so incredibly thankful for the people I have in my life that hold me up and make me laugh.

My thought as I move into this new year is that I’m on my way. I’m really such a better version of myself. I’m happier, I’m more capable of dealing with life’s ups and downs, I’m safe and secure surrounded by an awesome tribe of people.  All of that makes me more able to share love and kindness – to create safety and peace for those around me.

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And so the sun sets on this year 

Tonight is my personal New Year’s Eve as I finish off another trip around the sun. A year ago tomorrow I began my journey to happiness with this blog. When I go back to the early days of my happiness journey I am struck by how much things have changed. I was so desperately seeking happiness, but I was so lonely and afraid and unhappy. Now I am surrounded by loved ones, less afraid, and so much happier. I love my life being back home, grounded into our roots, secure in the love of our family and friends.

There has been much joy over the past year, reuniting with old friends, strengthening bonds with family, walking happily out in the fields at the ranch, and living in a place that makes my soul feel complete. There has also been a lot of sorrow, losing my dad, and learning to let go and surrender (still working on that one).

Through it all, I am filled with immense gratitude. I have a blessed life and I am surrounded by wonderful and loving people.

I had three happiness moments today. First I heard Jacob describe his day of snowboarding at Nakiska with his school. It was his first time on the slopes and it seems to have been a resounding success. Secondly, my nephew had his surgery and is back home recovering. Thirdly, I had some wonderful visits with family that made me feel strengthened and loved. I am so thankful for my tribe.

 

 

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Back in the arms of love

Today’s happiness moment was easy peasy lemon squeezy. I started the day with hugs from my two favourite people. 

The three of us are a pretty tight unit and we aren’t used to spending much time apart. While they were very well cared for, it still is better when we are all back together. 

I thank God every day that he gifted me with the care of these two rays of light. Being their mom is the greatest part of my life. 

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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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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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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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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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Pyjamas and house cleaning 

Today was a much welcomed quiet day. The kids spent the day in their Jammie’s until it was time to tub and get into clean Jammie’s and go to bed. I only got out of mine because I had to drive to town and get groceries. 

We got the house all cleaned up and are well rested and happily ready for a new week. That relaxed, content feeling is my happiness moment for the day. 

Plus, if you’re in the Calgary area did you see the sunset tonight? It was amazeballs. No photo as I was driving, but it was absolutely breathtaking. Reason number 487 why I am endlessly grateful to be back home. 

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