The Happiest Part of Your Day

Trisa and a slightly panicked Tia on the swing set my Dad and Derek built.
It gave us many, many years of good service!

Yesterday at dinnertime Dan asked Jake and me (Derek was stuck in traffic) what the best part of our days had been.  This has been done a lot at our house over the years, and I am always thankful to be reminded that no matter how hard a day has been, or how long it has seemed, there is something to be grateful for.

Dan was grateful to learn some new skill in his computer coding class.  Jake was thankful that a friend came over and helped him disassemble our old swing set (may it rest in peace).  I was thankful to have recordings of Fixer Upper to watch while I folded piles of laundry.  It was like being in the presence of happy, creative friends -- which was appreciated on a day when I was tired, had a headache, and just didn't want to -- well just about anything!

Hooray for the happy moments that are hiding somewhere in our days if we look for them!

Connor swinging on the swing set once it was moved to our new house (1998)
All of the kids used the swing set.  I just don't know where those pictures are hiding!

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

Jake and Derek with our snow creations.

Snow Pig, and Snowman

It seems to me that it takes energy to be happy.  I have also heard that it takes using energy to get energy.  On Sunday after church I was feeling sleepy.  I thought that maybe I should just lie down, but it had snowed, and the snow was good packing snow, and I wanted to build a snowman.  I almost let sleepiness win, but I thought I would regret it and so I went and started getting my boots and coat on.

I told Dan I wanted to build a snowman and he said, "I don't!"   Derek might not have wanted to either, but he came out with me and helped me.  Then Jake came and made huge snowballs, and I made a snow pig (that was supposed to be a dog) and I tried to turn Derek's next big snowball, with mine on top, into a duck.  All the while Teddy the dog was running around (he's fast!) looking super happy.

I had so much fun!  I so often do not choose the activity because I feel tired, and it seems too hard.  I am rather proud of myself for choosing to be fun (I told the kids to write about it in their journals) and so thankful that Derek and Jake came outside too.  That activity woke me up, and I felt so happy!  That energy lasted the whole rest of the day!  I hope I will remember to more often choose activity -- not just to get energy -- but to make memories.

Teddy happily running

Derek next to his big snowball

Me and the "snow duck" that you really will have to use your imagination to see.
Just go ahead and believe it's the wrong camera angle :-)

Teddy and Jake.  I love this picture.

Jake and Teddy.  I love this one too because Jake is happy.
In the background Derek is probably trying to shore up the snowman
who is leaning towards the front.  I fully expect the snowman
to fall on his face sometime today.
Poor snowman.