Simple Happinesses
I thought all these pictures on my memory card were random, but really, they're not. They all capture small, simple happinesses.
I take pictures of things that are beautiful...things that make my heart happy.
A Break the Ice game between Mr. FG and Sonia.
Candyland too.
A colorful sunset outside my back door.
A date night dinner with Mr. FG...we used our date night money to buy some dry scallops from a local seafood store, and then we used a Cook's Illustrated recipe to grill them (I had a copy of the magazine from the library.)
Heaven on skewers. And their method really DOES keep the scallops from sticking to the grill. I was amazed.
So worth using our whole date night budget for the week!
An unseasonably warm day.
The water scenery we can enjoy even though we don't live waterfront.
The ability to pack up and take school down to the neighborhood pier.
Because doing flashcards on a pier with your bare feet dangling over the water...well, it doesn't stink.
A seagull that came to visit us.
The way the sun is sparkling on the left side of the boat ramp. See it?
Sunshine. I love me some sun.
Children who are easily entertained.
Down by our pier, they recently fixed the edge of the road, which means there's a strip of really smooth blacktop on the hill.
It's perfect for scooters, which all three of the girls have (Lisey's is from Goodwill, and Sonia and Zoe's were Christmas presents.) They have so much fun with these!
And I'm happy because the scooters are sturdy, low-tech, and they encourage the girls to be active and outside.
There really is a lot of space between that section and the boat ramp, so don't worry...no one was in danger of scootering into the water. 😉
Zoe had an unfortunate slipping accident when she was running on a grassy (and muddy) area.
Fortunately, there's water nearby for hand-washing.
And a little mud wasn't enough to keep her off of her scooter.
They went up and down that hill somewhere around 742 times, I think. But the sun started to set and so we headed home after a while.
Do you ever have moments where you just look around and think how beautiful life is?
Me too.
Scooters do carry them faster than my legs carry me.
But I am thankful for obedient girls who stop at the stop sign and wait for me (they're waving at the mail lady.)
Obedience is good for one's safety*, isn't it?
I know I say this often, but if you develop an eye for the lovely things in life that don't cost much, you'll find joy even when you haven't got much in the way of money.
I've said that in photos and words before: Simplicity.
Enjoy the little things,
for one day you may look back and realize
they were the big things.
~Robert Brault
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Today's 365 post: Sunday Waiting
Joshua's 365 post: Amazing Grace
*speaking of safety, I know the girls don't have helmets on. That's because I just discovered that we need to go helmet shopping because their noggins have all grown...and Sonia's head is no smaller than Zoe's, which means her helmet definitely can't be handed down! Although I bet Lisey's helmet will fit one of the younger two...)
I promise we were only on the real road for a block or so, though, and it's a quiet block. And I promise we'll go helmet-shopping before we do any biking. 😉
I'd recognize those Saxon Math cards anywhere;)
We had awesome weather here yesterday and Monday, too. It was so nice!
Lovely! We have those same flash cards, too. 🙂 And I didn't even notice the lack of helmets. You are reminding me that we need to get some, too.
This has been one of my favorite posts yet! Thank you for the reminder, Kristen. I actually have something very similar up on my blog today...(great minds think alike!) Not personal photos, but simple gratitude just the same...
I was going to say the same thing. Definitely one of my favorite posts too. 🙂
We have been having 60 degree temps this week, with Sun. We did Saxon math cards at the park on Tuesday. You might also re-post a picture of the waffles with whip cream/fruit, that recipe brought a lot of happiness here yesterday!! Really needed this post today and it goes greatly with this beautiful sunrise!!
Oh, mud's good for you. 🙂
How different the pier photos look this winter compared to last winter! Much better for the heating bill!
Gratitude is so important. You are right about noticing the little things. Thanks for the reinforcement. Love the photos.
Thank you for the lovely post. It was a great way to start today. I also liked the link to your simplicity post.
Oh, so beautiful post! This is why I start my day with your blog, to remind me to enjoy the wonderful smallness in day-to-day living.
Lovely! Is it wrong that I'm longing for a local pier? 🙂
This post is a great reminder to cherish little moments! I have a few pictures that always make me smile because of the memories they evoke. I'd like to find a way to display them so I can see them every day--maybe a collage or calendar.
You live in a beautiful area. When the snowy days get long here, I think about being someplace warmer. I grew up on the shores of Lake Superior. I do miss having the water close by.
So good to enjoy being blessed by so many beautiful things!
Beautiful photos! When will scooters for adults really catch on? There's one man I see sometimes zooming through the rush hours crowds on his scooter...tie flying in the wind, lol!
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6 : 5-6
Love It!
this was perfect right after my Bible reading this morning. it gave me such a sense of serenity and peace.
(i'm curious, though... where was joshua?)
I like this one. 🙂
Wonderful post. Love all the pictures. It was 67 here in Maryland on the Eastern Shore yesterday the kids all had a good time, we ended homeschool just a little early and they were outside all day.
Keep those photos coming Kristen 🙂
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. There's romance and real beauty in the simple things. I keep coming back to read your blog because you remind me of that. I try and keep my kids out of doors as much as I can, too. Even if we're the only ones at the park, we stay awhile and enjoy being active outdoors, no matter what the weather. On another note: How do you get grill marks on your scallops? Do you blot them with a microfiber towel first?
Glad to hear you're getting the girls helmets. My worst bike accident as a child (and the only one that required a doctor's visit) was in my parents' driveway while my mother was watching me ride. Thankfully, the helmet I was wearing prevented a much worse head injury than the one I got, so I'm glad to know that you realize the importance of helmets and will have your children wear them! Safety first!
Your obedience/safety thing reminds me of a song from my childhood, "keep the commandments/in this there is safety/in this there is peace" 🙂 And my little guy (age 4) loves, loves, loves to run ahead when we walk, but he always stops "at the pole" (holding up the stop sign). Depending on the weather, I encourage him to sit while he waits the minute or so for me to catch up. Even though *I* know he won't dart in the street, he's not as much of a perceived danger to the cars if he's sitting.
How lovely! I read this right after pulling a couple of loaves of cinnamon bread (your recipe of course!) out of the oven and sharing a warm slice with my boys. The simple things really are the best things.
This brings to mind such great memories for me of my sons when they were younger - bikes, roller blades, scooters, and skateboards. Yes, it's the simple things.
I love your posts about finding happiness in the simple things in life! Also..I'd love to see a recent "Day in the Life" post!
Your photos are really sweet 🙂 🙂 I take photos of things that make me happy, too...so sometimes my collection is random, but it's all interesting in my eyes 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
My Favorite: Spray a muffin tin with Pam. Open a package of refrigerator crescent rolls. Take marshmallows and dip them in melted butter, then coat them with cinnamon sugar. Spread out a crescent roll and put the marshmallow in the middle. Then wrap the crescent roll around the marshmallow (try to seal them well, or your marshmallow stuff will ooze out!). Put one in each muffin tin. Bake until lightly browned.
Simple. Quick. Cheap.
Love it! Days like these make it all worth it I think (the hard stuff, I mean). We don't always scooter with helmets on either: http://mom23.com/parenting/and-then-there-was-one
Somehow helmets are less spontaneous... And with them you wouldn't be able to see your baby girls' sweet braids flying in the air. Weee! 🙂
Lovelovelove that you encourage your kids to be outside and active-I think that is sorely lacking these days, and the source of many of the most rewarding moments of my childhood.
Feeling a little emotional today (don't ask! must be my age!) this was a lovely post to spend some time reading with the Dire Straits track tunnel of love on the radio in the background. Simple happiness indeed.
Anyhow time to snap back to reality I've an Aldi shop to do.... 😉
ps - ref helmets - there was a experiment done in the UK. They found that adult commuter cyclists not wearing helmets were less exposed (during this particular experiment) to ill-mannered road users. The presumption was that the drivers felt the cyclists were more vulnerable as they weren't wearing helmets and hence exercised more caution. I'm not saying don't wear helmets, there's a time and place for everything. Just thought I'd mention it as with much in life - things aren't always black and white...
Must be feeling emotional - getting 'deep' over helmets! 🙂
what a great post. we live in GA now, but we used to live in MD. we lived in a water community also and seeing your pics of the pier and your girls scooting through the neighborhood just remind me of how much I miss our house in MD. glad to see you had such a wonderful day!
Love it. We do tend to over look the simple things in life.
Great set of happy shots 🙂
My 25 yr old daughter and I both saw the same thing when we looked at the first photo of the clouds. We saw fingers, thunb and the palm of the hand. It's like a reminder that God has us covered by His hand.
What lovely options homeschooling gives you. And I love that saying! I'm going to put it somewhere I can see it.
I made yogurt for the first time today, and it was the best I've ever tasted! Thanks for all your sharing, Kristen. Your blog is enriching my life!
Love this post! Just found your blog and was reading through, you're a talented writer and seem to have a very happy home. We've been enjoying the mild winter too, but my thoughts hadn't wandered to the community beach. I'm almost "homesick" for the beach now, the pics look so similar to our area (creeks are wider...but wow.) I've been inspired to take a walk with the little one with school out Monday.