Happy things Archives - Page 28 of 35 -

A Picture of Love and Laughter

August 19, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

I remember our wedding fondly. We had so much fun planning and putting little touches of ourselves into it. Instead of clinking glasses to get us to kiss we made people write us a haiku, and we still have them all. When we came into the reception the song we played was “Somebody’s Getting Married” from The Muppets Take Manhattan. It was totally us, right down to me bawling down the aisle. (“Oh dear,” said the woman who was marrying us when she saw me coming. “Does anyone have a tissue?” Unfortunately she was mic’d and you can hear it on our wedding video…)

All that crying evidently made something in me decide we needed a moment of levity. I started to recite my vows, which we wrote ourselves, and got to this line: “I promise to love you the way you are.”

And I laughed.

I’d apologize to my husband, but he knows exactly why I laughed. He is 100% his own person, right down to his goofy sense of humour (which is what I was thinking about in that moment), and I’d never try to change him.

It was a good moment.

We have a lot of totally amazing photos from our wedding but because of that moment, when prompted to pick my favourite wedding picture, I chose this one:

That ability to laugh got us back up the aisle (no tissue required) and played a big part in where we are today. At the end of the month we’re celebrating our 7th anniversary, and we’ve only just begun.

***

Because we all need more Muppets in our lives:

Linked up with Mommy of a Monster & Twins for:

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: family, gratitude, living life, love, photos

Unexpectedly English

August 17, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

An hour and a half north, this highway I know so well – having travelled it countless times – brings us to a turn-off. A road never noticed, never before taken. Green. Everything is green – trees, leaves, lawns, and fields – lush with the full blush of summer. Twists and turns take us past cottages, farms, and artist’s studios waiting for someone to come in and love their wares.

A home, clearly occupied, displays a row of brightly coloured, eclectic things – bicycles, I think, and various household items painted in bold, primary colours. Each more a statement than a decoration.

Outside another property, a very old, very rusty piece of farm equipment stands sentry, its presence an indication of history as well as a welcome.

We continue driving, father than I would have thought possible without coming to the ocean, my mother remembering directions from a previous visit. Another turn and we find the road, and then the sign. We’ve arrived.

After settling in to the condo at the beach resort – owned by my mother’s friend – we go looking for the pub recommended as a place for dinner. It sounds casual, and therefore perfect.

Back down the winding road we go until suddenly it’s there. The Crow and Gate Pub. I turn into the drive and suddenly it’s as though we’ve crossed not an island but an ocean.

It’s like we’re in England.

The sign outside the pub

This sign looks like it's been here for a hundred years

A perfectly-themed lantern

The jolly old English interior

We eat pub food and sit in the garden. It’s an unexpected, but welcome, departure from what I had pictured as a beachside weekend away. Inside the line is long, full of others eagerly anticipating an evening meal. The server at the bar is enthusiastic and and friendly to all, leaving no hint as to whether her customers are well-loved locals or tourists just in for the day.

Outside the garden is full, but quiet. Small groups of people find corners to eat at tables and benches.

As the sun starts to set the birds flit around, watching. For crumbs, mostly, but anticipating nightfall too, and quiet, and sleep.

A little piece of England, just hours away. Who would have thought?

I can’t wait to go back.

***

Linked up with Bruna for:

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: living life, photos, travel

On the Move: Guest Posting at Mama Wants This

August 15, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

A very dear friend of mine – Alison from Mama Wants This – is having a birthday this week and asked me to guest post at her place. I said yes, naturally, since she lives on the other side of the world from me and the most tangible gift I can give her is time for herself to celebrate.

And friendship, of course. And love. But she has those anyway, and not just on her birthday.

Happy birthday, Alison. I am so glad you’re in my life. xo

If you’re visiting from Alison’s, welcome.

Everyone else, please come and read my story about why I changed my birthday, and be sure to wish Alison a happy 35th!

Filed Under: Guest posts, Happy things · Tagged With: community, gratitude, love

Puns and All: It’s What I Love About Him

August 12, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

My husband thinks he’s funny.

He’s King of the Puns. Some of them are cheesy, some of them are witty, and all of them make me laugh.

He’s the master of making up new lyrics to songs. I secretly find this amusing, even when he mangles my favourite songs and John Denver’s poetic “You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest” becomes “You fill out my census, with a number 2 pencil.”

He does funny voices, and thank goodness because I’m no good at funny voices.

He’s never afraid to act goofy, and I truly hope my son got this quality because it’s one of the things I love most about my husband.

So far all the evidence suggests that he did.

Looks like I’m in for a lifetime of laughs with my very funny boys.

***

Linked up with Multitasking Mumma for It’s What I Love About Him

Filed Under: Happy things, Love letters · Tagged With: family, love, my wish for you

A Life of What Ifs

August 10, 2011 by Farewell Stranger ·

A few weeks ago I submitted a video to SITS Girls for a chance to be a speaker at one of their Bloggy Boot camps. I wanted to win, of course, but what I really wanted was a chance to speak at a blog conference.

I will fully admit that it was really tough to put myself out there and admit that I wanted this and ask people to support me by voting. The other finalists have been blogging longer and I knew my chances were pretty slim. So many of my friends re-tweeted my pleas for votes and posted the link on Facebook asking their friends to support me. That was totally overwhelming. I really can’t even begin to express how much that meant to me.

It was also a lot of pressure.

Voting closed last Wednesday and I had, quite honestly, totally forgotten about it until people started asking me while at BlogHer if I’d heard anything. And then I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The announcement of the winner was supposed to be made on Friday but the SITS site was down. Friday came and went. I figured they wouldn’t post it over the weekend, which was fine because I was busy at the conference and then travelling home.

Then Monday came. And went, with no announcement.

I might have started going a little crazy.

Tuesday morning Connor came in early so I peeked at my computer to see if they had announced the results. Nope. I went back to sleep.

When I woke up a couple of hours later (yay for sleep-ins!) I saw some tweets congratulating me. I went to the post to see the results…

I didn’t win.

But I got a speaker spot anyway!

I’m absolutely thrilled that they’ve given me a spot at one of the 2012 boot camps. Sure, I wanted to win, but the item on my life list isn’t “win the SITS contest”. It’s “speak at a blog conference.”

And I get to do that.

So even though I knew putting myself out there was a risk, that it might result in me having what some might consider a #fail, I did it anyway. Because I’d rather have a life of oh wells than what ifs.

And that what if was totally worth it.

I would like to say an enormous thank you to everyone who supported me in this effort. Your enthusiasm and encouragement is worth as much to me, if not more, as the result itself.

***

Speaking of doing things that matter to me, I’m thrilled to be a contributor to a new site called Just.Be.Enough, which is about carrying the weight of empowerment instead of the weight of our flaws . It was started by the amazing Elena, who I met at BlogHer, and my post there today is about why the message of Just.Be.Enough. matters to me. I’d love it if you’d come visit over there too!