Should be a book for adults, not just children...

I read The Giving Tree to G again tonight. Now, I've read this book no less than a hundred times but tonight I was really moved by the story. Perhaps it was because G was really understanding the concepts tonight.

I love the morals of this story:
1)You achieve happiness by doing things for others, by being selfless
2) Things don't make you happy, no matter how many of them you acquire
3) Happiness is simpler to maintain than we believe.

So many people now a days are on this quest, it seems, for the mythical grail of happiness. And they use the supposed lack of happiness as an excuse to unleash all kinds of damage in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Even noticed though, that happy people tend to be happy regardless of their circumstances? Now, I certainly don't mean that people are all butterflies and puppy dogs when they have cancer or their lose their jobs. Obviously, even the happiest people experience moments of sadness. But they are just that.....moments. Whereas unhappy people seem to be unhappy no matter what happens to them. I believe, as apparently Shel Silverstein did, that we can only be happy when the focus is off of ourselves. If I am spending all of my time thinking of myself and how the goings on of life affect me then I am quite simply a selfish, self serving person and those kinds of people can never be happy.

If you aren't happy with your life or yourself, stop thinking of yourself and your desires. Start letting someone pick your apples, or use your branches to build something for themselves. Or perhaps, just be the stoop that someone can sit on, to rest and be thankful.

First picks of the patch.

Here are some pics of our first few pumpkins. It makes me so excited. I even put out all of our fall decorations today. I'm so ready. Also, snuck in a few pics of G.

Taking a brief rest.

Queen of all she surveys.

What a beauty.

Prepping for a toe touch.

Checking out the goods.

"Here are our pumpkins"

Sunday Blessings:

We went to the Rainforest Cafe today in celebration of my nephews 10th birthday. Time sure flies. Great day, great family, great fun. Thank you Lord.

Sunday Blessings:

• Friends, old and new.
• The opportunity to serve at church.
• A fun day/event with my daughter and mom.
• A fabulous evening with my hubby.
• Still enjoying my husband after 13+ years.
• Having family to rely on.
• A beautiful day today.
• My health.

Freeze Frame Friday

Have fun with this one.....I know I did.

Here we go Gianna, here we go!

Future cheerleader on my hands? Wrists need attention, but otherwise, not bad.

Fall is on the way.....

Each year Joel has planted pumpkin plants in our yard. It started out with one or two and has gotten progressively more elaborate each year. This year we have them in the backyard, on the bank and in the front yard. The plants are really pretty and it is fun to watch the marked growth of the pumpkins on a daily basis. Can't wait to pick them, decorate and have homemade pumpkin pie.