Happiness is...

A night of reflection when we gain an hour to ourselves in the utter stillness...so rare and yet so precious:)

Happiness is:

* the first November snowfall after 5 mild winters and insufferable summers. It didn't quite stick, but I felt that same pure excitement that I felt as a child when we would all gather at the window and marvel at the giant flakes falling on the lawn. There is something contagious and almost holy about the season's first snow--and even if I will be resenting it come January, today it was true bliss:)

* my 2-year-old's original song "I love you" belted from the top of her lungs in the YMCA pool tonight. "I love Mommy, I love Daddy, I love Aiden, I love everybody, and I LOVE YOU!" She can be the sweetest child you have ever met, so full of love and hugs and kisses, and she fills me up:)

* Seeing my firstborn so very proud of himself. In just one week at the Y, he has taught himself how to float on his back in the pool, swim underwater with his eyes open, and jump off the edge in the deep end and swim to the ladder. He has a non-stop smile in the water and I've never ever seen him more proud of himself. He is born to be a swimmer and I intend to encourage it as long as it makes him happy. He so rarely accepts compliments (a little something from his mama, I'm afraid) but he is all too happy to declare, "I am a GREAT swimmer, Mom!" Indeed, my little man. Indeed:)

* Taking care of my body without feeling guilty. Since my children were born, working out meant either waiting until they were sleeping (and thus never finding the energy!) or sacrificing time with them to exercise while they were awake, and they were usually not happy about it. Joining the Y has made taking care of myself AND my children possible. They absolutely LOVE the childcare and I get to exercise for an hour by myself. Could it be any better? I don't think so!

* An amazing husband. We have our trials and tribulations, like any couple does. But my husband loves me, and he shows it in the little things he does for me, day in and day out. We struggle at times, but at the end of every day he is there for me, he is a fantastic father, and I couldn't have created a better partner for myself. Lucky doesn't do it justice. He's everything to me:)

I can almost always find the things that went "wrong" in my day, but I so very rarely take the time to appreciate what went right. I think luck has so much more to do with it than most people know, and I know that I am lucky. Happiness is smiling, loving children, a terrific husband, and a fulfilled life. I search sometimes for more meaning in what is already a very meaningful existence. Tonight I just wanted to use my manners and say...thank you. My life is good. And I am happy:)