Family | Saved By Grace

100+ Things to be Happy About

March 24, 2024 By Christine 3 Comments

I don’t know about anyone else, but as winter drags on and spring seems to take forever to get here in Montana, I start to feel the effects of lethargy, frustration and even depression. I started keeping a journal of things to be happy about to not only help myself remember even little things matter in life, but there are so many little things that are absolute blessings!

In an effort to share my happiness with my readers, I want to share 100+ things off my list to be happy about. I recommend bookmarking this page to come back to when you need a boost in happiness!

Who knows? You may even get some ideas on how to cheer yourself up

Fresh, warm, clean Pj’s right out of the dryer
Baby Laughs
The first day at the Farmer’s Market
Tulips and buds on trees starting to come out in spring
Seeing your goals happen
Lazy afternoons in bed
Home made soup
Car shows
A fresh clean new pair of socks
Good coffee
That “accomplished” feeling
Really good desserts
Watching squirrels
A candle-lit room
That first grill of the season
Fishing, even if you don’t catch anything
A good belly laugh
Love notes
Soda in glass bottles
Old Fashioned taffy pulls
Day trips
A feeling of security
Warm blankets on cold nights
Star gazing on a clear night
Bubble wrap
Yard sales and hidden treasures
Warm maple syrup
Fun fabric patterns
A phone call from a long lost friend
A rainy night while falling asleep
Finding a new solution to an old problem
Fresh Farm eggs
Going through old photos
The smell of fall in the air
Vanilla bean ice cream
Yogurt bars with unlimited toppings
Being recognized for your hard work
A new soap
Trying a new food and liking it
The smell of citrus
Cupcakes
A good hair day
A moment where you were very witty
A clean home
The smell of cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven
The sparkle of fresh snow
“Open” Signs
Lasagna the next day
Cherry Pie
Funny sayings like “Hunky Dorey”
A long needed apology
Hand cut French fries
Cashing in change you have been saving
Your children making the right choice
Angel food cake
A & W root beer in frosted mugs
Napping in the shade on a summer day
Doing a new craft
Strawberries in Champagne
Great smelling candles
Finding that outfit you feel extremely confident in
Watching a cat “hunt” a string
Going berry picking
Seeing a wild animal
A homemade gift
Kilts
Spoon rings
Sneaking a taste of a recipe you are working on
Sleepy-head kids
Hearing “your song” on the radio
A fresh box of crayons
Wind Chimes
Children playing “dress up”
Penny Candy
50′s music
Watching old music videos
Layer cakes
Cheese tasting
Water fights
A new lipstick
“Finger nail” moons
Getting a “real” letter in the snail mail
A really awesome salad bar
Knee socks
Eating the cake icing first
Drive ins
Playing with the toys in the toy department
A brand new pair of jeans
Getting something for free with coupons
gourmet chocolate
Home made Mashed potatoes
Robin’s eggs
Learning something new every day
The smell of cedar
Canapes and Petit Fours
Piglets
Strawberries dipped in sugar
Decorating Easter Eggs
Balloon animals
Water Parks
Fresh brushed teeth
Girl scout cookies
Laughing at yourself

Happy Days are ahead!

Photo from iStockphoto/Moncherie

Filed Under: Health, Homelife Tagged With: Family, health

Have a Not So Boring Date Night #2

March 22, 2024 By Christine 3 Comments

In my previous post, I gave ideas for a cheap date night. It was such a hit, I decided to write a second post!

Not all these ideas are cheap, but they are all sure to leave you with amazing memories!

Check into a fun hotel. Register under phoney names and come separately. Pretend you are a movie star.
Do a date night at home with a theme. For instance, watch an Italian movie or series and cook an Italian meal at home to share while you watch,
Go night Skiing or ice skating. Snuggle up at home!
Go for a nice drive in the country. Play songs from when you were teenagers in the car. Pull over and “park” in a nice scenic place.
Find out when the next meteor shower will be. Cuddle up under blankets under the stars and drink hot cocoa.
Garden together. It is fun and great for building relationships because you work together and you get to see the “fruits” of your labor for months to come.
Do it old school style: Find a tree that means something to you and carve your names in a heart.
Go pick out a simple pet for the two of you, even if it is a goldfish.
Raining? Go hit up a book store. Browse the books together or alone. Promise to meet up with a book you bought for the other one. The results may be revealing or surprising!
This might sound weird, but go for a walk in an old cemetery. You may get into some great conversations about the graves and it can be an amazingly spiritual experience.
Create a “coupon book” for each other. These can be sexy, sweet or funny coupons the other can reveal.
Take a half a day off work together. Spend the morning in bed and go eat breakfast at a fancy place.

Lovebird picture from Dashinghub.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Family

What I Love About my Daughter

January 16, 2024 By Christine 1 Comment

Warning! This post is heavy with photos and gushing with love and admiration for my daughter

Aww, my little girl. She is growing so fast. It really is amazing to watch a baby become a little person with a separate identity from you and then into a little person you can carry on deeper conversations with. I am always amazed by what words my daughter uses at her age. Words I didn’t even think she knew! (all good words, I promise!)

My life has changed since I had her, too. I was a scared single mom when she was born. I was overwhelmed and had no idea how I was going to be as a mom. I used to love just laying her on my chest and listening to her snore (yes! she even snored as a baby!) as she sleeps.

I am now married, and my daughter will turn 10 in less than a month. She is an amazing person. I am so proud to call her my own.

My daughter has this amazing giving spirit. She has always loved to see people light up with gifts. I would have a million pictures she colored for me if I didn’t weed them out. Every Christmas, she spends her own money to buy everyone a gift. She loves giving to other people so much and I love that about her.

Another quality she has is she is amazingly independent. I remember taking cat naps on the couch when she was still very little and not worrying that she would get into something she wasn’t supposed to. While a lot of parents struggle to get their kids in bed, I have never had one single night where it was an issue. I remember being astonished when at 3 years old, she would start asking me if she could go to bed because she was tired. Of course I said yes! It allowed me to peek into the kind of independent soul she would become. Even now, I have never had a doubt in my mind that she will be able to handle anything that comes her way into adulthood.

I love that my daughter is creative. She has this mind that can create anything she puts it to. She is a good problem solver and loves learning. There is nothing better than a person who loves learning. That almost guarantees they will never stop growing in mind and spirit.

She has a love for Jesus. While I am a Christian mom, I do not try to shove my beliefs on my daughter. She is allowed to not go to church if she doesn’t want to (although she often chooses to go) and she is allowed to ask questions. I want her to find Jesus and develop a relationship with him on her own free will and I am happy she is doing that. I believe our spiritual selves are able to develop deeper meaning when it is not something that is forced upon us.

I love that my daughter is unique. She isn’t all into girly things (although lately she has started taking an interest in lip gloss and body sprays) and yet, she isn’t a total tomboy either. She has always loved her dolls and science kits equally.

We have so much fun together and have our own special games we play together that no one “gets”.

Being a mom is so rewarding. Its amazing, even.

Filed Under: Homelife Tagged With: Family, Kids

Start your own Christmas Tradition

December 10, 2023 By Christine Leave a Comment

I asked my fans, readers, family and friends to share their favorite Christmas traditions currently or while growing up. It’s easy to start your own Christmas Tradition. For a bit of inspiration, check out some of the responses I got: