Tag Archives: tribe

happiness

Best line of the day 

I was waiting at the cast clinic beside a lady when she suddenly noticed her son was being wheeled to a different area. She jumped up and chased the nurse down to ask where he was going. 

She came back to get her things and shook her head and muttered I didn’t give birth to him just to lose  him now. 

And I replied I know and it’s a lot of work to make another one. 

And we looked at each other and shook our heads and at the same times said and God, I never want to do that again. 

I love random funny moments and this was a good one. 

As a bonus I got to see my shoulder and I’m all healed and although it’s not anywhere close to where it needs to be, I have more mobility in my arm. Slowly but surely I’m mending and I’ll be as good as new soon. And that’s happiness 

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My energy and emotions are sacred

My energy and emotions are sacred to me – I read this today and realized that more often than not I don’t consider them sacred at all. Often I let people or situations drain me of my energy and I waste emotions on things and behaviours I can’t change. But my energy and my emotions should be sacred, should be valued, should be respected. Instead of worrying about how other people will feel about that, I need to worry more about why I’m so tired because I let myself get drained. I love it.

Tonight I took the kids out to Chicken on the Way which, although a brutally unhealthy meal, brought back memories of my teen years and stopping for Chicken on the Way on the way home after a night out. We sat and ate in the car which we never do, and laughed and picked at our chicken and really enjoyed ourselves. Rule breaking -sometimes it needs to be done. It was a good use of my sacred energy and emotions. It was happiness.

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Winner winner 

I had a case of the blahs today – just too much going on. I decided to go to town and get  some errands done – things I’d been putting off for too long. 

I was delighted by a surprise run in with a soul sister at Winners. We were both struggling today and our impromptu visit and shopping time together did a lot to boost my spirits. A little ray of sunshine – happiness. 

I know for sure I can’t do this without my tribe. Thank God for them. 

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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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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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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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It’s an every day thing now

I came home this evening after dropping the girl off at a friend’s place to find a text from the boy asking for a ride back from my mom’s house. Then he decided he needed to stay longer and I would have to come later. It seems that they were watching a show and visiting and he wasn’t quite ready to come home.

That is one of the huge perks of living where we do. I have so many memories of going over to my grandma’s to have tea, a visit, or just be spoiled like only a grandparent can. Now my kids are able to do that as well. It’s not once or twice a year like it was for so long, it’s an every day thing now. And that is happiness.

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Tea and TV

The boy and I have got into the routine of spending an hour or so every evening together watching tv and drinking tea. It’s become a really nice way to unwind and share time with him. 

I find we often have to stop the show so he can tell me little things about his life, or to laugh at something funny. 

Mostly I am just so honored that these teenagers want to spend so much time with me. Family, it’s what it’s all about. It’s happiness. 

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Laughing at the table 

We had a group of family over for our thanksgiving meal today. There were about 20 of us which was perfect. 

It was so good to sit at that table and laugh and share food – they are a special bunch, our tribe. 

With all our blessings, there is a lot to be thankful for. This tribe, our family, they are the top of the list. Having a place to dig our roots into is priceless. And it’s happiness. 

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The moments between

Today was a moments between kind of day. After mom’s birthday, before thanksgiving which we celebrate tomorrow. I feel like there has been a lot going on in every aspect of my life and today I took some time to breathe, balance, and reassess where I’m at.

Things are shifting again. I guess life is full of constant change. For me security used to be represented as everything staying the same and me being able to sit in the knowledge that we are safe,  and I knew we were safe because nothing was going to change.

Things change all the freaking time. It’s like being a tree, I just have to be strong enough to bend in the winds of change.

And even though I continue to resist it, change is good. It either brings about something immediately joyful, or it brings pain which opens the door to change. 

Honestly, even though there has been a lot of pain the last couple of years, there has been so much more joy – sustainable happiness – soul fulfillment.

And in the moments between – when there are quiet spaces in life – it’s important to take notice of what is happening and be grateful. Especially this weekend as we celebrate thanksgiving.

I have so much to be thankful for – my God, my tribe, my home, my family, my friends, that miracle horse, our dog who narrowly escaped with her life a couple of days ago, and our too many cats.

We are home, we are safe, we are loved. That is a perfect recipe for happiness.

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