Day three:

Scripture:
    You made me so happy, God I saw your work and I shouted for Joy.
                                                Psalm 92:4

Quote: If I can choose, I choose to believe and I choose to be happy. Every step taken is a step in the right direction if we so choose.


Song:
    "Never Grow Up" by Taylor Swift and "Compass" by Lady Antebellum

   
   Today is all about being happy for yourself and all about being happy for your children (obviously right?!). Audrey Hepburn is one of the most iconic female figures of all time. She is famous for many quotes on being happy.A few of my favorites are " Happy girls are the prettiest girls," "I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person," and "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm Possible."  We have a loving, all knowing, FORGIVING God that provides each of us the tools to be happy.  For many, many months I felt as if I were "too broken" to be happy. I felt as though I didn't deserve to be happy, my marriage was over and I was. I believe it was when Ally started noticing I wasn't (to her) myself. She finally came to me one day and said "Mom, remember you used to dance with us in the kitchen and read to us in silly voices? I miss that, you were happy." I remember having lunch at my daughter's school and seeing how sad she really was. Then, on Easter, I remember my beautiful, happy, outgoing, "sunshining" baby girl started crying and said she was tired of people leaving her. My then six year old opened my eyes.

  What was I doing? Where had I gone? I was given the greatest gift of all, children, and I was so wrapped up in being unhappy I was missing out on them growing. I started spending more time with the girls, we went on our runs at night with Lucy, went to the park more, watched movies, had girls night, and danced in the kitchen again. All of a sudden, the light in the eyes of my girls started to sparkle again. We laughed more, we smiled more, and we started healing together as a family. Ally started laughing again, laughing from her belly and she started to shine. I started to only show my happiness to the girls (even when I was sad, I would tell them that sometimes happy people feel sad and that's ok).

  As mothers, we are given the opportunity to love another person more than words could ever express. We are able to love our children as God loves us. I truly believe our children become what we teach them and I have made the vow to my girls that I will teach them true love, happiness, and to never let their Sparkle dull.

 From a mother who hasn't always been perfect, I dare you too spend more time with your children; read one more book, one more minute on the swing, let them dance on your feet. Let them see you happy :) I promise, promise, promise that you will see more happiness in your children than you could imagine. Hold on to it, that's a gift from God.

Until tomorrow :) ~Go on, Be Happy~