Christensen Reunion Pictures

I am not putting every reunion picture on here.  There is a family scrapbook for that.  I didn't even make sure I included every person.  I just picked some I liked!

Mom and Dad Christensen
They have 11 children, 10 children-in-law and 49 grandchildren.
They work hard to get ready for the reunion.  Mom puts in hours and hours of work.

Weston, Porter, Russell, Devin, Mandy
We have an "adult" discussion every reunion.  This one, with Trent in charge, was
on remembering -- and ways we can remember important things better.

Derek and I were in charge of the group of kids 11 and under who were singing and
dancing to "Dem Bones".  They are a good group of kids!

Angela was in charge of the women (12 and up) who sang and did actions to
"Peace Like a River".  It turned out well and was fun to do.

Devin was in charge of the men (12 and up) who sang
"Swing Low"  Devin did an arrangement and there was a surprise when towards the end
Russell had a rap to go along with it!

This is Grandpa, and the uncles and Mike.  Mike took Derek's place since he was
off riding the 4-wheeler with Kayli.  That is candy glued to those shirts, and the grandkids
chased them around until it was all ripped off of those shirts!
Jordan, Leon, Mike, Brandon, Quinn, Dad C., Bryon, and Russell

I have a few pictures of people standing at the rail.  I picked this one because Kayli
was there and was able to talk to her Aunt Michelle like she wanted to.  Then there is Derek and me and Mom C. with Mike, who is eating leftover pizza (much to Mom's delight).

Claire, Kylie, and Madeleine

Aren't they cute?  In the back, behind the chair is Sydney and Dillon (I think)
In the chair is Elena (Laney), Sara, Noelle, and Kylie

Tonya, Tia, Me, Mike, J.D., and Trisa -- all of us playing Boggle except J.D.
Who won?  Let's just say that Tonya has a talent for Boggle and so we felt good if we got
1/3 of the words she did!  It was still fun!

Jake, Porter, Dan, and Haven
The kids that aren't mine here are Quinn and Tonya's
We've stayed with them and they have stayed with us enough over the years that our kids are good friends.
The shocking thing about this picture is that Dan isn't making a funny face, or doing a dramatic pose!

Isaac's Aunt Erin, Isaac, and Isaac's Mom Megan
I like this picture and I love these people.

Weston, Quinn, Porter, Connor, and Tyler
I like this picture and love these people too, but I really could say that about all of them.

William, Maryn, Isabelle, Olivia, and Ethan

Mike, who fits in the family in lots of ways, one of which is that he makes silly faces on purpose when a camera is aimed at him.  And Tia.  

Sherie and Tonya posing for a picture while I make sandwiches.

Trisa and Derek.  Derek was making a face too -- trying to look grumpy and almost succeeding, but I can see that he is amused with himself :-)

Michelle with her Daughter Esther (and Ava, who is hiding)

Lost Keys and The Power of Numbers

Mike and his new buddy J.D.

After our very happy reunion, we were cleaning up and getting ready to go when Mike realized that his keys were missing.  He looked, Tia looked, we looked, but there were no keys.  So, everyone gathered to share good memories from past reunions and afterwards Mom C. announced that it was time to find some keys.  The Hideaway Lodge where we stayed was huge, and the keys could have been in a lot of places, including outside in the grass.

As soon as the announcement was made I followed a group of girls into our "cabin" and watched them calling for the keys as they searched the kitchen (which made me giggle).  Then I followed a group outside.  I hadn't even decided where to start searching before there was a yell that the keys were found.  After the announcement one of my nephews immediately went to search a couch he knew Mike had been on -- and there they were!  Mike had searched the other couch in the room that he remembered sitting on, forgetting he had been on both couches during the reunion.

I was pretty impressed with the power of numbers.  It only took one person to find them, but with over 60 determined searchers, even though the place was huge, there was a good chance they would have been found, even outside. 

The Four Blairs

Howard Blair, Connor Blair, William Blair, and Derek Blair

At our family reunion we had a family trivia game.  One of the things we were supposed to do is name all of the Blairs.  We knew about Derek's Dad, Derek, and Connor but we had forgotten about Will!  It was fun to be reminded and to take a picture of the exclusive club of family members whose middle name is Blair!

I think not knowing lost us the game, but we learned something new and had fun and that is a winning combination!

Remember, Remember, Remember -- Not To Worry!!!

Derek and Me on Friday of the reunion.

Connor playing the piano, Weston playing the Mandolin
My girls, with Tonya and her girls, plus Porter playing a game.
If you look closely you can see the reunion theme on the back of their shirts.

Last weekend was the Christensen reunion.  The theme was "Remember, Remember, Remember".  A couple of nights before the reunion I started to worry.  What if I had super emotional days during the reunion?  What if nobody out of the sixty something people who were attending came to talk to me?  What if I made a yucky chicken salad, and nobody wanted to eat it?  I really had a bad case of the what ifs!  Thankfully, I remembered that it helps not to focus on me, and how I will feel, or could feel, and so I tried to think instead of what I could do. 

I could talk to people myself instead of waiting for them to find me.  I could try to help people with their assignments.  I could not think about the chicken salad too much because I knew people would help.  Thinking this was was a lot better and helped me look forward to what is always a well planned event that is attended by some of the nicest people ever.

So what happened?  The first night I didn't sleep so great, so I got up early, went over the devotional I was asked to give, and went to help with breakfast.  When I occasionally found myself myself standing alone in the crowd, I would look around and find someone to talk to.  It was really a happy day.  The last day I did end up feeling really emotional, but it was still a good day, and I did have people helping me with the chicken salad, which turned out just fine!

Let me just say that the Christensen clan are SO kind and thoughtful that I knew it was ridiculous to worry.  And, worry doesn't help anyway.  But it was good to see so clearly the difference it makes when I focus away from myself and how I might feel, or what things might be hard for me in the future, and instead focus on the things I can do to help someone else.  It was a good reminder to remember, remember, remember not to worry!

Try Hard To Be Happy

I've mentioned this idea before, and someone told me that it just sounded exhausting.  I think all that is meant by "try hard to be happy" is, don't just wait for happiness to happen to you.  Actively seek to do the kind of things that bring happiness.  Actively choose to think positively.  It is good to know that we have control of our happiness to a very great degree.  There are things we can't decide in life, but we can decide how to think, and how to react, though it can take practice to react in a good way.

I have been focusing on choosing happiness the last few months -- mostly on not giving in to negative thoughts.  I sometimes fail, but often now I can see that it is a choice I am making when I feel too tired to replace the negative thought with something more positive.  Even seeing that I could replace the negative thought renders it a little less powerful!  Heavenly Father gave us the gift of agency.  It is a gift that is super important.  It is a gift that gives us power.  It gives us power to choose what we believe, how we react, what we say, and whether we stay where we are, or move forward.  We have the opportunity to choose forgiveness, hope, and love.

I really like knowing that, if I practice, I can use my agency in a way that will help me be to be more happy, content, and loving.

The Connection Between Spirituality and Happiness

What is being Spiritual?  I looked it up :-).  The definition I found described spirituality as seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself -- a higher power.  I seek a meaningful connection with my Heavenly Father and Jesus, but people who do not believe in them yet still seek for that higher connection.

I know people who are kind, loving, and helpful.  They believe in a higher power and take the time to connect with that power.  Doing this has increased their ability to see their value, and has given them perspective that is helpful.

We can profess to be Christians (or any other kind of religious) without being very spiritual.  We really have to be seeking for that connection with God to be spiritual, and then, when we have made that connection, it will improve our happiness.  We will not be happy all of the time.  That isn't what life is like.  But I believe having a connection with God will help our perspective, and will help us be more content, and at peace, even when things are difficult.

*Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Get Happier by Spending More Time in Nature

There are studies that show that time in nature helps us be happier.  But why?  I imagine there are several different reasons, but for me, nature seems to put life in perspective somehow.  The world is big!  Nature is intricate, beautiful, resilient and powerful.  I think that Heavenly Father created this world in a way that made it possible for us to learn from everything.  We are one of His creations too.  We are also intricate, beautiful, resilient and powerful. 

Nature can recover from fires, floods, cold, and heat.  We can recover from broken bones, sicknesses, abuse,  and all manner of difficult things -- both physical and mental.  Nature can take us away from man made problems and man made solutions and let us connect with our Creator.  Connecting with nature can help us find the peace and hope that we need to move forward, and to believe that God is easily powerful enough to help if we ask. 

*Photo by Filip Zrnzević on Unsplash

Happy People Have In Person Conversations

This picture just got my funny bone.  They aren't people, but they are probably happier because they are obviously having a conversation!

So, what counts as an in person conversation?  Do I have to be standing by someone?  Can I be on the phone?  Texting?  Maybe not that one, though it has helped me be happier before when I was feeling like I would cry at someone if I called, but I could have a perfectly fine "conversation" if I texted!  And I know that talking on the phone with a friend is almost always a good thing for me!  Does talking to yourself count?  I think this works a little if I talk out loud, but not if I am talking to myself in my head.  I seem to be nicer to me when I talk out loud. 

I think some of the happiness gained has to depend on what the conversation is about.  Some conversations can be depressing!  And some just aren't interesting to us, and we have them to help the person we are listening to be a happier person.  Dan loves to talk about coding on the computer with a program called Scratch.  He would be happy to talk about it with me, or you for hours.  I do not love talking about coding, even though Dan can do some pretty cool things, and has an amazing imagination!  I do love Dan though.

I really do think that, for the most part, I am happier if I have more in person conversations -- or more conversations in general.  I just need to remember to find someone to talk to when I am starting to feel less than happy!

*Photo by Mihai Surdu on Unsplash

Happy People Use The Power of Music

A well used, well loved tape from my growing up years.

I have a playlist that I can ask Alexa to play that is called my "happy" playlist.  The funny thing is, that my happy playlist doesn't always make me happy.  It seems to work better when I am already happy.  Sometimes I try out a few different playlists until I find the one that works with my mood.  Often it can't be too loud.  But, I do know that music can affect my mood, and even help me work through hard things.  The power of music for me is that, if I choose the right music, it can bring the Spirit and the Spirit brings peace, and hope.

When I was growing up I liked to listen to music to go to sleep.  It would keep my mind from wandering into worries.  My sister Tina patiently listened to Air Supply night after night because I didn't want to listen to Chopin.  Later, when I had my own room, I listened to a tape of the Nauvoo Pageant at night so many times that I can probably still quote along with a lot of it and sing with the songs.  I would go to sleep, and then jerk awake when the tape ended with a snap signalling that it was time to flip the tape.

Music can transport me back to a certain place, time, or event.  It can help me remember things that I would otherwise forget.  There is a lot of power in music, and that power is used by happy people, but that power can also help us to be happy people!

Happy People Exercise

Weight lifting!
Picture by Jake

Can I just whine a little bit here?  Why is the answer to feeling better, which helps us be happier, always to "eat right and exercise?"  I guess it would be too easy if the answer was "eat ice cream and watch other people exercise."  I would be SO good at that one!

I'm afraid I get a little creative in what I count as exercise sometimes.  Let's see -- I've walked around the garden to water it, and walked around Walmart (and it's pretty big) and I even lifted a laundry basket full of clothes or two (weight lifting).  Check!

I am supposed to be walking 30 minutes a day and lifting weights a couple of times a week.  I can probably lift 3 pounds without making my shoulders hurt too bad -- maybe -- but should I really risk pain?  Oh -- I've just remembered.  No pain.  No gain.  I don't like that "rule" either.

So, if you are good at exercising, and you maybe even love it, I am so proud of you!  Feel very good about yourself!  If you are like me, and you try really hard to love exercise, but mostly you just don't because it causes you pain, or makes you need a nap, then well, we should exercise together because there's the saying that "misery loves company!"  And maybe give yourself a hug of compassion knowing that a LOT of people struggle to follow the exercising "rules" perfectly -- and then maybe get creative in what you count so you will feel happy!

Happy People Sleep More

Hmmm.  If you didn't get good sleep last night are you suddenly feeling more grumpy?  I wonder how much it would affect us if we just always assumed that we got enough sleep.  I don't think it would help every time, but other times I think I feel more tired just because I think I should!  This is something we can experiment with.  Every morning, no matter how much sleep we get, we can wake up and tell ourselves, Wow!  I got the perfect amount of sleep for today!!!"  I have it on good authority that our brains are powerful things and so I bet it would make at least a little difference in our favor! 

*Photo by Chris Thompson on Unsplash

Spend Money On Other People

When you have to save every penny to get by, it's nice when someone spends money on you.
Once you have money, it is a good idea to spend money on someone else.

I think about this at the store sometimes.  It was on the list of things happy people do that Hank Smith quoted in the talk we listened to last week. I think about it because there was a time early in our married life when I could go through my closet and list off who gave me almost every article of clothing.  I had actually only bought a couple of things myself. We just didn't have spare money.  My mother-in-law was great at making up occasions to give me things.  I remember getting a shirt with a "Happy Spring!" note, and I'm sure there were other "occasions" that aren't usually celebrated with presents!

Some of the clothes could have been from Grandma Heelis giving me money -- "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"  Derek's Grandma didn't just send money.  She loved to buy people things.  I don't think anyone ever went away from her house empty handed!

I think about buying things for people at the store, and sometimes I do, but often it goes like this:  "I should buy one of my girls a shirt!" I think.  And then, after looking around for a while I am buried in doubts over whether I really know what size to buy or if they'll really like it.  Never fear!  I have, while looking for presents for them, managed to find myself a little something!  Ha ha ha!  I really need to work on this one.  Perhaps I'd better just go with the sending money thing when it comes to clothes!    Then I can think of something else to buy that would brighten a day -- like flowers.  Or chocolate.  Or a book.  Or maybe a bag of balloons!  Anything that would make the day brighter for someone else would for sure make my day brighter as well.

*Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

Surround Yourself With Happy People

This was one of the 10 things Hank Smith mentioned that happy people do.  What comes to mind?  Me walking in the center of a group of smiling, laughing people everywhere I go.  That would be interesting!  I can even think of a few people I would for sure want in that circle!  My jaw would be sore from smiling and laughing so much, but I'd get great smiling muscles after a while!

Oooo.  We were just at the Scottish Festival here in our town watching people lift heavy things -- and throw heavy things.  There was a poster for some group of weight lifters.  I mentioned that I didn't think they'd let me join.  Derek laughed.  So would the weight lifters.  My gym teacher in high school used to roll her eyes when I had trouble lifting ten pounds above my head.  She asked if I wanted a broomstick.  She was being sarcastic but the answer was Yes!  I would totally be great at lifting a broomstick above my head!  Perhaps, if I were always surrounded by happy people, I could win a smiling muscle contest.  I wonder how such a thing would be judged?

Well, perhaps you can practice using your smiling muscles while you think up ways to judge how strong someone's smiling muscles are.