What is happiness to you????

To me 'Happiness' is found in the small, simple things in life. Although not always easy to spot them everyday, they can be found. Let's face it we want what we do not have, its human nature. And then when we have what we want, we eventually want something more.

    

    Here are some great quotes I have found from our general authorities in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:

Claudio M.Costa of the first quorum of the 70 said in his talk "Fun and Happiness:

"As we keep His commandments, we are blessed and come to know true happiness. We learn that happiness lies in doing small things that build us up, that increase our faith and testimony. Small things we do in our everyday lives, such as:
             We are happy as we pray every morning and every night, when we can feel that the Lord hears us and is always willing to bless, forgive, and help us. We are happy as we feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our lives—as we feel the Spirit when we have to make important life decisions. We are happy as we go home after a stressful and tiresome day at work to the arms of our families, as they express love and appreciation for us. We are happy to talk to our children, to enjoy the family, to get together on family night. In short, we can feel happiness every day in our lives through little things we do, and we are fully happy as we keep the commandments of a loving God who cares about us."

Fun and Happiness---Click here to read this talk 

President Utchdorf said from the Relief Society broadcast "Forget me not" talk:

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."

   "Forget me Not"-----click there is you want to read the talk

 
 So how do we find happiness "in the small and simple things in life"? For me, half the time it actually takes a conscience mental effort and the other half I just need to look at my little boy.

Ethan's personality is generally very happy. He smiles and laughs at anything, and when I say anything I mean it. For example, just last night Michael was picking up trash from the ground and Ethan was watching and just busted up laughing. Umm whats so funny little boy? Oh well, gave me a good laugh. That's just a small tidbit of the things that make Ethan laugh. Just by watching Ethan grow, learn, and explore the world around him, I find joy.

Doesn't he just make you want to smile???

Great pose....he is really saying "mum why you taking soo many pics of me?Give me that camera!"

Through the tunnel...mom what kinda game is this??

 Doesn't like to get INTO the seat...so this happens.

 Just like dad....loves bread!

 If I hold on with my mouth, I won't fall!

 Vrooom, Vroooom!!!

Yeah! this is fun!

My very own leaf!

I think I eat this????Hahaa!

Oh my goodness, those leaves are gorgeous!

Loves to walk!

 Makes me happy when he peeks around dad to see mom!

 Yup I love my family!

 Never leaves his socks on! Ever!

 Picking at Dad's hair as usual!

Loving the leaves....sorry can't get enough of them!

First Nilla Wafer Cookie....he devoured it!

 Decided to take my own shirt off!

 Playing with toys and standing!

My punk rocker!

So when I am not feeling very happy most of my family and friends know I love to dance....well being a stay at home mom....i still do....enjoy this video!    (btw I got Michael dancing to this just after and the darn thing didn't record....but he buggied it....we will get him on here another time)

As you can see lots of things make me happy....umm I had to stop myself from putting up more stuff! But just to name a few....my family, being a mom...and all those small fun moments, nature (especially the fall season right now), dancing, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quite frankly, I realize when I don't pray and read my scriptures every day I have a crummy day and nothing seems to go the way I want it. I am very blessed to have my own testimony of that.

   

        SO.....What makes you happy??????? Please share your comments!

He'll Carry You--Hillary Weeks

Here is a video I made. The pictures and the music really help me to reflect on the Atonement. I hope you feel the spirit as you watch it.

The Burnt Pot

Reluctantly, I have to tell about this burnt pot that sat in my sink for almost 2 weeks. It wasn't cause I actually never did the dishes, I did them every day. I actually never had the right "sponge" to clean it up. See this was not just an ordinary, "mishap" of letting the food burn (which I tend to have happen every now and then). We had some new friends coming over for dinner, and I wanted to make it a good dinner. We had a 'ritzy' chicken, homemade rolls, and vegetables. Well this ended up being a lot of work while trying to get my little guy down to sleep--which he never did fall asleep. So in the mist of all this stress of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the baby, I let the sauce which had condensed milk burn. Eh, I thought it will come out, easy. Ok, not really! That thing stuck like a plague. And it stuck like that, cause every time I went to the store, I forgot to get the "right" sponge to clean it. Yuck, I know right? I even tried soaking it in vinegar for days on end, not working! Why do I share this? Well, my husband finally remembered to get a sponge for me when he was at the store. And, so I go in and start cleaning that pot that has been glaring at me for the passed 2 weeks. I start scrubbing and scrubbing and what do you know it starts looking pearly again. Oh my gosh I felt soooo good scrubbing that pot. Then it dawned on me....*light bulb*.....this is what the Atonement feels like. Wow, the worldly pleasures can't make me feel this way, no person can make me feel this way, only the Savior can make me feel so clean and so pure and so worth it. I tried many things to make that pot become clean again, only that specific sponge was going to work out its grime. What my Savior did for me in the Garden of Gethsemane, is the only thing that will cleanse my sins and make me whole again. I started pondering again and thinking to myself, how long do I let my sins fester on me? What things am I trying to hold onto in my life hold me back from having the spirit with me daily? Just some food for thought.....So grateful for the lesson that burnt pot taught me.