Let's make an epidemic!

Joy and happiness can be contagious,
I hope to make it so contagious that it's an epidemic.
Can you imagine it?
I can.

I don't mean the fake kind of happiness or joy
that you see in the movies or in the mall.
The joyful tone that you know only comes
because of the potential commission that they'll get from your purchase.
You know...the happy face that makes you
wonder how many "upers" they are taking.
Yeah.
I'm not talking about that kind of happy.
That's definitely not a happy that lasts.
It's not a true happy.

What I'm talking about is the happy that lasts a lifetime.
It's Christmas morning, when you see your pony for the first time.
It's the happy of arriving back in the US after studying abroad in Spain, and seeing your family waiting for you.
It's the hug that engulfs you.
The embrace that smothers you,
in the best possible way.
The smothering that makes you want to
curl up and stay there watching a movie.
The happy that tells you that you are safe and loved.
Yep.
That's the happy I'm talking about.

Some people search their entire life for happiness.
They believe that it can be found in the perfect person.
When that doesn't work, they think that it must be in how much money they make.
Nope. Not there either.
Sadly, they are looking in the wrong direction!
They think that happiness can be found in other things...
that their joy will be achieved when they get something.
Those are nice thoughts,
but not true.

Happiness is not achieved when you get anything.
I find happiness when my hands are empty.
I'm happiest when I've given it all away.

I'm happy when I teach.
Do middle students give much praise for your creative teaching?
No, they don't.
But when I see them graduate from high school, then college...
When they have families, and their kids grow to be strong people,
I'm happy.

I'm happy when I volunteer.
My hands are dirty, but the hearts around me are clean.
They give with their time, energy, and a spirit to make the world better.
Do the families we help heap praise on us?
Nope.  Many don't want us there at all.
But I'm not there for them.
I can't control the actions of others.
I can make a difference in the quality of life for an animal.
Seeing the dog run free and safe is a tear-inducing happiness.

I'm happy when I create pies, cookies, or treats.
I know that with each one,
money can be given to charities that I respect.
For me, it's not about the money.
Yes, money is great.
Could I use more?
Sure, who couldn't!
But do I really need more?
No.
I don't.

When you look back on your year,
what is in your hands?
Are you holding on tight to external things?
A person? Money? Objects?
If I could give you one gift this new year,
I would give you the gift of empty hands.
I would pass to you the feelings that it's taken me 37 years to get to.
Contentment.
Joy.
and the best one yet...
Happiness.

Simple, yet profound.

Will you join me in spreading the epidemic of joy and happiness?
Once you catch it,
you never want it to go away.
And you'll never regret it.
That's my promise to you.

Cheers of love, joy, and never-ending happiness in 2015.

By the Sea

Murphy and I breathe better along the Oregon Coast.
We just do.
I know that some people dream of a warm beach...
always sunny with water like a bath tub...
I like that too, for a fun vacation spot.
But when I want to relax and just breathe, I head here.

Perfection.
Just look at that sky!  Look!

Warm?

That day, yes.  

A perfect 60 degrees, and for this gal it was warm.

Don't judge me...Spring has just started and it's been chilly.

So, yes...it was warm.

The next day, no.

But that is the beauty of visiting the Oregon Coast!

One day, sunny and warm, 

then the next it's stormy with thunder and a little lightning.

But Murph and I don't dwell on the quick weather changes, we just roll with it.

Because nothing...
and I mean NOTHING,
makes us more happy than paws in the sand.

We play.
He runs like the wind with nothing in his way.

There isn't a care in the world when we're by the sea.

Sometimes I swear he take flight across the sand...zooooooooooom!

Nothing wipes the smile off our faces.

How can you not smile while watching pure joy explode all around you?

You can't! 

When I see this,

it is bliss.

And I breathe better...

by the sea.

Happy Birthday Murph

Dear Murphy,

From the day I saw your picture, I knew that you had to be with me. I probably should of asked questions about your background your life, but you didn't ask about mine, so it didn't matter. You needed a home, I needed you. 

Driving to pick you up I was nervous. Would you like me? Would you want to be my friend? What kind of shelter was I going to anyway? We're you still sick?

Pulling up to the home-shelter, I knew that I was leaving with a dog. There was no way that my heart could walk away without one. Too many dogs with one sweet lady doing everything she could to help a struggling community deal with mistreatment. I still don't know how she did it all, but I'm eternally grateful because she saved my Murph.  She didn't have to pour all that money into your treatment, but she must have seen me, needing you.

I knew that you had Parvo, recently well, but life had been traumatic for you already...You were so little, but it had been rough on your little paws. That was just fine with me, my life had been rough on me too. I figured that we could just travel this rough, crazy world together...A weird, scared, dysfunctional, silly, but awesome team. 

I might have picked you online, but you picked me on that day in that yard. In theory, I don't believe in "love at first sight," but in my life, well, you are the epitome of that. Love, pure and simple...and needy. :) but we both had a hole to fill. My heart had a big one, but your paws were the perfect filler. 

When life was rough and I struggled to go into the world, you were eager and determined to get me out in it. When I felt like sobbing, you just snuggled in and let me. But thankfully, you always found a way to get me out of my sadness. It must have been that goofy face. Or crazy antics. Or boundless energy. Or...it was just you.

It is said that everything happens for a reason. I'm not sure what all of the reasons are or if everything is really needed...But if I had to endure all of it to get a best friend like you Murph, then I'd do it again. You're it. And so worth it. 

So thank you Murphy for letting me be your human.  People may call you my dog, but we both know the truth. You're the healer of my heart and you made me sparkle again. 
Thanks buddy...I needed that.

Happy 4th Birthday! 

All my heart, 

Your Girl 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving













No, it's not Thanksgiving...
but who says that you have to only celebrate Thanksgiving in November?!
It's rainy and cold in November...not very cheery.
Plus, I certainly don't think that being thankful happens only once a year.
For me, I feel lucky everyday for the people and things in my life.
So on this sunny day,
with the sun beaming in my windows,
I'm reflecting on all that I'm thankful for.
(Not in any order...just how it pops in my head.)

My little house on my little street

puppy snuggles

cherished garage sale finds

happy news

discovering new places in my heart

loving my family, more and more every day

yellow...anything that is sunshine yellow, or butter yellow...I love yellow.

Consistency

My "through-it-all" friends...they stick, thank goodness!

the evening breeze

daisies

straws...everything tastes better through a straw

flip flops and pedicures

new and old friends

Murphy and IO's paw-ship (friendship)

Hands that help others

Finding a charity that not only touches my heart,
but it replenishes my soul.
Love FFF!

The Murphy

Oregon berries...every berry that grows.

Mom and Dad :0)

The chance every day
to do something good

love

happy tears

early morning walks

strolls with the stars

summer

and YOU!

I am thankful for YOU

and letting me into your life.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Now I want a Thanksgiving dinner...minus the turkey.

Oooooo...maybe I just need a pumpkin pie.

Now that's being thankful!

Joy Boosters

It's been a rough week and I've been struggling to keep up my spirits. So to aid my progress I decided to make of list of all of the things in my world that make me happy and boost my joy right now.

Top 10 things that make me happy:

10. Hawthorne Threads
 When I need a little escape into beautiful fabrics, I click on this site and drift into a new world.  Someday I hope to actually purchase fabrics and create something amazing, but until then I click, enjoy, and dream.

9. Easter Candy.

Some people hate them...not me. I wait all year for Cadbury Cream Eggs, then slowly eat one every week, for one month.  It always makes me happy.

8. Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Delish...enough said.

7. Dangling Earrings

My Grandma always said that if you need a boost, put on jewelry. Big Bright Jewelry.  Got it Grandma.




6. Squirt
Have you tried this stuff lately?!  I don't really even like soda that much, but this soda is a flashback to younger days for me.  Hello 1987.





5. My co-workers...they support me through this wild ride of teaching middle school and make me giggle. This is for you Fuller.

4. Alan Carr: Chatty Man
 He's British. He's funny and fabulous. Click the link, pick an episode with a celebrity you like, and enjoy! One enjoy this little clip from a One Direction episode.

3. BuzzFeed:
If you haven't checked out this site, it is well-worth a glance. Warning though, once you enter you will be sucked into a wormhole of interesting and weird lists and articles.  Today's favorite list is The 5 Most WTF Room Makeovers Hildi Santo Tomas did on Trading Spaces. There was a time when I when addicted to that show and this article took me right back to that time...I too cringed each time Hildi was one of the designers.  As a viewer, or a home owner, you never knew what to expect.

2. Mutts Comic

Some of the comics are sweet, some funny, and some make me teary,
but all of them I love, love, love. 


1. Puppy Cuddles. 

This is no surprise there.  My day is not complete until I get to snuggle with my best furry friend Murphy and hug the day away. Thanks Murph.