10 Things that make me happy!

When I first read about this challenge (thank you, Dawn) - I thought, oh my goodness, homework! It will take me forever! Then I reevaluated. Too often we take for granted those things that being us so much joy and it will do me good to spend some quality time contemplating on happiness. I basically think I am a happy person, but that is because I am so blessed and really have so much to be happy about. So here goes ( Dawn, I hope you are not taking grades)...

1. My truest happiness comes from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have been a Christian for many years, but the older I get the more I have seen Him work. But I realize, He has been working all along, I just wasn't paying attention. Particularly in the last few years, I have seen His hand in my life and the lives of my family. I know all things are in His hands and that gives me a happiness that I can't even put into words.

2. My husband makes me so happy. We will have been married 35 years this summer and I can hardly believe it has been that long. I mean, I'm not old enough to have been married that long, have I? Greg is such a great example of what a Christian husband and father should be, always putting the girls and me above himself. He works hard and just loves us all unconditionally. He is also an amazing source of information, like trivial information. He is like a sponge, absorbing everything he reads or sees and loves to impart that to all of us. I may give him a hard time about it, but secretly I really enjoy his lessons.

2. To say that my daughters make me happy seems like an understatement. I know that I have the 4 best daughters in the world. Yes, there are 4, and while they are quite different they also share many wonderful traits. They have grown to be strong Christian women, despite the mistakes their parents made, who are such great mothers and wives. I couldn't be prouder! It makes my day (and I do talk to them every day) just to hear their voices on the phone. I love you girls so much!

3. My grandchildren! You knew that was coming, didn't you. I don't even know how to begin. I did not know it was possible to love something that you didn't give birth to so much! These kids are the 11 cutest and smartest kids in the world! Of course, I am not prejudiced. When the door flies open and I hear the stomping of little feet and a small voice yelling "Mimi, I'm here!" or on the phone a precious voice says "Hi, Mimi, I love you." my heart just zings! No other word to describe it.

4. My son-in-laws. I have to include these young men. I have seen God working in their lives in the years that they have been in our family. They all work hard and love my girls and are striving to be what God wants them to be. I love them all very much. Also, they had a little part in providing the above mentioned grandchildren - I couldn't be happier.

5. I have to just lump the rest into friends and family. My parents, in-laws, sister and her family, and brother and his family are such a vital part of my life. I have aunts, uncles, cousins, too many people to name, that are so important to me. I love hearing about their lives, their kids lives, oh, just their lives in general. It is so awesome that in this technology age we can keep so connected to people, even those who live far away. We get to share in things that other wise we wouldn't be able to. I have friends that are just like family to me. Even if you go awhile without talking or seeing each other, just knowing they are there makes me happy. I wonder if this is getting too sappy?

I used the first half of my "10" things to post about those huge areas they probably make us all happy, the second half I will devote to some everyday areas that I probably just take for granted, but when I think about them, give me a great deal of happiness.

6. Personnel emails or letters. Don't get me wrong, some email forwards are funny and I do enjoy reading them, but I love actually hearing from people, reading a message written especially to me. I am one of those people who love to get those long newsy Christmas letters (yes, I know those aren't written just for me, but it feels like it). I love hearing about peoples lives. I almost wrote Facebook (pathetic, I know), because I have gotten in touch with people I have not seen or heard from in years, some since I was in High School. And it just plain makes me happy to hear from them.

7. Books. I love to read! I guess I should qualify and say I love to read fiction. I love to get lost in a book, escape into someone else's imagination. I love mysteries, even if they scare me. I guess maybe I am happy scared?! I particularly love to read in the bathtub, so consequently, I have to buy my own books (Greg just cringes at this) but by the time I am finished the pages are kind of crinkly. At last count I had over 700 books under my stairway - so if you need to borrow one - come on over!

8. Blogs. Love 'em. Guess you would call me a "blog stalker" because I don't have to know the person to read their blogs. Some people are so creative and funny that their posts just brighten my day. I love to read about creative ideas, see pictures, and hear other peoples perspective on life. If I am feeling a little blue, there are a couple of blogs I read that always make me smile, sometimes even laugh out loud!

9. Sweets. You could probably tell this by looking at me. I have been trying to control this a little, so now, when I do let myself have a treat it makes me particularly happy. My granddaughter, Emily, and I feel the same about sweets. One day, we were riding down the road in the car and she said, "Mimi, you know what?" Of course I replied, "What, honey?"
"When I am in heaven, I'm going to eat sweets everyday!" WooHoo! A girl after my own heart. Sweets may make me happy here, but in heaven I can have them everyday and still have a perfect body!!

10. Creating things. I really didn't know how to put this into words. I almost said crafts, but I also love to draw and sew. I like the sense of accomplishment when I have completed a project. I also like to make things and give them away (particularly to my daughters). For some reason I think I need to help them with their holiday decorating by providing them with little mementos I have made with my own two hands. We have a group of women at church who meet once a week. We call the group CPR. It stands for Crafts, and Relationships. I love these women. They are part of the friends I mentioned above.

I probably could easily name 10 more things, but as it is, most people probably quit reading a long time ago. Did I mention that I feel an innate sense of happiness when I complete an assignment? Hey, I would like to read about what makes other people happy, so consider yourself challenged. Better quit, I think I have typers cramp...