Long Break

A lot has happened since my last post. A lot has happened in the last month, week, day, hour.... good things and sad things. Internal things and external. But today I need to refocus. Today, a list of happy.

• baked apple oatmeal in my Barnard babies mug
• catching up on Writers Almanac podcast
• my wayward hairdo is kind of endearing today
• sunshine outside
• goddaughters first day of kindergarten pictures/party
• the hope of grilled cheese this evening
• my legit sleeping in this morning
• cleaning up my Google Reader
• finally paying attention to my Pinterest account
• emptying my paper recycling bin

Rise and Shine



by Hayley & Lucas, discoverd on That's Happy



Simplicity

a view on my drive home last week

Learn to like what doesn't cost much.
Learn to like reading, conversation, music.
Learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.
Learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing hills.
Learn to like people, even though some of them may be different...
             different from you.


Learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job as well as it can be done.
Learn to like the songs of birds, the companionship of dogs.
Learn to like gardening, puttering around the house and fixing things.
Learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of the rain
           on the roof and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter's day.

Learn to keep your wants simple
           and refuse to be controlled by the likes and dislikes of others.


 - Lowell Bennion
(taken from 320*Sycamore)

Oh drat

I misplaced my positivity pants this week.

Restless sleep, silly worries, big worries, character improving struggles, second guessing those I trust, life transitions, a messy apartment, hectic schedule  - they all lead to a grumpy Allie. When I woke up this morning after too little sleep, instead of relfecting on my blessings I just hoped today was better than yesterday. I'm trying to turn it around with positive thoughts....  but most everything so far could've had this sign posting on it:



via afternoonsnoozebutton.com



And then I picture seeing that everywhere I go, and I laugh! 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

Choose Joy.

Choose Joy.

Choose Joy.

How Great is Our God

photo from Grieving Gracefully

C.S. Lewis Quote

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house.

At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing.

He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on;

you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised.

But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably

and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to?

The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from

the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an

extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards.

You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage:

but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

 - C.S. Lewis

 

discovered at Sunshine Promises

Romans 8:28



Highgate, JA



"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."   NIV

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." The Message

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." Amplified Bible





Work it Out



By Sarah Abbott via That's Happy