Pure Joy

What is happiness?



I think that for every single person, it is something different. Everyone has certain things that make them happy, that bring them joy. Often, it is the little things that make people the most happy. Even on the worst days, there are always those things that make me smile, no matter what is going on in my crazy mixed up life right now. These are the things that bring my life the most joy:



The sounds of my laughing children.

The smell of fresh coffee in the morning.

An unexpected call from a friend or family member.

A cheesy vibrant smile from my nephew.

My son saying "yuv oo too mommy."

Hanging out watching movies with my friends.

The smell of lilacs.

Long walks in the park.

A good book under a cool shade tree.


My point is, that life is hard. But if you can find pure joy and happiness in the little things in life, the days don't seem so bad. So look for something good today. One thing that can make you smile or laugh and just hold onto it. And when things don't seem to be going right, bring up that memory and just smile. Find something to smile about today.

I prayed....

I prayed for his heart to change.
It didn't.
I prayed for answers.
I got few.
I prayed for hope.
I recieved a little.
I prayed for peace.
It's coming...slowly.
I prayed for guidance.
I did get that,
from more people than I needed it.

What I didn't pray for was joy.
Or happiness.
Or confidence.
Or love.
Or energy.
Or new friendships.

Funny, how He knows just what you need,
Even when you don't know you need it.

Back and Better Than Ever

It still amazes me how time flies by. It doesn't seem possible that it has been over a month since my AMAZING vacation with my family and friends. It also doesn't seem possible that so much has happened since then.

First I finally opened my store in Granger as the RGM. All is going well with that, but I am exhausted from all the extra hours I have been putting in. Fortunately though, it is going so well, that my Area Coach told me not to work so many hours. (YEAH!!) I have a couple great managers and a few awesome employees. Some of them need a little work, but that is just part of my job.

I also got a new car. After over a month of putting about 20 dollars of gas in the car, the brakes not working well, and a bottle of power steering fluid a day in the stupid thing, I FINALLY decided to get a new one. It took a little work to get a loan, since I am still working on cleaning up my credit. Thanks to my AWESOME friend Becca co-signing on my 2009 HHR, I am officially feeling safe driving to work again.

Speaking of Becca, she is moving in as we speak. So for the first time since college I will have a room mate. It will be interesting, since Christina and Logan will have to share a room again, but we will make it work. I will be able to feel more comfortable with paying bills, and get up on my feet again. Not that I don't feel like I am getting back on my feet already, but It will help me feel even better about it all.

Other than that, I went camping with my awesome group of friends. I had so much fun and so did the kids! It was the first camping trip I have been on with either of my kids because My husband never wanted to go camping, even though it is one of my daughter's favorite things to do during the summer. Fortunately, she has always had two awesome sets of grandparents that have taken her camping during the summers. It was so nice though to get to share that experience with them. We are hoping to all do it again a couple of times this summer.

Oh yeah, May 12th was Chad and I's 9th wedding anniversary. It was kinda bittersweet. Part of me was sad, because I kept thinking about how I had failed. Failed my marriage and my kids. I can't help but feeling that way because to me, marriage was meant to be forever. The words to the song sang by Clint Black and his wife, say it the best. "When I said I do, I meant that I will, Till the end of all time..." But I have no control over that since I never wanted the divorce in the beginning. So, to fight off the blah's, I invited my awesome friends over for dinner with me and my kids. We played games and had an awesome time.

So all this has happened since May 1st. I am feeling great about my job and my kids. Over all, just great about life. The days that I am happy and content with my life way out number the ones that I don't. That is an awesome feeling. I'm back, and better than ever.

Pride

These are more verses that I needed to remember myself. So I thought I would post them here so I knew where to find them instantly. Sometimes you just need to be reminded.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 29:23
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

I need.....I want

I was talking to a friend yesterday. I made the comment that I don't need this, but I WANT this. It really got me thinking after I said it. It got me thinking about life. There are so many things in life that are necessities, and sometimes it is hard to distinguish between what you want and what you need. So, as always, I questioned myself.

What do I WANT?

I want life to go as I planned it. (Yeah right.)
I want my kids to be happy.
I want to be the best mother that I can be.
I want to be loved.
I want my store opening tomorrow to go well.
I want to be successful.
I want to pay off my bills.
I want to do what makes me happy.
I want a new car.
I want to know where God is taking me in life.


What do I NEED?

I need God.
I need my kids.

Wow! My needs list is so much shorter, but so much more important. What else really matters? Just my kids and my God. Without them I am nothing. So Maybe instead of focusing on my wants, I need to focus on my needs. I know what I need. I know what I can't live without. And the two things I can't live without, are the most important things in the world.

Does God Have a Specific Plan for Your Life? Probably Not.

Does God Have a Specific Plan for Your Life? Probably Not.

Queen of the Castle

As of Tuesday, I will officially be the RGM of my own store. It's a nice promotion with great benefits. Today, I spent a few hours there doing interviews. It was the first time I was at my store for more than just a few minutes. I was there with my boss Ward, the Area coach. We were standing up front looking at the store when it hit me. This is mine. (Well, not literally mine.) My baby. I am queen of the castle here.

It all suddenly felt real for the first time. I felt a deep sense of pride. This is what I have been working for since I first became a restaurant manager. I have worked hard through the years at each of my management positions to prove that I was ready and that I could do this. I have put in a lot of hours and hard work. And now, someone finally thinks I am ready. Though I was hired and trained to do this job, I had to prove it to my superiors....and I did.

This is gonna be a lot of responsibility. This is gonna be the hardest thing I have ever done in my professional life. I, alone, am responsible for all the staffing, training and ordering. I am responsible for all the numbers, both good and bad. This is mine to succeed at or fail.

I will not except failure. I will not settle for second best. I will be successful. I am the queen of my own castle. That is so cool!