...I hung out with friends
Christmas has been a crazy mix of work, church and family that there's been very little time for friends. Tonight some of our friends came round with their children and we ate, drank, laughed and made merry. Tonight I thank God that I am blessed with true friendship.
I felt a little cynical when I read today's task. It may not be a work day but there was so much to do that the thought of taking time out to do something I want to do, rather than something I have to do, felt totally unattainable. This made me ponder upon the fact that I'm very rarely doing anything just for the joy of it. I love my life, job, family and friends but there is very little space at the moment to just enjoy life.
Thinking about things that have made me happy recently reminded me that only yesterday I had some quality family time. It was the first Sunday all four of us have been together in church since I started my placement (except for my children's 1st communion last week). We did a bit of shopping and grabbed a sandwich afterwards before returning to church for a carol service. We all curled up together in the evening.
I did do something I wanted to do today- I wrote some Christmas cards! It might not sound like most people's idea of fun but having had no idea when I would fit it in it made me happy to finally do some.
I think I'm pretty good at finding happiness in the small things.
I nailed today's task- I had it planned and in the bag last week. I procured tickets for my priest, Vicky, to go to a lecture her hero Rowan Williams is giving at Chester Cathedral. I felt very pleased with myself.
What I wasn't prepared for today were things that other people would do that would result in me having one of my happiest days in weeks- possibly months. This wasn't however through their thoughtfulness, more just a meeting of circumstance.
It was my kids' school Easter service at our church this morning. My daughter sang Whistle Down The Wind with her choir so beautifully that the tears were flowing, as they did when her friend George sang his solo, and when she was singing with her three best friends- and I cried when the whole school were singing! My proudest moment however was when Faith's whole class did a presentation about the LLLL challenges they had embraced. I couldn't believe that something which started with me and my two kids on our Lent journey last year had spread through these 30 plus families- to think how many people were now introduced to LLLL and what small changes might be going on in people's lives because of it was pretty overwhelming.
After that I was just overcome with happiness and joviality and pretty much laughed through the rest of my day! Work was a delight- colleagues and patients awesome- and my hubby has just presented me with a big mug of noodle soup.
Today was a good day.
