Happiness is...

Have you ever caught your kids experiencing tremendous joy?  Laughter erupts from their giddy bodies like a wild firecracker.  They become unaware of their surroundings and their focus is pure happiness.

I found just that the other day.  

My two big girls picked rose petals from their grandmother's garden and were having the best time throwing them up in the air and dancing beneath.  They laughed and giggled so hard as they skipped and bounced around the garden all afternoon.  

Needless to say, they are quite lucky that their grandmother treasures the sound of their laughter much more than a garden full of luscious rose blooms.  I don't think there was a rose left after they played.  All the petals were strewn around the yard.

It was pure happiness.

easter fun

This year, they ran faster at the egg hunt.  They all wanted to sit with the Easter Bunny for a photo.  They were excited to dye eggs and make cascerones.  They searched all over for their Easter baskets on Easter morning.  They mostly sat quietly in church.  They enjoyed the neighborhood hunt with friends.  They were all happy to wear what I picked out for them.  The middle one was delighted to wear the dress with ruffles down the back that grandma had made.  They squealed with delight when "go" was yelled at the church hunt.  They played in their grandparents backyard all afternoon in their own imaginary worlds.  They picked far too many rose petals and threw them up in the air while they danced beneath.  It was a delightful day!

dashing through the churchyard

The image of children dashing through the churchyard on Easter Sunday looking for eggs never ceases to delight me.  Easter Sunday dresses and shoes take a beating while they search madly for every egg that has been thoughtfully hidden.  

I hope your Easter was delightful as well!

dressed in table linens

We searched high and low for a beautiful dress for the occasion of her First Communion.  After scouring the mall, several boutiques and the internet, my dear mother decided to make her a dress.  The dress was made with old linen table cloths from the family.  They were carefully cut and pieced together to make an elegant and meaningful dress for her special day.  It was all quite fitting for the special day--beautiful table linens adorned her as she took a place at His table.  

The morning was dark and rainy and the lights went out for a portion of the service.  Hymns were sung by the morning light streaming in through the side windows of our church.  At one point candles were placed all over the communion rail to provide additional light.  It was all so memorable for a First Communion Day.  She knelt, and didn't laugh (something she was afraid she would do), drunk the grape juice from her small glass cup and took part in a very special meal--one of many more to come.

piles of leaves

In our neck of the woods, piles of leaves happen in the springtime rather than the fall.  After much pleading from our big girl, we spend many hours raking leaves for these three to jump in and toss about.  Thankfully, after all the leaf frolicking was over they help re-rake and bag the leaves for trash day.  The simple pleasures of nature that unite and delight these three makes me so happy!

Happy leaf collecting to you!