"Mom--I'm happy.": Moments (and lessons) that matter most



Let me set the scene for you:

Jennie, my sister in law, and I were in the kitchen at my parents' house over the holidays.

Adelaide, my 2 1/2 year old niece, came into the kitchen, got her mom's attention, and said,

"Mom, I'm happy."

Jennie said, "Oh, you're happy?"  Adelaide responded, "Yes."  She then walked out of the kitchen and went back to doing whatever it was she had been doing.

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What a powerful statement:
"Mom, I'm happy."

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Equally powerful was the question I overheard her pose to Jennie:

"Are you happy?" 

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A dear friend asked me this same question while I was home for the Christmas break.
The conversation went something like this:

 

Sis. Burton: "Sarah! It's so great to see you!  You know what question I'm going to ask."

(She always asks: "Are you happy?")

Me: "Yes.  I do.  And yes--I am happy!"

 

She asks this question every time she sees me. I've often wondered,
"Of all the questions she could ask, why this one?" (I still have yet to ask her this, by the way.)

Fast forward a few days.

--

Adelaide is frustrated about something and tells Jennie, "I'm not happy."

Jennie: "You're not happy? What would make you happy?"

Adelaide: "I don't know."

Me: "Would a hug from Aunt Sarah make you happy?"
She paused for a second, gave me a look like, "I'm conflicted: I'm feeling frustrated and I want you to know I'm frustrated; on the other hand a hug from Aunt Sarah is the BEST thing that could ever happen to me."  (Ok, so maybe I'm embellishing a bit about the Aunt Sarah hug being that life changing...)
Me: "Well, what would make Aunt Sarah happy is getting a hug from my little yogi."

That sealed the deal.  She jumped up, threw out her arms, and gave me an awesome hug.
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I've watched this music video ("Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?") countless times over the last few weeks.  I LOVE how the principles taught in this song, when applied, hold the key to enduring happiness. It was awesome to see Ada's willingness to give me a hug even though she had been pouting just a few seconds earlier.  I hope to be as quick to respond as my little yogi.

I love these little moments that have great big lessons wrapped up in them.

 

Here's what 'happy' has looked like these last few weeks while I was home (in no particular order):

 

Snow on a car with Texas plates. It snowed the day after I arrived to DC.  When I walked out of church I thought, "Am I in Finland or DC?"

 

Ice storms and Christmas lights that covered the groups of the Washington DC Temple.

 





Hot yoga at Bikram Alexandria.  I will never get enough time in class with Jim (the BEST Bikram instructor EVER.)

 



 

Pre-Christmas party (it was a hot chocolate bar!!!) with two women I adore!!!  (And I get to keep them forever; they're also my cousins. :) ) 

Early morning seminary. I got to sit in on the Harris's lesson to 15+ high school kids who attend a 6am religion class every M-F morning.

I was back at Sorenson for a visit.  I ran into SO MANY DEAR colleagues.  Frank is one of my dearest colleagues.  I love Frank for countless reasons, not the least of which being that he asked to take a picture before I suggested the brilliant idea.  :)

 



TONS OF TIME with my sister.  The only thing that could have made it better was if we had Rachel with us.  (Come back to Texas, please!!)

 

No need for a caption. This speaks for itself!!!

 

Silver Honda Accords.  We're just missing Dad's. 

Gluten free dinner rolls that turned into bread (out of necessity as the muffin pans went missing).  I was sure it would be a failure, but G'pa Ed's toaster oven turned this into AWESOME bread.

 



BBQ ribs.  Oh YES!!  Ed is a master of all things meat.

 

G'ma's sweet potato casserole recipe made with the sweet potatoes my mom grew in her garden.

post-Christmas picnic at G'ma's

 



Great grandkids experiencing what the grandkids couldn't get enough of when we were their ages:
G'ma's pin ball machine.  (Some how it's only 1/4 of the size that I remember it being...)



John and Tristan!!!  Please move here to Finland. 

 



Love baby Tristan!!!

 



This is Ada--just a little while before she had her 'unhappy' moment at Great G'ma's house. She's got her G'pa wrapped around her finger. :) 

Ripping out carpet in what will be my parents' new store. Jamming out to Pandora.

A hike at Marble Creek Park with Marie and Cowboy. 

Time with parents before heading out to Houston to see Matthew, Jennie, and Co.

 



Need I say more?

Ada and Sadie.  I love how their personalities shine through in this pic.

 



SUNSHINE when I arrived in Finland.

 



 

Frozen yogurt with the Dlaske Family!!  Kati and Henry were married in May. We played a form of musical chairs at their reception and when the slowest person got out each round, they pulled out a letter that had them doing something with/for the happy couple for each month of the year.  I pulled out August: treat the couple to ice cream.  SA-WEET!  Well, it took until January to get us all in one city at the same time.  I've been looking forward to this for soooooo long!  What a way to celebrate my return to Finland: with frozen yogurt with such awesome friends (and a super happy couple!!)

 

So, this trip I learned (again?) the importance of enjoying the small moments.  Rather than racing around and trying to squeeze in as many visits and trips as possible (because there are so many people I love who I want to see every time I'm back in the states), I decided to not over plan by not planning at all (in honor of Rachel, actually!).  While I wouldn't generally advocate that approach, it definitely was just what I needed this trip.  It helped me to better appreciate the little moments and to learn so much from the lessons they contain, including why it is that both Ada and Sis. Burton ask,
"Are you happy?"