...He is born!...

President David O. McKay(1873-1970) declared:  "True happiness comes only by making others happy-the practical application of the Savior's doctrine of losing one's life to gain it.  In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service.  

It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring 'peace on earth,' because it means--good will toward all men."

Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit.  Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed.  The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than things.  To catch the real meaning of the "spirit of Christmas," we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ."--Thomas S. Monson

...help given when unexpected...

Isn't it a great feeling when you are at that place where you let your mind think "I cannot do this"and then you see them.  Like an angel sent from above, there is someone to help; unexpected and appreciated.

...Christmas surprises...

Giving a little of yourself to another to brighten their day is the best way to brighten yours. Many, many cookies and rice krispy treats later, I'm a happier person.

...ginger snaps...

I wish I could take a picture of the smell.  We switched to a "faux" tree a few years ago, so we have to replace the piney smell with candles.  It is not quite the same.  But, that's okay because nothing is like the smell of gingerbread coming out of the oven.  To me it really says, "CHRISTMAS"!  

...School Holiday Programs...

I do my best not to be disturbed when I hear news of school Holiday programs not being able to include any Christmas music. I would like to believe that I am not living in the last bastion of traditional America. You see, last night I conducted a Holiday Program that included "The First Noel", "We Three Kings", "Bidi Bom" (Hanukkah song), and "Do You Hear What I Hear". We also had the Santa songs and "Jingle Bells" thrown in for good measure. The kids wore their Santa hats and the little girls dressed up in their pretty, sparkly red dresses and they sang their hearts out. This is a public school. I am so happy that all the children are getting the opportunity to hear and learn these traditional Christmas songs that bind our generations together. I hope it is still happening in other places also. I am thankful that those who may not share my religious beliefs at least share my enjoyment of this season as a time with a tradition of hope, service, and love.

...Christmas lights...

My favorite thing about this Christmas tree is the lopsided star.  That imperfection makes me smile.

As I was driving home last night it struck me that the thing I love about Christmas lights is that it is a time when neighbors get together and do something really sort of silly, just for the fun of making each other happy.   As you look around at the lights it's sort of a microcosm of people in general.  Some are more simple folk and want to participate in the group effort so they put up a strand or two. Some want to participate, but they want to make sure that everyone knows that they are up on the current trends.  So they look around and do what other people have done.  You know the types.  Remember when every other house had "Las Vegas" style lights, or icicle lights, or now it seems to be blow up Santas and Frostys, etc.  Then there are those people who just have to stand out from the crowd.  Their contribution must be noticed.  They cover every possible bush and tree.  Then, of course there are those who don't participate.  I hope it's not because they are hum-buggy.  Anyway, I am thankful for everyone who joins in.  Thank you for all the work you put in to help make our Christmases a lot brighter!

...Christmas time is here...

So, Christmas time is here.  I have to admit I wasn't feeling it, yet.  We arrived home from our Thanksgiving trip on Dec. 1, got right back into the swing of life, and Christmas was still hanging out there somewhere in the future.  Then, I turned on the t.v. and there he was, with his little tootsie roll antlers and permanently stuffed up sounding voice...Rudolph.  Suddenly, it was Christmas time.  Now, I know that Rudolph and Santa, etc. are not the true meaning of Christmas and all that; but, I have seen that shiny red nose every Christmas of my whole life.  So, he helps bring the feeling of Christmas time.  This is one of the hard things to learn as you get older. Christmas changes.  When you are little Christmas is magic.  Later, if you are lucky, you get to make Christmas magic.  Anyway, seeing little Rudolph and all his misfit friends always reminds me of Christmas magic.  So, here we go...jumping into another Christmas season...ho, ho, ho!

...baby's laughter...

I was lucky enough to spend some time this Thanksgiving in the company of a baby.  This sweet little boy reminded me a lot of my little guy.  My little guy was a very quiet and serious baby. (Although, he did smile at me the day after he was born.  No one else believes me, but he and I were there and we know the truth.)  He wasn't much of a crier and didn't demand your attention.  He spent most of his time looking around at the world and filing everything he saw away for future use.  So, when something would strike this little guy funny it was really funny.  I remember one time when he was about  six months old he was sitting in his car seat.  I started shaking my head at him and in a silly voice said "no, no, no".  Then he would shake his head and laugh and laugh...that glorious guileless laugh that only an innocent is capable of.  Pure, unadulterated comedy.  "Mommy did something I didn't expect and it made me happy."  Just the memory of it makes me want to laugh...and cry at the same time.  That little guy is bigger than me now, but every once in a while Mom will say something that catches him off guard and I love to hear that bit of my little guy squeak out in between the bass range laughter. 

...giving thanks...

"There are many things I am thankful for

I can find them near and far.

There are many things I am thankful for.

Let me tell you what they are,

I'm thankful for the earth

I'm thankful for the sea

I'm thankful for my friends

and I'm thankful to be me.

I'm thankful for the sun

I'm thankful for each tree

I'm thankful for my home

and I'm thankful to be me.

I'm thankful for my food

I'm thankful to be free

I'm thankful for the stars

and I'm thankful to be me."

--"There are many things I am thankful for" by Hap Palmer

The words are simple.  The feelings uncomplicated.  Sung by the sweet voices of K-3 graders the emotion is palpable and cannot fail to touch that place in your heart that yearns for the simple joy that comes when you are just "thankful to be me".

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

...parrots...

6:30 am.  Sleeping.  Suddenly awake!  Loud screeching coming from the sky.  Parrots!

I am lucky enough to live in an area frequented by a very large group of WILD PARROTS.  I don't mean the ones I have living in my family room (even though they do act wild).  I mean wild urban parrots.  During this time of the year they fly over my house at around 6:30 am and play around in the trees all day until they fly off somewhere to the northwest to wherever they are roosting right now.  Wow, they are beautiful to see in flight...and funny to watch playing in the trees or on the wires above.  When we have loquats on our tree they like to sit in the tree and eat them, which is fine with me otherwise they all go to waste.  But, they are loud.  This is an important part of being a parrot, especially a wild parrot.  They live in pairs and family groups that, generally, stick together.  So, when they fly they are constantly calling to keep check on each other or to warn of dangers.  Living with a couple of parrots it is amazing to me how many different sounds they are capable of.  (Having a bird tell you "I love you" will have to be a post for another day. )  

Now, I know that this moment may not be one that would bring happiness to everyone's life. Some people may find the parrots downright annoying.  So, I guess this is a good time to talk about perspective.  Obviously, I am a bird person.  So, seeing these beautiful intelligent creatures flying free and thriving where they were never meant to be brings me running out of my house to watch them whenever they fly over.  However, others may be pretty annoyed during the 6:30 am fly-over when they are trying to get that last half-hour of sleep.  

So, I guess the point is that although this is my list of moments that bring me happiness, you should reflect upon the things that you run into every day that keep you moving forward. And remember, we are trying to look through that glass half full.  Maybe you can find something joyful that you never thought of in that way before...even at 6:30 am.   

Click here for more info on California's wild parrots.

...Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire...

She was called "the world's greatest tap-dancer" and many thought she could out tap Fred.  This "Begin the Beguine" number from Broadway Melody of 1940 is considered one of the best tap numbers ever.  Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, Eleanor!  

(for better viewing, scroll down and pause my regular music at the bottom of the page)  :)

...the Sun...

Recently the sun went missing for a couple of days.  As I was reflecting on how its departure made me feel I had a memory.  When my little ones were really little I would walk them home from school.  On really nice warm days before we went into the house, we would lay on the grass on the front lawn and just soak up the sun for a few minutes.  I don't know what the neighbors thought, but I remember it felt so nice and calming and it was a good transition between school and home.

I have always loved the sun.  Give me a day at the beach anytime.  I have found that getting outside and doing something, anything, will shine up the day for me.  Instead of running from house to car to building on a sunny day, stop...close your eyes...and just feel it for a minute.  I promise it will help.

I have been using the word comfort in my prayers a lot lately and was thinking about other words that could mean the same thing.  A word that popped into my head was "solace".  It is a similar word to comfort, although I think it leans more toward "peace".  I don't know much about the etymology for "solace", but it just does not seem coincidental that a word which means peace and comfort begins with the word for sun...sol.

...some really lovely writing...

"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever.  One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun - which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years.  One knows it then for a moment or so. 

And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries.

Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in some one's eyes."

--Frances Hodgson Burnett, "The Secret Garden"

...finding "The Wizard of Oz" while channel surfing...

"ha ha ha

ho ho ho

and a couple of tra la las

that's how we laugh the day away

in the merry old land of OZ"

...happened upon the scene where they are getting ready to see the Wizard.  Something about this scene always made it one of my favorites.  They curl Dorothy's and the Lion's hair, they polish up the Tin Man, and stuff the Scarecrow with fresh hay.  And something about the green used in this scene makes it the sparkliest green I've ever seen.

I can remember when I was little finding some of this movie unsettling.  I wasn't really sure if I actually liked it.  But, I watched it every year and somehow, back then when you didn't see your favorite movies repeated very often, something was magical about it when it came on t.v.  

Thanks to that magic, I'll happily stop by in the merry old land of OZ, even for a short visit... 

Moments

Welcome to my blog.

I've decided that my blog should have a theme.  I guess I'm just a put things in boxes kind of girl. Therefore, a theme.  I chose one of my favorite words...felicity.  Although summarized by most as happiness, to me it contains a particular form of happiness.

Happy is too broad, joy is too bursting.  I prefer the calm, meditative reassurance of felicity.  I also appreciate its second definition in this literary application, "the ability to find appropriate expression for one's thoughts".

Marianne Dashwood gushes to her sister,"Is there a felicity in the world superior to this?".   However Marianne tends toward over-indulgence in her sensibilities.  Such passionate souls, as she remarks herself, often meet with tragic ends.  I will borrow Marianne's word with less passion, more positive reinforcement.

Here's what I mean...

I have spent a lot of my first forty years waiting, hoping, and expecting a feeling of constant happiness..."Do I feel happy today, or not?"  I admit I have seen the glass half empty, believing that someday it would be filled. 

But in those years there were moments.  

Moments when I would look at where I was, in the moment I was, and in that moment...I felt felicity.  I am slowly coming to realize that I didn't need to find or make the moments, I just need to recognize that they are always there.

And so my blog is one for moments of felicity.....lots, and lots, and lots of them.