It's good.

I have a sign in my house that says "Life is not always easy, but it is good."  It really, really is.

I have been in a happy and content stage for about a year now.  I appreciate it every day.  I'm not saying that life is rainbows and lollipops.   (It's so not.  I have to get up at 6:30 am every day.  Do you even know me?!)  But it is Oh-so-good.  This is when I feel it most:

Last Wednesday, YM and YW was combined at the church.  Halle and Jack went together and I joined the RS in the gym to paint a cute craft with some of my favorite women.  Jack came in and out a few times to see what I was doing, he brought me a bite of his cake and stole my drink.  I could hear Halle laughing down the hall.  I knew everyone that was there...all the adults, and the kids.  We were happy, and together, and it was good.

On Sunday, Jack passed the sacrament for the first time.  He looked like a million bucks.  I was so proud of him. I may have cried.  He looked over at me about five times with a huge grin on his face and the bench behind me said "oooohhhh."   It was my Bishop's wife.  I like her.  Everyone noticed Jack passing.  Many people had nice things to say to him.  He was comfortable and pleased with himself.  Again, we knew everyone, they know us, they know how Jack is and they were proud of him.  A ward family.  It is good.

I let Halle have a late night and then I left those girls alone and took Jack and Jace to a movie.  My mom leaned over during the movie and asked if I thought I should have left those girls alone.  I thought about it....one had come from a service project, and one straight from the temple.  They are good girls.  And good examples, and good friends.

Speaking of good friends....Jack's bestie Jace is a wonderful kid.  I thank my lucky stars each day that those two found each other.  Together, they are a good team.

In the morning, after the kids are in school and right before I go to work, I do the routine.  I open the blinds.  I make the beds and pet the cats.  I pick up the kitchen.  I walk around and make sure the house is bright and inviting when the kids come home.  It's almost always clean.  It's usually pleasant, and it is a comfortable bright spot.  I am grateful for a sturdy, happy home to live in with my kids.  I am grateful for the peace of mind it gives me to know it's paid for and it's full of peace and love.  It's good.

I am grateful for sweet friends who text and call.  They come over for girls night and book club.  They pray for me and think about me.  They are so appreciated.  I am grateful for my sister who calls me even when I don't answer.  Who says "I'm in your corner, no matter what" when I call her.  The women in my life, and what they offer me is good.

And I think there is one trick to feeling this way.  And I figured it out.

You see, this isn't everything going on in my life.  My kids fight, I get overwhelmed with my calling, I get sick of going to work, I have mom guilt, Greg lies about me on Facebook, sometimes I cry in the tub, sometimes I feel like my cup is empty, sometimes I eat all the popsicles and forget to buy more.

This is the trick:

SEE the good.  Love it, appreciate it, relish it.  There will always be bad too.

You can choose what you see.