Happiness

When I started the coffee about an hour ago, I was thinking about how nice it is to be happy (well, most of the time...I'm human, too).  I started thinking about all the great reasons I have to be happy, and then started cruising my photo collection for a few illustrations.  Oprah has talked, for years, about keeping a daily gratitude journal.  Even if it's only one sentence, you take a minute or two each day to write down one thing from your day you're grateful for.  I always think this is a fabulous idea, but for some strange reason, have never been comfortable with journaling...my journal, of sorts, has been a life long stream of handwritten letters to friends...something I've missed terribly since e-mails became so pervasive and everyone's in such a hurry.

You probably remember the three kittens I fostered last spring...Yoda Man, Shermie Jr. and Leo.



Yoda now lives with Sunflower Joan.  Earlier this week, I ran into my dear friend Lesie, who adopted Shermie J and Leo. She reports they are having a great life, living as indoor cats with her other cats and dogs.  It turned out that over time, Shermie J started exhibiting signs of a neurological disorder, and now walks funny, sometimes falls over for no reason, and can only jump up a short distance.  HOWEVER...she reports that he has a heart as big as all outdoors and is just flooded with love...often times riding around on her shoulders, draped around her neck, completely relaxed.  Here are some snapshots of Shermie J during his evening forays under my shawl.  While I loved them all, for some reason, he was the one that captured my heart.  I shall be ever grateful that someone I know and love gave him such a good home.

The holidays are just around the corner, and I've just learned my son and his family will be joining us in Taos for Christmas.  This is a treat on many counts...and now I need to find snow attire for my grandson, who will be two on Dec. 23.  I'm thinking he and I need one of those big snow saucers to go goof around in...and another year soon, he can start ski school.  For my gratitude photo, here's a shot of him at his four week weigh in...he was almost premie
...and weighed just enough to be able to go home right away (on Christmas day, to be exact).  I had never seen a baby so small before.

My last shot is from my dear friend Elise.
She sent this at least a year ago, and I've been saving it for just the right occasion.  I love the simplicity of the single flower, the birdhouse in the background, and the endlessly blue sky we New Mexicans enjoy so many days of the year.  It is beautiful...love in its simplest form.  To me it represents the many good friendships and wonderful people having Taos Sunflower has brought to me.

I hope you have a great day and take some time to be happy about all that you have.---Martie