If you're happy and you know it...

A co-worker brought this book in at the beginning of the year.  It's fun to pull out when we're having a rough day or just have a few minutes of free time and need a chuckle.  Some of the things in the book are completely absurd - conchologists anyone?  Some are the opposite of happy - stranded on a desert island?  And others, just bring a slow grin to your face the moment you read it - the first drops of rain on the roof.  The majority of them hold no meaning to me at all.  Whether because they are a regional happening or because I have never experienced them so can't say whether that is a happy thing or not.  I think some of those 14,000 things are simply in there to get to 14,000.  I set out to create my own list of happy, but at a much more realistic level.  I settled on 100.  I wouldn't have to be reaching to find things, but I would have to make sure that each and every thing that made it on the list really counted.

1.  1st day of green grass  2.  cloud shapes   3. wombats   4. blowing bubbles   5.  making a stranger laugh   6. old people's stories   7. brand new Ticonderoga Pencils   8. tiramisu   9. honey garlic pizza   10. night games at Kinnick   11. grilled pork chops   12. bonfires at the lake   13. fireworks   14. walking on crunchy leaves   15. grace   16. a new start   17. impromptu picnics   18. card games   19. new shampoo   20. buying used books   21. flower shopping    22. planting flowers   23. walking barefoot in the grass   24. swinging at the park   25. hot dogs and mac n cheese   26. baby bunnies  27. holding hands at the movies   28. Snookie's   29. movie days in bed   30. dancing with a baby   31. big brothers   32. snail mail   33. kitchen stores   34. snow days   35. fresh Dr. Pepper                  36. Twinky parties   37. family meals   38. rubbing a cat's belly   39. clean sheets   40. singing out loud   41. impromptu dance parties   42. vacuum chambers   43. playing piano   44. Honeycrisp apples   45. Alongsiders   46. PB+J+Cheetos   47. capybaras   48. amazing co-workers   49. your own bed after a long trip   50. rainy days when you can sleep in   51. the Iowa State Fair   52. London   53. a bunch of balloons   54. pink carnations   55. slippers   56. musicals   57. adventures   58. Zombie Burger   59. sandal weather   60. paper airplanes   61. BBQ   62. cooking with friends   63. prayers   64. happy tears   65. sleeping with the windows open   66. aha moments   67. boat rides   68. movie marathons   69. best friends  70. birds chirping in March   71. baby ducks   72. funnel cakes   73. pigeons   74. road trips   75. new friends  76.  old friends    77. wearing pj's all day   78. take-off   79. special deliveries   80. Thanksgiving   81. salvation   82. black magic cake   83. windows down/music turned up   84. the Iowa state law library   85. running in a rain storm   86. Toms   87. donuts   88. good hair days   89. eye-shadow palettes 90. Benjamin Lincoln   91.mix cd's  92. a good night's sleep   93. Vick's Vapo Rub   94. painted toe nails   95. leftovers that are better the 2nd day   96. polka dots   97. glitter and rainbows   98. quokkas   99. nature hikes               100. Victoria and Albert

What's your happy?

Tracks.

What is currently on my playlist (clearly I am a pyro with the amount of burn references)

Burning Gold - Christina Perri

When a Heart Breaks - Ben Rector

Life in Color - OneRepublic

Touching the Ground - Brandi Carlile

Below My Feet - Mumford and Sons

Burn - Ellie Goulding

By the Grace of God - Katy Perry

Fantasy - MS MR

The Fault in Our Stars - Troye Sivan

I Don't Wanna Break - Christina Perri

Story of My Life - One Direction

Burning Bridges - OneDirection

Happy - Pharrell

Pride and Joy - Brandi Carlile

I Will Follow You - Rivvrs

The Words - Christina Perri

What's on yours?

Let it Go.

The no make up selfie trend has been sweeping Facebook.  I decided not to participate.  Not because I have anything against not wearing make up, but because of this.  Now, I do love make up more than the average bear.  Not because my confidence relies on it, but because I truly just love make up.  It is fun and creative and pretty.  But, some days I just don't feel like it.  Today was one of those days.  This is me in all my no make up glory.  Fluorescent school lighting.  Bad hair day.  Breaking out like a hormonal teenager.  Haven't seen a good dose of sunshine for months.  And that's ok.

Is this the easiest photo to share with the world? Nope.  But why do we try to hide who we are so much?  There is so much we take the time to hide from others, but we can't hide those things from God.  He already knows all our nooks and crannies.  The thigs we don't want to share.  The hurts.  The bad thoughts.  The worries.  The doubts.  The fears.

Lay them before God- he wants to share in and relieve our burdens.  He wants us to show we need him!  I love the line "our God is jealous for his own."

Once we become transparent with God, it flowers over to our every day lives.  Be willing to ask for help from your friends and family.  They too want to relieve your burdens and help you through the hard times.  Sometimes it is so hard to let people in and admit you are struggling, but your load is so much lighter when you have people helping to lift you up.    Granted, in this day and age of social media it is easy to over share and turn it into a pity party.  Reach out to people in real life.  Those people who don't hesitate to pray for you.  Help you.  Build you up.

Being transparent to others and with God opens a lot of doors.  People who see your hurts and struggles will come to you when they need help.  Other people who are going through a similar trial may see you as a beacon.  Showing people you are real is so important.  I want my faith to be about who I am- inside and out.  I want people to see that I am different.  That I act different.  React different.  And that that is a good thing.

You just have to let it go. (no I am not going to insert the song everyone has recently come to know and love right here).

God knows why I am going through a certain trial or struggle.  Why do I sometimes hesitate to ask for his help?  He has the perfect solution that he will reveal in his perfect timing.  He already knew it was going to happen.  I just have to admit I need the help.

I can come before God.  Flaws and all.  At any time.  Any where.  And that is pretty amazing!  And the zits and the bad lighting and the wonky bangs?  He doesn't care one bit.



P.S. Let it Go started playing just as I went to hit publish. Awesome!