Happiness is...

There's a song in the play You're a Good Man Charlie Brown called Happiness is...  It is a cute song in which each of the characters list some of the simple things in life that bring happiness to them.  Last night I went to bed feeling happy.  Now I don't have the most depressed or sad life, but most of the time I just float through, just happy that I made it through another day.  Most of my joy was due to the fact that my eleven year old who wasn't ever going to play baseball again, let alone get up to bat, had a fantastic game last night.  I sat and watched him lead off on third to run home, after striking three out in a row and having a great hit, and was so giddy to be out there watching him.  Baseball deserves to have him playing the game!  But it's not just that.  As I thought about it, things are generally going well right now.  Lest I jinx myself, I wanted to make my own Happiness list so I could remember these days when I'm going to bed a little more depleted and worn out.  Though I don't find the happiness Charlie Brown does when finding a pencil, most of my happy moments are pretty simple too (and most involve my family!)

Happiness is:

• Watching one of Benjamin's bed time tooth brushing productions
• Seeing Jacob strike out someone swinging who is almost twice his size
• The thoughtful things Phil does to show that he listens to me when I have a worry, fear or concern
• A quiet house after an exuberant bed time routine
• Spotlights in primary - it's so fun to see them through their parents' eyes
• A perfect Saturday - 16 mile run ending at Ben's soccer game, watching Jacob play two baseball games, a little work in there and ending with the family watching The Cosby Show - bliss!
• Trying something new - I pruned our peach tree and trimmed the roses this year, certainly not perfect but fun to attempt!
• Phil's lunch time calls to check on me
• When my preschoolers call me "Miss Jennie"
• Looking at Micah's drawings (and all the boys for that matter)
• Spending time with my brothers, sisters, parents and their kids
• Planting flowers - finally!
• Walking down the halls at the elementary school and having kids know my name
• Watching the Middle with Phil
• Vacations - love them!
• When the boys all get along
•  Cereal before bed after racing around all night to get the right kid to the right practice/game at the right time
• When my kids work hard at something and see results
• Micah's desire to do things well
• Seeing my husband in my boys - this is happening more and more as they get older
• A clean house (Phil has never seen this phenomenon, it happens somewhere between the hours of 9-3 each day, but doesn't look that way once he arrives!)

I reserve the right to add to this list, but I'm grateful for all of the above.  What is happiness to you?