Top 100 things that make me HAPPY

While reading through one of my scrapbooking magazines this weekend, I was inspired to write a list of things that I love. Just reading through this list makes me happy! I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes, sit down, and create your own list. Enjoy my list, but seriously...MAKE YOUR OWN! It's therapy for your soul. Don't start with 100...the task is too daunting. The first 10 or 20 will come pretty easy, then decide how long your list will be and keep it handy as you remember things throughout the day until you reach your own determined number.

These are in no particular order, just pretty much how they came to me. As silly as they seem, the biggest things that bring me joy are in a bigger font size.

1. my husband
2. being a mom
3. my family
4. salvation
5. fresh baked cookies
6. a clean kitchen
7. being organized
8. Ryan giggling
9. entertaining
10. scrapbooking
11. baking
12. watching people
13. the innocence of a child
14. the perfect photo shot
15. reading a magazine
16. a good workout
17. hugs
18. Trader Joe's
19. hot tea
20. rainy days
21. my front porch
22. smoothies
23. date nights
24. a sense of accomplishment
25. coupons
26. home videos
27. green grass
28. La Madeline restaurant
29. Kaylin's contagious smile
30. London
31. Christmas
32. pedicures
33. Nicholas Sparks' movies
34. fresh flowers
35. laughing
36. pesto
37. staying on schedule
38. someone else cleaning my house
39. being an only child
40. water
41. email
42. snuggling
43. feeling refreshed
44. serving the Lord
45. holding Mike's hand
46. getting in the short line
47. a comfy bed
48. The Office tv show
49. Paradise Bakery
50. baskets
51. mangos
52. my food processor
53. going to the cabin in Strawberry, AZ
54. a clean work space
55. crossing things off a list
56. Josh Groban's voice
57. my swimming pool
58. peace and quiet
59. getting a massage
60. autumn leaves
61. sleeping in
62. getting a good deal
63. square plates
64. confidence
65. a fresh haircut
66. Mike's gut laugh
67. my comfy robe
68. fresh berries
69. sincere compliments
70. my pantry
71. a delicious, healthy meal
72. the perfect outfit
73. my comfy robe
74. going to the movies
75. new notebooks
76. the smell of my kids after a bath
77. cool containers
78. my tall dining room table
79. Kansas City
80. Kaylin's babbles
81. chapstick
82. inspiration
83. Desert Ridge
84. feeling appreciated
85. clean sheets
86. lunch with a friend
87. Cosmopolitans
88. my quiet time corner in my room
89. my label maker
90. chasing Ryan
91. chicken florentine salad from Macaroni Grill
92. thunderstorms
93. negotiating a win:win
94. my apple slicer
95. finding money in a pair of last season's pants
96. my scrapbook room
97. babies
98. helping someone feel good about themselves
99. hearing Ryan say, "I love you Mommy" out of no where
100. feeling satisfied

A Refreshed and Rejuvenated Mom

I am a new woman! This weekend, we went up north to a cabin with two other couples and NO KIDS. It was our first time leaving Kaylin and my mom's first time having both kids for more than a few hours. Everyone did well, Ryan didn't even seem to miss us (He just confidently said, "Mommy and Daddy will be home on Sunday after my nap," in a "So what's the big deal?" tone.) and I don't think Kaylin knew we were gone until we returned home. She was so excited to see us; you could see the little lightbulb go off like, "There you are!!! I knew something was missing around here!"

So here's the crazy thing: I had looked forward to this weekend for months and I spent hours planning and packing what I would bring with me to scrapbook. For me, scrapbooking is therapeutic and that's how I wanted to relax on my weekend off. Then, the week before the trip, my allergies started acting up. That turned into a sinus infection, which lead to a sore throat, which resulted in 3 days of laryngitis. Thursday was day 1 and Friday we left for our trip.

Not being able to speak was torture! We carpooled with our friends for 2 hours to get to the cabin and the pressure from the supressed laughter made me tear up the whole time. My lack of voice didn't stop everyone from cracking jokes and having a good time. In fact, Mike suddenly came out of his shell and had everyone roaring. I went through a dozen tissues or more because I was silently laughing so hard, I was crying. It was like my body had to get the energy out SOMEhow. I just sat in the back of the van, whispering to my interpretter - a mute.

The weekend was perfect - we went on long walks in the woods every day, napped whenever we felt like it, read magazines, played games, watched movies and scrapbooked for hours on end. The guys played basketball, played some strategy games and watched 6-8 manly movies like Braveheart, Tombstone and We Were Soldiers. It was the most relaxed I've been in years. I feel so refreshed...I'm a new woman and a better mom than when I left last week!