Tag Archives: happiness

happiness

He’s got this 

It’s no secret that I’ve been feeling both overwhelmed and frustrated with God lately. I keep coming back to a passage in a book by Marianne Williamson that says when you ask God into your life, you think God is going to come into your psychic house, look around, and see that you just need a new floor or better furniture, and that everything just needs a little cleaning – and so you go along thinking how nice life is that God is there. Then you look out the window one day and you see that there’s a wrecking ball outside. It turns out your foundation is shot, and that you’re going to have to start building it from scratch. 

I feel like the wrecking ball comes through and just as rebuilding is starting to happen another wrecking ball hits. And I’m tired.

Today in church I realized that maybe the wrecking ball keeps coming through because I’m building the foundation over and over again by myself instead of remembering to turn it over. I’m building on the same shitty foundation time after time and that needs to change.

The message of today’s sermon was to remember that God’s got this, and that He’s got you. At this point my life is so scary and overwhelming I don’t think I have any choice but to trust that those words are true.

This is a sunrise photo taken in my front yard last fall. The fact that we are here, we are safe, and we are loved is a miracle and that will always be a happiness moment.  I’ll just trust that He’s got this, He’s got me, He’s got us.

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Hell’s Kitchen 

The weather was absolutely beautiful today and I managed to get out for a walk and soak in some sunbeams. On my way home I noticed my horse had made a steer friend and they each stand on their side of the fence grazing side by side. It’s cute. The evening was spent watching Hell’s Kitchen with the girl. 

What does this mean? That even though I have days like yesterday where I feel like the entire universe is dumping on me, really life is pretty darn good. And it’s good because of all the simple things – pony faces, sunbeams, girl cuddles – that is what happiness is about. 

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Show me the way

I was having some serious issues with god today – to be honest I’ve been having them for a little while now. 

I’ve been feeling a lot of that’s not fair, and why are you shitting all over my life, and seriously???????

Mostly I’m just tired and overwhelmed. To say there’s a lot of crap going on is an understatement. And to put the icing on he cake I got my lawyer bill today. Another month where I have spent money fighting because he refuses to follow the court order.  I often feel like as soon as I decided I would ask God for help and admit I couldn’t do it myself he took a wrecking ball to my life and just keeps hammering away. 

I got a call from school that the girl was sick and I had to go get her and take her to urgent care. 

I was driving on the back road and swearing at God when I flew by one of the sloughs. I happened to look over and saw 4 swans peacefully floating on it. Something inside me snapped and I pulled off to the side and took a small moment of peaceful gratitude. 


It helped ground me a little and reminded me that God is everywhere. I had a couple of conversations with dear ones whose lives are also in the shitter. It reminded me that I’m not the center of the universe and that faith is all I have. 

So I went out and hugged my horse. He is proof that miracles happen. 

And I stood and watched the sunset – first the glow to the east and then over the mountains to the west – and that was happiness. 

To the east 



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Pirate and ladybug

I had an awesome memory pop up on Facebook today – it was from 10 years ago when the kids were 2 and 6 and we had just moved to Rhode Island 

I remember the girl was so excited because we had found a brilliant ladybug costume and she was looking forward to going out to get candy for the first time. 

I got her dressed in her costume in our bathroom and then stood her on the counter so she could get a good look at how cute she was. 

Suddenly she pitched her body off the counter and yelled weeeeeeeeeee. Fortunately I was able to move quickly and grabbed her midair. When I asked her what on earth she was doing she replied well, I’m a ladybug so I can fly. 

This was such an innocent time. It was also a pretty happy time that brought back some good memories. Happiness memories. 

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When I grow up I want to be like my aunt

I was driving the girl home tonight and she was talking about our moves and the friends she’s left behind and the how difficult it is to make new friends – to build that friend tribe.

Then she said when I grow up I want to be like Aunty Carolyn. She’s funny, but she also just does whatever she wants and doesn’t give a crap what anyone else thinks about it. I want to be just like that. Just funny, happy, and who cares what people think of me.

Both kids have informed me that if something should ever happen to me and they’re in need of new parents that they are going to Aunty Carolyn’s place to live.

This is why it is so fantastic that we are back home among our tribe. They have all of these adults who love them and show them different ways to be.

And honestly, if I ever have to grow up I wouldn’t mind being like Aunty Carolyn either (because she’s one of the fun ones who never left her childhood behind her).

So, today – God bless Aunty Carolyn – she’s happiness.

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Avoiding sadness 

When I started this happiness journey it was my sincere desire to get to a permanent state of bliss. I naively thought that if I found something to be happy about every day I would one day be happy all the time. 

I’ve begun to understand lately that I need to feel the sadness. Pretending it’s not there and only focusing on the happiness means I’m not open to learn the lessons that pain beings and the strength that comes from that. I believe it’s important to shine light in the darkness and not focus on the bad, but in order to grow from it I need to acknowledge the sad times too. 

Sometimes life is just hard, some days have more tears than smiles, but every day is a gift. It really is. Feeling sadness also allows me to feel joy more intensely. 

Tonight there was an amazing sunset. I stood at the window with my mom and we watched it go behind the mountains. And that moment of happiness – it was a good one. 

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Cousin surprise 

I walked into my moms kitchen and she was visiting with my aunt, niece, and cousin. I said hi to all and carried on. Then my brain halted and said waaaaaaiiiittttt. That cousin doesn’t live here anymore. Had to stop and back up, jump up and down and hug her. 

What a great surprise. I like her, she’s defiantly one of the cool, fun ones. Happiness. 

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Fall cleaning 

The house is a disaster. To give them credit, the kids have helped a lot over the last 3 months – but still – the house is a disaster. 

Today there was some space in life and strength in my arm and I was able to get a little bit of the chaos dealt with. We all do so much better when the clutter is cleared. I have no desire to live in a museum, but my brain can’t relax in a mess either. 

So there was a start to get order back in life. I like to think I am carefree and don’t need a schedule,  but I sadly have to say that I do bette when there is somewhat of a routine. 

The happiness for today was making space for more freedom, peace, and joy in our home. 

And him 

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a good sleep

Last night I had the best sleep I’ve had in months. Certainly since before I broke my shoulder, maybe longer – it’s been a long time since I’ve felt rested. It’s amazing how much better coping skills I have when I’m not completely exhausted. It certainly gives me incentive to set my life up so I have more of these great sleeps. Because a well rested me is a happy me!

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