Humble and Happy Pie

When I started blogging or even started looking at other people's blogs I thought I might poke my eyes out if I read another, "My life is so wonderful...I have the best husband...Aren't my kids the cutest?....I am just sooo happy.....blah blah blah." I wanted to read about real life or at least rest assured that I wasn't the only imperfect one out there.
Then slowly I stumbled upon BYU Forums focusing on happiness and its correlation with service, Magazine Articles and LDS books full of How to Be Happy antidotes, Relief Society Conference lessons on Spreading Sunshine and today another BYU Forum centered on Wellness Education. Martin Seligman, a Professor of Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, spoke on the power of positive education. Basically he lists what we can do to become more positive and the effects of doing so. For example, Seligman referred to taking time every night to write three things that went well that day and why they went well. People that did this woke up more happy and were in general more satisfied with life. He continues to present how we can educate children, the less fortunate, and depressed on how to increase their quality of life through positive habits.
There exists some similarities within these "lessons" I've encountered lately, count your blessings, share in your successes, and lift one another up. I realized that the blogs I was reading were posted by people doing just that. Who doesn't get excited when they can share their child's milestones? What a fantastic way of telling our spouses that we love them by posting them all over our blog and praising them. Our happiness continues by sharing and recounting our joyous experiences and thoughts.
Once again I've been humbled and taught a tremendous lesson. Do you think Heavenly Father was trying to send me a message? So I'll share in the spirit of joy...

My life is so wonderful...

I have the best husband...

Aren't my kids the cutest?

I am just sooo happy!

Biggest Loser

Ok, I'm not referring to losing weight. I am simply talking about falling off the P90X horse. Getting sick with Little E and loss of sleep has majorly kicked my butt, in a bad way. It has been 2-3 weeks and I haven't done a work out. Lame!

I tried to restart on Monday, yeah, not so much. Then I managed a workout on Tuesday, yippee. But, I'm sad to say, I haven't done anything since. I'M JUST TOO TIRED!!!

Ok, now's the part where you guys e-mail me and give me encouragement. Tell me to get over it, if my sister in law can do it with six kids then why am I whining, right?

Give oh, Give Away

http://byunews.byu.edu/archive09-Feb-brooksforum.aspx

I happened upon the BYU devotional this morning when Little E wouldn't take her nap and I was exhausted trying to find something to take my mind off of my weariness. How lucky I was to have done so, thank you Heavenly Father. The message was given by Arthur Brooks. He is the president of American Enterprise Institute and presented his studies on the connection between giving and success. What a great message. It will be rebroadcasted on March 1st, this Sunday. I HIGHLY recommend watching it.

Smile

I've been having some hard nights the past few days, because Little E was teething it threw her system all out of whack, but last night she actually slept without waking up. Therefore it feels as though the sun is shining and birds are singing. I'm in a much better mood so I thought I'd post 10 things that make me smile. Maybe they'll bring a upward curl to your mouth too...

1. The sound of my kid's belly laughing.

2. Parades.

3. Baby animals.

4. Kids singing along to the radio.

5. My husband saying he loves me.

6. Baby pictures.

7. Elderly couples holding hands.

8. Bed head. Especially my brother's.

9. Seeing my mom cry when she thinks about my dad.

10. Australian sheep dogs in a trance.<- that's for you Sarah

Scouts, oh so fun

Funny Ha Ha

Last Wednesday was packmeeting and Racer X received his Wolf patch, Duty to God and a plethora (Jefe, what is a plethora?) of other awards. It was a very nice evening. As you well know, the mother of the awarded scout gets to receive a pin for all of her hard work at encouraging her son as well, so when I joined Racer X up front to receive said pin he looked at me with bewildered eyes and said,"Why do I pin it on you? Dad helped me the most."
I sheepishly chuckled and looked at Lover Boy who turned red then nudged his son. "Just pin it on her." You gotta love what kids blurt out sometimes, pure truth.

History and Hope

I know a lot of people today will fill their blogs with entries about today's historical inauguration, so how can I resist? I watched this morning and although I didn't vote for Obama I still awed at how far our country has come. Who knows what will happen in the next four years, but you can't deny the implications of this turning point in history. Good or bad. I know the economy struggles, society strangles, and the world, as a whole, holds their breath for the next trauma awaiting, but I am hopeful and optimistic. Why? Well, I believe what our prophets, current and ancient, have said. If you remember the last general conference, then recall the consistent message of hope and love. Heavenly Father wants us to feel joy. Regardless of what happens outside of us, we can feel peace and joy as we continue to look toward Christ's return. Or how about not even His return, but His existence. It really is that simple. We do not need to carry everything on our shoulders. Christ asked us not to, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Give it to Him and enjoy life. Yes, life is hard. Sometimes it downright sucks, but so does a good workout, a fulfilling hike or bike ride, yet you still have fun as you do it. So lift up your head and smile in the face of life's experiences.