Wednesday, June 11, 2014

choosing happy

We chose happy all day long.

For some reason it was just easy today. I'm taking a moment to look up at God and the almost full moon and give thanks.

Here is some of our wonderful Wednesday in pictures.

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Today was Grey's last day of preschool before Summer Break. I brought Jack the dog with me to pick him up because he reminds me how to live a happy life. He watches all the things. He smells all the smells. You can just tell there is no where else he'd rather be. I think that's part of the key to happiness- being content with the things you have right in front of you. I was stopped at Starbucks and ordering my drink when I took this picture. Are you taking pictures of your dog? The guy asked me laughing, watching me from the security camera. Why yes I am, I told him. Because I happen to know you can learn a lot from a dog.

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Today I took time to notice the tiny details. The things in life that make me pause and ooze grateful. His feet make me seriously giddy. The way his big toe is usually pointing.

Grey wanted to play outside and Parker wanted to stay inside and neither would budge. So I pulled the blinds in the kitchen all the way open so I could stay in the kitchen with Parker and keep an eye outside too. Watching him take a bath in the sink was one of the best parts of my day.

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And the fact that it was Trash Truck Wednesday. Frank came inside and we were standing at the kitchen counter talking. Parker kept tugging at Frank's pants. He finally grabbed his hand and led him over to the couch to sit down. He wanted to watch TV with his friend, Frank.

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It made me so happy.


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I'll leave you with a sweet little story...


The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room …. just wait.”

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away, just for this time in my life.”

She went on to explain, “Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.”

And with a smile, she said: “Remember the five simple rules to be happy":

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less

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Let's both try to follow those five things tomorrow- okay? We both deserve all the happy we can find.

Much Love,
Chrissy

We are SO happy AND grateful for all of your donations in an effort to make the world a happier place. I'll count up the tally tomorrow and let you know. If you are interested in donating to the Autism Speaks page we set up for Greyson and Parker you can click HERE.Thank you, Friend. 






5 comments:

  1. This post makes me HAPPY.
    :)
    I agree that dogs bring a lot of happiness. Just looking at my chill dog makes me relax and smile.
    I also bring her everywhere with me, including Starbucks drivethru, and I have taken photos.

    Toes make me very happy too. Especially little ones (I still consider Nolan's toes little since he's my baby).

    I love seeing all of the normal/special moments of your Wednesday.

    xoxo
    Michelle

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  2. I needed this post today. I battle depression and lately it has been a struggle. I love the comment about the toes. When my daughter was actually doing High School Senior pictures they did a pose where she was on her belly with her legs bent up at the knees. Well, her jeans were covering her feet. I went and over and uncovered them so they were showing. I told her I had to see her "baby feet". Needless to say she was embarrassed and probably thought it was stupid when her feet are a Size 10. They will always be baby feet to me. Big hugs and SMILES today from Texas - Janet

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  3. Hi Chrissy! My husband and I have a son recently diagnosed on the spectrum and we love reading your blog. Thank you for having the courage to write it. Random question for you... where do you get the boys' shoes? The sneakers that resemble full shoe crocs? Thanks!

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    1. hello friend! They are native brand shoes and they are the best things on earth!
      No socks. No stinky. Soft.

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  4. I just came across your blog today through the Momma Reads Mondays and ab-so-lutely love this post! I know I haven't been actively choosing happiness lately. This reminder that happiness is a state of being and that one can choose is amazing! Thank you so much :)

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