In a Book

Day 13

OK. Maybe it's self-advertising here. But these are all about joy, gratitude, happiness, right? And what I'm finding in the day, right? Well, I've started a Book Club at my Austen Knows Best blog, and today I posted the discussion questions for our first book. It made me very, very happy.

I love the books I love.

To Your Health

Day 12

I was sick 4 times last year. I suppose it was making up for the fact that I had not been sick in over 2.5 years. Very rare for me. Growing up I averaged 2 colds a winter. Rarely did I get a summer cold, but they weren't impossible. Being sick that often, I felt a bit of an expert on colds and they are usually not as overwhelming as they seem. I just sound/look/feel icky and am more tired and tired of being sick than I am sick.

So two of last year's illnesses were basically the colds I got "in the ol' days." I knew how to take care of them. However, one came at a particularly emotional trying time, and the other came at my birthday. So it was hard for different reasons, but I made it through. One illness lasted a fairly long time, was in the summer (always hard then), and had repercussions that I am still suffering from. The fourth illness was bizarre and out of the blue. "Just a cough" some said. I'll give you "just a cough!" Racked with pain and wheezing, trouble breathing, couldn't sleep. It was an awful, awful time.

I know what it is to enjoy good health. And be grateful for that good health. Especially when I'm surrounded by people who have gotten sick. Not only am I grateful that I am not sick, but I'm grateful that unlike a lot of my friends, I did not get sick over my vacation.

Never underestimate a day with good health.

Confessions of a Period Drama Lover

Day 11


Staying up much too late 3 nights in a row
+
Finishing Season 2 of "Robin Hood"
+
Watching the rest of Disc 2 of the 70s Anne of Avonlea
+
Seeing 2 movies about Queen Victoria (in 1 day!)
=
2 slightly red and puffy eyes on a Monday morning at work
<
1 unerasable smile on my face!

Woohoo!

Check out the new website for youth! I wish I had something like this when I was a teen. Or even a youth leader. Oh well. Guess I'll have it to use now as a Young Single Adult! :-)

Hymns to Him

Day 10

I had wonderful times when I sang in the BYU Choirs. They were some of my happiest experiences and memories. I remember so many of the songs we sang, and the impressions I received, or uplift, or strength, or...well...so much.

There are 2 songs that always stand out to me, which I love most dearly. They were Mack Wilberg arrangements. I love his music. And these two, well, my heart just leaps whenever I hear them sung. I'm so glad the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings them often. But my heart also leaps when I get to sing them again. And not just the Wilberg arrangements, but the regular ones straight out of the hymnbook. I know I can sing loud, and I try not to be too loud when I sing in congregations. But with those two, I just cannot help it. They beg for being sung in joyous praising. Even rapturous.

And today, I was able to sing both! Our opening hymn in Sacrament meeting was Praise to the Lord, The Almighty.

Don't you love the men's verse? Oh--and the soprano harmonies at the end of the 4th verse? (I sang the 2.5 soprano part. ha ha ha) Oh. I love it so much. How can you not sing this with a smile on your face and in your heart.

Then tonight for the opening song during the CES Fireside with Elder Neil L. Andersen, we sang the other favorite of mine: Redeemer of Israel.

Another fantabulous men's verse. It always makes me want to cry, it's that beautiful. And then the excellent soprano descant. I love how I truly feel I'm soaring when I sing it.

I LOVE THEM!!!!

It's a Date!

Day 9

I like dates. These days I go on them by myself. No one asks, and few would I be able to say yes to as it is. Still having not been on a date with someone besides myself in almost 3 years, I like that long ago I decided not to wait for them in order to have my own fun and enjoyment. So I haven't. I've been on many now. They are always enjoyable and I have the best time. Today's was especially great. Happy, happy happiness.

Re Shui

Day 8

I don't like cold water. Never have. It was hard to stomach--literally. I've had to endure it where possible, but the worst times are in the winter. I keep the thermostat fairly low in "my rooms." When I was on my own, it was so I could afford it. Now it's so I don't cost my landlord and lady any more money than necessary. I find that dressing in my warm, comfy, fuzzy PJs and piling on the blankets makes the cold quite bearable. But trying to drink 4-8 oz. of water when I wake? It just doesn't work in a 60 degree room.

When I lived on my own, I solved this easily by heating my water on the stove as I got ready. Then I had wonderful almost-to-boiling water to drink. Mmmm. I do love hot water. (It was not until I started taking Chinese that I learned this is a very common Chinese--of not Asian--trait.) Well, I moved to "my rooms" and as mornings worked out, I didn't often make it down to the kitchen until I was heading out the door.

But after a couple of weeks, I couldn't bare it! I might have made it through last winter, but I just can't now. And I need my water. I drink about 3 quarts a day, and my body knows if it gets less. The only way I can get the 3 (since I have to work in the many restroom breaks while at work or out-and-about) is if I make sure to drink as much of the first quart before I leave. Thus, I am trying my best to get downstairs early enough to boil my water. It works well, too, because this gives me a calmer time of getting 2-3 meals for the day ready instead of rush-rush-grab-what-I-can.

So I'm grateful for time management. I'm grateful for a stove that works. And I'm especially grateful for a nice quart of hot water that is so soothing and comforting and delicious! Yum, yum, yum.

What have you made work in order to bring you the happiness you know you will enjoy?