My Happy List

Last week was a rough week for us. Actually if you want to know the truth April was tough. Last week however the stress found its way to my lip, after receiving some particularly stressful news I woke up the next day with a giant cold sore on my lip. Pretty, can’t you just imagine it? So I decided today it is time for another one of my happy lists.

1. Coffee. Let’s just face it, it makes me happy and it will be on every list.

2. This sermon (In-fin-8 week 6 ) by Steven Furtick. This sermon may have been preached a few weeks ago to thousands of people in North Carolina, but let me just tell you it was preached for me and Matt. This sermon has thrown us a life preserver when we felt as though we were sinking. So thank you for that Pastor Steven (who I am sure will never read this blog post, thank you just the same)

3. The Elevation worship Cd, “Nothing is Wasted”. This is an amazing CD. I have had in on repeat in my ISS trailer, much to the confusion of my cute, sweet, little clients.

4. Christine Caine’s book Undaunted. Started it today, half way through. This book is stirring something inside me that I had forgotten about. The dream that God placed in my heart that is so easily tucked away. This passage in particular, “to the world, I looked unqualified. But God cared more about my willingness than my qualifications.” Thank you Christine Caine (who I am also sure will not read this post, thank you just the same) This book is a reminder to me that my life matters, to God but also to the people God has placed in my path to direct them back to him.

5. 10 days of school left until summer break. This is a new happy moment for me. 10 days of school left means 10 days of work left for me before a 2 month break. I have never gotten to enjoy the schedule of a school employee before. So whoo hoo for school. I am hoping to enjoy summer, not spend the whole time wishing my kids were back in school so I could be alone. My goal is to enjoy spending time with them this summer. I’ll let you know how that goes.

6. My shorts fit.

7. I have successfully avoided eating sugar for 5 weeks. I have done so by finding a new snack. This snack has replaced my daily ritual of drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows before bed. I have rediscovered my love for apples, bananas and strawberries cut up in a bowl with sugar free cool whip. I remember when I was a teenager I would yell from the living room to my mom “mom will you make me apples, bananas and strawberries cut up in a bowl with sugar free cool whip?” And because my mom spoiled me she would make it for me. It’s so good! I know that cool whip is not good for me so I just use a little…I swear.

8. Last weekend Matt and I had a date. It has been a while so I was very happy to go out with my best friend. It is so easy to let time slide by without spending time together. I hate the distance that I feel when we haven’t had time together just the two of us. I am so thankful that after almost 12 years there is no one I would rather spend an evening with than him. Laughing with him is my favorite and he isn’t even embarrassed with I laugh loudly in the theatre.

9. I found a new pair of shoes for $12. I have been on the look out for shoes for myself since February. I was pretty excited to find a pair at Target that fit and were cheap! Yay Target.

10. Miss Sisterhood movie 4 change is Friday night! Every month I look forward to Miss Sisterhood. However it usually accompanied by a degree of stress, but not this month. This month we are hosting an outdoor movie for a $5 donation. Every bit of the money goes to help keep a girl in Watoto Uganda in school for a year. If we can raise $500 we will keep 8 girls in school. I am planning on raising money for this until we have $500 so if you who are reading this would like to donate $5 please let me know!

In the midst of my worry and stress it was important for me to focus on some happy things, some positive things in order to keep me from becoming a glass half empty kind of girl. I am usually the type of person who goes with the flow pretty easily and I happen to like that about myself. When I notice myself starting to whine and complain I start to not like who I am, because it’s not me. I hope that you can look at my list today and find some joy in the midst of stress and worry in your own life.

“Do Not Worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34