Day 1

I watched a pretty interesting webcast about changing our outlook on life and trying to make an effort to add positivity to our lives in order to make us happier people instead of having the thought that we will be happy once we achieve something.  Because once we achieve that, then we want to achieve something else, and once we achieve that we will wait for something else before being happy and so on....

The webcast I watched had some suggestions for happiness and he said to try them for 21 days.  I am going to make an honest effort.

3 things I am grateful for:
* the ability to send my daughter to a camp she is enjoying
* a job that I look forward to going to every single day
* the opportunity to go back to school

The next step is to write a short blog about 1 thing that brought positivity or happiness in my life in the last 24 hours.

Serena is away at camp.  This is her second time going away to camp and the first time at this camp.  It was a new camp.  Exploring her faith more as well as getting some band/instrument time in.  She is getting to spend 5 days with a new friend that she has become closer to but does not see as often, which is probably a blessing.  This is teaching her you do not need to see a friend every day to be friends.  You do not have to do everything together to be friends.  It is exposing her to new people, a new faith and new possibilities.  I have gotten to talk to her twice in the last 24 hours and she is happy.  She loves the food (-yes that was a highlight for her), she is enjoying time with her friend/roommate and even met new friends in band (this is big for her as she would normally shy away if with people she does not know.  I loved hearing how happy she was when i talked to her.  She is truly enjoying herself and loving every minute of it.  She sent this picture to me because it made her giggle.  I had gotten her and Alyssa some washi tape for bible journaling to use in their journals that Tanya had bought them (plus she got a journal from her women's faith class at camp).  She was journaling tonight about her day and decided to use the Amen tape for the first time.  She sent this to me with "well that just happened."  The beginning of the tape was cut off and she did not notice it until she put it on the page but today's page says "Men Amen Amen Amen Amen."  She goes you would think they would watch where they cut off the tape.  Back to the real topic, she is having fun and seems to be enjoying all aspects of the camp:  the friendships, ministry, worship, band.  I cannot wait to get her on Friday and hear all about it.