Happiness Project: Review Friendship

Well, another month of the Happiness Project flew through my hands leaving me thinking - man I could have got more from that!  Yet, I am certainly grateful that even a little reminder has helped me keep 'friends' in the brain a bit more.

As April was 'family move across the country month' I reflected a great deal on the friends old, new, and really old, that have supported me through all phases of life.

Truly the best part about living in Arizona were our amazing neighbor friends that we had.  Without the Morales, Bougneit, Heavlin, and Hancock families  the desert would have been more than dry! Also, with a best friend for my girls came a best friend for me too. I felt bouyed and loved by them and looked forward to the time I had to spend with them.

Although not right next door, Jamie and Jenn became the closest girlfriends I had there to talk with and spend many a day at parks.  Oh yes, there was my theatre family of friends that helped me reconnect with 'Nancy'; Riki, Steph, Ashley, Gary, Morgan, Laura, the Chamberlains and Briggs.  I felt blessed with a new life each show I did to be near those wonderful caring people that shared that love of theatre.

I have been sustained through much of my life by some amazing genuine friends from the SSU band of girls.  Special shout out to Kristen who has been on of the best sounding boards and talking buddies since the third grade!  What!  That is forever.  No matter where I move, the SSU gals have kept me feeling connected to someone, somehow.

And Halelujiah for gracious answers to prayers and the Lord has blessed me with some instant friend in FW!  What a miracle to have neighbors, again, that are friendly and Church members who are excited to get to know me.  As I moved here I contemplated a lot about how I might be better at making friends and being a genuine 'people person' so as not to be so lonesome in the middle of the USA.  Well, I am glad I had thought of it, but honestly don't feel that I have done much to warrant the influx of friendly offers around.

I had wanted to read a few books about improving friendships or gaining new ones, but the best examples I have had about being true friends have come from those I already have!  Including, most especially my family.  In review, I do feel that I want to revisit this topic and next time around reach out a bit more in thoughtful ways to show others how much I appreciate their friendship and be more watchful of the welfare of others.  So good to think of fun ways to be a better friend FOREVER.

HP: Parenting REVEIW

I really should have taken the FULL month of March to focus on Parenting rather than just the last half for all the amazing that I learned in those two weeks! Of course I will continue, but I thought I would share some of the lovely insights I learned from others.

As I reached out to others for their advice on parenting- I felt as though the major benefit was not only their wisdom, but feeling connected to a whole network of wonderful people. Half the battle of being a parent is just plain feeling hopeless and helpless as though there is no way personally you can be that parent that your kids need. Remembering, and connecting with, all the others that are in similar situations feels like getting a bungee support system that can help you bounce back more readily.

Here's the fantastic advice I received from others:

-Thoughtful observations from others may reveal what you think as justifiable parenting is still being rather unfair to your kiddos. It is worth having a second pair of eyes on the situation.

-involve your kiddos in everything and don't treat them as after-thoughts in your pursuits

-offer correction privately, quietly, and lovingly

- to effectively persuade: use your voice kindly, smile and explain truths, values, and laws that we all need to honor

- we cannot use our influence in a forceful way - even after we have done all to explain, coerce and demand things from our children they still have the choice and those choices can and may hurt my heart as a parent, but exersicing an overbearing arm will not be to any better effect

-Recommended biblio from my former nannying family more in the teenage years (I will certainly hold on to these for the upcoming drama with my girls!

1)The Wonder of Girls, Understanding the Hidden Nature of our Daughter - Micheal Gurian

2) Hold On to Your Kids, Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers - Gordon Neufeld, Ph.d and Gabor Mate, M.D.

3) Queen Bees adn Wannabes, Helping your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World - Rosalind Wiseman

4) My Teenage Were-Wolf, A Mother, A Daughter, A Journey Through the Thicket of Adolescence - Lauren Kessler

- Listen better, to the effect of hearing all they may not be saying and understanding what really is important to them.

-Pray an awful lot

And from my own study in "5 Spiritual Solutions for Everyday Parenting Challenges" by Richard and Linda Eyre -- Remember that these kids are God's children and that He is the perfect parent. Follow His parenting examples and rely on His advice. The book really is a must read.

Others on my favorite parenting books list:

Happiness Project #10: Parenting & Subdue the Earth

Better late than sorry, I am getting around to this months' Happiness project.

I don't feel terribly behind, but that may be my problem as a parent - pride.

So I am swallowing my pride and asking for the best, or your most recent, or maybe something inspring, resources that YOU have out there to become a better parent. Regardless of age, marital status, parental status, etc I know that everyone has some sort of something to say about parenting. So say it!

My main focus goals for this month, and forever are:

*making use of things for present or eternal values

*create personalized/inspired education plan for the kiddos - be the best at home educator - gain tools that will build them

*create helpful bibliography of material to return to for helpful parenting hints

*pray daily for each child by name

I welcome particularly anything to add to my bibliography and my personal knowledge base. I have a list of books that I have been chipping away at reading concerning parenting issues but I am also open to any books YOU have read that help you be a parent. Even magazines that are geared to kids etc. I do warn, I am awful at online resources and if I can't print the info out I am hopeless - still very much a hard copy girl.

Mahalos -

Happiness Project: Prosperity

No, amidst everything else I have not thrown the Happiness Project to the wayside. It is what keeps me expanding my mind and my viewpoint, and I feel absolutely inspired by this month's topic! After a bit of research, I think there is just one major shift I would like to make in a movement toward a happier better person this month:

Redefine for myself and my family our views of wants and needs.

Although the guiding researching thought of prosperity is finances, as I think more on it I feel more inclined to realize that it is not just the money that defines the wealth, but the perception. Josh and I have always been blessed to be able to cover our needs. We have been exceedingly blessed in fulfilling too many of our wants. We have also a very healthy disdain for debt. Yet, on the wealthy spectrum, I have not yet become really good at recognizing my position. I forget where we have come from, take advantage of where I am, and am continually looking for the future. Financially speaking, that is idiotic!

If I look back at when we were first married and the budget that we had - I very literally laugh. Meager is an apt description. BUT, it was great. We were happy. In truth, we didn't feel any more pinched in our budget than we do now. My mindset back then fit out situation. I would like to say that my mindset now fits my situation, but in truth, I have become greedy. Good news is - I get to try again!

The more I think about this move, the more excited I get. Josh and I are of the same mind as to our goals and our revitalized perspective. We will downsize even though he is getting a significant raise. Thing is, if you start something one way, you never know the difference. You can make yourself believe the truth of any situation. If we start out not thinking we are affluent, than we can continue. That is.....if we continue to choose so.

Here is my new revelation. When we moved here, started Josh's first job out of grad school, we were living meagerly. But it was great! I convinced myself that I liked our small apartment and enjoyed not having as much 'stuff' to manage. I believed it too, that is until the SWAT team showed up. Yet, if we can similarly move into something small than I will enjoy it! Also, managing less home allowed me to find more resources such as libraries, museums, etc to visit and enjoy. Also, living meager forced me to think outside the box on our 'necessities.' I joined co-ops and found really good thrift stores.

So who's to say that if we don't just move to Indiana, get a small house, already have scoped out the thrift stores and co-ops that I won't have already set us up with some serious prospering advantages! Thank heavens I am thinking of it now so that I can change some of my creeping spendiferious habits now.

And yes, I will be making changes now such as :

1- actually utilizing all the cool things on Quicken that is set up to help me that I have neglected (hey, at least last time I went through this phase of financial learning I got pretty far there, I am a slow learner, baby steps).

2- Also I can get stellar ideas of how people are voluntarily living the simple life to spice things up for me again (I have instituted several ideas from the 'No Impact' movement but became extremely lax during the difficult foster times).

3- Set my mind in a mode of 'plenty' not scarcity. When I look at my shoes I can think 'I have plenty' instead of 'I don't have ___type of shoes" or I can see my healthy kiddos and think 'I have plenty' and pass on $5 to St. Jude's foundations in thanks for those spiffy return address labels they send.

I do believe it a righteous endeavor to pursue wealth in all realms of life, including finances. The Lord has promised that if we do keep His commandments He will prosper us in the land. I do wish to cash in on that promised blessing most in part for the blessing of happiness that will come with the mindset of 'properity' which is a mindset of 'blessed.'

Happiness Project #6 Becoming

I am so very very grateful for tender mercies of the Lord guiding thoughts, readings, and ideas. I have been thinking a great deal on this coming month, of course, because it is something I have tried to dedicate my life to; actually becoming what I ought to be. That is, living up to my divine potential. If I am not doing that, what on Earth am I doing?

Here's what I have boiled it down to for some pretty measurable goals for this month. Obviously, I have a lifetime of honing down this process but I am glad that I have had a bit of an understanding as to what is possible for me to do in the present to be better.

1 - I AM..... Each day pick an adjective for myself that I can aspire to become that will be a statement of affirmation if I am faltering and a good reminder of what I really am commited to doing that day specifically. Write it down and judge on a scale of 1-5

1=remembered

2=hit it a couple of times

3=was aware and working

4=changed some directions based on it

5=really lived up to that daily potential

2-Ponder Thoughts: This is to be both mindful of the thoughts that I am allowing to be in my head and also to direct certain thoughts in a mode that would be pondering the truths that will help me become a better person. Pondering is the process of watching all our thoughts (which then become actions) and choosing only good and ennobling thoughts. Consistent choice of good thoughts acheives true joy and happiness through self-discipline. Place treasures in my mind that will help me observe the commandments of God and His purposes for me.

D&C 6:20 “I have spoken unto thee because of they desires; therefore treasure up these words (answers to sincere prayers and scriptures, words of prophets, things to ponder) in thy heart. BE FAITHFUL and DILLIGENT in keeping commandments of God, andI will encircle thee in the arms of my love.”

3-Fix It: Knowing the helps and guidance that the Lord has given me in order to become what I really am I can make seemingly small adjustments to daily flaws in order to be better in the capacity and character of a person that I am in the circumstances I am given.

Specifically: Confident communication in positive ways. Share talents with others. Be willingly helpful and volunteer to reach out of my own sphere to be useful. [see notes ;)]

Meditation - in a word

Last night, Josh was surprised to be jolted out of his study of the Old Testament by a torrent of excited explainations from me. From his perspective, I was just reading one of those 'girlie' books that a recent chick flick had been made of (he had been gracious enough to watch it with me) and was not expecting it to spark any bit of real interest.

I have been reading 'Eat. Pray. Love." by Elizabeth Gilbert. Yes, the same in which Julia Roberts starred on the big screen. My little sis had suggested reading the book and I had subsequently found it on a garage sale table. I began reading last week. I liked her foreward and was entertained by the first section 'Eat' regarding her lessons of self discover in Italy. I do appreciate her writing style which easily marries personal perspective with factual relevance. I had been looking forward to getting to the middle section of the book though. Saturday night I pushed through the end of the Italy episode and went headlong into India.

As she begins to ruminate on what brought her to India, the idea of finding a spiritual connection with God, I got hooked. I loved her description of the ancient form of religious Yoga - which is boiled down to learning how to meditate in order to find a connection with the divine. She points out how nearly every religious group has a relation to this very encounter with divinity. This is where I began to feel the urge to start highlighting.

I am so very intrigued by religious thought. By personal journeys to find a connection to the divine. The myriad of paths to do such are fascinating. All in the pursuit of truth, mankind has found out what helps them personally, and then done their best to replicate it, if it really works they teach others the same processes. Thus springs religion. Personally, I believe in one truth, which I willingly share with all if they want to share the path that God has set out for man to find Him. However, I enjoy reading what others have done with the best they have, which contains a great element of truth.

Gilbert's discussion of meditation got me thinking of what was the equivalent practice in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We absolutely believe in divine connections and often call that communication from God to man revelation. What then, was the process by which we receive revelation? What was the word that would best relate to the experience that others are creating in Ashrams around the world through meditation. AH-HAH - the word given to us in scriptural terms is Ponder.

I have been particularly driven in creating this connection in regards to the upcoming month challenge of my Happiness Project. October has been difficult, shamefully, to focus on positivity and gratitude. I blame that mostly on poor measurable daily goals. Now moving into November my goals are centered around "Becoming," that is, becoming the best version of myself and what the Lord would have me be. For that to come about, I recognize I need a much better connection with the Lord.

Now having identified my version of the word, I seek more to ponder on the great things and am excited to study according to the spirit what the Lord would have me become. I know that I have a divine potential that is immeasurable, but I will try to measure up a bit better now.

Happiness Project #5 Positivity and Gratitude

Review of Last Month: Awesome. Worth every conscious effort a person can muster in to the person that can make you most happy. I love my husband more and more and hope to continue being the most amazing woman he has ever know.

This month: Positivity and Gratitude

It may seem as though I am jumping the gun on Thanksgiving with this one, and it truth, that was the idea. I wanted to make sure I was in the right frame of mind well ahead of the national day dedicated to gratitude. The best part of this whole focus this month is two fold: One- I have read a really good book that has put me in a much better mind frame of the purpose and source of positivity and gratitude, GIVING. And Two - I have recognized, sadly, that I do not pray quite enough, nor to I give personal prayers of thanks. Not that I am a non-praying kind of person. I very much value my relationship with my Father in Heaven and the time that I talk with Him throughout the day, I just haven't made a very dedicated meditated time to do such.

The key word through this first half of October has been 'mindfulness.' Really, that is what it I have learned in the past 5 months and what I am learning about much better now. And I am happier, and I have confidence that I will be happier.

Recommended reading:

I am the Luckiest

My husband has the adorable habit of telling me that he is the luckiest man in the world because he married me. I playfully respond that if I hadn't gotten him to purpose to me, where would we be? Yet, I have come to fully disagree with him; you see, I am the lucky one.

There are several amazing qualities that my husband posses. Some I recognized immediately when I originally fell in love with him, other have caused me to fall deeper and deeper in love with him now. It is not only the stock 'tall, dark, and handsome' that have me hooked. Nor is is soley the sensitive 'loves children and good books.' Josh is even more amazing than that.

While continuing in my quest to better myself as a wife by reading "The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands" by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, I have been enlightened on how very lucky I am to have mastered so many of the mysteries of men so early on in life. Why? Because Josh is a phenomenal teacher. With tact, gentility, and love Josh has taught me how to be direct in communication. How to appreciate how he is different. How to communicate effectively with him. How to celebrate our own unique differences. It wasn't until Dr. Laura pointed out how uncommon it was to already have such giant hurdles surmounted that my gratitude for my great man bounded to higher heights.

I haven't finished the book yet, but in all truth, I would recommend it even with a half read through. It disspells all the untrue feministic garbage that has blugdeoned men and marriage into a sad little pulp. Coming from a woman it is all the more powerful. I think every woman in the world needs to hear the things she has to say: love your man, stop your whining and love your man better.

I do have to attribute a fine marriage to a bit more than luck. It takes work. It also works better if you know you are going to be working on improving it. I am extremely glad that at the tender age of 17 a wise temple president encouraged the youth group I was with to cultivate in ourselves the qualities we desired in a spouse, for they would be looking for the same thing. It hit me then that I only had the power to change myself for the better and that good things are attracted to each other. Great good has come to me in the form of my husband.

I find it no shallow coincidence that our wedding song was "the Luckiest" by Ben Folds. It portrayed then the quirkiness of our love and a bit of the akwardness of falling in love but knowing it was forever. Now it just sings true.

Happiness Project Month #4: The most important relationship I will have on Earth

Return and Report Month #3: I found out that I don't especially care about my own personal accomplishment in many areas, but I do care about a few. It is nice to feel not so very selfish, but interesting to just feel calm in the reassurance that there is a time and season to all things. There are aspects of my pesonal accomplishments I had listed that I do very much want to pursue, later. I am not procrastinating, I just can't put them as a priority right now, or I don't want to because there are much more important things to worry about.

Take Myself Seriously as Professional: This I really did enjoy the most because it is something that does fit into my life. I have felt a great sense of accomplishment taking voice lessons for the first time ever. I have way more confidence in my own sound. I have appreciated the help of talented friends to help me feel comfortable as a dancer and as an auditioner. I got some good roles, and walked away from some others. I am currently taking tap lessons alongside Faith in a class of 4 year olds, and I love it!

Onward &Upward: meh. I do want to continue writing and working on my manuscript, but upon looking into schools I found the only program I would really want to be in would require me to be away from the family way to much right now. I am still playing with the idea of submitting an application just for fun....but then we got Earl and I don't know. It is a dream, that will be accomplished, later.

Gospel Teacher: this is a mixture of times and seasons and personal preference. I like to study the Gospel in my own way; learning what is interesting, listening to and applying general conference lessons, a lot of personal pondering of Gospel principles as they relate to outside perspectives. Noting that I don't study my scriptures quite enough, I do need to do a bit more to refuel the fire of the missionary spirit and attentiveness to how/when to share the Gospel with others.

Give me 5: This I love. I have always had several books lying around, yet it is good to categorize and know what I am reading and why and kinda give me a month deadline in which to do it.

Now on to the next month: The Most Important Relationship on Earth

I married Josh near 6 years ago. It was amazing. Look at us, weren't we just giddy? I have always felt astonished and overwhelmingly blessed to be attached to this man for eternity. In six years we have had two major fights I and I can link both to pregnancy or stress. Outside forces trying to rip us apart. So even if things are amazing and I am with my best friend, why not strengthen it even more. I love Josh to distraction some days, and other days I just get distracted. My main failing as a wife is taking him, and us, for granted. I am excited to form better habits for me to show how much I love him. In Church yesterday there were several silver-haired members that bore testimony of marriage, commenting in semi-competition, that they had been married for decades upon decades - and each one said it has not been long enough. How glad we are that we were seal together in a marriage ceremony that not only binds us legally on earth, but in heaven through God's true power for time and all eternity. It is a sound investment to put in the effort now to make this marriage work even better now thinking of the exponential time we have ahead of us.

#1 Bookend: start and end each day with physical touch, soft words, and appreciation. Especially write down specifics that I am grateful for each day. Keep a log and review it then give it to him at the end of the month as a gift. Do the same in prayer morning and night.

#2 Basics: Food. Sex. Temple. Don't be skimpy in any area. Make each area a concerted effort and thoughtful gift to him. Anticipate his needs.

#3 Time: be the 'Yes Wife.' make him my 'Priority Man' and give him all the time I can possibly give him in the day of my devoted attention.

#4 Allow: give him the opportunity to change the small things. don't nag; find alternative ways to let him know I need some help or look for ways to make the task simpler for him. Don't live in a world of double standards. Give him the same respect I would want when discussing my short-comings. We all change in our own time.

Happiness Project Month #3: Personal Accomplishment

As much as I would like to escape right now into my 'light read' and just get lost in a batch of cookies - I know I will be much happier if I stick to my goal of making goals.

It struck me that I have actually been doing rather well on this whole project. It is still alive and interesting to me. The nuance of daily doing better and monthly changing it up has kept it out of the gutter and the ruts.

Last month, wholesome recreation, was a very balancing experiment. I daily recognized how very naturally I could live my life without actively participating in all the lovely good opportunities available. My personal Jiminy Cricket was a small, yet lively and stern, bust of the bearded Brigham Young. "8-8-8" he would remind me. "Recreation is not idleness" came quickly during my mind numbing turns. "Develop and diversify" moved me away from just working on the same think I liked doing instead of something I needed to do.

All in all, it was much more revealing to think through my day at the end of it at how I actually used my leisure time - even the mental moments - to define how I was re-creating myself. I seriously lack in the "Renewal" category. I neglect very much my mind, body, and spirit. What more does that leave? That is what makes it so very disturbing. I do very much enjoy my time with loved ones. I made concerted efforts to make a more 'homey' home, even though I often got stuck up on the physical aspects more than the needful metaphysical aspects. And graciously, I learned that sleeping 8 hours, regardless of when I got to bed, made the rest of the day much much more balanced (so I slept in more, evening is the only time I have with my husband and early morning is the only time he has with the kids).

On to Month #3: Personal Accomplishment

1- Take myself seriously as a professional: acting, singing, dancing, writing - do all studiously and prepared asking for help and taking lessons to best present myself particularly for auditions this month - be the part instead of just acting like an actress

2- Onward & Upward: prepare and research applications for master’s programs in creative writing or courses I can begin to start myself on that path. Write daily preparing my manuscript, 1500 words daily

3- Gospel Teacher: topical study of Gospel principles/doctrine utilizing a general conference talk and the standard works mostly to familiarize more with the teachings of the Savior and know where in the scriptures they are.

4- Give me 5: complete all 5 books in my reading categories:

1) spiritual; Jesus the Christ by Talmage

2)whimsical: Key Lime Pie by Lori Kilpatrick

3) Self-Smart: Six Questions of Socrates by Christopher Phillips

4) The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

5) self-help: The Secret by Deepak Chopra

Little helpers

I so love that my Josh allows the kids to help with any project he does. Good thing because they insist on being underfoot as it is. We have learned if you just let them participate for a minute then they loose interest and leave you alone, however if you deny them the opportunity they want it more. It is a pretty familiar pattern to all of us, wanting what you can't have. So why not give in? The kiddos have certainly been invovled in our remodeling things. The particularly like painting. Josh gave each of them a large t-shirt of his and no big deal.
You'll notice that Faith has the genetic tounge sticking out while concentrating gene.

Finished product: cool antique writing dest. The legs show you the chipped white that it was. Josh had to sure up some parts on the top and sand down a lot of water damage on top so we decided to paint it the red I had discarded from the laundry room. I love it! What an eclectic addition to our living room furniture; I love accent pieces.

almost complete

Happily, the overwhelming mess of a slight remodel in our home occupied my thoughts well enough that I have not noticed the blaring heat outside. Now I notice how lovely it is to have my home just the way I want it. We painted the kitchen a new 'cool' blue that has significantly changed the feel in the kitchen. The orange of before wasn't bad, it just didn't feel quite as inviting or cozy, ironically because orange is supposedly in the 'warm' color family. Yet, this blue has felt much more homey.
I also reconfigured the kids' creative area yet again. Josh is wondering why I am constantly changing their play areas. In short - it creates something new and exciting to entertain them. Plus, their development is so rapid. It is so very nice that they are all close in age so I can just move the areas to accomodate their stages currently. Now it is all about coloring. After having the kitchen floor constantly littered with paper that they colored a corner of then disgarded, it was time for a more reusable coloring alternative. If only crayola made washable dry-erase markers.


That lovely large mirror to the right of my oh so good son is where a door used to be. That was the coat closet. Now it is a wall. Behind Danny you can see all the way through to the kitchen. Before you could only see wall. What happened to the coat closet?
Ah, that is what happened to the coat closet. We opened it up from the back which happens to be right into the laundry room, creating the space needed for a freezer! We had crammed a chest freezer and the clothes washer in there before with very little room, or light, making laundry day a darkening chore.
we are still working on the tile top for the folding table but I love hoe happy and room-ish the laundry area is now. Yes, yellow is my happy color and I figured I needed to make laundry one of the happiest tasks of my day, since I get to do it so frequently.
View from kitchen thru to the laundry.
Pantry custom shelving! I makde the bottle shelves floor to ceiling and they now house all my bottles. I love seeing exactly what I have and perhaps what I ought to replenish or cut back on. Best of all, no wasted 2 feet of space up top!
The greatest genius of the whole project was the epiphany to get adjustable shelving for the other pantry items. Hoorah! I believe every pantry I have ever lived with has frustrated me in that you cannot put a big box of cereal upright on the fixed shelving. So now, I just fix the shelves to match what it holds. The corner shelving unit from IKEA has industrial lazy suzans that can hold up to 90lbs each. Again, floor to ceiling shelfs. It is glorious to have my food in view again. This arrangement also makes food storage inventory super easy. I may not have a ton of space for food storage (all to common in new built homes, where is the storage room?) but I am determined to make the best of what I do have.

That was my last LARGE home project. The last little stuff shouldn't take so much money. Of course I will continually be changing, part of who I am, but oh am I happy having that pantry and laundry room made into more usable spaces.

July, it will fly

No, I have not neglected the Happiness Project quite yet. June was good learning month. In retrospect, I should have been more focused, but the daily thought and effort was sufficient enough to help boost happiness. I just kept looking at everything with a happiness tinge and got off track a bit with "Just do it!" Upon review, I will continue to work on

1 'keep moving' meaning I need to keep up my pace throughout the day and get things done, I always feel tired as I lay down, and accomplished.

2- I need Josh's help to get to bed early.

3- I hit off a lot of the big tasks but need to be better about the little shining cleaning things.

4- Some exercise is better than no exercise.

5-Being outside is awful in Arizona right now, but I will do more to bring outside in.

As for the beginning of July goals, I have been a bit distracted this first half of the month with the following:
My girls absolutely loving the Americanna they met in person. This gal was not one of the roman riders but was so very sweet to let them adore her up close.
Danny went punk for the paradeAnd fireworks just about made their heads explode with patriotic glee. Ah, vacation.

Not that I had forgotten the goal to be happy while on vacation it was just easier. The bonus being that this month I am working on "Joyful Moments; Wholesome Recreation." I have had my list of desired improvements all month long but will now be logging my progress in five specific areas:

1- 8/8/8 log: “Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between labour, sleep and recreation. All men, women and children should labour; all must sleep; and if mental and physical balance is to be maintained, all people should spend one-third of their time in recreation which is rebuilding, voluntary activity - never idleness. ‘Eight hours work, eight hours sleep, and eight hours recreation’ was Brigham Young’s motto.” The Life Story of Brigham Young

2- “Homey” Home: singing house, creative fun, tidy yet creative, joyful noises and happy words, cozy spaces, family togetherness and learning; try new games; make all things play

3- Develop and Diversify - enrich on all levels; “Recreation and diversion are as necessary to our well-being as the more serious pursuits of life. There is not a man in the world but what, if kept at any one branch of business or study, will become like a machine. Our pursuits should be so diversified as to develop every trait of character and diversity of talent.” Brigham Young

4-Renew: use leisure time (or atmosphere) to renew MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT

5- Enjoy loved ones - family outings, group activities with friends, fun dates, stop in and visit more, create gatherings

June: Just Do IT!

Lovely friends and I have recently been motivated by a worthy book: "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. Like man of the books I read, it is giving me ideas of how to continue progressing and changing. The premise of this one is to organize and prioritize elements of your life to better enjoy them and feel more happy. Thus, we have created our own individual happiness projects. Each month we tackle a new area/topic/subject that can increase or happiness and focus on a few important goals in that area. As the months roll along, you snowball the goals assuming that mastery (or near mastery) had occured in the one month on a few goals. Then, by the end of a maginficient month, we are to feel happier and more in control. Commited I am. Totally prepared I am not. But, the goal was to start on June 1st, so I got my first duck in the line and will work on the row as we go.

JUNE: JUST DO IT.

A lot of the elements I consider essential to my happiness day to day have to day with physical order, clealiness and organization. As Rubin suggested, clearing out the clutter in my physical surroundings I feel more relaxed in other areas of my life. So why not give a full month to getting all that frustrating nagging things made so beautiful it truly brings you happiness to do laundry and clean your pretty bathroom. I started right away with our master closet. We were just returning from a vacation and I much rather put clothes back finally the right way than shove them in the wrong. I let the suitcases sit and I tore apart our closet. All those shelves that had annoyed me in their placement for over a year were moved. Clothes were evaluated and moved. I was going to garage sale a lot but made a compromise with hoarder Josh that I would just set them in bins with the agreement that if they were not opened in a full years time for use then I could garage sale them. Thus, overhead bins rather than total de-clutter.

And Viola!!!!

Before (my side) After

Before (Josh's side) After

looking in Before and After

The last view was my favorite change. Josh was a bit less patient with the process as I was going through it, it did make a bigger mess before it got better, but once I was finished I got the beautiful gold star comment "This is now my favorite spot in the house, it seems like we got a whole new upgraded room!" Hooray indeed!

Daily Goals

1=Keep moving: even when tired, or percieved tired, move through it and I will get more done and more energy in the process

2=Early to bed, Early to rise; the rest of the rhyme says it makes one healthy, wealthy, and wise, which I could use. But for now I will focus on a 9:30pm bedtime and a pre-6am rising.

3=Tackle that Task!!: this includes wiping out some major projects around the house that I have been lazy about and being less lazy about the daily shining of the place.

4=40min Fat Burner: I am pretty good about exersicing but realized I need to be doing 40mins or more to be in the fat burn zone, which is where I need to be to get in those goal jeans.

5=Here comes the sun! = (a Beatles song) despite it being Arizona and approaching the hottest months, I need to be outside at least 10minutes a day, if not for just hanging laundry, then gardening and best of all, playing in the hose with the kids!!