The Things That Make You Happy

I came across a site about a book called "14000 Things To Be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipfer. What an intriguing title! I searched out a little more information and was amazed by what I discovered. Barbara started keeping a list of things that made her happy when she was in the sixth grade, and continued adding to her list for the next twenty years! She started recording her list in a little spiral notebook, which she later replaced with large notebooks and she finally graduated to a computer. Why would a six-grader start keeping a "happy" list? I wonder what went through her mind. What gave her the idea to keep this list? And how interesting that she continued to do so for the next twenty years! Her list grew to 14,000 things and has now been published into a book. The entire book is simply made up of her lists - page after page of lists of things that have made her happy through her childhood, her teen-age years and her adulthood. Interestingly, the author says that she now uses her own list to cheer herself up on a "grey day" or when she wants to plan a fun thing with her son. I love this quote from Barbara Ann Kipfer: "Happiness comes from noticing and enjoying the little things in life". Noticing the things that make you happy and appreciating them . . . . it's a good thing!

Christmas Lights Over-Kill

There is a house close to our street that absolutely shines every Christmas. I don't know the owners, but I see them for days at a time, out in their yard, setting up their Christmas yard display. They are out there working, no matter how frigid the temperature. By the time they are done, there is hardly a space that is not lit up. Their yard sparkles with Santas, Christmas trees, wreathes and trains. There is a Santa with eight reindeer on top of their house. Three snowman take up residence on the front of the house, just above the bedroom windows. Reindeer made up of white lights prance across their yard. As you near their house, you see brilliant reds, yellows, blues and greens. Every morning when I drive by on my way to work, I shake my head and wonder about the "over-kill". Each time I drive by I think to myself these people need to find a life! However, I have noticed something the last few nights. Every time their house with its brilliant lights comes into sight, I find myself smiling. If I have had a busy day, the decorated yard reminds me to enjoy life a little. As I drive by the twinkling reindeer, I am suddenly in the mood for Christmas! So, to my unknown neighbor, thank you for taking so many hours each Christmas season to set up your spectacular display. Thank you for braving the cold and for climbing up your extension ladder to the your roof and thank you for the love and care you put into your decorations. Although you think your neighbor might be going just a little overboard with Christmas decorations, when night falls and lights shine brightly, you appreciate the Christmas spirit it creates . . . it's a good thing

Mrs. Richard's Christmas Village

When I was a child, my Mom and Dad were friends with Mr. and Mrs. Richard. They spent a lot of time together and visited back and forth a great deal. One of my most vivid memories of Mrs. Richard is of the Christmas she invited my family to her house for supper. She had many beautiful ornaments, but the one that caught my eye was her Christmas village. The houses were beautiful, each one beaming brightly through the darkness. Lights shining through stain-glass windows captivated me. With their interiors lit, I could see each detail of the little village. Through the windows, I could see the interior of the church, of restaurants and of homes. I had never, in my short life, seen anything like it. I loved Mrs. Richard's village and I decided that I would have one too when I grew up. I kept that promise to myself. The pictures show a small portion of the village I have collected over the years. Most of the pieces were gifts given to me by my family - I love each house, store, restaurant and the people who inhabit the village. Every Christmas season, one of the first things I do is to set up my beautiful village. As I plug in each house and place each character, my mind wanders back to that little girl who gazed so lovingly - and longingly - at Mrs. Richard's creation. She is long gone now, and never knew how her winter scene would stay with me and that someday I would have my own village, just as I had promised myself so many years ago. She would never guess that, after all these years, I think of her each Christmas as I set up my own village, inspired by hers. Remembering people who had an effect on your life, especially at Christmas . . . it's a good thing!

God's Guest List

Is it possible that every person in your life is here because of a divine purpose? Debbie Macomber’s book “God’s Guest List” claims this is so. Macomber firmly believes that everyone – even the “prickly people” as she calls them – are sent to you for a purpose. A person may need something from you, or you may have something that person needs. Someone may come into your life because there is something he or she can teach you, or that you can teach that person. Macomber says that whether someone is a life-long friend, or someone you only maintain contact with for a short while, there is a purpose for the friendship. Most life lessons are learned from these people. She says that even people you don’t like, people you simply “put up with” are a gift sent to you in order to learn any number of traits: patience, tolerance and sometimes even a prickly person can become a valuable friend. Macomber says that we should “welcome those who influence our lives”. She further explains that even people we don’t particularly care for have something to teach us. Her book caused me to examine my own life and the people who have come in and out of it, and the people who have been permanent fixtures in my life. I think Macomber might be onto something! Even not-so-nice people in my life have been there at a time when I needed their skill or talent or even guidance. The people I love have given me strong support when I needed it most. Even precious friends who have passed away, were a part of my life when I needed them the most. All of these people – friend and foe – are part of the “guest list” of our lives, and we should appreciate each and every one of them. Knowing that some greater being has picked out your friends and your “prickly people” and sent them into your life when you needed them the most . . . it’s a good thing!

Random Acts of Kindness

I have blogged about people who do good things. I love those kind of people! In Saskatoon, Brenda has performed the ultimate act of kindness. Brenda decided she would do one act of kindness a day for one year, starting in October. She did little things like visiting senior homes, writing letters to soldiers and dropping off treats for kids at the Cancer Clinic. While at the Cancer Clinic, Brenda met Argie, who was from the Philippines. She had come to Canada, alone, to make enough money to help her family back home, but her big dream was to send for her seven-year-old son and bring him to Canada. She had not seen him for two years and desperately wanted to reunite with him. Sadly, Argie was told in October that she had terminal cancer and was advised by her doctor to return home to spend her final days with her family. Because she deteriorated quickly, it became clear that in order to fly home, she would need to be accompanied by a nurse. The cost was too much for Argie - and that's where Brenda stepped in. She organized a fund-raiser in her home and raised over $4,000 and added $1,000 0f her own to the fund. However, when it was time for Argie to leave, she was too ill and everyone soon realized she would live out her days in Canada, thousands of miles away from her family. Brenda decided the only alternative was to bring Argie's family to Canada. She was able to cut through the red tape in time to bring her son and sister to Saskatoon last week. It was an emotional reunion. They were able to spend five days with her before she died - five days they never would have had if Brenda had not taken it upon herself to do a good deed for a stranger. Because of Brenda, a little boy will have a memory of his mother and a sister will know she was there when most needed. Knowing there are people like Brenda in the world who go out of their way to perform a good deed. . . it's a good thing!

The Baby In The Picture

Isn't it strange how, when looking at a picture of yourself as a baby or young child, it feels like you are looking at a picture of a stranger? It is difficult to even feel a connection with your own baby picture. I think a person feels that way because you have no memory of the picture being taken or of that particular time in your life. The only way we know ourselves as young children is through the pictures other people took of us. When I look at this picture of myself, I don't' really know who this little girl is. Of course, I know it is me because I have been told it is. However, if someone were to show me a picture of someone who looked like this girl and I was told it was me, I would believe it, even if it wasn't me because I don't know the little girl I once was. When I look at this picture, I wonder what I was thinking, what I was feeling, and who was I? Is there anything of me at all in that little person? Why is it, that when I look at it decades later, this picture holds no memory for me at all? I have come to the conclusion this is precisely why it is so important to have photos of your children - so they will know who they once were. Although sometimes it is like looking in the eyes of a stranger, your own baby pictures tell you who you were and who you have become. Learning about the person in your baby picture . . . it's a good thing!

Snow Day in Europe

The news coverage lately has focused on the unprecedented snow fall in Europe. While there are many sad and even tragic stories emerging from the unusual weather, I would think that by now, children in Europe are enjoying what children in Canada look forward to every winter: Snow Day! In Canada, Snow Day means we get to miss school, skip work and just stay home where it is warm and safe. In Canada, children look forward to those days when they can miss school and watch TV or play video games all day long. For many European children, this is a brand new experience. European children are no doubt also learning how to make snowmen, snow caves and to slide down slippery hills. Although the Eiffel Tower in the picture looks a little sad covered with snow, there is a smiley snowman standing in front it it - proof that a couple Parisian children enjoyed their snow day! Learning to live with snow and taking advantage of Snow Day . . . it's a good thing!