Everyday Live Happy

I really like ice cream.  It doesn't matter if it is the dead of winter, I will still eat ice cream.  There are so many yummy kinds.  Mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, tin roof sundae, moose track, cookie dough, raspberry cheesecake oh and so many more!  At my house I'm not the only ice cream fan.  In fact we don't buy the regular size packages of ice cream, we buy the gallon sized buckets of ice cream.  And of course our fridge always has chocolate or caramel sauce or my hot fudge sauce.  Yum...Just writing this is making me want ice cream.  Luckily we always have some in the freezer.  I might just have to get some now and that makes me happy!

I love holidays!  I love all of the traditions and anticipation of these events.  However, I have never been a big fan of April Fools Day.  I don't know why, it just doesn't really appeal to me.  I've never been the "fun" mom who does silly stuff for her kids on April 1st.  Since I never do anything for it my kids barely notice the day.  In fact if they didn't go to school on April Fools Day they probably wouldn't even realize it was a "holiday."  But I work at a school with little kids.  So I knew that some of them would really have fun today. First thing a little boy came up to me and told me that he brought me some brownies today.  I was immediately suspicious because he had a huge grin on his face.  Not a happy grin, a mischievous one.  I took the foil wrapped paper plate from him and opened it.  It was a plate full of brown paper E's.  I had to admit that that was clever and laughed.  Then I had the constant - you have something on your

I know that I have written about this before but it really is what I am thankful for at this moment.  For more than a week I have had a health issue.  Actually 2 issues.  The first one was in my mouth and caused me to get big canker type sores in my mouth on one side.  In fact my lips swelled up so much on that side that it was really hard to talk.  (It did provide entertainment for my family every time I tried to talk.  It's good that we all have a sense of humor!)  Then I began to get pimple like bumps all over my chin and up my cheek, ear and even into my hairline on the same side as my mouth issues.  The bumps turned big and then scabbed.  So right now I still have a sensitive mouth and scabs on my chin and lower right cheek.  I am taking 9 pills a day! An antiviral for my mouth every three hours and a antibiotic for my face three times a day.   Happily though I no longer have a fever and my mouth isn't in constant pain.  Luckily too, it has been our spring break so I have

As kids we are taught to share.  We are taught that it is the nice thing to do.  Sometimes as we get older we forget this lesson.  We don't share.  Sometimes it is actual things that we hold on to tightly or sometimes it is ideas, or answers or even recipes.  I have never understood why people won't share a good recipe with someone who will make it and enjoy it.  Most of the recipes I have are recipes from other people and mostly from my mom.  I love getting new ideas for what to do with chicken.  Or a new treat to try.  Over the years I have asked people for recipes.  Usually they happily agree but every once in a while someone won't share.  That is their right, however I am grateful for those who share.  Some people are incredibly gifted when it comes to cooking and coming up with great recipes.  I ride on those coat tails often. The other day I was going to make some cookies.  My oldest son heard me talking and came to tell me about the cookies that he wanted me to make

I love my family.  I love my husband and my kids.  Sometimes though our home gets very loud and noisy. It doesn't usually bother me unless that noise comes from kids who are not getting a long.  Or who are complaining or whining.  I sometimes just need a moment or two of peace and quiet.  One day a week I get home before everyone else.  I have a solid hour or so with no one home but me.  I have to admit that I look forward to that time.  Just a few minutes of no one needing me to do something.  Or me to intervene or anything else.  I know that someday I will miss the noise.  I know that and so sometimes I feel guilty that I want a minute alone.  But for now I really do look forward to that one hour on Fridays.  Luckily I still have noise left.  So until then I will cherish my moments of peace and quiet and that will make me happy.

Reunions really do make me happy.  I don't mean the big, huge family get-togethers with extended family.  Of course those really do make me happy too.  I'm talking about reunions with people that we haven't seen in a while.  In two days I get to have the best kind of reunion.  My son has been on a mission for two years in Uganda.  I have only spoke to him four times during that time.  I got weekly emails but that is all.  Those emails have been my lifeline to him and have made Mondays my favorite day of the week since that when his emails would come.  In two days he is coming home!  I'm so excited I could jump up and down and do a happy dance.  (I actually have already done both of those things.)  I can't wait to see him, hug him, look him over and make sure that he is doing okay.  One thing this has taught me is to not take my children for granted.  I take every opportunity to hug them, kiss them and talk to them about their lives.  And that makes me very happy!

This past week my cute cousin lost a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.  He was only 36.  He was married and has 4 children.  The oldest is only 14 and the youngest is 4.  Their lives have been changed drastically.  My heart just breaks for them.  The only positive thing about the situation is our beliefs.  We all believe that we will see him again someday and that his family will be able to be together forever.  At times of sorrow this testimony is what gets us from one day to the next.  It's what allows us to be happy again and to find good in life.  I know that things will be hard for them.  I know that they will never "get over it."  But I do believe that they will get through it.  And that is what allows me to be happy.