Being Happy, on Mother's Day, 2018! May 13, 2018

This was a great Mother's Day.  Last year, if I recall, not so much. But this year was great.  

I woke up late, after a bad night sleep (I am recuperating from a double knee replacement, more on that later.)   I made it a goal to go to church today, which I have not been able to do. With the exception to two trips to the stop sign next door, and two trips to Whole Foods that left me completely wiped out, I have not really left the house in the last almost 4 weeks. 

So, Timmy, Lily and I went to church, while Matthew and Chris ran over to get Matthew a job as a caddy this summer.   Not surprisingly, Matthew put off going over  to talk to the caddy master until the last minute, so we left without him. 

But church was really good.  It was about happiness.  I don't know why.  But it was about happiness, and finding joy.  I have been feeling very isolated and shut-in (with the four other people I live with!), and post-surgery, every thing has been difficult.  I can't drive, I can't really walk, so it is just difficult to be me.  Which can make a person un-happy.  But today the priest said that "happiness is caused by external stimuli."  Which I think some people may take issue with (because happiness is supposed to come from inside), but I think it can be kind of true.  If I am in a happy place, I feel happy.  When I am sleeping on my couch, I am un-happy.  And the priest also said that sometimes you are happy, then you are un-happy.  But guess what, you will be happy again.  Which is what happens.   And I really needed to hear that.

Also, I was complaining about my situation a little (who wants to hear me complain??),  to my friend, Meg, and she said that I only need my family to make me happy, and two friends.   And I have two friends, so I am happy. And I needed to hear that, too.

And then at church we sang "Be not Afraid", and "The Prayer of St. Francis."  Are you kidding me?  I already said I was feeling a little sad.  These, along with "Here I am, Lord", are my favorite songs.    Timmy was embarrassed that I was getting teary about the songs.  It made me realize how lucky I am.

When we came out, it was rainy and cold.  It was supposed to be 90 degrees today according to Adam Joseph a few days ago...then it started going downhill. Officially, I think the high today was 57 degrees.   Chris had made plans to go to a new place for brunch, but it is actually a little hard for me to get in and  out of the car, so I just decided to just go home and eat breakfast sandwiches around our kitchen table...which is what we did.   

Then I read to Lily (which is something I should be doing more of), while she played with slime (which is something she should be doing less of), so that was nice.  

For dinner, we were supposed to go to a friend's house for a little graduation party, but I was not feeling great, so the four of them went, and I stayed home here.  And then Jack called.  And then we spoke for the next two and a half hours.