Skip to main content

Once We Decide To Be Happy

By


Sometimes we look out the window and think "the grass is greener" and we wonder what our lives would be like if we were smarter, popular, stylish, loved like that, married, had a child, had more children, less children, traveled, lived in a nicer house, had the career of our dreams, moved cities & had fancier things. I'm not sure it ends.

But maybe we realize smart people, popular people & wealthy people can just as easily be drunk, wasted, insecure and unhappy. Is it happiness we are really seeking? Why do we keep convincing ourselves it is found in whatever it is we feel we are not? No, you don't literally say that, but when we keep collecting fishes as wishes, 
we start to stink.

Life is everything we make it to be. I've heard that and I chalked it up to another life cliche that doesn't mean anything. It didn't mean anything because mentally I didn't care to make it something. But mentally, I can make greatness out of a basic game of patty cake and peekaboo. We could all do a little better at being happy because no matter what our circumstances, that is the only way we will be happy, once we decide to be.

What helps you gain that focus and stay the course is your relationship with Jesus Christ, 
His gospel and your obedience. 

Magazines have a lot of tips and numbered lists. But really, it's you taking a lemon and making lemonade. It's hard to teach someone how to do that, but a life served for others in the footsteps of our Savior allows it to come naturally. "Unless we LOSE OURSELVES in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives." - Thomas S. Monson


I wanted to write a happy list

natural sunlight
hugs from Miss Lexi
snuggling with Mr Smith
something small but perfectly thoughtful
selfless love from people
a candid laugh
an inspiring novel or movie
the Book of Mormon
and Bible stories
pretty paintings
a clean kitchen and folded laundry
a casual photoshoot
home videos
the smell of sea salt
reaching the summit
first experiences
someone playing with your hair
the possibility of happily ever afters
when my spirit conquers my flesh
accomplishing hard things
recognizing miracles
good food
with good company
blissful silence
pianos & hymns
the idea of angels
the knowledge of God
the concept of becoming like Him
of being loved by Him
and enjoying the small moments
while we have the chance to



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There is a Plan for That

By
  Perhaps I'm ready to begin again, again. I struggle to add more words to the universe & I feel the same with photos. I let two of my passions die, both rather abruptly. My posts used to write themselves, I felt so guided in what God needed me to say. But this past year, my words have been removed. I moved from this blog over to Instagram as a better place to connect, but then everything became a distraction, and even the good distractions soon became too overwhelming. I can't possibly do every craft or recipe I've saved at this point. Unfortunately, I became painfully aware of my addictive attachment to my algorithm & lost much of my peace & productivity because of it. Satan knew, but I was too slow to recognize complacency & emptiness disguised as creative options & worldly debates. "The days are gone that you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian." I am definitely not raising quiet Christians, but perhaps we are still trying to be too co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Our Baby Story - Alexis

By
Alexis Jane Smith 04.27.13 - 5:16PM 8lbs 15oz - 22.5 inches brown hair, undetermined (blue) eyes NB clothes are too tight You hate diaper changes You love being swaddled You are a piranha for food Your skin is perfect You sleep better with noises You came out sucking on your fingers But luckily you're not a scratcher Basically, we think you're perfect. First day at home photo Dear Lexi,  We couldn't handle holding you inside my stomach for another minute. We made an appointment when the contractions never came. Things were changing, but you were still 7 days late. Maybe we were eager parents, but now that we have you in our arms, we understand why, really understand. You're amazing . By the time we showed up at your 6 AM hospital appointment to be induced, I was already 3.5 cm dilated & 90% effaced & having mild contractions. So mild I thought I might have had high pain tolerance because I didn't feel th...
9 comments
Read more

We're patiently waiting

By
Picture Mr Smith putting together the pack-n-play. He was so cute. Mostly when he had to read the directions. Do we have a child? Don't ask such silly questions. Hopefully it won't collect too much dust in 5.5 months. We're ready now . . . (but not really) It has a changing thing and a removable bassinet that vibrates.  I'm okay with not needing a changing table.  It will probably mean we won't get a crib for awhile too.  Next we need to hear from our baby/exercise friends a good car seat & jogging stroller (maybe ones that work together)... Any favorites? Then a blanket . . . Then a breast pump . . . Then a diaper bag. . .  Then lots of diapers, toys & cute clothes.  And even a mobile.  Then they get older and there's even more things. Mr Smith is just so thrilled. I'd love to hear about any products that you recommend/absolutely love having. Here is one thing you can do to annoy Mr Smith: go ...
13 comments
Read more