10 Things That Make Me Happy! A Daughter's Challenge.

Okay my Sae challenged me to list ten things that make me happy and I better follow through.

No. 1 - I proudly profess that being a child of the one and only King, Jesus, makes the top of my list. I am a new creation in Christ and the old man I was no longer exists as a result of His life-changing love, mercy and grace. I can't do anything to make Him love me more and nothing would cause Him to love me less. Let me just say, "He's Crazy About ME!" Even though I don't get it or deserve it. His love is Stubborn. If you don't know Him, ask me about what He has done for me. He's Crazy About YOU, too.

No. 2 - My beautiful wife, Dawn. She is an incredible woman. Her busyness wears me out. She used to read all the time(and still loves it) and I was going here, there and yonder. We have switched places. I like to read(not as much as she does) and she never sits down. She is unexpectedly witty and is a research fanatic. Don't ask her something that you really don't have to have the answer to because she can't help but research it. She has a plethora of knowledge.

No. 3 - My two amazing daughters. You might want to stop and move to no. 4 because I'm going into dad, brag mode. People are constantly telling me what great girls I raised. I must be honest and tell you that hey are great girls and they are awesome, strong, Christians and I did raise them the best I knew how, but I can't take the credit. They are the way they are because they too are children of the King. They make right and wrong decisions and live in flesh, but their heart's desire is to live for Christ and be moving in His direction. I can't wait to see where He takes them over the next 5 years, and I know they are excited about the journey as well. I know I didn't pray nearly enough, but I know He heard every prayer that I did pray and I'm grateful to Him for the blessing that they both are to Dawn and I.

No. 4 - Our families. Dawn and I have amazing families. I can't imagine being around families that are constantly at war with one another. The family you have is all you get. You don't get to choose them and you should make every attempt to make each moment with them special. When we get together there is no doubt that there will be much laughter and a good time. I love the fact that I am able to be me with my family. The memories we hold in our families could fill the pages of many books. We come from a long line of love. I mentioned laughter just a line or two back. I once heard that one minute of intense laughter was like a mile of internal jogging. I also know that laughter is healing. So if all this is true I should live a long life. My grandma, Leecy Keltch, is 98. I don't ever remember a time when we were together that most of it wasn't spent laughing. So that might explain her age. And her mind, you ask? She is a lot better there than I. If your family isn't close and you don't look forward to spending time with them, I encourage you to make amends, swallow your pride and make the most of every moment that you have left. Your children are probably going to treat you the way they see you treat your parents and family. Ouch!

No. 5 - Friends. I love my friends! I really don't know how people live life without friends. My heart's desire is to be a true friend. I think a friend is someone, that no matter when or where you see them, it's as if you where never away from one another. Thank God for friends!

No. 6 - Music. Music has been my friend, voice, release, hope and the list could go on and on. Music has so much to say and at times offers such quietness. It has the potential to take you where you could never go any other way, surprise you at just the right time, and calm a broken heart. You think you can live without it? Try and imagine for a moment what a movie, television show, Wii game or a long road trip would be without it. It is the universal language that never has to be interpreted. Priceless!

No. 7 - Vacations. I love the excitement of getting all ready to go. I love to just get away from the same old thing everyday. One of my favorite vacations is fishing. I used to not care much about fishing. After I taught school for 13 years I liked it because although you might not catch anything the phone never rings at the lake. Unless of course you take your cell phone.

No. 8 - A Clean House. I know it is weird. I like to clean house. I really don't like to sit down unless my house is clean. I feel dirty. I know I have OCD. It doesn't bother me to say it. It used to be worse than it is now. I have come a long way. I used to follow the girls around when they were toddlers and when they would put something down, because they were through playing with it, I would put it away. Like to drove myself nuts. I couldn't help it. It made me nervous to see it just laying there. I hate to go on vacation with my house dirty because I don't like to come home to a dirty house. Think about it. When you come home you have suitcases to put away and laundry to do. Why would you want to clean house too? I keep thinking I'll get over it and sometimes I force myself to leave something laying in the floor. Then I will go to do something else and it's as if my hand has a magnet in it and I, without thinking, pick it up. You're laughing right now, I know. It is worse than that. I have a counting problem too. If I am hammering, stirring cookies, turning a light bulb into the socket, brushing my teeth, whatever has some sort of sequence to it; I'm counting. Drives me crazy! I tell myself to stop but seconds later, I'm doing it again. Don't worry, it isn't contagious. Or maybe it is. My poor daughter Sarah is just like me. Sorry baby.

No. 9 - Senior Adults. I love 'em! They are a blessing. So full of wisdom. So many stories. Sometimes grumpy, but it makes me laugh. Because I know someday I will probably be just like that. Their love is so genuine.

No. 10 - You know what this is. Flying!!! I won't repeat my entire story about flying. Read one of my first blogs. Every since I was 8, I dreamed of it. Now God has given me the opportunity. Did I say, God is so Good!" And someday, when it's my time; "I'll Fly Away!"

So, there you go. That took me well over two hours. Now I know why I don't blog. That ball over there on the floor needs picked up and I haven't cleaned my bathroom yet. Hee! Hee!

Now I choose the following ten people to take the challenge. Dawn Castor, Bonnie Castor, Marilyn Jones, Andrea Cosby, Ed Laird, Becky Whiteley, Sally Luthi, Mandy Cheap, Janice Brown, and Brett Allen. Have Fun!