Happiness...

In high school, we sang the song from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown called Happiness. It's such a sweet song and I kinda had it running through my mind the other day.

I'm pretty sure it's because of the time of year, but this whole week I haven't been able to stop SMILING! I've decided that I'm loving life right now. I have a good job that pays the bills, two other jobs that I love and get to do often, an amazing family, and a few really great friends. I love this season, because it helps me reflect on what is great about my life. I've had so many amazing opportunities this year and it's incredible. I am one lucky girl :) that's it!

On another note... I wish we had snow for Christmas. The end.

Thinking out loud...

I just needed to post about a couple things I've been thinking about lately.

Recently, a friend of mine lost someone very close to her. I have been thinking about this friend ever since and get tears in my eyes every time I do. She is such a sweet person and completely selfless and nice to everyone. I love her so much and hate that she has to go through this tragedy. On the same note, this has made me so much more aware of how grateful I am for my family and the amazing people they are. They are wonderful examples and best of all, we love each other so much and we are so close. It almost makes me hurt even more for my friend because I don't know how I would cope losing any member of my family. I'm sitting here crying just thinking about it! I hope that in the coming days my friend knows how much I love her. She probably won't even read this (not many people do, I suspect) but at least someone out there will know how I'm feeling.

This also makes me grateful to know that IF something like this were to happen in my family, I at least have the knowledge that it wouldn't be the end. I'm not usually one to broadcast my beliefs on the internet (although I probably should be) but I do know that when this life is all over I will be with my family again. It might hurt for a little while, but we'll all be together eventually, and I find a great deal of comfort in that. I honestly can't imagine eternity without my amazing family.

Thinking out loud complete... for now.

List of 99

It's been a very, VERY long time since I've blogged, but I'm thinking it's something I want to start up again. In the mean time, here's a list I stole from my friend's blog. 99 things, and italicized are the things I've done. I was kind of surprised by how many there are!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (MAY 2011!!!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (I think)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (it happened once...)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - For the record, I was rehired three days later... it's a long story.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (again, I'm pretty sure I did, but I was too young to remember)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating?
88. Had the chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit - Coming soon...
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee