Happiness Is... OR... 10 Things I Forgot To Stop And Love

Okay...I have to admit it, I've been a royal grouch for the past couple of weeks.  There's really no good reason for it.  I could try to chalk it up to stress and worry and (my personal least fave) change, but that would be unspeakably lame; because...news flash...life ALWAYS has change.  So, I'll just call this one likes I sees it...I have stopped seeing all the lovely things God has blessed me with.  In short, I have been a schmuck.

When you've realized you've been a schmuck, it can set you back on your heels a bit while you figure out how to, well....de-schmuck.  A good way to do this is just to pull your head out from the self-involved hole you've stuck it in and look around at God's provisions and blessings.
 
And so...without further ado...

Happiness is ... OR 10 Things I Forgot to Stop and Love:

1.  Happiness is finding a Bible verse that makes your eyes water because the truth hits you so hard and so wonderfully.

Mark 11:23-2423.  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and DOES NOT DOUBT in his heart but BELIEVES that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  24.  Therefore, I tell you, WHATEVER you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours."

2.  Happiness is belting out an old favorite while cleaning your decimated kitchen (yet again) to help keep the joy in your heart pumping through you...even in the face of baked on gunk.

3.  Happiness is being asked by your hubby to sit watch tv with him (even if it is an NCIS rerun) and holding hands the whole time.

4.  Happiness is hearing your kiddos oooo and ahhhh over how cool you are cause you know how to make caramel sauce from scratch to pour over their popcorn.  (who knew melted sugar would make me such a rock star)

5.  Happiness is picking green beans and cherry tomatoes with your boys, rubbing them on your t-shirt  and eating them right off the vine.

6.  Happiness is surprise flowers brought to you by sweet girls that you love very much.

7.  Happiness is listening to your son's voice change from boy to man, and regularly confusing him for his daddy when you walk into a room.

8.  Happiness is when your nugget jumps in your bed at 7a.m. and squeezes your face and tells you "Mommy I love you the whole wide world and outer space" as he kisses your nose.

9.  Happiness is a kitchen windowsill full of the spoils of summer...as the season glides away.

10.  Happiness is the ability to recognize what happiness is...
As the school year starts and new challenges come, I'm sure I'll have new happinesses to add to this list...and may God keep reminding me to stop & love every one!!