Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them.
– Lucy Maud Montgomery
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I transplanted this honeysuckle vine three years ago and have been waiting for it to establish itself ever since. At moments I felt sure it was about to give up the ghost, but it lived! It went into full bloom on July 4th!
Don’t waste a minute being unhappy. If one window closes – run
to the next window – or break down a door.
Anon
And my little dog, Jacopo, is taking Anon’s advice here. We were both very happy to have my daughter Amanda come for a Fourth of July visit. Jacopo looked for her for hours after she left.
I was seized by the beauty of the canopy in our back yard after yesterday’s rains. It brought joy to my heart.
The more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings,
the more he will bring to our mind other blessings. The more
we are aware of to be grateful for, the happier we become.
– Ezra Taft Benson
I promised I would keep you updated on the state of my very first pears from my baby pear trees. Well here they are and I bless God that these little guys are still growing!
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
Life is never perfect. We have all said that before, but maybe that’s not the best way to put the condition of life into words. Perhaps a better way to say it is that life is not perfectly what we expect. It could be that life is perfectly what we need in order to become perfect. If so, while everything in life may not be good we can still receive it with joy knowing that somehow God will use it for our good.
In that way then the words of the old hymn are true,
One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken.
I am happy for every minute I am getting to spend in my gardens this summer. This is a picture of what I call my wonky garden. Its full of oregano, mint, yarrow, lemon thyme, wild buttercup and all manner of meadow flowers.
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
I am so thankful to see my children growing and succeeding. My daughter moved into her own apartment this weekend and is now gainfully employed!
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis
I could not agree with this quote more. With Christ in my life all happiness is brightened and even the strongest of life’s sorrows is weakened by the knowledge that My God shall swallow it all into Himself one day as I worship Him.
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
Denis Waitley
I am so happy to have had a great weekend with my son. I am also very happy to be back to work and to be finally catching up with all my writing, correspondence and ministry work!
This photo is of the night watershow at Longwood Gardens.
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
I was so happy to be able to attend a performance of the Collegeville Community Music School’s opera Pride & Prejudice. The opera conducted by son’s good friend Emilily Kosasih consisted of both professional and amateur performers. The entire orchestra was made up of students under the age of 18 and the lead pianist was all of 12. It was amazing!
Lillie-Put 