Sitting in a cactus?

"Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may be given a cactus, but you don't have to sit on it."

I don't know the author of this quote. I saw it on Facebook one day and I laughed. Now this isn't exactly a happy quote, but it is something to remind us to look on the bright side. Cacti are beautiful, but they do pack a punch. I have never sat on a cactus, but I have fallen one. It hurts. I must have been around six or seven when my family went on some sort of day trip holiday. We were hiking around and little me somehow tripped over a boulder that was at least as big as me. Well that six year old size boulder was hiding a lovely little something on the other side. I found out that day that cacti not only have those long porcupine like spines, but thousands of tiny ones that you don't see, but definitely feel. One of my sisters had the job of tweezing out all the spines from my hands and wrists. Falling on that cactus definitely made that hike a lot more difficult. I share this somewhat humorous story to say I know what the cactus feels like, so stay away. Look but don't touch... er.. sit.

This is also a good reminder of "The grass isn't always greener on the other side." A cactus might be on the other side. Be happy with what you have been given. I was reminded recently that our bodies are gifts from God, and that God didn't create us to be sorrowful. He created us to be happy and have joy. Too many times we let the spines of a cactus ruin our outlook. We can choose to be happy. I know I am guilty of being envious and jealous of other people and desire things for myself. I start a journey to obtain those things, thinking they will make me happy, only to be met by a prickly cactus of pain and disaster.

We all have times that just make us want to scream, throw fits and tantrums, and talk to anyone who will listen. Luckily for me, I have terrific friends, family, and Hubs who are always willing to listen, but then they tell me how to look on the positive side of things. They help me through the difficult journey. The movie Pollyanna (I have yet to read the book so I cannot reference it) the main character, Pollyanna, has a game. She calls it the glad game. Whenever she is faced with something that isn't too pleasant, she finds the positive. When Pollyanna is faced with the trial of possibly not being able to walk again, she has a difficult time being "glad." Who could blame her? But then she saw how many people cared for her. How many lives she touched and changed because of her positive way of looking at life, and it changed Pollyanna's way of thinking about her trial. I watched this movie a couple of months ago and how poignant. Too many of us see the glass as half empty (to use the old cliche). If you are having a bad day, or even a rough patch in life, I challenge you to the glad game. Play it for a week. Here are my rules (slightly different from Pollyanna's but I am a beginner at this game): day one: think of one positive thing It can be anything, like I have a job that helps me to support my family, or I have beautiful eyes. Day two: think of the first positive thing, then think of another positive thing. On day three repeat the first two and then add one more, and so on until you get to day seven. So you should have seven positives. By day seven, report back on if those positives changed your outlook on the days or even the week just a little. Repeat for as many weeks as it takes to start thinking more positively, and see how your life changes. Or variation: for each day of the week, day one: one positive, day two: two new positives and so on, so by the end of the week, you have 28 positives. I feel for certain that this will keep your rear end from sitting in the cactus.

A cactus is beautiful. It has flowers that bloom, and some have long arms that stretch to the sky, others cover the ground in little mounds. Even the spines are beautifully designed. But still, no matter how beautiful they are, and how good they look in the window, you cannot expect to touch it and not get hurt. So I repeat the same saying, "Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may be given a cactus but you don't have to sit in it." 

Just a Bunch of Awesome Crazies!

My family. I have an unbelievable family. My family makes me happy. Hubs has a good family, and his makes me happy. Spending time with family is my favorite activity, whether it be with my side, Hubs' side, or just the two of us. Family is everything to me.

Hubs and I 

I am the caboose of eight children. Eight is a lot of children, but I must say I know people with more. See my parents didn't need to have any more kids, because after they had me they knew they achieved perfection. Some people marvel at my parents and speak of them with wonder that they were able to raise eight amazing children. I have no idea how. I do know that there was love, laughter, and a whole lot of patience. We ate dinners together. My parents took time to talk to each one of us. They attended school functions. We attended church together, and learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ together. We went on day trips/vacations together. In all that beautiful chaos, my parents raised eight fantastic people. We are all grown now, and has since left the nest, so it is very difficult to be all together at the same time now. When we do, however, it is happiness itself. We are loud, probably slightly obnoxious, and we have terrific fun. We laugh, play, eat (major priority), sing, and just enjoy each other's company. When we were last together, my mother made the comment that our reunion was heaven on earth.

My Clan

Hubs is the second child of five. I cannot write too much about his family life growing up, because I was not there. From what he has told me of his childhood, and from pictures, he grew up similarly. Slightly different dynamic, because not every family is the same. But from what I observe,  Hubs was raised by loving parents. They did things as family. They learned how to work. When we visit and get together, it may not be as loud, but it is fun with games and much laughter. I love being with his family. 

Hubs' Clan

Now what is my point with this? Well, I know that through the roughest patches of my life, I would not have survived if not for my family. Family supports each other. It says so in the The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Husbands and wives support each other, mothers and fathers support their children. Even extended family is encouraged to be part of the family. They are family, so there is no question in my mind. I don't know all of my first cousins, but I do know that if one of them needed me, I would do what I could. Now support can come in many ways. Support can be monetary, emotional, or physical, but sometimes all we need is family to show up. 

Some of the happiest people I see are people who are disabled. It does my heart good to see pictures and see success stories. I have a cousin, Robbie, who is one of the most loving souls I know. I believe he has a form of cerebral palsy, and is 40 something years old. Robbie is so happy and loving. He loves being around people and will play and laugh with you. Robbie can easily make a bad day so much better. He is a miracle. He has lived far beyond what was expected, and still continues to bless the lives of those around him.

Doesn't Robbie just melt your heart with that brilliant smile?

 Hub's cousin, Jaden, has  Hydrocephalus. I had only a general idea what that was, but really didn't know anything about it. From the little bit I have gotten to know him, and read about him on Facebook, I have learned what an amazing boy Jaden is. He participates in sports, likes watches and superheroes, and the girls. Recently Hubs and I had the opportunity to participate in a Hydrocephalus Walk to help raise awareness and money for better treatments. What amazing people were there, and all supported by friends and family. I loved being there to support Jaden and getting in a nice stroll.

Go Team Jaden!

Now Robbie and Jaden are both amazing spirits. You can feel it when you are around them. I heard or read once that these spirits were so special that they were given these bodies and challenges so they could remain innocent. Now I have no clue if that is true, but to me it is a nice thought. Elder Holland at a general conference a few years ago gave a talk entitled "Like a Broken Vessel."  In it he says, "I bear witness of that day when loved ones who we knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind." I for one cannot wait to be able to speak to these wonderful boys. To these perfect innocent souls, from whom we have so much to learn. 

I haven't seen Robbie in a few years, and I don't see Jaden all that often either. But just showing up to his event did me some good, and I hope it did him some good too. My parents showed they loved me by simply showing up to whatever I had going on, tennis matches, piano recitals, choir concerts, and everything in between. Even if I said I didn't care (which of course I did), or if the event was more embarrassing than anything, I still appreciated them being there. I love being around family. It is when I am happiest. I hope and pray that everyone who reads this appreciates the family they have. Remember the good times. Cherish those moments that bring you closer together. Support your family, even if all that means is showing up, do it.

What's Wrong with the Chicken?

Part of finding happiness everyday is to laugh sometimes even at our own expense. My misadventures in the kitchen usually invoke a frustrated response that eventually leads me to laughter. I wouldn't say I am a perfectionist, but I do enjoy a tasty meal. I want Hubs to come home after a long day and eat a good meal. The most irritating thing that happens is when I gag on my own creation. It is these times too that I seem to make enough food for 20 people, such as the chow mein fiasco I hoped would taste as good as the restaurants. HA!! Yeah right. Now I am not a food waster. I eat everything I put on my plate. I appreciate food, and I know how blessed I am to have food on the table. All those starving kids in the world would love that gag inducing meal chow mein. Therein lies the problem, the leftovers. I have a love/hate relationship with leftovers. Some food just shouldn't be eaten after it goes cold, because reheating it makes it dry and no amount of water will help it go down. Leftover thanksgiving turkey is something I have difficulty eating. The combination of the fridge and microwave just makes that once succulent juicy meat dryer than sand on a hot day (yes I know what this tastes like). I try so hard not to have leftovers, unless I know for certain they will be eaten. Otherwise they will sit in my fridge for a week or so neglected, a reminder that I am wasting food. I hope beyond hope that I will eat those leftovers, but I never do. They end up in the garbage. This begs the question, why don't I just throw away the food in the first place? I don't know. Guilt. But why can't leftovers just taste the same as when you first make the dish? Once you have a meal the hankering for that dish is gone and done. I have a fridge with enough leftovers to feed the street I live on but have as much temptation as toe jam.

Something has happened to my cooking these past couple of weeks. While most of my meals haven't been downright nasty, they haven't been "Oh my gosh give me seconds." They are "meh". I find recipes online that have been tested, tried and received rave reviews. Recipes that are posted on blogs with headings of "Best recipe ever!" I try them and ew. Last night, I was having none of that after trying new recipes without success. I decided I was going to make chicken a la king. I have made this meal countless times. Each time it tastes different because I have no set recipe. Last night it definitely tasted different. I bit into the chicken and it was not how chicken should taste. That gravy was not the same gravy I taste tested just minutes before. Something happened between pot and plate. Hubs has learned to be kind on these nights and will quietly eat. I looked at him with my mouth half full, "What's wrong with the chicken?!" As if he was the one at fault. (Sorry Hubs) He just looked back at me calmly, "Is there something wrong with it?" and somehow continued eating. I ate the double crossing rice and gravy and shamefully left the chicken on the plate. It leered at me, reminding me of the price and those starving kids who don't have the luxury of buying already plucked and cut chicken from the meat aisle. What do I do now? Hubs finished the rice and gravy, but left the chicken. My conscience was nagging at me. Leftover chicken. Leftover chicken. Chicken that had betrayed me. I threw it in the garbage deciding that not even those starving children could stomach it. Stupid chicken. I wonder what toe jam tastes like.

Acts 14:7 Nevertheless he left not himself without witnesses, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

I read many blogs about this, that, and the other. Some are useful. Some are opinionated. Some are thoughtful. Some, sadly, are hateful. If anything I desire my blog to be one of those that inspire. Because I am an empathetic person I sometimes will easily catch another person's mood with occasional bad results. If you are having a bad day, it is for certain I will feel it. If you look at me funny, I will take it personally. I take everything personally. Rejection is not handled well. Tears may fall. Being empathetic in nature does take its toll. I can rapidly become depressed, so constant reminders of happiness are things I seek. We could all use a bit of happiness. 

About a year ago I started a happiness journal of anything that makes me happy. This differs from a gratitude journal because you can be grateful for things that don't necessarily make you happy. Here is a for instance. I am type 1 diabetic. I was diagnosed November 30, 2004. "A day that will live in infamy." Since that day I have learned so much about life and others, and I have felt and received so much love not only from my family and friends, but from Heavenly Father and Christ. Had it not been for this disease I may have not received these blessings. Now am I grateful for this trial? Yes. Does T1Diabetes make me leap for joy? OH (insert expletive) NO! Therefore, this is a blog for happy thoughts, and insights of quotes, scriptures, pictures, or whatever makes me happy. I hope that some of these things will inspire you to be happy that day too. Put a smile on your face and erase part of a bad day. I am young. I am alive. My body may not be perfect, but it is mine and it is a gift from God. Those are reasons right there why we should be happy. 

Now I will not share everything from my journal, because some of it is too personal, and some of it would frankly bore you. Then we would end up with scenes from the movie Airplane. HAHAHAHA!!!! 

Here's to "happy hunting". 

"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." Gordon B Hinckley