Join me in my quest for happiness!!

Two years ago, I made the life changing decision
to look for happiness in my life.
Now, it is like a reflex for me to stop and watch
for where it will pop up each week so
that I can write about it for my
52 Weeks of Happiness Project.

I never had to look too hard to find it,
I've learned that it exists all around me
all the time,
I just had to stop and notice it.

It lingers in the smallest moments
that could easily be overlooked.
It's just waiting there for me to claim it.

Happiness is...
flowers blooming,
my children playing,
going to the movies,
mailing a letter,
birthday cake,
eating pancakes,
a good book,
laying in the grass,
spending time with good friends.

The list could go on and on.

I'd like to invite you to join me
in spending an entire year
scouting out joy in your life.

Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my new fancy smanshy button down there
and include it in your post.

Let's meet up over at my place every Tuesday
and share our happiness
with each other!

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I can't wait to see what makes you happy!

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 52

The other morning the skies were grey
and as I drove down the road feeling glum,
I noticed some flowers starting to blossom on the trees.

It looked like the trees were waking up.
The little white ones looked as if they were yawning
and slowly wiping the sleep from their eyes.

These pink ones looked like they were
batting their eyelashes sleepily.
As if they were focusing on
a brilliant and beautiful light
when they awoke.

Fiery blooms looked like
they were surprised to see spring.
Like they had jumped out of bed
all of a sudden from a deep sleep.

Little delicate leaves looked like
they were still wrapped up in blankets.
As if they were lingering in bed
and taking their own sweet time to wake up.

The purple flowers looked
like they were stretching their arms
up over their groggy heads.

The world is waking up to Spring.
It made my day a little bit brighter!

Hey, guess what?
I just completed my 52 Weeks of Happiness!
Woo hoo!

Fear not, I am officially addicted
to scouting out joy in my life.

Tune in next tomorrow, where I will premier
a brand new fancy button
for the next
52 Weeks of Happiness project.

Be sure to tell all of your friends to come and play next Tuesday!

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 51

I love watching the boys
climb all over Roger.

They climb up his legs as if he were a tall ladder
that reached all the way up to the sky.

They do death defying tricks and poses as if
they were performing
in the circus together.

They do daredevil flips
or just happily hang upside down.

He is easily transformed into a horse
that they can ride all over the room.

Inevitably, the other joins in
and they all end up
in a huge pile
of laughing boys on the floor.

It makes me so happy
to watch my husband enjoy being daddy
and to see how
much the children adore playing with him.

A house filled with laughter
is a beautiful thing.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 50

We took Griffin to see
Circus Athena the other day.

Which was described as...
"A never-before-seen assembly of
Athens’ own circus performers
attempting dazzling feats
to wondrous live music"

Really, it was more like
a circus put on by The Little Rascals.
It was so cute and fun.

Highlights included
but were not limited to...

girls who balanced swords on their heads
while a handsome fella
played a saw like a violin,



a very dapper unicycle rider,

flying dogs,

scantily dressed girls shaking their hips,

and one amazing trapeze artist.

My favorite part was when
the whole crowd sang "Hey Jude"
as the hand painted lyrics
scrolled across the stage.

It was a fun and magical afternoon.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 49

Roger and I pretended that Valentine's day arrived
a few days early and went to see the B52's in concert.
It was SO much fun!

Our camera battery ran out at the beginning of the show
so I will have to tell you about the highlights,
please just imagine photos of the following:

*REM sitting two rows in front of us in the crowd.

*Michael Stipe carrying a metallic clutch.

*Big huge gay men wearing beehive wigs and feather boas.

*Middle aged women wearing beehive wigs and Go Go boots.

*Me dancing like a 1960's lunatic with motor control issues.

*The entire room freaking out when they sang "Love Shack".

*Fred Schneider walking around the stage like a pissed off grandma.

It was a blast!!!

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness:: Week 48

The other morning I decided
to treat myself to some Chic-Fil-A for breakfast.

I had woken up to a dreary day
and had a heavy heart.
Nothing makes me feel better
than some greasy food.

When I pulled up to the drive-thru,
the line was super long

and I sighed a heavy sigh.

As I sat in line, I spent a good amount
of time worrying about this and that
when I heard a little voice in my head say
"Pay for the food of the person in the car behind you."

I dismissed the quiet voice and tried to
talk myself out of it.

Money is tight, I can't just
go paying for other people's food,I told myself .
What if she was buying food for her whole office?

Then the small voice within said
"If you want to feel better,
pay for the food for the people in the car behind you!"

As I placed my own order,
my heart pounded in my chest.
I knew that I couldn't ignore my thoughts.

I tried to talk myself out of it
over and over again.

When I pulled up to pay,
the words came flying out my mouth
like they just couldn't be silenced.

"I'd like to pay for the car behind me too."
I blurted out as I handed the girl my card.
For some reason my hands were trembling.

Maybe because the desire to do so was so strong.
She smiled and took my card..."Thank you" she said.

It was only $5.00 more.

I pulled up and stopped to watch
the woman in the car behind me in my rear view mirror
as she discovered that her food was paid for.

She smiled a huge smile and waved.

As I sat and enjoyed my yummy treat,
peace and calm washed over me.

I truly believe that the quickest way
to finding happiness
is to do good things for other people.

Even the smallest gestures
can make big waves.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 47

Having a little friend to go

grocery shopping with me.

I just love that Koen takes

a trip with me every Friday

to buy our weekly groceries.

Our sweet routine starts in the parking lot

and as we hold hands,

he tries to dart off to scare unsuspecting birds.

Sometimes he splashes in rain puddles

while other times he marvels

at the huge delivery trucks idling in the unloading area.

His little feet dangle below him

as he perches in the shopping cart.

We zip up and down the aisles while

he grabs at snacks and bargains with me

to sneak a few bites of this and that.

I always say no at first

but he somehow manages to

eat his way through the entire grocery store.

Then he isn't hungry for lunch later.

I really don't mind a spoiled lunch once a week.

Sometimes I'll do just about anything

to keep him busy so I can shop in peace.

Every single person who passes by us

smiles at him.

Sometimes I catch him playing peek-a-boo

with little old ladies as they wheel on by.

I treasure these moments that pass between us

in the grocery store aisles.

Soon, he will be in pre-school

and I will shop all alone.

For now, it makes me

terribly happy to have him there with me.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 46

Taking the kids to Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

We packed up the car and
drove into Atlanta
to have a little fun.

Koen was really impressed with all the "dragon" bones
and the room full of "dragon" statues.



It was one of those magical days
where the children were completely engaged
in their surroundings.

They peeked in every little microscopic display
that the museum had to offer.



They climbed pretend trees
and stomped over draw bridges.

They crouched down and searched
secret hiding places
and screamed and shouted with excitement
when they located small plastic woodland creatures.



They stuck their little noses
up to every little display that the
was laid out before them.

It was a mad scientist kind of day.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 45

Having a Girls Night Out.

I just love having a night off
to play with my friends.
It's so fun to take the time
to try out on outfits
and primp in the mirror.

It reminds me of being young
and having all the time in the world.



I feel a renewed sense of excitement
being out and about after dark
when I would normally be tucking my
children into bed.

The streets have an energy
of all the potential fun the night could bring.



I always enjoy the charge of walking into
a dimly lit room
with lovely music playing
and no children in sight.

I love the happiness that takes over
as the door closes shut behind me
and I settle in at the table with a menu.

Then the best part is the
arrival of good friends,
cheese, cocktails, and lively conversation.

I just adore having a night out.
It's good for this mama's soul.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 44

The annual popping up of
Daffodil bulbs in my yard.

It happens every single year at this time.
Just after the last of the Christmas decorations
are put in storage until next year.

When I feel a bit gloomy
because the holidays are over,
I step out onto my porch and low and behold,
there they are once again...

Clumps of Dafoldil stalks
sprout up through old fallen leaves
and I know that spring
is just around the corner.

They looks so sweet and hopeful,
like dear old friends
who are about to arrive
for a visit.

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.