Sometimes, there's lots of stuff going on. Lots and lots of stuff.
This has been the week of meetings and appointments. I've met with more people, heard more explanations, read more explanations and basically listened to people talk and talk and TALK. (It's all good - it's actually THREE DIFFERENT situations, but it'll all work out and I'm fine and everyone else is fine - but, man, has there been a lot of talking and talking. And I'm CERTAIN you don't want to hear me blather on and on about nonsense, and being a teeny bit cranky about some of this stuff and so - I'll. just.stop.now...
So, let's list some things that make us happy. Leave me a comment and I'll pick someone randomly - or the best comment - and I'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card. (Psst - FTC and Ad regs - I am buying the gift card myself. Probably taking the funds out of grocery money. Definitely not anything that a company paid me to do - just something I want to do - to kind of spread the happiness around.)
* Punching the heavy bag. Repeatedly. Over and Over. Until I can't breath and can't speak and can't think and I just DO.
* My new necklace from Lisa Leonard - I was given a necklace for speaking at Blissdom. It says "Bliss" and I wear it every chance I have. I ordered a new one and can't wait for it to get here!
* Watching how much fun Emma has using the voice recorder section on her iPod.She and Riley make up scripts and stories and laugh so, so much that it makes me laugh. (And I might pee a little. I can't lie.)
* Singing along with the music on my iPod while I'm in the car alone.I drive so much, taking kids from one location to another - and I LOVE to sing, so that travel time is at least somewhat enjoyable. Yesterday, I was singing along at a stop light (and dancing, I cannot lie) and another driver pulled up next to me and stared. Instead of being self conscious and sliding down in my seat, I waved, smiled and kept dancing.
* My new camera lens. I bought a Macro lens and I have almost zero idea how to use it - but I'm going to learn.
* The sun has been out every day this week and it's been close to 50. I went running twice and it feels awesome to stretch my legs - I can't run as far as I'd like, but I'm slowly getting there.
* The one year anniversary of tearing my calf muscle AND having a (small but very noticeable) nervous breakdown passing without incident.
* The willingness of people to work with me and my kids
*How awesome you guys are when you leave great comments for me!
What can you add? Grow this list and spread it around.
This idea came from a much better blog - but I loved it and wanted to feel better. My troubles in NO WAY compare to hers.
Happiness to me is sitting in a completely silent house for 30 minutes and knitting ALONE! WITHOUT SPONGEBOB BLARING IN THE BACKGROUND!
Posted by: Karen | February 20, 2010 at 05:45 PM
-Getting a call at 3:30pm yesterday from a good friend.
-Having that good friend invite all of us over for dinner.
-Not having to cook dinner.
-Not having to find a babysitter, because we're going to a kid-friendly house.
-Sharing some good wine and lots of grown-up conversation.
-Seeing my kids run around and have fun and not having to break up any sibling fights.
-Thinking to myself "How did she know that this night out was exactly what we needed."
Posted by: MamaCas | February 20, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Happiness is ....
*GS Thin Mint cookies
*my 5 yr old running to greet me saying how much he missed me when I've only been gone an hour or 2
*scrapbooking with a friend
*getting something marked off my To Do List
I'm sure there are many more but that's what jumps out of my brain right now.
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 20, 2010 at 06:53 PM
Happiness is...watching my little girl discover that she can indeed read!
I'm hoping that this next week will be easier for you.
Posted by: maggie | February 20, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Watching my daughter win her first major archery tournament today in Las Vegas, coming from behind. The smile was worth all the hours of practice.
Posted by: Brandi Mantha | February 20, 2010 at 08:22 PM
A blog I really enjoy reading!
Posted by: ggroszek | February 20, 2010 at 11:32 PM
We had some friends over tonight that we haven't seen in years. We had a blast! Plus my teenage son had fun & was actually laughing & cutting up with us all when we played Apples To Apples. That alone is priceless!
Love your site!!
Posted by: Cindy | February 20, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Easter candy is in the stores! I love jelly beans and Cadbury Eggs and M&M eggs and....
Posted by: Gina | February 21, 2010 at 12:51 AM
1. Rolling over in the morning and seeing your soul mate.
2. Having a hand full of friends you can call any time when you need them without fear of judgment.
3. Working with people you actually look forward to seeing 5 grueling days of the week.
4. Making somebody else's day.
5. The afterglow of a really good workout when you're at the peak of your training.
6. Puppy kisses and snuggles.
7. and oddly enough, just about any recipe with curry in it.
Posted by: Meredith | February 21, 2010 at 08:03 AM
I found my XTi field guide. But I can't find your address. Can you email me it?!
Happiness is following through!
xo
Posted by: Secret Agent Mama - Mishelle | February 21, 2010 at 08:57 AM
Happiness is that first cup of hot coffee in the morning (from a coffee pot that hub set up and programmed for me). Sometimes it really is the little stuff that matters if we take the time to notice it.
Posted by: Jill A. | February 21, 2010 at 09:02 AM
In general, my family is my greatest source of happiness! On Saturday, me & my 3 kids had fun playing together, eating together, and just being together. Hoping for many more days like that!
Posted by: Gail | February 21, 2010 at 10:22 AM
Happiness is:
Watching my teenage son go to the elderly womans house across the way and shovel 3 feet of snow for her.
Coming home to the smell of brownies in the oven.
the feeling of the sun on your face after snowing for 2 weeks.
family and being together.
knowing you live in America and you can say and do what you want.
Posted by: Jess | February 21, 2010 at 11:02 AM
Stretching a little further into a yoga pose than the last time, or balancing a little longer.
Eating a healthy meal and feeling satisfied without dessert!
Finding a funny video on YouTube
Coming home dreading shoveling, and finding the walk and driveway already shoveled.
Saying honestly that if you pick my comment, please send the gift card to someone else!
Posted by: BeeBelle | February 21, 2010 at 03:37 PM
So glad I found your blog!! I find happiness everyday in my husband bringing me coffee in bed (I am a very lucky girl) and squeezing in a run.
Posted by: Magically Ordinary | February 21, 2010 at 03:38 PM
My lovely & stubborn almost-four-year old boy FINALLY wearing undies - all the time! Thank you Lord.
Posted by: Lyz | February 21, 2010 at 08:30 PM
happiness is...
the smell of my baby lola after her bath.
the look of pure love when lola pops off the breast w/ a big smile.
big hugs and kisses goodbye from 7 year old son logan.
the talks my daughter and i have while in the car going here and there and everywhere.
when my husband gets up to get me starbucks coffee before he goes to play golf on saturday mornings, and he knows how i like my coffee.
Posted by: Sandra | February 21, 2010 at 08:52 PM
After months of no-parent-should-have-to-deal-with-this angst over one of my brood, my beloved DH gave me this sunny, warm Saturday off to go hiking. As I pulled out of the driveway, I turned on my Official Going To The Mountains Song (played very, very loud), and bawled like a baby. Happy? No, joyous, and that's a whole lot better. :-)
Posted by: Liz in Seattle | February 22, 2010 at 12:14 AM
I enjoyed reading this post. Thanks for a wonderful job!
Posted by: Acai Berry Pure | February 22, 2010 at 05:30 AM
my 2 oldest dd's are moving in to their own place this summer and I am beyond thrilled for them. they are growing up and doing things they want to do on their own dime. damn if I didnt do something right. :)
Makes me really happy to see my kids happy and excited about life.
Posted by: mary | February 22, 2010 at 09:45 AM
Happiness was watching my 14 year old son compete in a wrestling tounament Sunday and even though he lost by points, he has improved tremendously over the course of 6 years. He kept at it, even when he lost just about every match a few seasons ago.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 22, 2010 at 09:49 AM
There are lots of things that make me happy - yes, I'm lucky - but best of all is my 13 year old daughter hugging me and telling me "you're the best Mum in the whole world". And this happens more often than I have any right to expect.
Posted by: UKCraftySal | February 22, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Happiness:
* being in bed with a book when everyone else is asleep for the night.
* hot tea in the morning.
* not getting on-line alerts about my son's bad grades. He's got the lazy.
* when my cats are chasing each other like insane freaks in the middle of the night --- sounding like a herd of buffalo running around upstairs.
* when a blogger replies to one of my (rare) comments :)
Posted by: jadine | February 22, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Right now life is somewhat difficult for me right now, so I always make a point to notice something in nature that is beautiful and that I might otherwise take for granted.
So nature in all it's glory it is. :)
Posted by: karen | February 23, 2010 at 01:35 PM
happiness for me is hearing my son who has suffered from severe bi-polar disorder with psychosis and anxiety all his life say "it's alright mom, I understand. I can do something else while I wait for you"
Patience: another virtue learned and understood by a child who used to scratch my wood furniture with a steak knife each time he didn't get an answer he liked. Each small victory over conflict for him causes a celebration in my heart.
Posted by: Sara Golden Freitas | February 25, 2010 at 05:09 PM