Remember Your Happy

A couple of Mondays ago, Ashley over at Little Miss Momma (another one of those blogs I compulsively follow) posted a list of 25 things "guaranteed to bring her joy". She challenged anyone reading her list to make one of their own before the grind of the week set in. Remember your happy, she called it.

Doesn't that seem right? Before the busy gets you, pausing, smiling, and thanking God for the little things? 

Seems right to me, so that's what I'm doing this Monday morning. Here's my list of happy.

- one -

kisses on the shoulder

- two -

flowers growing along the side of a highway

- three -

my parents still so in love after 30 years of marriage

- four -

a comfortable old pair of jeans

- five -

carving pumpkins in October

- six -

taking back roads

- seven -

sliding into freshly laundered sheets after a long day

- eight -

spontaneous date nights

- nine -

the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at my church

- ten -

being in the same place at the same time with all three of my siblings

- eleven -

when the air smells like orange blossoms

- twelve -

watching a favorite movie snuggled under a blanket on a rainy day

- thirteen -

getting letters from our Compassion girls

- fourteen -

running barefoot through the sprinklers on a hot summer day

- fifteen -

reading an old verse with fresh eyes

- sixteen -

dancing in the kitchen

- seventeen -

reading a book that's an old friend for the umpteenth time

- eighteen -

candles that burn down to the very bottom

- nineteen -

making and keeping family traditions

- twenty -

cold, crunchy celery and peanut butter at the beach

- twenty-one -

when a smile reaches all the way up to someone's eyes

- twenty-two -

Colonel laying on my feet while I do the dishes

- twenty-three -

cranking my favorite playlist and driving with the windows down on Highway 60

- twenty-four -

coming home

- twenty-five -

making Cody genuinely laugh

What's your happy?

Casual Fridays

First of all, hi. This is what I'm dealing with over here pretty much anytime I'm trying to blog. So you'll forgive me when my posts don't make sense because, I mean, come on.

Second of all, HAPPY FALL! For my comrades down here in the Deep DEEP South--or Northern Cuba as some of us like to call it--Wednesday was the first day of Autumn according to Google. At my house, that means busting out my meager but happy decorations, cranking Michael Bublé, and burning all the apple/pumpkin/cinnamon spiced candles I can get my hands on.

Wait, have we not talked about my candle fixation yet? I can't. That's another post for another day. But it's real, y'all. It blows my ChapStick problem out of the water. 

And speaking of ChapStick, my BFF Lynds got me another one. She is so my enabler, you guys, and she has definitely got the eye for it. I've pretty much been forbidden to go near the ChapStick when I'm shopping because groceries, but Lynds, thanks for having my back, girl!

Ok, in unrelated news, I watched Jurassic Park for the first time ever in my life last week. I know, I know. Hold the snarky remarks, por favor. I'll let the following conversation I had with my brother give you an idea of how I felt about it. Also, I have learned to screenshot. Be so proud of me. I feel like I've finally arrived in the 21st century.

It's one of my brother's favorite movies. And I like to torment him sometimes. It's how we do life. We love each other a lot. 

Circa September 2011

Ok, moving on before I get emotional, and actually, speaking of emotions, let's talk about why I could never ever be a coach on The Voice. Besides, you know, the obvious fact that I'm not a famous celebrity rockstar. 

I could never be a coach because I'm one big mass of feelings all the time. People are just beautiful--GORGEOUS--and I love them all.

I would press the button before they even started singing. 

I'm not kidding. I cry during their intro stories. I beat my button at home to death (which oddly resembles the arm of my couch). I cheer them on--out loud--to the very last note. I clap when they get a chair to turn, and I cry when no one turns around for them. 

Seriously. 

I can't watch it when Cody's around because he looks at me like I'm fresh off the funny farm. 

And if I was a coach and we got to the Battle Rounds, I'd have a nervous breakdown. 

***

Is this post getting out of control? Let's wrap it up with some Link Love and call it a day.

- Greatest Dad Wins EVER : You guys. When she takes her dad the jar to open. Best one.

- A Powerful Practice for Prayer : This was super-helpful to me. What kind of practical things keep you praying without ceasing?

- Princess Cut : Hey locals, get your ticket NOW.

- How To Leave Me A Comment : Because DO IT.