Today's Bliss: Halloween Memories

I have always liked Halloween. It is a fun time to dress up, eat some candy, and enjoy time with friends and family. Costumes are always exciting and for a while, my family owned a novelty store that had some awesome rental costumes that were a lot of fun to wear!

Over the years, one Halloween memory sticks out in my mind. When I was young, I was a dedicated reader of American Girl Magazine. One year, they featured a host of awesome Halloween costume ideas and there was one that I just had to try for my own trick or treating: a bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans. My very artistic father recreated the logo for me...I hunted down a giant, clear trash bag to fill with colorful balloons the perfect size so as to not fall out of the perfectly cut leg and arm holes...I found brightly colored tights...and I painted my face with bright, jelly bean shapes. I was ready! Off I went with my dad and some neighborhood girls to trick or treat. It was a lot of fun until the sixth house, when I noticed that the leg holes of my jelly bean sack started to tear a bit and I was loosing a jelly bean (balloon) each time I took a step. Uh oh! I walked more carefully, trying to save my super cute costume! But, alas, the further we walked, the more balloons escaped from my costume. I was so mad and so upset: why would a magazine promote a costume that had so many flaws? By the time I got home, I had no balloons left in my costume. Instead of looking like a bag of Jelly Bellys I looked like a garbage sack-wearing girl with a rainbow of colors on her face.

Looking back on this story, I laugh. It was a funny experience, although I didn't think that at the time! What I am most grateful for when I think about this trick or treat adventure is that I remember it so well. I remember my dad's dedication to making my costume and my trick or treating fun; my mom's help pulling my dream Halloween look together. I was a lucky girl to have a family who wanted to have as much fun as I did.

This year for Halloween N and I were part of a Trunk or Treat at church. There were a lot of refugee children who came to the event and I could not help but wonder what they were thinking about us...adults dressed in crazy outfits handing out free candy?!? A little weird to an outsider, I am sure! But, no matter what they thought, everyone left with something sweet and it was a great way to reach out to the community around us and show them that we care.

Have a blissful Halloween!

Today's Bliss: Old School Entertainment

I've had a pretty stressful time at work the last couple of weeks. Not awful, just crazy. Tonight my head was spinning when I got home and I needed some distraction. So, N and I got down to our roots and played board games: Sorry and Jenga. It was so fun and a welcome activity to get my mind off of my stress. This led to discussion about some classic games that we loved when we were kids: Guess Who? and Chutes and Ladders! I can't tell you how many hours I spent playing Guess Who?...what a great game!

I have found that problems and stress are always much worse when I am in my own head. Thinking, thinking, thinking. The best thing for me to do is stop, focus on the people around me who want to enjoy my company, and take time to enjoy my life instead of worry it away.

Thank God for N and for a quiet evening. The perfect, blissful solution to a disquieted mind.

Today's Bliss: Humor

At work last week I recieved an email with a link that told me I should "click here." Seeing as the email was from my boss, I decided that I better do what she said. So I clicked. And was so glad that I did.

I don't want to ruin anything for you...just see for yourself:
Click here to see what I am talking about!

Humor is such a blessing to all of us. In the midst of a busy day (or a busy life for that matter), humor can lighten our hearts and minds a bit. I also know, thanks to my very intelligent mother, that humor can be medically beneficial, too. So enjoy your laughter, look for humor around you today, and cherish the life you've been given.

Today's Bliss: Friday

There is one great thing that happens every week (but it is especially sweet after a long, stressful week at work): Friday evening arrives. Tonight I am working a bit late, but afterwards I plan on hanging out with my husband, eating lots of leftover pizza, pouring a glass of wine, and watching a funny movie. This definitely describes bliss to me!

When I have a rough day or a rough week, there is always something that I look forward to: the end of it. I am able to see an end. Some people are having difficult seasons of their lives. Instead of rough days, they have rough years or rough decades. But for me, it's a much shorter time period and I am can look ahead, optimistic that things will get better soon. I can survive a challenging day because I know that my loving family will help me overcome it. And the next day will begin fresh. For that I am very blessed.

I pray for people who can see no light at the end of their tunnel. For those whose difficult circumstances seem to be never-ending. For people who need hope. May we all step up and show those around us the Light of Christ and the comfort He offers us every moment of each and every day.

Today's Bliss: Marriage

I have had a rough week at work. Nothing is horribly wrong, but nothing is quite right either. Everything is just so hard. Everything that should be easy and even a little fun just feels difficult. Every morning, I have woken up and hoped for a better, easier day. So far, I haven't really gotten it.

Tonight, I reached my limit. I burned my thumb on the oven rack and that was it. The edge that had been looming closer all day? I went over it. Hello, tears that were not really necessary. Hello, ridiculous reasoning that didn't make sense even to myself. Hello, uncalled for whining. It was a bit much.

But you know who stood by and never said anything negative to me? Who picked up the chore I was doing and pitched in to get it done quicker? My sweet husband N. He truly makes my life bliss. I am grateful for the time I had to learn some real-world navigation on my own as a single girl, but I am so so grateful  for this wonderful time of marriage. Always spending time with someone who accepts and loves you...hanging out with your best friend who will always laugh at your jokes even when they are not funny...relaxing in your life because for the first time, you can just be you.

Thank God for N. Someone who loves me just as I am, even when I cry over a teeny, tiny burn on my thumb.

Today's Bliss: Cake Wrecks

Everyone needs to smile each and every day. Laughter is even better. So, every single day, I check out my favorite blog: Cake Wrecks.This blog focuses on badly decorated cakes. It may sound silly (and it is), but you are guaranteed a laugh when you read through the posts and see the horrendous cakes that bakeries think are perfectly fine, sell-able merchandise.

One of the things that I am most grateful for in my life is laughter. God wants us to enjoy ourselves, have fun in the lives he has given us, and spread cheer to others. My mother has deeply instilled in me a profound respect and appreciation for humor. When I was in middle school, I was less than appreciative of this humor, but now, I like it. I get it. I am blessed by it.

So, take a moment for blissful fun and a laugh on Cake Wrecks. Click here to see how awesome it is!

Today's Bliss: Music

Last night, N and I went to a Christian concert downtown. Lindsay McCaul, The Afters, Sanctus Real, and Casting Crowns all led us in worship, telling their stories and lending their voices to inspire us and remind us of God's love.

I have always loved contemporary Christian music. DC Talk started my fandom, followed by Third Day, my all-time favorite! But lately, I have lost touch with that music genre. I will try to blame it on the extreme repetition on our local Christian radio stations, but really, I just quit listening. And I am trying to remedy this. I have been listening to more Christian radio in the car and it helps me focus on God as I drive. This is especially helpful in rush hour traffic!

We are so blessed that we have the ability to hear music that can uplift us so much. God has given people the gift of creativity so that they can turn their life stories into songs that can teach us, lift us up, and help us be better people.

Casting Crowns has a new cd called Come to the Well. The album was inspired by Mark Hall's (the lead singer) study of the story of the woman at the well. As he read the story, he realized something: he was not taking the lessons of the story and applying them in his life. He was not going to the well to refuel himself...he was going to people, books, places. This was a powerful point for me. So much of my life, I have worried about what other people think, how my actions will be interpreted by those around me; Mark is saying not to dwell on this at all...other people are not the well, Jesus is.

Mark has written a new book called The Well also and I am planning on reading it to get more insight into how I can avoid getting distracted by the things around me and focus on Jesus. If I am getting my energy, insight, value, vision, and purpose from Him, my life will have even more bliss.

Today's Bliss: Hearwarming Stories

My boss forwarded an email today that had a a link to a heartwarming story. I was teary-eyed by the end of the article and found myself giving thanks for the chance to take a moment during a busy morning to be reminded of how precious life is and how important it is to show love to people around us.

Click HERE to read the story. You'll be glad you did!

Hearing stories about other peoples' struggles, triumphs, successes, and failures can really inspire me. I am reminded that when I fail, I am not alone; when I succeed, I am in good company. Jesus used parables to help us learn. I think that there are many modern day parables all around us, just waiting for us to pause, discover, and share the stories that can help all of us be better people.

Today's Bliss: Teamwork

I am part of many teams. I am on a team, both departmentally and organization-wide, at work...I am on several different teams at church...I am on a team at home with N...in many ways, my extended family is a team. I really like to harmoniously work with people, moving together toward a common goal that can help us all progress forward.

N and I are a really good team. We are generally on the same side on any given issue, which really helps keep the peace around our home. We also work well together on projects, from cooking dinner to cleaning the house. I am so grateful for this teamwork and the ease that it brings to our daily life.

I have known several people who simply could not work well as part of a team. They may have preferred to do their own thing, but I really think that it made their life much, much more difficult. We all have to calm our own ego sometimes so that we can work with the people around us.

God has given us community for a purpose. He has given us a team of people to support us, love us, and help us succeed in the tasks that he offers us. I pray that I can be a good member of all of the teams that I am a part of, that I can work for the betterment of all of us.

Today's Bliss: Love

I have been very blessed every day of my life because of one thing: love. God's love, my parent's love, N's love, love from friends and my community of faith. I have never felt un-loved. I really don't think that very many people can honestly say this in our broken, frustrated society. So, I proudly own the love that I have in my life and I cherish it. The funny thing about love is that if it is pure, it cannot be held onto completely. If you are loved, I believe that you then are compelled to show love to others around you.

I hope that I am seen as loving. I definitely have days where I don't show my love very successfully, but overall I hope that I can show love to others as much as I receive it.

We had a family dinner tonight for my birthday and I realized how much love there is in my life and how easily it can be taken for granted. Everyone should pause and think of the love they have in their life and how they can focus on passing it on...showing others that they are loved, too.

God's love is the strongest love, of course. Unbreakable. Eternal. Today in church we sang a song that mentioned bliss...so I had to share it. I think that one of the ways God's magnificent love is shown to us is in the blessings we receive; some of the most important blessings are outlined here:

Lord of All Hopefulness (verse 1)
Lord of all hopefulness
Lord of all joy
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy
Be there at our waking and give us, we pray
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Today's Bliss: Birthdays

Today is my 28th birthday. I am so blissful today: it is beautiful outside, my parents called me with their traditional birthday song, I had a great morning with N...running errands, choosing my gift, eating a yummy cupcake for lunch...and tonight is date night. What a great birthday!

Looking back at all of my years of birthdays, I see how great it was to have a loving family around me for every single birthday that I have had. Whether I was a little girl with a delicious cake ordered to match my carefully chosen birthday party napkins or I was away at college and received a surprise flower delivery, my family and friends have always been there to help me celebrate. I am blessed.

Tomorrow night we will have a celebration with N's parents and my parents. Every time I look around at the six of us together, I am thankful. Thankful for a husband who loves me and an expanded family who cares for us deeply.

Spend a moment in the sun, basking in the glow of the blessings that you have. Happy day!

Today's Bliss: Comfort Food

Whether your day has been good or bad, whether you've had a day full of fun activities or dull chores, there is one thing that can always make your day better: comfort food. Nothing makes me feel safe and secure like a good, home cooked meal. And it's always especially good if it is a dish that my mom used to make when I was growing up.

I cook a lot. I try to make wholesome, healthy, tasty meals that N and I both enjoy. I actually really like menu planning, searching through recipes for new dishes to try, coming home in the evenings to spend some time with N as we cook...it is a part of my routine that I find really relaxing.

This has been a hectic week at work, so I was really looking forward to a night of cooking and comfort food...and it was just as good as I had hoped. After we ate, I felt relaxed and, well, comforted.

Our comfort food: chopped steak, mashed potatoes, and sauteed garlic and mushrooms.

Sometimes, your greatest bliss can be found in little things around you. Tonight as I was cooking and enjoying our meal, I thought about the things I've learned from my mother as she cooked countless meals for me in her kitchen (and still does when I am at home). I thought about my Grandfather and his cooking prowess that showed itself in our delicious Thanksgiving dinners. I thought about how grateful I am for my family and the examples they have set for me...not just in the kitchen, but in all areas of my life. 

I am so blessed. So are you. Give thanks and be comforted.

Today's Bliss: Grace

I mess up all of the time. I snap at my husband, N, for no reason...I get angry over silly things...I don't show love to my neighbors like I should...I make mistakes. Thankfully, I am surrounded by grace. N is a very forgiving person and is always accepting of my apologies, friends understand when I have an unpleasant attitude, family members show me love even when I don't deserve it.

Even more valuable than grace from people around me is grace from God. Jesus was perfect...I am very imperfect. But no matter how much I mess up, God forgives. He teaches. He shows me a more righteous path that I can take; a path that will make me a better person. I just need to listen for His voice, be directed by His guidance, and try to live out His plans.

Thank God for His grace that heals, loves, and provides for me every single day. I pray that I will accept the grace that God offers and that I can have grace for others around me, too.

Today's Bliss: Productivity

Sometimes my to-do list seems very, very long. I know that I can get everything done, but the motivation to get going and actually do it rarely comes when I have the time to do things. Today, the planets aligned. I was productive at work and at home...and the night is still young. I have plenty of time to continue checking things off of my list. That is a good feeling.

The rush of the world and the instant-gratification society that we live in can really knock us off our center: Christ. Luckily for us, God does not get caught up in the rush like we do. While we run around doing our "important" chores and jobs, he is at work making sure that we are cared for...the most important thing of all. What we need to realize is that we need to stop, slow down, and listen for Christ's voice. We need to pause to look around and see God at work, preparing our next step. If we don't, it's like walking down a crowded side walk without watching where you are going. If you don't keep your eyes on the path ahead, you'll likely step in a pothole or crash into someone else rushing through their life.

Take a moment to stop. Turn off your television; put your laptop aside. Center yourself: pray, meditate, breathe, think. This is when God can talk to you because your ears and eyes are not filled with the rush of the world. This is a perfect place to find your bliss.

Today's Bliss: Fall Weather

I am always hot in the summer, so when the weather gets colder and fall begins to fill the air, I am grateful for some heat relief. But more than this, I am reminded of the ever changing world I live in. Nothing is finite, everything has an end and a beginning. Fall foliage and chilly mornings are my favorite parts of this time of year and I am grateful to see how God can paint nature around me to show me His beauty. I am grateful that I can see it, appreciate it, and witness the process of putting things to rest for a while.

As a teenager, I loved a song called Every Season by Nichole Nordemon. The song is a great statement about nature and the way it can inspire us. If you have not heard the song, you should definitely give it a listen, but in the mean time, here are the lyrics.

Every Season by Nichole Nordemon**
Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer 

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn 

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter 

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

**Source: Christian Lyrics Online